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Columbia University. Credit: S Kaya on flickr
From Get To Know
Best NYC investment condos for university students
By CityRealty Staff
Thursday, June 25, 2020
New York City is home to nearly 600,000 students, while New York State is the nation’s largest importer of college students; statistics show that among freshmen who leave their home states to attend college, more come to New York State than any other state. And when living in a dorm or a rental apartment is not an option, there’s a lot to consider when moving to NYC for college.
Of course, proximity is a top consideration, yet other factors are also in play. Perhaps you need a place to double down and cram, a chill spot to unwind, or maybe somewhere to party, whether at your place or somewhere nearby. Perhaps wish to commute by bike. Maybe you’re looking for an in-house gym or want to be located near a certain library or research center. Or maybe you just want to be in a part of the city where students generally prefer to hang out. Whatever you’re looking for, CityRealty’s list of best condos for college students will satisfy any wish list.
All images of Dahlia via Reuveni Real Estate
Designed by CetraRuddy, the elegant design of Dahlia embodies the flower for which it was named. The gracious two- through four-bedroom apartments are well appointed with high ceilings, generous proportions, abundant natural light, large chef's kitchens, and master bedrooms closed off from the living areas. Amenities include a massive 5,100-square-foot elevated terrace, fitness room with yoga studio, game room, lounge, children's playroom, pet spa, and bike room. Private storage and 12 parking spaces are available for purchase.
All images of Brooklyn Point via Williams New York
What’s cooler than telling your out-of-town friends that you live in Brooklyn’s tallest building with the highest rooftop infinity pool in the western hemisphere? Even if you’re not one to brag, you’ll still enjoy Brooklyn Point’s spacious gym, varied entertainment spaces, and walking distance to NYC College of Technology, NYU Tandon School of Engineering, and the Long Island University of Brooklyn. Pratt Institute is a bike ride away, and much of Manhattan lies within a half-hour subway ride.
Zeckendorf Towers as seen from Union Square. Credit: Dock Drumming on flickr
The four-towered complex sits close to New York University, Hebrew Union College, Cooper Union, the New School, Baruch College, and more. As such, there’s a good chance that some of your classmates live in the 670-unit high-rise. Zeckendorf Towers lets you get together for a study session at the large rooftop garden, or enjoy the bustle at Union Square next door, where the weekend farmers’ market sells more nutritious eats than late-night ramen.
Interior via Douglas Elliman
Interior via Compass
Vandewater. Credit: Savanna
If you need to focus on your studies, the Vandewater is for you. The tradition-minded facade vibes with the collegiate atmosphere of nearby Columbia University. Morningside Heights has its share of fun hangout spots, yet it’s a far cry from the mayhem of the city center. Full-service amenities will take care of housekeeping distractions, and a few laps in the spacious pool will cool you off after a late-night study grind.
Interiors via Halstead
The Roosevelt Island Tram. Credit: Edgar Omar on flickr
For all their advantages, New York universities often lack “true” campuses with a cloistered, communal feel. A rare exception is the brand new Cornell Tech complex on Roosevelt Island on the East River. Riverwalk Court lets you get the full campus experience one F train stop away from Midtown, along with an amenity package that blows any dorm out of the water.
Riverwalk Court via The Corcoran Group
Astor Place (left) and Cooper Union (right). Credit: Jeffrey Bary on flickr
The studio crit is coming up in fifteen minutes, but the glue has barely dried on your balsa-wood building model, the product of a grueling all-nighter. Fear not, because at Astor Place, getting to class at Cooper Union, the country’s premier architecture school, means riding the elevator downstairs and crossing the street. Afterward, celebrate the jury’s passage with your sleep-deprived classmates with a romp through the bars and lounges that abound in the neighborhood.
Interior via Kleier Residential
Interior via Platinum Properties
5 Beekman Street. Credit: Douglas Elliman
5 Beekman Street effectively sits within the Pace University campus, which scatters across the adjacent blocks in the City Hall district. After you finish your studies, impress your date with a sumptuous, ten-story atrium built in the 19th century, then follow up with observatory-like views from floor-to-ceiling windows in the 51-story skyscraper.
Interiors via Douglas Elliman
Kips Bay Towers. Credit: Carl Mikoy on flickr
The Kips Bay neighborhood in Midtown South is home to the city’s greatest medical center cluster, with the Bellevue Hospital Center, NYU Langone Medical Center, VA New York Harbor, and Beth Israel Medical Center located within a small radius of late and great architect I.M. Pei’s minimalist, no-nonsense Kips Bay Towers. Medical students living here also have easy access to the NYU College of Nursing and the NY Dentistry College.
Interior via Douglas Elliman
Interior via Compass
6th Avenue, with Chelsea Stratus on the left. Credit: Andreas Komodromos on flickr
There are many options if you’re looking for an apartment near the Fashion Institute of Technology, yet the Chelsea Stratus is perhaps the best fit. The Stratus earns its status through five-minute walking distance to FIT, equal proximity to the showrooms in the trendy Flatiron District, a one-station commute to the Garment District, the lively hubbub of the Chelsea neighborhood, and wide-ranging amenities that include a roof deck that looks far across the city from the top of the 40-story skyscraper.
Interiors via Compass
Morningside Park. Credit: Owen Hearey on flickr
The stately campus of Columbia University perches atop the hill on the other side of Morningside Park, which sits across the street from the 22-story One Morningside Park. Equally tempting is the verdure of Central Park, which comes in panoramic view from the upper floors. Nearby Harlem and the Upper West Side have got you covered in terms of quaint dining and nightlife, and the 110th Street-Cathedral Parkway station of the A, B, and C trains will take you to any destination in the city, academic or otherwise.
Interior via The Corcoran Group
Interior via Realmart Realty
Georgetown Plaza. Credit: CityRealty
Don’t let the no-frills facade of the 31-story housing block bum you out, for Georgetown Plaza, located near both Cooper Union and New York University, is happening both inside and out. Invite your friends to hang out on a balcony high above the city, chill on the large rooftop deck, take a dip in the outdoor pool, or step outside and seize the night in one of New York City’s liveliest neighborhoods for culture, dining, and nightlife.
Interiors via Douglas Elliman
Flickr photo credits: Columbia University - S Kaya; Zeckendorf Towers - Dock Drumming; The Roosevelt Island Tram - Edgar Omar; Astor Place - Jeffrey Bary; Kips Bay Towers - Carl Mikoy; Chelsea Stratus - Andreas Komodromos; One Morningside Park - Owen Hearey
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