98 Riverside Drive

Name of the broker please?
Name of RE company please?

There are just simply a lot of poor quality rentals in NYC. And those who are from out of town and need to use a broker, at the low end, are the ones most likely to be taken advantage of.

Also, good idea anyway to stay away from construction, regardless of if it is for asbestos or for a roof deck.

To Falcogold1 - the borker is Andreas Metzger from Citihabitats which has an exclusive on the building

he showed us a couple of apartments in that building---on the 14th floor as i recall. sorry--but it did seem like an obvious disaster. i'll never forget the window in the shower which gave everyone across the street a clear view of whatever you might do in the shower. he suggested a window shade.

cc: how could you be a regular poster on this site and use citihabitats when there are so many warnings about that company on this site

was about 6 months ago---should have known better.

I didn't know about this site until today and have never posted anything anywhere and was obviously from everyone's comments very naive. No one I knew had ever used Citihabitats. I began looking five months ago and have lived here four months. I understand it was a different kind of disaster six months ago. My broker for my co-op was Corcoran and he did a great job. But I guess you learn from experience. If the window in the shower was your only indication that something was wrong in the building that seems a little odd. Wouldn't most people put a shade of some sort there anyway? In my apartment the window is frosted. If I only had a shade to contend with I would consider myself blessed. Are there any good rentals on the upper west side?

this was a window in the shower. putting a shade on it would have meant that the shade would have gotten soaked every time someone took a shower. the whole place felt wrong. the broker who you named was sweating bullets in february.

He should have been sweating - although, lying through your teeth seems to be really easy for him. The window was in the shower???? Was this a renovated apartment? I only know my layout.
I just wanted to post to warn people away from here. It's like bedlam.

columbiacounty, suzla - its not uncommon for NYC apartments to have showers with windows. My present apartment has one, but its that "rain" glass that allows light in but distorts the light leaving the apartment. I appreciate the extra light in the bathroom, are you saying they used regular glass in that window?

yes...that's the point. regular glass...the broker kind of looked at it, shrugged and (as i said) suggested a window shade. classic.

In outward appearance, 98 RSD closely resembles one of Riverside Drive's great coops, 110-118. Its recent history, however, recalls that of another ambitious Maurice Mann acquisition, the Apthorp.
http://www.nysun.com/real-estate/family-firm-sells-off-nine-manhattan-buildings/69711/
Same lucky bankers too.
http://a836-acris.nyc.gov/Scripts/DocSearch.dll/Detail?Doc_ID=2008011300084006

Thank you so very much. This is the piece of information I was trying to get my hands on and it clears up everything except how to get out of this building. I have hired an attorney because everyone seems too scared to even attempt a rent strike. You seem to know a lot about this, any advice?

hopefully, you have less than a year to go on your lease? if so, best to grin and bear it. might be worth a try to see if they'll let you out of the lease early although that's pretty unlikely.

Yes, only eight months left and counting. If I find the right place I will take it before lease here is up. If they try to sue I will welcome a day in court. They should be exposed for what they are and how little they care about anyone who lives here. When I was afraid that the one elevator shared by 65 apts. in my "wing" would not be able to bear the demands put on it by everyone except the tenants, a doorman posed the question to our super who always has alcohol on his breath. He said "let them walk." When asked what the elderly would do, he said "let them call the fire dept." The depths of the problems here are so bottomless that it makes "coming home," in the evening almost an unbearable thought. Plus I have a dog and live on a higher floor. I can just imagine calling the fire dept and saying "I have to walk my dog, can you carry us down please!!!"

If you owned your apartment you wouldn't be having this issue.
Everyone's always like, oh, I rent, so if some thing breaks, they have to fix it and it doesn't cost me anything.
Well, I guess true, but not if they don't actually fix it

Sorry, Friendly Tom, but I owned for many years and that's not the reason I rent now. I was lucky enough to get out while the getting was good. Expecting to pay a fairly high rent and wind up with a building that's run like Bellevue just doesn't compute. It's not about "fixing things," this building is broken. It is run by morally bankrupt people and I cannot imagine that that is true, on this level, of every rental in NYC. Come on. Sometimes remting is an option while you're trying to figure out your life. If you own, good for you. I hope one day your investment recoups the worth it would have had when I got out.

note: friendlytom is anything but friendly. he/she is a troll who constantly changes identities. pay him no heed.

suzla: I don't have any special insight about 98 RSD. The best advice I can offer is to get in touch with the Tenants' Association at the Apthorp - either Ron Blumer or the Association's attorneys at Himmelstein McConnell. The situation there is different because the acquisition was intended as a condo conversion, but the key players and many of the tactics appear to be the same.

Thanks guys!!!! Am new to this too! I think I am actually going to go to the media, the same that was so intrigued by the goings-on at the Apthorp. A little media play seems to be warranted. I think a strong Tenant's Asssociation is a good bet but the tenants, not the association but the tenants, individually in 98 are so afraid of reprisal that they're too frightened to act as one. If the only thing that motivates this Northbrook group is $$$$ than denying them rent until they restore services seems appropriate. I'm only one person. It's tough going it alone.

i'm on your side but don't think it will work...many, many in the building are RS and need to keep a low profile.

suzla: If you want some expert input on the idea of invoking the press, I recommend you contact our good friends at Brickunderground.com.
http://www.brickunderground.com/feedback
Front_porch knows a bit about this topic too, as the former RE editor of New York's most despicable tabloid.

Personally, I'd lean toward calling 311 rather than alerting the media.

Thanks West 81st and columbiacounty. I work in the media so it's not much of a stretch for me. I have tried 311, but really who has the time for their robotic answers. Three times I have tried and three times I have been directed badly - maybe an hour and a half's worth of my time, but the stress. . . . way too rich for my blood. I'm already on stress fatigue from this building. I will look at brickunderground, again something with which I am totally unfamiliar. This whole posting business has been a major eye opener and you guys have been really kind (if you're guys??) Thanks so much.

What about Fox 5 Arnold D?

in case you weren't aware, SE lists 12 rentals available at 98. didn't bother to see how many are dups

http://www.streeteasy.com/nyc/building/98-riverside-drive-manhattan

but, maybe, maybe you can find someone at shiti to listen to what needs to happen for them to rent these. obviously, they have to drop the price as well. although if the guy from yesterday is any indication, forget it.

have you contacted the original broker who had the listing?

You could also try the bankers. Anglo-Irish and WestImmo might appreciate evidence of gross mismanagement.

OK - I am officially confused, but appreciate the continued help. Columbiacounty, which guy from yesterday are referring to and why would I contact the original broker. he's still the only broker incidentally although he has two associates. West81st, I'm in the dark. Please clarify -which bankers and while I could probably figure it out in time, what is Westlmmo a contraction of???

This thread is 10 months old. Does anyone know if the problems in the building have been fixed?

Just another lesson that a home is not primarily an investment. Rent if you must, but don't complain in my direction if you have another option and things aren't working out for you. Go to housing court and good luck.

You can't expect lipstick on a pig to last if it is playing around in the mud.

Oh how horrible, people in Columbia County, just across the Hudson from Greene County, are so prude:

columbiacounty
about 10 months ago
stop ignoring this person
report abuse

he showed us a couple of apartments in that building---on the 14th floor as i recall. sorry--but it did seem like an obvious disaster. i'll never forget the window in the shower which gave everyone across the street a clear view of whatever you might do in the shower. he suggested a window shade.

about to look at a apartment in this building and would like to know if there are still major problems in the building. Suzla - any updates?

problems still persist to this very day. see other discussions on this building on streeteasy, but not part of this blog post

We looked at an attractive unit today at this building. However, the building's common areas could use some help. It all seemed a little old, dark, and dirty. A women we encountered in the elevator warned us about renting here. Is it just the construction noise and dustiness that is problematic, or what is it?

We also noticed there's no place for package deliveries, dry cleaning drop offs, etc. There was just a pile of UPS boxes sitting next to the doorman.

Would love to hear some details from current or previous renters...

Thanks

this building continues to be a nightmare with no end in sight. work begins early with workers using tenants elevator at 7 am forward, making tenants late for work. noise at all hours. brown water coming out of bath tub, running toilets constant. plumbing is obviously an issue. leave town for a few days and your kitchen sink smells like raw sewage. invisible super unless your on the street where he is constantly re-parking his green jeep cherokee. management office does not return phone calls. the banging and noise are often unbearable.

people are still moving out. Tenants who pay top dollar say it looks nice until services are needed. If you are willing to pay their luxury prices you should find a building really worth it. Better look elsewhere..

Is this the building with the windows in the shower? columbiacounty?

And they'll be replaced by other tenants paying higher rents. Renters are fodder.

Jim, were you the broker who showed Columbiacounty the apartment with the window in the shower?

columbiacounty
about 3 years ago
he showed us a couple of apartments in that building---on the 14th floor as i recall. sorry--but it did seem like an obvious disaster. i'll never forget the window in the shower which gave everyone across the street a clear view of whatever you might do in the shower. he suggested a window shade.

these comments are two and three years old before the current management compnay, rose associated, were involved. since that time,all negative issues have been resolved.

afenton,
I realize this is your first day on the job but your overlords at Rose Associates are going to see this and explode. You have purposely revived long dead threads that question the wisdom of renting at 98 Riverside. Better bring an empty box to work with you tomorrow, you'll be getting a call from HR for an exit interview.
How are we ever going to get those unemployment numbers down with idiots like you demanding to be fired?

how much is the rent?

Wait a minute, is this the building that columbiacounty visited that had a window in the shower? Wow. ... memories

I beg to differ. The new management company does not fix anything either. Really. Nothing has changed. I don't even have heat in my bedroom.

Heat is in very short supply here this winter...If you move here you'll be wearing three layers inside much of the time, like me. Scarves, too, sometimes.

There isn't any reason at these rents tenants should be putting up with any sort of lack of service. I would suggest organizing a tenants meeting or developing a petition in demand of services. I know it sounds like a ton of effort but unless tenants stand united and demand action there will remain issues.

I am considering renting an apartment in this building. But reading these posts makes me think I should forget about it. ArthurFenton, do you have any other update? I understand that noboby will get 100% good reviews. The best hotels get panned sometimes, excellent restaurants get 1 star. But comparing to posts related to other competing buildings, this one is far worse.

Some specific questions: is it the same super as 5 years go? Is there a service elevator for move-ins? Has the heat been a problem? Arthur, I know your firm has an excellent reputation, so I hope you would want to make sure any building you are representing is well managed. Is there a tenants' assocation we can contact to ask about issues?