Gramercy

Gramercy is a a neighborhood around Gramercy Park and is generally perceived to be a quiet and safe area. It is bounded by 23rd street to the north, 14th street to the south, Park Avenue to the west and First Avenue to the east. The approximately 2 acre (0.8 hectare) park is one of only two private parks in Manhattan.  Only people residing around the park who pay an annual fee have a key, and the public is not generally allowed in, although the sidewalks of the streets around the park are a popular jogging, strolling and dog-walking route.

While real estate in Manhattan is rarely stable, the apartments in the neighborhood around Gramercy Park have experienced little turmoil. East 19th Street between Third Avenue and Irving is labeled "Block Beautiful" for its wide array of architecture and pristine aesthetic. Townhouses with generous backyards and smaller apartments alike coincide in a collage of architecture in Gramercy Park.

Since the vicinity of Gramercy Park is the most prized area that has always been popular with politicians, writers, socialites and (nowadays) Hollywood stars, both the average age and average income of its residents tended to be high. The properties east of Third Avenue, however, are just about the average price affordable to students.  In the "core" Gramercy Park area (west of Third Avenue), the quality of buldings is as high the prices of apartments in them, simply because they were constructed a long time ago, back in the era of high standards of construction. Newer buildings that were added after the WWII (especially the multi-apartment variety) are a step down, but are more affordable. The area also boasts quite a few beautiful row houses, especially on side streets and next to the park.