Nicest High-Rise Neighborhoods

Interested in hearing about some of the nicest small neighborhood enclaves of luxury high-rises in all major cities and how they compare for young professionals to live in a luxurious diverse community close to offices. Few that come to mind. Feel free to share thoughts on each and come up with a tier list.

NYC: Hudson Yards, Lincoln Square, or LIC (if Queens counts)

Boston: Seaport, Kendall Square

SF: Rincon Hill

Chicago: Lakeshore East

Miami: South Beach/Brickell

LA: Century City

London: Canary Wharf, near King's Cross

5 Comments
 

For young professionals seeking luxurious high-rise neighborhoods with a diverse community and proximity to offices, here's a breakdown of the mentioned neighborhoods and a tier list based on insights from the WSO dataset:

NYC

  • Hudson Yards: A modern luxury hub with high-end amenities and proximity to Midtown offices. However, it has been criticized for poor urban planning and a lack of vibrant street life.
  • Lincoln Square: Offers a mix of luxury and culture, with proximity to Central Park and Lincoln Center. A more established and lively area compared to Hudson Yards.
  • Long Island City (LIC): Located in Queens, LIC is close to Midtown (1-2 train stops) and offers lower costs of living compared to Manhattan. While nightlife isn't amazing, its proximity to the city compensates.

Boston

  • Seaport: A trendy, upscale area with luxury high-rises, waterfront views, and a growing number of restaurants and bars. Popular among young professionals.
  • Kendall Square: Known for its tech and innovation hub, it offers a mix of luxury living and proximity to Cambridge offices. However, nightlife and cultural options are more limited compared to Seaport.

San Francisco

  • Rincon Hill: Features newer luxury apartment complexes and proximity to downtown offices. While it offers convenience, SF's public transportation and urban planning challenges can be a drawback.

Chicago

  • Lakeshore East: A hidden gem with luxury high-rises, green spaces, and proximity to the Loop. Ideal for professionals working downtown, offering a balance of convenience and tranquility.

Miami

  • South Beach/Brickell: Brickell is the financial hub with luxury condos and a vibrant nightlife scene, making it a top choice for young professionals. South Beach offers a more laid-back, beach-centric lifestyle but is less office-centric.

Los Angeles

  • Century City: Known for its luxury condos and proximity to major entertainment and business hubs. However, LA's car-dependent nature and traffic can be a downside.

London

  • Canary Wharf: A modern financial district with high-rise luxury apartments. It offers a clean, professional vibe but lacks the cultural vibrancy of central London.
  • Near King's Cross: A rapidly developing area with luxury apartments, excellent transport links, and a mix of cultural and professional opportunities.

Tier List

S-Tier (Best for Young Professionals)

  • NYC: Lincoln Square
  • Boston: Seaport
  • Chicago: Lakeshore East
  • Miami: Brickell

A-Tier (Great Options)

  • NYC: Hudson Yards
  • London: Near King's Cross
  • San Francisco: Rincon Hill

B-Tier (Good, but with Drawbacks)

  • NYC: LIC
  • Boston: Kendall Square
  • London: Canary Wharf
  • Los Angeles: Century City

C-Tier (Limited Appeal for Young Professionals)

  • Miami: South Beach (less office-centric)
  • NYC: Hudson Yards (urban planning concerns)

This tier list reflects a balance of luxury, community, and proximity to offices, tailored for young professionals.

Sources: How does Hudson Yards end up?, SA 2021 NYC Housing Thread, SA 2021 NYC Housing Thread, Why would anyone willingly choose to live in NYC / SF / CHI?, Moving to Boston - Suggestions

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.
 

While I understand the appeal of high rises, I don't know that they're the best option for some of the cities you've mentioned, London and Los Angeles specifically. Canary Wharf is kind of a boring, sterile place to live and you'd be better off in a more central location in London even if you don't have a high rise. I don't think you should be looking for high rise just for the sake of itself; by that logic, La Defense in Paris would be the hottest place to live. 

 
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Miami, South Beach is fun for a couple years then mehh, Tampa and St Pete are slightly better as ease of traffic, but getting worse. 

I'd do BK or Jersey City along the rivers vs Hudson Yards in a second. 

Seaport is flood prone. Almost moved into a high rise and it flooded, most cars were a loss on the bottom 4 levels. Now they have some mitgation but it still floods there at least 1-2 times a winter. It's also not mainly for Boston people, but everyone wants to act like they are Boston Tough, gets old quick. Do Kendal square over it. 

My friend moved to Lakeshore East after grad school and raved about it, though he's now a suburbanite once the kid could walk. 

Courthouse and Rosslyn in Virginia aren't bad, neither is the inner harbor in Balt. Rittenhouse Sq in Philly is pretty good and nice. Though very suburban for being downtown. 

 

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