I've traveled around the tri-state area for a little over a month and stayed with different Airbnb hosts and Damien is, by far, the most respectful, professional, humble, and communicative of them all. He is a born-and-bred New Yorker and a passionate record label executive with an eye towards expansion that I think anyone coming into the city can appreciate.
As a Millennial, I definitely understand the appeal of wanting to book a room downtown to be in the middle of everything. We hear a ton about the Village and Times Square and such. Damien's place, however, is in a neighborhood I can personally attest to as a hidden gem. He is equidistant from the D and 4 trains near Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. What this means is that you are a 15-20 minute express train away from all of the sights and sounds, but you have a vibrant and up-and-coming neighborhood to return to in the evening that, despite media portrayals, was incredibly safe in my experience. I often saw couples out walking their dogs and happy families going about their business and rarely, if ever, felt that I had to watch my back or anythin getting off the train.
His place is a good mix of city living and suburban charms. You have your cable TV and plenty of space to roam around, and a wonderfully sweet and sassy cat if you're comfortable with pets. I've never personally had a cat of my own, but Hennessey (!!!) warmed up to me within minutes and often purred at the foot of my bed, gently rocking me to sleep at the end of each night. Try finding that level of comfort downtown!
Damien is also an expert on this oft-overlooked borough. If you're looking for overlooked tourist destinations, great local eats, etc. look no further. Many Airbnb hosts are very hands-off these days but Damien is always available with great, considerate advice, which, again, is rare in this city.
All in all, I can't recommend staying with him enough. There are many improvements in store that will only enhance the experience, and this is the only place I'd even consider booking in the city moving forward.