MANHATTAN — Convenience is one of the top perks of living in Manhattan. Owning an apartment in a full-service building helps make life even easier: Doormen, concierges and porters are there to help with deliveries, dry cleaning and heavy packages. Here are three open houses in full-service buildings to view in Manhattan this weekend.
165 W. 66th St., Apt. 2N, Upper West Side, Manhattan
Studio/1 Bathroom
Co-op
Approximately 600 square feet
$449,000
Maintenance: $861.24 per month
Open House: Sunday, Jan. 26, noon to 1:30 p.m.
Lowdown: Renovated by the seller about four years ago, this east-facing alcove studio has a dining nook large enough to carve a separate room off the living area, said Pat Publik, of Halstead Property.
“I don’t like to use the word bedroom because there are no windows [in the separated space], so I would say it could be made into an office or extra usable space,” Publik explained. “A pass-through window was added to the kitchen during renovations, and there’s a beautiful electric fireplace that makes you feel really at home.”
The unit is in Lincoln Terrace, a 375-unit, 20-story building constructed in 1962. Amenities include a full-time doorman, gym, and storage, play, package and bike rooms. The co-op also owns a garage in the building where residents get a discount, Publik said. Most pets are welcome, she added.
The motivated seller reduced the price last month by $40,000.
Location: Lincoln Center, Central Park and Riverside Park are steps away. Subway access includes the local 1 train at 66th Street and the A, B, C and D trains at Columbus Circle, where the Time Warner Center has upscale shops, restaurants and a Whole Foods.
Why put it on your open house calendar? “It’s in the best area, and the building is phenomenal,” Publik said. “You get a livable space in a full-service building with top amenities at an affordable price.”
201 E. 25th St., Apt. 9F, Kips Bay, Manhattan
1 Bedroom/1 Bathroom
Co-op
Approximately 700 square feet
$689,000
Maintenance: $1,319.91
Open House: Sunday, Jan. 26, 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Lowdown: Empire State Building views and the renovated bathroom and open kitchen set this unit apart from other one-bedrooms in the building, said Celia Linda Taitelbaum, of Halstead Property.
“The sponsor completed the renovations about eight years ago, but the unit’s been well maintained and it still looks fresh,” Taitelbaum said, adding that the unit also has a large entry foyer and abundant closet space, which has been customized.
“Buyers who come in say the bedroom is very large compared to other apartments they’ve seen," Taitelbaum said.
The building’s elevators and halls were updated a few years ago, and a lobby renovation is expected to be completed in about a month, Taitelbaum said. A temporary assessment is paying for that and new boilers.
Location: Situated in the southern end of Kips Bay, the unit is just two blocks from Gramercy and three blocks from Madison Square Park. Third Avenue is chock full of shops, bars and restaurants, Taitelbaum said, adding, “The new Fairway [on Second Avenue at 30th Street] has made a huge impact on the neighborhood.”
The local 6 train has stations along Park Avenue South at 23rd Street and 28th Street. Six additional train lines are accessible at Union Square, about 10 blocks south. A possible new East River Ferry stop at 23rd Street was recommended in a recent study by the New York City Economic Development Corporation.
Why put it on your open house calendar? “The apartment has Empire State Building views from both the living room and bedroom,” Taitelbaum said. “The apartment also gets great afternoon light, and it has central A/C, which becomes more efficient on people’s individual energy bills in the summer.”
88 Greenwich St., Apt. 1910, Financial District, Manhattan
1 Bedroom/1 Bath
Condo
819 square feet
$950,000
Common Charges: $965 per month
Real Estate Taxes: $734 per month
Open House: Sunday, Jan. 26, noon to 2 p.m.
Lowdown: The current owner bought this downtown one-bedroom unit from the sponsor five years ago and has not changed anything. “They’ve kept it immaculate and don’t even wear shoes in the apartment, so the floors are pristine,” said Vladimir Luzader, of Town Residential.
Though priced just under $1 million, Luzader considers the unit to be a bargain compared to similar apartments. “The same unit on the floor above, unit 2010, is on the market for $1.225 million. The other floor has a tenant in place, so it’s for an investor and is at a bit of a higher price,” he explained. “We’ve priced it a little below where apartments in the building are trading on a price-per-square-foot basis, which in October was at $1,182. We priced it at $1,159 to get people in the door.”
At 819 square feet, the apartment is larger than many of the other one-bedrooms in the building, Luzader said, adding that the fact that the bedroom does not have a window has not bothered any potential buyers. The space is outfitted with California closets throughout.
Amenities and services at the Greenwich Club Residences include dry cleaning, laundry drop-off, Wi-Fi, a library and billiards room, and a 24th-floor sun deck with cabanas. A new fitness center and yoga studio on par with Equinox, Luzader said, will open in April.
“The sky lounge also has a fully functioning kitchen with a fireplace, couches and views of New York Harbor that people use for parties,” he added. “It’s very much a full-service, white-glove, almost hotel-like service. There are about 30 people on staff and the building is immaculate.”
Location: The building is at the crossroads where the Financial District meets TriBeCa and Battery Park City. There are 11 subway lines within four blocks.
Why put it on your open house calendar? "There’s nothing but upside in terms of value — new developments in the vicinity are coming on the market at $2,500-per-square-foot or more — and it’s in a building where you’re not giving up anything," Luzader said. "It’s convenient, has all the amenities and services, plus light and unobstructed views.”
