Pros:
Good sized apartments. Great location. Friendly neighbors.
Cons:
My wife and I have lived in NYC for over 15 years. Everyone who rents in this town has horror stories, but dealing with this building and its landlord, Frank, has been one of the worst experiences we have endured. Here’s why:
Overbearing and Intrusive Landlord: Frank's management style is overly authoritative and intrusive, creating unnecessary tension and discomfort. He fabricates stories about minor infractions, holds grudges, and unreasonably contacts tenants at all hours to yell, scream, and blame tenants for issues that result from his poor building upkeep.
Privacy Violations: Frank routinely enters apartments without permission, a severe breach of our privacy and personal space that we've had to endure.
Poor Maintenance and Pest Issues: The building’s lack of proper upkeep is painfully obvious, with roaches and mice being a common sight. This not only detracts from our quality of life but also from the charm of the building itself.
High Tenant Turnover: There's a high turnover of tenants, often because Frank decides not to renew leases over trivial matters, or in hopes of raising the rent. No one stay's more than two years, and for good reason.
Substandard Fixtures: Despite the apartments being spacious, the fixtures are of poor quality and deteriorate quickly, which is disappointing given the potential of the space.
Significant Noise Pollution: The thin windows and inadequate doors do little to block out noise, whether from the busy streets or the bustling hallways, disrupting our peace at all hours.
Inadequate Heating Control: Frank controls the heating, often leaving the building uncomfortably cold in winter. Any complaints about this are met with hostility, further souring our living experience.
Living here has been a continual challenge. It's disheartening to see such a beautiful and historic building poorly maintained and managed with such disregard for tenant welfare. For those considering renting here, I’d strongly recommend talking to current or former tenants to understand the full scope of what you might be dealing with.
Advice to owner:
Sell the building. Seek therapy. Treat your tenants like adults.