Elan Zafir, a classically trained stage actor, found a sense of belonging in his Gramercy apartment, a feeling he described as the building’s true appeal. “I know everyone in the building,” he stated. “My kid can go run downstairs too let her friend in for a playdate. I never worried about anything as it’s mostly owners in the building.”
Zafir, who arrived in New York in July 2000, has resided in various neighborhoods, including Canal Street during 9/11, the East Village, and Crown Heights. Though, this particular Gramercy location became his home. He highlighted its convenient access to othre parts of the city: “you’re two blocks from the East Village, another two blocks from Eataly in madison Square Park. You’re like half a block from Stuyvesant Square Park – wich is just beautiful – and they’ve got like tango some nights, and concerts and they show movies there.”
His career as a stage actor, with performances at institutions such as TFANA, La MaMa, and Classic Stage Company, benefited from the apartment’s proximity to the city’s cultural hubs, facilitating his ability to manage auditions and rehearsals across different boroughs. “I could walk to Chinatown and just get whatever dumpling I wanted. It was just so easy anywhere I had to go,” he recalled. “I’m always like working in a different theater โฆ I worked at the Classic Stage and it was super easy to get to work.”
Zafir and his wife,Lindsay,who transitioned from remote work for The forge to a professorship at CUNY,are relocating to Morningside Heights. This move is motivated by the need for more space and to be closer to their work and schools. “My son is coming to move in with me โฆ so we need a proper three-bedroom,” Zafir explained. “We got Sarah [his daughter] into a good school. We’re happy about thatโฆ but it’s just nothing like where we where.”
Despite the anticipation of a new chapter, the departure from their current apartment is bittersweet. Zafir shared, “The apartment is super cute. When it was just me,my wife,my dog and my 7-year-old,we all just liked to sleep in the bed and be all bundled up. I’ve got really fond memories of that.” He concluded, “Life became a lot easier actually, and so yeah – we’re not looking forward to leave, to be honest.”