I'm looking at a first-floor one-bed on 30th Ave in Astoria, right near 34th St, windows facing the avenue. Rent is okay, no broker fee, and it's close to the N/W. But I keep hearing first floor + busy avenue = you'll never sleep, and you'll be the one who sees every rat doing the conga line to the restaurant trash. I've only lived in higher-floor walkups before. Is this actually a dealbreaker or do people make it work? I'm not scared of street noise during the day, but I do need to be up at 6:30 for work. Also, do first-floor places here get more break-ins or package theft? Blunt advice welcome.

Ooh I was just apartment hunting in Astoria last month! I almost took a ground-floor studio on 36th Ave but backed out because the windows were right at sidewalk level and I felt like people could look in. But my friend lives on 30th Ave (second floor) and says it's loud on weekends but she loves being steps from everything. Are you looking at the side where the bars are, or the quieter stretch by the park? I'm new to all this so I don't know if first floor is really worse for rats or if that's just an old building thing. Following because I might go back to a ground floor place if the price is right.

First floor on 30th Ave is a whole different animal. If the windows face the avenue, you're getting delivery e-bikes, drunk people screaming at 2am, and the trash trucks at 5am. The double-pane windows help only if they're actually sealed and the super maintains them. Check if the bedroom is in the back or front — if it's back, you might be okay. But ground floor also means you're the first stop for every package thief and every mouse looking for warmth. That said, I know people who live on 30th and would never leave. Go see it at 10pm on a Friday and again at 6am on a Tuesday. If you can't handle that, don't take it.

Thanks EastHarlem_E, that's what I was afraid of. The bedroom is in the front, facing the avenue, so that's a no-go then? Rent is like $200 cheaper than the second-floor comps I've seen, but maybe not worth it. I did go at 6pm on a weeknight and it was loud but not insane. Haven't done late night yet. DykerNewbie, it's the stretch near 34th St, past the hospital a bit. There are a couple of bars on the block but not directly below. Do the trash trucks really come every single night? I thought they skipped some nights.

Woodhaven_W, trash trucks on commercial avenues like 30th are basically a nightly thing, especially if there's a restaurant or two. Plus you'll get the bottle redemption guys going through bags at random hours. Not the end of the world, but if you're a light sleeper, front bedroom on the first floor is rough. I'd say hold out for a back-facing unit or a higher floor. If the landlord is offering a deal, ask why — sometimes it's because the previous tenant bounced after one winter. Also, ground floor means you're closer to the basement door, so if the super is in and out, you'll hear that too. Not a scam, just reality.

Okay that's really helpful. I didn't even think about the bottle collectors, Tribeca_T. So if I find a first-floor place with the bedroom in the back, that's maybe okay? And what about rats — do they really come up into ground-floor apartments? I saw a rat outside a restaurant on 30th Ave last week and it just sat there looking at me. My cousin in Dyker said don't live near a restaurant because of that but I thought he was exaggerating. Also, do you think it's weird to ask the landlord for a rent reduction if I take the first floor? I'm new at negotiating.

DykerNewbie, back bedroom changes everything. Street noise won't be in your sleep, and you can keep the front room for living room/kitchen. But first floor plus a building with a restaurant next door? Yeah, rats will find a way in if there are gaps under the door or around pipes. Ask the super to put down new door sweeps and seal holes before you move in. Not weird to ask for a reduction — worst they say is no. But don't expect much on 30th Ave; inventory moves. As for the rats, they're not climbing through windows unless you leave them open without screens, but they will use the basement and stairwells.

I'd push back a little — rats on the first floor aren't automatic if the building's garbage is in sealed bins and the restaurant is on the other side of the block. But it's a risk. You can check 311 complaints for the address or the block, that'll tell you more than any broker. Also, Woodhaven_W, if you decide to go for it, at least get a security gate for the front windows or bars, and a good loud AC unit to drown out the drunks. But honestly, for $200 less a month, I'd still take the second floor and eat the cost. Sleep is worth more than that.

Yeah, I'm leaning toward passing on the front bedroom. I went back Friday around 11:30 and it wasn't as bad as I expected — mostly people heading to the train, not screaming — but the trucks at 5am would break me. The landlord said double-pane but they looked original, so I don't trust it. DykerNewbie, I didn't ask for a reduction yet because I don't want to seem like a flake, but I might if I can see the place again with a friend who lives in the neighborhood. Tribeca_T, do you know if 311 complaints for noise actually show up for a specific building, or just the block? Might be overkill.

311 complaints are by address if it's a building issue like noise from a business, but street noise complaints are basically by intersection/block. You won't get much detail, but it can show if a bar is a repeat offender. Honestly, you've done the right thing — visit at night, trust your gut. If the bedroom faces the avenue and the windows are original, that's a hard pass for anyone who needs sleep. DykerNewbie, if you find a place with the bedroom in the back, that's a different story, but still check for gaps around pipes and the door. Oh, and if you're still hunting in that area, there's an earlier thread "Key Food on 5th and 14th — is that soft opening still half-boxed?" Key Food on 5th and 14th — is that soft opening still half-boxed? that actually has a lot of talk about late-night delivery noise and how the block functions after dark. Worth a read before you sign anything.