Thank you so much all of you for the pertinent advice.
I'll look around my neighborhood for bike shops but (I live in NYC and the cost of living is extravagant) I'll keep an eye open for an appropriate used bike from a first owner outside the city.
I forgot to mention I'm very mechanically inclined. I ride a Piaggio BV scooter daily and just completed a complete overhaul of the transmission.
I'll keep the handlebar/saddle level in mind.