Bare bones tenement building with railroad apartments
Pros
Not bad value, some units have tons of light and look down on lovely community garden, management generally won't bother you. Super is nice and tries to be helpful. Neighbors are laissez faire and no one is crazy loud, lots of grad students and creative types. Cab drivers get food and coffee at the delis downstairs so cabs are always available.
Cons
Not sure if it's structurally sound, wildly crooked floors and walls that shift significantly and there doesn't seem to be adequate support for the center of the building in the basement. Renovations are done on the cheap, completely inadequate heating and have to use space heaters all winter. Impossible to reach management and owner is an anonymous shell corporation with address at a new jersey law firm. If you need anything beyond super simple repairs you are SOL. Tons of cigar smokers hang out downstairs day and night. Columbus Ave has loud traffic with trucks going by all night.
Advice to the owners
Have building assessed by an engineer before it falls down.