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Open House Agenda: 3 Apartments to See This Weekend

By Donna M. Airoldi | February 6, 2015 7:53am | Updated on February 6, 2015 6:32pm
 These renovated studio apartments offer more than first meets the eye.
Studio Co-ops Worth a Look
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MANHATTAN — With the continued tight real estate market and rising prices, Manhattan studios are increasingly appealing to buyers who value location over size. Here are three with open houses this weekend that are worth a look.

201 E. 37th St., Apt. 9C, Murray Hill
Alcove Studio/1 Bath
Co-op
Approximately 500 square feet
$435,000
Maintenance: $862 per month
Open House: Sunday, Feb. 8, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Lowdown: The seller of this bright, south-facing alcove studio recently renovated the bathroom and was planning to upgrade the kitchen when she had an opportunity to purchase a larger space in the same building, said Robin Lee Portnoy of Maxwell Jacobs.

“I have renovation plans, an estimate and a contractor for that,” Portnoy noted.

The seller also put in crown molding and the doors of the "higher than normal" ceilings "go all the way to the top, giving the space a loft-like feel.”

The alcove space is large enough for a queen-size bed. Double-sized closets are on either side of the dressing area leading into the bathroom.

The building, called the Wingate, gets revenue from CityMD on the corner, which keeps the maintenance low. There’s laundry in the basement and a recently renovated rooftop with tables, lounge chairs and a “killer view.”

The seller recently dropped the price by $14,000, and there’s been strong interest, Portnoy said, adding that the one-bedroom next door (unit 9B) is also for sale. "Combined, they would create a 1,250-square-foot space."

Location: The co-op sits just east of Third Avenue in Murray Hill. It’s down the block from the Midtown Tunnel exit, but it has double-paned windows and is quiet, Portnoy said. Most conveniences are within a block or two.

The subways and shops at Grand Central Terminal are five blocks away.

Why put it on your open house calendar? “It’s closer to downtown where everyone wants to be," Portnoy said, "but without the downtown price tag.”

230 E. 73rd St., Apt. 7D, Upper East Side
Alcove Studio/1 Bath
Co-op
Approximately 570 square feet
$485,000
Maintenance: $1,041 per month
Open House: Sunday, Feb. 8, noon to 1 p.m.

Lowdown: This beautifully renovated quiet studio on the Upper East Side is as large as many one-bedrooms. The building, completed in 1930, was designed by renowned architect Emery Roth and has three distinct living, dining, sleeping areas with high, beamed ceilings.

“The space is versatile; sometimes the bed is near the window, which really opens up the place,” said Barbara K. Gruson of Douglas Elliman. “The apartment shows really well and feels much bigger than a standard studio.”

The kitchen and bath, both of which are windowed, had been upgraded when the seller purchased the northwest-facing unit in 2003. The space has three closets. The owner, who relocated out of state, is willing to sell the furnishings with the unit.

The pet-friendly building has a full-time doorman, small gym, bike area and storage rental.

Location: The block between Third and Second avenues is quiet and tree-lined. “Great restaurants and quiet wine bars keep popping up,” Gruson noted.

The neighborhood’s first Whole Foods is slated to open this month on Third Avenue and East 87th Street.

Buses run along Second and Third avenues; the crosstown M79 is six blocks north. The nearest train is the 6 at Lexington Avenue and 77th Street. When completed, the Second Avenue subway will have a station at 72nd Street.

Why put it on your open house calendar? “It’s very charming and a really great starter apartment,” Gruson said. Though a studio, “it’s very large and even couples have looked at it.”

49 Downing St., Apt. 2C, West Village
Studio/1 Bath
Co-op
Approximately 620 square feet
$795,000
Maintenance: $876 per month
Open House: Sunday, Feb. 8, 2-4 pm. (by appointment only)

Lowdown: This historic brick building in the West Village was once a stable, built in 1896. It has an archway entry and a sculpture of horse’s head above doorway, said Nancy Kaminsky of Douglas Elliman.

The unit has retained several original details, including exposed brick walls, 12-foot ceilings, and wooden posts and beams, and “niches in the brick walls where they used to put the hay for the horses,” Kaminsky noted, adding, “the beautiful light hardwood oak floors are very old and are one generation removed from being original.”

The sellers renovated the spa-like bathroom and kitchen last summer, adding granite counter tops, a copper farmhouse sink and new appliances, including a dishwasher, washer/dryer and A/C, Kaminsky said.

With the space being more than 600 square feet, they carved out a bedroom in one corner and added a wall of built-in closets. The unit gets southern light from floor-to-ceiling windows near the opening to a balcony that faces a courtyard.

The small co-op has just 10 units and has drawn a celebrity crowd over the years. Until last year the penthouse was owned by Yoko Ono and her son Sean Lennon lived there for a while, Kaminsky noted.

The maintenance was increased on Feb. 1. The unit had a buyer in contract over the original asking price, but the deal fell through so the seller adjusted the price when putting it back on the market, Kaminsky explained.

Location: Downing Street is in the southwest corner of the West Village, just a couple blocks north of SoHo. It’s surrounded by quaint streets lined with cute shops, independent theaters and terrific restaurants.

Chef Daisuke Nakazawa of Sushi Nakazawa on nearby Commerce Street who was featured in the popular documentary “Jiro Dreams of Sushi” is opening a new Japanese restaurant on Grove Street. Dominique Ansel of cronut fame is opening a bakery-themed restaurant serving cocktail and dessert pairings on Seventh Avenue South.

The 1 train is at the end of the block at Varick Street; the A, B, C, D, E, F and M are a few blocks north at West Third Street and Sixth Avenue.

Why put it on your open house calendar? “It’s an historic building on a fabulous tree-lined street with very quaint details that recall the space’s equestrian history, yet has modern conveniences,” Kaminsky said. “It’s like a classic loft but in the middle of the West Village.”

Note: To schedule an appointment for Sunday, contact Nancy Kaminsky via email at nkaminsky@elliman.com or phone at 212-345-8645.