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Open House Agenda: 3 Apartments With Roof Decks to See This Weekend

By Emily Nonko | June 2, 2016 1:37pm | Updated on June 3, 2016 5:30pm
 Three apartments with roof decks holding open houses this weekend. 
Open House Agenda: 3 Apartments With Roof Decks to See This Weekend
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MANHATTAN — It's officially summer in New York, so it's a good time to start apartment hunting for pads that will let you enjoy it to the fullest. These three apartments all come with access to roof decks that are designed for entertaining.

457 State St., #4D, Boerum Hill
One bedroom/One bath
Approximately 600 square feet
Co-op
$595,000
Maintenance: $525/month
Open House: Sunday, June 5th, 12 to 1:30 p.m.

Lowdown: This apartment was quickly snatched up when it first hit the market this February, but a rejection from the co-op board means it's back on the market.

When it was previously listed for $545,000, there were multiple offers after only one open house, according to Corcoran broker Paul Gracie.

“It was a madhouse,” he said of the open house event.

“It's just a cool space,” Gracie said of the apartment's appeal. Although it's modest and narrow in size, an architect renovated about six years ago to maximize “every last square inch,” according to Gracie.

The architect owner — who sold the apartment to the current owners in 2013 — moved the kitchen from the back of the apartment to the middle, creating a more private bedroom and bathroom space in the rear.

They also separated the bathroom into two spaces: a bathtub and a sink off the bedroom, with an adjacent room that holds the toilet.

“It's a funky layout for a bathroom,” Gracie admitted. “You either love it or hate it.”

This apartment is on the fourth floor of a walkup building, but the trek up means a close proximity to the roof deck. “You walk out the front door, up the stairs and you're right at the roof,” said Gracie.

The spacious deck is a nice draw considering the apartment's smaller size. It's outfitted with lounge chairs and plantings, and boasts views of downtown and south Brooklyn.

Location: “The location is on the top of everybody's mind,” Gracie said in regards to the crowded open house. The co-op is located on a historic block of State Street lined with townhouses. Atlantic Avenue, just one block away, has “completely transformed” in recent years, he said, with the arrival of upscale retail like Barneys. The closest subway stations are the B/Q/D/N/R at Atlantic Terminal, or the 2/3/4/5 at Nevins St. 

Why put it on your open house calendar? While Gracie thought that the apartment's appeal “was hard to put into words,” he listed the design, efficient layout and location as reasons to attend the open house.


1199 Park Ave., #4F, Carnegie Hill
Two bedrooms/Two baths
Approximately 1,300 square feet
Co-op
$1.499M
Maintenance: $2,240 a month
Open House: Sunday, June 5, 12:30-2 p.m.

Lowdown: This building will appeal to green thumbs, as the co-op board boasts its own gardening committee.

The common roof deck is covered with greenery and has an herb garden that anyone in the building can use.

“It's great for people who want to pick a little basil or tarragon,” said Corcoran broker Rebecca Mirkin, who also lives in the building.

During the day, residents set up in shady areas with their laptops to take advantage of the roof deck's Wi-Fi, Mirkin said. On summer evenings, it's common to find residents hosting dinner there. A view west, toward the reservoir in Central Park, ensures that you're dining with the sunset.

This fourth-floor apartment also has a private patio, recently re-tiled, that the current owners line with plantings. While they only keep a small table out there, the space is large enough for as many as four people. It looks out onto 94th Street, which Merkin said was a quiet block.

Although the apartment is in a post-war building, the owners were inspired by the grand pre-war co-ops when they renovated. Custom millwork, a formal foyer and dining room and built-in storage give the interior an old-world appeal.

“It's a very elegant and luxurious feeling,” Mirkin said.

Location: This Park Avenue pad is just two blocks east of Central Park and Museum Mile, which lines Fifth Avenue. The closest train is the 6 at 96th Street, which "will take you downtown in 25 minutes," Mirkin said. 

Why put it on your open house calendar? “The renovation... it's a gorgeous space and you can move right in,” said Mirkin.
 

133 W. 28th St., #7C, Chelsea
Two bedrooms/Two baths
Approximately 1,300 square feet
Co-op
$2.449M
Maintenance: $2,276/month
Open House: Sunday, June 5, 2:30-3:30 p.m.

Lowdown: This apartment's listing agent, William B. May's Dia Minkow, is actually the resident of this lofty penthouse.

“We don't want to move, but we need a larger space,” she said of her growing family. Since buying five years ago, she has overseen upgrades in the interior design.

“We wanted it to feel bohemian,” she said of the apartment, which is located in a former furrier. Many of the co-op residents are artists, writers and actors, she said.

A custom-designed spiral staircase in the open living and dining room takes you to the private roof deck above. A large skylight in the kitchen, visible from the deck, ensures plenty of sunlight not just in the kitchen but in the living room, too.

“Even on a cloudy day, it feels bright,” Minkow said.

The 840-square-foot roof deck is fully furnished with two day beds, a pergola, benches, greenery, a sprinkler system, grill and eight-person dining table. Lush plantings of honeysuckle and lilac, as well as fencing, keep the space feeling secluded.

Minkow uses the deck primarily for dining with her family, but it's “good for parties... we have friends come over and bring things to grill,” she said. For larger crowds, the fence leads to extra blacktop space that's not open to building residents.

“You just have to let the neighbors know, because they can hear underneath you,” she said.

Location: This building is located in the Chelsea Flower District, a historic district known for its flower markets. There are still flower shops on either side of the co-op; “If you're friendly with [them], you can ask them to accept your packages,” Minkow said. The closest subways are the N/R and 1 trains on 28th Street.

Why put it on your open house calendar? “It's a special home in the heart of Chelsea,” Minkow said, listing the historic street, the character of the apartment and its good location.