As the cost of renting in Manhattan grows, lots of prospective tenants have started to consider crossing a river in search of more affordable housing options. For those looking to live a body of water away from the big city skyline, one question remains: Should they cross the Hudson or the East River?
Our latest property comparison takes us first to Jersey City’s Van Vorst section and then to Park Slope in Brooklyn. Both properties are a stone’s throw from lush green spaces, but a full townhome at 302 Varick Street is where we’ll begin our search.
The Varick Street home features a charming brownstone exterior and boasts five bedrooms and two-and-a-half baths in its 2,720 square feet of living space. The entry floor sports parquet hardwood floors and a kitchen that comes complete with dark wood custom cabinetry and gorgeous marble countertops. An exposed brick backsplash, stainless steel appliances, gas range, wall oven, and wine cooler round out the space, which connects to a dining room for effortless entertaining.
Up on the second floor, you’ll find an open parlor level with large bay windows surrounded by pocket doors. The next floor features two spacious bedrooms that are each flooded with plenty of natural sunlight and offer access to the central bathroom, which boasts a double vanity, large soaking tub, and a separate standing shower.
The top level of this home is dedicated exclusively to the master suite complete with a large lounge that can be utilized as a spacious sitting room or office. An en-suite bathroom rounds out the space. Other amenities at 302 Varick include a washer dryer on site, a powder room, and access to a private backyard. The gross rent at this Van Vorst property is $6,495, which includes two months free on a 16-month lease.
The property is just blocks from the park the neighborhood is named after and conveniently a short walk to the Grove Street PATH station. It’s also a quick jaunt to the Jersey Avenue Light Rail station, and Newark Avenue and Grove Street’s shopping and restaurants are nearby.
For comparison, we’ll now take a look at unit #3 at 498 Second Street in Brooklyn’s Park Slope neighborhood. This triplex home is located within a brownstone and features four bedrooms and two baths. Renovated just 18 months ago, the kitchen at this property was overhauled with a high-end double oven, dishwasher, and granite countertops.
New wood flooring greets visitors on the parlor level, which features a large living room leading into the aforementioned eat-in kitchen.
The two upper levels are where the four large bedrooms can be found at this property, and there’s a smaller room that can be used as an office or walk-in closet. The master bedroom at 498 Second Street has an en-suite bathroom and the property also features a large laundry room as well as a private deck in the rear.
A shared garden space that the deck overlooks rounds out the triplex, which is located just two blocks from Brooklyn’s Prospect Park greenery. Shopping and dining options line 7th Avenue mere steps from the home, while the Grand Army Plaza station gives access to the 2, 3, and 4 subway lines. Several other lines like the F, G, B, or Q are accessible via another station at 7th Avenue.
Rent at the Park Slope triplex clocks in at $10,000 per month, making it a bit steeper than its Jersey City counterpart. While lots of factors need to be considered when choosing a home, an extra bedroom and half bath in Van Vorst, plus a full yard of outdoor space, all at a lower price, demonstrates that Downtown JC compares pretty favorably to this Brooklyn neighborhood.
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