Upper West Side Considered the place du jour amongst many of New York’s young professionals, the Upper West Side is one of the hottest rental areas in the city. Competition for apartments is fierce and rents are on the rise. The UWS is bounded by Morningside Heights/110th Street to the north and Hells Kitchen/60th Street to the south: Central Park is on its east side and the Hudson River on the west. Walking down certain streets of this neighborhood you could easily think you’ve been transported to Paris. Developed around the turn of the century, the West Side was filled with beautiful brownstones, grand apartment buildings and charming tree-lined streets. Wanting to create a certain majesty and refinement, many of the area’s architects borrowed elements of design from respected European structures. Although they were built hoping to attract the upper class, many of these buildings and homes were actually occupied by middle and working class famili Lexington Avenue) are the only subways which traverse the area. Not only are stations a long walk for residents living on streets like First Avenue or York Avenue, but once you get there you’re likely to get smashed in to overcrowded trains during rush hour. Some Upper East Side opt to take buses, share taxis or jump in shuttle vans running downtown but above ground commutes can be lengthy due to traffic. A new ferry service from the 90th Street landing to 34th Street and the financial district is the latest attempt to help alleviate the commute crunch; tickets are $5 each way.