Sorry if this seems like a silly question. I've always lived on sidestreets, all residential. All of my folks live on sidestreets, too.
I looked at a nice place on Tompkins, south of Gates. It's above an office (9-5 kind of place), next to a Laundromat. Does anyone have experience living above a business like that? It's not a food place, or I wouldn't be considering.
Thanks for any advice.
Living above an office is better than living about neighbors because the people go away at night. Besides that, I can't imagine what any sort of difference/issue there is.
You might have potential issue with the laundromat though, depending on the location of it's vent, the popularity of the place and just how close you are to it. If the vent is anywhere near your windows the hat air could meander right over to you. Good in winter, sucky in summer. If they have an air conditioner in there you will probably have to deal with the very loud humming of that machine. Also, if a lot of people go there, you can expect a fair number of people to be smoking outside it at any given time. Cause, that's one of the things people do when waiting for machines to be done.
What could your concerns possibly be living above an office?
Thanks for the info tateinbk about the laundromat. I'll have to check out the vent/AC issue.
Concerns about living above office were just that I've always lived in all residential areas. I don't have a good sense of what living on a more commercial street would be like or above an office (traffic in and out, etc.).
In terms of noise pollution from being on a main drag you have more to worry about from buses and cars coming from the street. If there is a bus stop in front of your building you'll get a shocking amount of noise as the buses stop, lower stairs and I don't know what else to produce so much noise. Also, if you're on a busy street you might want to see if any tour buses go by. When you're on the second floor you're at just the right height for the people on a double-decker to peer into your apartment. 
(I have been tempted to flash them or yell obscenities, but could never make up my mind about which to do. In middle school we would yell "penis" at tour buses.)
Unless you're buying, if everything else looks good, go for it. All the street noise will soon become background fuzz. It may take a bit, but you'll acclimate pretty quickly. At various times in my life when living near a fire station, I would think nothing of the fact that everyone had to stop talking every time a fire truck screeched past.
In terms of traffic in an office, maybe it depends on what kind of place, but none of it should really matter.
If the laundromat is that close -- be prepared to live with the smell of fabric softeners. Now many people can't
get enough of this lovely scented stuff, however, it is caustic. There is nothing natural about this stuff
it is loaded with chemicals and bad for your health-- Not information they place on the container of course
but just as bad as any cigarette. That is something to consider, just do a search of what is in fabric
softeners, along with the very popular air plug in fragrance gadgets and you will learn what too many
people aren't aware of. I know I couldn't deal with it. I have to hold my breath and cross the street
when walking my dog a good half of a block before we approach a laundromat as I can smell the softener
way before. Good Luck in your search.
Thanks reggi! Great point about the fabric softener. I hung out around there a bit more and decided to pass.
Another question if I may -- how do folks feel about living within a block of the Louis Armstrong Houses? Really bad idea?
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