24 Unit Apartment Building
Pros
The renovated apartments look very nice and modern, even though it's just Ikea cabinets and fixtures. Stainless steel appliances. Lots of closets. The room sizes are the reason I stay - very spacious rooms. The location is quiet, and very easy to commute into the city. The super is new and is trying very hard to remediate the pest issues in the building. Close to shopping, LIRR, xbuses, subways, local buses. Friendly neighbors. Parking is generally a nightmare in Queens, but there's a shot of getting a spot within a couple of blocks here.
Cons
They don't actually fix the leak on the roof, instead of patching it. Causes ceiling water damage year after year. No designated area to put garbage that doesn't fit down the chute (which is tiny), leading to sometimes a very messy recycling area. They keep the composting bin right in front of the main entrance, so you have to battle a swarn of flies to get in the building. The windows are not sealed - on a good day, it's just wind getting in, but the rain does come in through the unsealed frames. I moved in to find the refrigerator door had silver duct tape keeping the plastic shelf rail closed. Has not been updated in common areas since it was built in 1966. The floors are stained, the carpets are bare, and the wallpaper is peeling. The hallways look like something out of The Shining. Two washers/two dryers is not enough for the building, but there's no room for more unless they shut the laundry room down to renovate for stacks.
Advice to the owners
Reach out to your tenants to make sure their requests and complaints are being addressed. There are some pains in the building who complain about everything, but most are good people who just want their homes to be well-maintained.
Bare Minimum Care
Pros
location, only 24 tenants
Cons
old boiler needing frequent repairs, owner refuses to replace with a new one despite recommendation. Elevator not serviced consistently Mold in walls Noise levels Unsafe - easy access to building several outstanding violations Inconsistent communication Unequal treatment of tenants
Advice to the owners
Good management isn’t just about collecting rent, it’s about making people feel like valued residents.
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