building at 136 East 56th Street

The building is well-run by the present board and has a great location. It is not huge - about 140 units with some variety in sqf and apartment size/floor plans, i.e. not a cookie-cutter giant. Not a big turn-over of occupants. Maintenance a little on the higher side but that is typical for the location.

A few questions about the building:
How is the traffic noise on the lower floors?
The prices seem slightly depressed in this building over other buildings - is this a product of the location/building or is there a land lease?
Thanks.

Can anyone comment on the building subletting policy? Also, any info. on flip tax? Thanks in advance.

I have been renting in this building for many years. The super Martin dowd will not fix anything in my apartment or even get back to me because I rent from the company that took over Classic. Classic did nothing and this new company is doing nothing. I have a door off its hinges and no one seems to care. I have a sink handle broken and paint peeling off of the walls. This should be illegal. Sami, Greg, Keith, and Luka are very nice and maybe some others that work here, but others like to follow and do the wrong thing. The apt as well as the building is filthy and disgusting. One important thing, THERE IS NO ROOFTOP TERRACE OR GARDEN. These have been the worst years of my life and I can't wait to get out. Guido Po took over from Classic and he doesn't care if you sweat in the summer or are freezing in the winter. He will not raise a hand to fix anything in the apartments. There has been a big turnover lately. Also, you will hear every sound from the street and every single noise from all the apartments above, below and around you. You will also smell everything. I would say run, this is the worst building in NYC.

I have owned in this building for many years and I can say that the post above has it wrong, at least for the co-op shareholders. The side of the building facing away from the street is very quiet and peaceful and I have never complained about any smells. The super and staff are all fantastic and the building is very clean. I have heard the sponsor that rents out old units is not the best landlord but to the co-op shareholders, this is a five star full service building.

Building is like 80% owners (I am one of them). Staff will fix stuff for you for free if you are nice to them if you are a shareholder. Extremely responsive. I live on a higher floor facing the street side of the building. I have CitiQuiet windows and never hear anything.

I am a shareholder in this building and must say that the post by "run" above is a complete misrepresentation. I also concur with the posts by "betty123" and "gwg4...".

Yes, if you are a shareholder things are different and you are treated differently, but if someone pays rent, then they should not be dismissed because they do not own. I have been living here for over 8 years and do not face the street and it is very noisy and I do hear everything inside and outside the building. I am giving my experiences. What you are saying is that renters should be treated differently? No, they shouldn't, not in a good building. Also, there is no rooftop and they should not advertise that their is.

Some things are the co-op's responsibility and some are the shareholder's. The super shouldn't be doing anything that's a shareholder's responsibility without a work ticket and charge-back. Otherwise some shareholders are subsidizing others.

If your landlord, the Holder of Unsold Shares, isn't taking care of what he should, or paying the co-op to take care of them, then call 311 and the city will fine him.

Given all the other deficiencies, though, it sounds as if you should just move.

Let's look at some numbers, to make it clearer.

#14E is for rent by the sponsor, asking $7000. Sponsor pays $2938 in maintenance. For that the co-op is not going to pay its super and handyman to fix doors, faucets, and paint for 14E and the other 26 apartments the sponsor owns.

The sponsor has to either reimburse the co-op for staff time and materials, or bring its own guys in, or not do anything.

On the other hand, if the sponsor is giving a 27-apartment Christmas tip to the super, maybe he'd break the rules, like he does for other shareholders, and fix stuff for which the co-op isn't responsible.

Quick question to the occupants -- can anyone tell me the story about the roof deck? Lots of listings show it as an amenity but the renter above insists there is NOT one. And I can't seem to find any photos to evidence it exists. Can you please confirm?! Thanks!

I know who is responsible for certain things. I have been here longer than Martin and it was much better then. It is the buildings responsibility to fix the buzzer and to take care of other things in the apartment. I will buzz down and they write a work order or will ask to speak to Marty, but he never gets back to me. That is not professional by any means and it is not how you treat people. I lived in a co op before and the super did everything for me. He called the management company if something needed to be done and if it was something small, then someone in the building would take care of it. You talk about tipping and I am probably one of the biggest tippers in this building. I tip all the time and not 3 dollars, but $5, $10, $20 and even $40. I tip for everything and yet certain workers are limited to what they can do to help because they have to listen to Martin or they will get in trouble. I still tip for everything like when I get packages or anything you can really think of. So, you are saying the building shouldn't really be responsible to fix anything in the apt which I am sure you know that the building is responsible for fixing or taking care of certain things. Also, I did call 311 and they came twice, 2 different people and said that things were not right and needed to be taken care of and that someone would come back again. I guess the management company must have paid them off because no one came back and nothing happened. That is the world we live in and how these systems work which is sad. Also, I have been living here for over 8 years and your solution is to move out. Instead of people being held accountable you suggest that I move out when I pay rent every month. I have rights, but I guess you don't think so. Also, I am moving out, because what I have experienced should never happen to anyone else and it has been the worst experience living here and dealing with what I have dealt with. You have no idea what I have experienced in this building and no one should have to go through this. I am thankful for some of the people who work here and have been kind and helpful, but again no one should ever have to go through what I have gone through.

One more thing, if you are saying that the building isn't responsible for doing anything for me, then why should I tip the people in this building? I do because I am a good caring person, but I see that many are not and just care about themselves and what's good for them.

That's quite a tale of woe. To be fair, though, you should be blaming the people to whom you pay rent, "136 East 56th Units LLC", the Holder of Unsold Shares, rather than the co-op.

I'm sure that the co-op would prefer that the HUS sell the apartments as they become vacant, rather than keep renting them out. In 1998 the HUS held the shares to 38 apartments. Since then they've sold 11, one is contract, 19 are being rented out at market rates, and 7 are still occupied by the rent-stabilized tenants who chose not to buy when the building converted. The co-op is very likely holding to the letter of the proprietary leases and not providing any freebie services to the HUS' tenants. So, again, if you want your interior door, your faucets, or your paint-job fixed, you need to chase the HUS rather than the co-op.

To the person who is asking about a rooftop, there isn't one. Come to the building and check it out for yourself, you will see. They are actually doing construction, but they don't let anyone go up there and it is dirty and disgusting anyway.

NWT- you are extremely rude and seem to have no sense of right and wrong. The super has always been horrible to me and has done nothing for me, things that the building is responsible for.He will say hi, but it is fake and does nothing for the people who rent. That's quite a tale of woe? Who makes such an insensitive comment? You don't know what I have gone through and again I pay rent and am in this building. Some of the damage to my apartment is because they were doing construction above me so that should have been taken care of by the building as Martin said it would be, but never was. Don't make judgements because you have no idea what I have been put through. I did find an apartment in one of the top luxury buildings on the east side and it has every amenity and everyone is so nice and friendly. I can't wait to get out of here and away from people like you. I am thankful to the doormen who work here, they are good to me because they know me and know what I have been put through. I'm a good person and again no one should experience what I have.

Congratulations on your upcoming move, and on finding a landlord for whom you'll be more than just a signature on a check. After you're gone, you can come back to SE and see how 136 East 56th Units LLC has fixed up your apartment for sale or a new tenant.

> I can't wait to get out of here and away from people like you.

Wait, NWT lives at 136 East 56th Street? Well this is a new twist.

No, it's just that I'm interested in the by-play between shareholders, the HUS, and the HUS' tenants.

In my co-op, the remaining tenants are all RS or RC, have been there at least 25 years, and know who's responsible for what. E.g., if there's damaged plaster from a leak, then the co-op pays for plastering and the shareholder (the sponsor) pays for painting. Everybody knows what's what.

At 136 E 56th, on the other hand, most of the HUS' apartments are market rate. Some will get the picture right away and move at the end of their first lease. Others will also get treated like landlord fodder, but will sign renewal after renewal, some for as long as eight years.

@run - re your statement " I did find an apartment in one of the top luxury buildings on the east side and it has every amenity and everyone is so nice and friendly" I hope you are not jumping from the frying pan into the fire. I do not read NWT's comments as insensitive at all; just an explanation of what is likely going on in your building. Since you are not a shareholder, the building has no obligation to you; the building's obligation runs to your landlord; your landlord has obligations to you. Any complaint you have is with your landlord; if the super has neglected your needs, it is because your landlord has sanctioned that neglect in any number of ways.

NWT- Things were different in the beginning, also I really didn't want to spend over 5000 for a 1 bedroom when I am single and don't work anymore, but getting out of this building now is worth it. Also, I didn't sign lease after lease, maybe you should know the facts before you make a statement. And thank you for you congratulations, I will be happy at my new place.

Also, some things are the supers responsibility/buildings and you should know know that if you know about building regulations. Some people need to be accountable and it sounds like you just want to say that the super is correct and I am at fault. NYCNOVICE- I think by him saying my tale as woe is insensitive. Also, I know that they are going to renovate my apt. A new company took over in January and they wanted everyone out. Good luck to everyone and goodbye.

I sense another "entitled millennial" NYT article coming out soon.

It isn't just millennials. The people who got a windfall from Peter Cooper Village via subsidies from taxpayers of the State of New York despite having entered into a market rate lease on a n arms-length negotiated basis were not millennials.

Hi all,
Does anyone knows current status of this building? Seems like most listing prices are lower than other nearby buildings?
thanks

The building is nice but the management company is pretty careless and does nothing. Super is a nice guy. Downside, there's no sound proof in the building. I can hear everything from the garbage truck, people talking to each other on the street to my neighbor turning on the lights in his room. No matter which floor you are on as long as you face the street and have neighbors. This is a construction problem nothing can fix.

The building has been undergoing a renovation of the hallways and lobby for over 3 years and the lobby is still in a demo state. Some of the staff are really nice but the super, Marty Dowd, is corrupt. You need to pay him off for him to do anything the building is responsible for (ie dirty water backing up into the tub). If you plan on renovating your apartment be prepared to pay more to your contractor because he shakes down all contractors for a kickback otherwise he’ll give them a hard time working on your apt). Talk about nepotism, he hires his son on the staff who “clocks in” for work. Sadly the Board turns a blind eye to all the mismanagement going on leading to higher maintenance cost. Also, the building got rated “D” for energy efficiency. There’s a new condo being built right across the street so be prepared for construction noise for another 2-3 years. Otherwise, the building is centrally located with Wholefoods, subway, buses and Central Park short distance away. There are many other buildings better managed. I’ve been looking and will be moving soon! Good luck to all in your search for an apt.