MANHATTAN — The three-bedroom co-op apartment is one of the most prized finds in New York real estate. This weekend, there are three to check out, all at different price points.
402 West 153rd Street, #6W, Hudson Heights
Three bedrooms/One bath
Approximately 1,600 square feet
Co-op
$960,000
Maintenance: $900 a month
Open House: Sunday, Oct. 4, 12:30 to 2:30 p.m.
Lowdown: This is a three-bedroom co-op that's “good for anyone priced out of central Manhattan or Brooklyn,” said Brown Harris Stevens broker Deborah Gimelson.
The apartment is located in a six-story, prewar co-op building without any perks — no doorman here — but that keeps maintenance prices low. The unit retains its original, spacious layout.
“The rooms are not perfectly square,” said Gimelson. “It's very unique, and most other apartments like that have been renovated now.”
Gimelson also noted that many of the prewar details remain in tact, including wainscoting, decorative fireplaces, French doors, even a shaving closet with a sink.
Lots of windows and cross ventilation meant that the seller “never had to use air conditioning” in her 10 years living there, said Gimelson.
The seller renovated the kitchen, adding open shelving that feels “very European,” in Gimelson's words. The eat-in kitchen also retains the original banquet seating setup.
The co-op is currently configured as a three-bedroom with a large dressing room off the master bedroom. But the dressing room, which has its own entrance and window, could easily be converted into a fourth bedroom, according to Gimelson.
“Each room is generously sized,” she said.
Location: This co-op building is located in a quiet, residential area of Hudson Heights. “Most of the businesses are located either north or south, this is a very residential pocket,” said Gimelson.
Nearby, she noted, a bodega is being converted into a Dunkin Donuts. The building is also surrounded by green space, including Jackie Robinson Park, the Trinity Church Cemetery, Roger Morris Park and the Wright Brothers Playground. The 155th Street C train is located about two blocks away.
Why put it on your open house calendar? “The space for the price," said Gimelson. “And the space is beautiful.”
259 Garfield Place, #2R, Park Slope
Three bedrooms/One bath
Approximately 1,600 square feet
Co-op
$1,395,000
Maintenance: $1,208 a month
Open House: Sunday, Oct. 4, noon to 1:30 p.m.
Lowdown: The layout for this co-op apartment is known as a “classic six,” with a dining room, living room, three bedrooms and a kitchen.
“It's a lot like a charming old Upper West Side apartment," said Brown Harris Stevens broker Charles Ruoff.
The co-op is in a historic brick and limestone building, which is rare for this area of Park Slope, according to Ruoff. It holds 19 units over two adjacent buildings. Residents share a roof deck with “great views of Manhattan,” said Ruoff. There's also dedicated storage and a bike room in the building.
The apartment is located on the top floor of the four-story building. Three exposures to the south, north and east ensure plenty of light.
Prewar details, well-maintained by the current owners, include detailed wood floors and woodwork around the windows. In the living room, three large windows are outfitted with the original wood shutters.
The sellers, who have lived there at least 10 years, updated the bathrooms and renovated the kitchen a few years back. The galley kitchen has new countertop, cabinets, a tiled backsplash and a modest desk. The dining room, located right off the kitchen, offers plenty of space for seating.
There is also ample storage space, with seven closets throughout the apartment as well as storage offered in the building.
Location: This co-op building is located in an area of Park Slope well known for its beautiful stock of townhouses. Ruoff noted the townhouse at 250 Garfield Place, which is on the same block, recently sold for $7.5 million. One block west of the co-op is 7th Avenue, one of the neighborhood's main drags. One block south is Prospect Park. The nearest subway trains are the 2 and 3 line, located five blocks north at the Grand Army Plaza stop.
Why put it on your open house calendar? “It's absolutely charming with wonderful views and light,” said Ruoff.
3901 Independence Avenue, #7A, Riverdale
Three bedrooms/Two baths
Approximately 1,224 square feet
Co-op
$349,990
Maintenance: $1,037 a month
Open House: Sunday, Oct. 4, 11:30 to 12:30 p.m.
Lowdown: This co-op apartment is for the buyer searching for space on a budget. It's located on the top floor of a seven-story co-op that was built in 1963.
“It's a top-floor, corner apartment that gets lots of light,” said Re/Max broker Chintan Trivedi, who noted that there are exposures to the south, east and north.
The seller has lived there for about five years and rented the apartment out for the past two years. The building, said Trivedi, allows subleasing, unlike other co-ops.
A few years ago the current owners updated the apartment with new appliances and granite countertops in the kitchen, new tiles in the bathroom, and recessed lighting.
“Everything is newer, this is not a prewar building,” Trivedi said.
Off the kitchen, there is an open living and dining room with enough space for a desk.
As for the three bedrooms, “they are well-sized,” said Trivedi, and each come with windows, closets and heating units.
Although there's been interest in the property, the co-op board requires a minimum income of $150,000 to buy this particular unit. “We've had tremendous interest in the property, but some incomes have fallen a bit short of the requirement,” Trivedi said.
Location: “This is a great location, right in central Riverdale,” stated Trivedi, who also said that it's a very quiet area. Riverdale Park is located just west of the mostly residential streets. Riverdale isn't known for its bustling bar or restaurant scene. The closest subway — the 1 train at 238th Street — is about a 20 minute walk away.
Most residents have a car, and this co-op building has a garage with a waiting list of about one year, said Trivedi. There are also neighboring garages for residents to park.
Why put it on your open house calendar: “It's the perfect combination of location, size and price,” said Trivedi. He also thinks that the maintenance is lower that other three-bedroom co-ops for sale in the city.
