The Lincoln OR apts on the waterfront? Please share...

[stellartois]

So I live at the Lincoln presently. However I'm thinking of moving to the waterfront. I believe it'll be a least $150 more in rent and $50 more in parking. How much do the Newport waterfront apts start at and are they liveable? Any utilities included? I know that the Presidential apts are much older.. How "bad" is it? I would REALLY like to know if it'll be worth the move. The Lincoln is new and the cement floors and walls are awesome. I don't hear the neighbors at all unless the tv/stereo is off and is totally silent. And I haven't noticed any rodents or bugs.. I believe this apt is only 2-3 years old. However, I feel it'll be SO much more convenient living in the waterfront area. So, PLEASE share with me any of the inconveniences and horrible things about them!!! I'd like to know every detail. THANKS!! :)

[Mia]

We looked at one of the waterfront buildings, as well as a bunch of other apartments around JC, before settling on the Lincoln, and we noted that the apartment had smaller rooms, less overall square footage and was, as you point out, about $150 more.

We also looked further away, at the Portside Towers, which were really lovely, gym on premises, lots of light in apts, terraces, amazing view, BUT they wanted some ridiculous up-front fee of $1000 if we were to get a dog PLUS a monthly $75 fee, so that and the rent put us off.

Yes, I think we'd both love to have a view of the water and be that much closer to the PATH, but over on this side of the mall, we definitely love being closer to places like Marco & Pepe, Madame Claude's, Basic and Baker Boys. The lack of decent, better priced restaurants on the waterfront is a drag.

I guess it comes down to what your priorities are, but if you do move, just remember the whole fracas about the heating bills last year and the insulation problems in a lot of the apartments.

Also, I believe the Pacific has Comcast and DirecTV.

[kozak]

we looked at the Pacific and the green buildings by the water. They were all smaller apartments but the reason we didn't take them was that every apartment had slanted floors. We didn't see any level floors from the available apartments we saw. To us that was cruicial and is why we settled on the Lincoln.

[Gaga]

lincoln is too far from the path. i dont mind walking if it has nice streets and stuff. but i tried to get to lincoln from path and you need to walk through this area that looks like it just got bombed... waterfront apts definitly have a better location and imo 150 extra is well worth it

[stellartois]

also, is it just me, or are there others in the lincoln that pay a LOT less. I believe the average 1 br price is $1300? I pay $1350. I'm not sure if I'm getting ripped off or... if everyone else is paying around that.

Thanks for reminding me mia. I know that the presidential apts are the older ones. But insulation problems were an issue? Forget it. The last place I lived at had the same problem and we ended up paying soooo much on heating and a/c b/c we had a CONSTANT draft throughout the apt. I guess I am basically going to have to see about the newer ones. But crooked floors? I also had that problem TOO at the last place. It was quite annoying and dizzy. You could never get used to it.

Sheesh. I guess it'll cost about $200 more for the new apts (correct?) like the Southampton, Pacific etc.. And parking $50 more. That is crazy. I wonder if cooking gas and hw is included there..

Prices are just crazy up here I must say.

Oh and Mia. What type of restaurants are these: "Marco & Pepe, Madame Claude's, Basic and Baker Boys" I NEVER knew there was a bakery and other cool places to eat at around here!

I'm actually quite scared to walk outside even to the parking lot when it starts to get dark. I'm scared to walk around the neighborhood too.. It seems a bit shady, although it "looks" nice.. they could definately spiff up the neighborhoods around here, but it just seems so unsafe to walk around with a baby or by yourself. I love the brownstones, but i just get an eerie vibe from the neighborhoods..

[Mia]

Yes, I think 1300 is average for a one-bedroom. We've paid 1735 for a large 2-bedroom for the past 2 years (and now they want us to pay 1775 for the new lease).

You've gotta try Marco and Pepe and Madame Claude's.

http://www.marcoandpepe.com/

http://www.madameclaudecafe.com/

They're both about a 10-minute walk (in different directions), though we always drive. Madame Claude is on a corner and is set in what looks like used to be a tiny diner, but on the inside, you'd think you were in France and the food is fantastic. Alice and her husband are terrific hosts and will take great care of you.

Baker Boys doesn't seem to have a website, but here are some reviews:

http://www.kannekt.com/review/jer20260.htm

Their raspberry lemonade is amazing.

And Basic is about 2 blocks from us on Erie Street:

http://www.kannekt.com/review/jer20270.htm

On the safety issue, hmm, I walk through the parking lot every evening to come home from work, and the only time I've felt uneasy was when the stores were closed and it was around 11:30, so I got on my cel and chatted with a friend, reasoning that if something happened, someone would call for help. If you're really concerned, there's a police station about 2 blocks away from us on 7th or 8th off Manila behind the fire dept. Why don't you drop by and ask them for the low-down on crime in the area? The rest of the area around us is pretty safe. In fact, I think the area by us is on the up. When we drive to and from the gym, we see nothing but row-houses and brownstones being renovated. Also, you know it's a good sign when the size of the gay community increases because it typically follows that real estate values go up. That said, yes, there are some badly behaved kids running around the mall and the areas on both our side of it and the waterfront, but if you look at recent crimes in the JC area, most have happened not close to us. Take a walk around on a nice sunny day like today and you'll see how many middle-class and upper-middle class people have moved to the area and are out and about walking their dogs, sitting in Hamilton Park, etc.

I wouldn't worry too much about coming from the parking lot, because we get so much traffic through here on that street.

Good luck with your decision.