Doable if you don't have issues w/ the landlord.
Pros
* Rent stabilized * The neighborhood and the humans on the block are friendly (even when hitting on you) * Apt is a 10-15 minute walk from the Kingston Throop (C train) and Nostrand (A/C train) * Lots of delicious small businesses and bars within a 5 block radius, with a bunch of Blk and queer owned business in our block specifically. * Landlord can be amicable and friendly (pending what's discussed in the cons) * Main hallway cleaned constantly * The new super is great. Any issues, he's reasonably responsive.
Cons
* The landlord is very responsive to messages and issues in the apt until you put up a firm boundary. Then anytime you contact him, he points you to the super instead, is unresponsive, or blames your apt for issues despite being a resident for many years with no complaints. * Takes some time for changes to be made pending money circumstances. It took a couple months for a major appliance to be replaced. A neighbor in the apartment above us flooded our kitchen ceiling and he's never done anything about it despite multiple requests and concerns about mold. A water pump on the basement broke and we didn't sleep for a week while he ignored us. * Street cleaning Mon/Thurs and Mon/Fri at 8am-11am pending where you park *Tompkins shuts down multiple times over the summer for block parties (and they can be a LOT of fun) but the DJ normally ends up propped up in front of our building, making you subject to their set from 11am-8pm at night. ** No longer a thing as of 2024** * Pending resident interaction, you can hear everything from the vacuum to late night parties. Less applicable the farther from the street you are. * No shared outdoor area, backyard and roof is off limits * Aluminum studs in the wall making it difficult to hang stuff.
Advice to the owners
Keep up the good work!
Lived in for over a decade
Pros
There are no pros. I stayed for so long because it was cheap, it is no longer cheap.
Cons
The official owner that they hid behind ‘Margo’ is a non entity. You are emailing with someone who does not exist & just exchanging more emails with George. It is very sketchy. They never once updated or painted public spaces, the trash is disgusting less than 3 feet away from front door & not taken out enough. There is a water bug infestation that was denied when presented with evidence. George gaslight me for years & always tried to get one over on me. He wanted me out of the apartment for years because my rent was low. It was raised $1,100 when I left. He forcibly tried to freeze me out in the winter for several years & I had to file complaints. Other tenants would buzz me at all hours because they forgot their keys. The front door was easy to jimmy open with a subway card or credit card & broke multiple times. George would also flirt & make me uncomfortable. He even hit on my mother. Someone put a muzzle on this guy.
Advice to the owners
Be better people & show Margo’s face. Stop being greedy & stop using the courtroom as your office, everyone knows you’re a slumlord.
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