UWS or Greenwich Village?

I'm a young woman who's lived alone in Manhattan for 8 years in the East Village. No doorman -- and I've never had any trouble.

Which is the better apartment physically? And, why is the maintenance at the non-doorman building the same as the doorman bldg. (i.e., where is that "extra" money going each month)?

Thanks brendisch.

starfish -- I haven't looked into the financials of the buildings yet but the apartments are physically similar. The UWS is about 75 sq ft bigger. The one in the village has a higher ceiling so appears larger.

I would vote UWS, but my wife would vote the village for what it's worth then (for a young woman living alone). I would look into the maintenance issue if I were you though - the extra $$ must be going somewhere if it's not paying for a bldg's staff. Good luck.

Thanks starfish. I will look into it. Is one location better than the other for subletting? Both coops allow it.

Staffing is just one component of the building's nut. Taxes, underlying mortgage (if these're co-ops), etc., may be higher in the non-doorman building.

That's my point. He needs to figure out what the other factors are that are eating the maintenance - he may find the building has a huge mortgage, pending lawsuits, in progress/planned mechanical issues, etc.

I'd say UWS because of the cost of living. Food shops on UWS can not be beat. That alone means savings (and quality). More or less affordable resaturants + delivery. Village becomes more and more of a tourist trap with all the consequences.

I think you need to think of the doorman not as a security feature (which is really a non-issue these days, and electronics can easily be installed if it becomes a factor), but as a convenience factor. Does your lifestyle allow you to wait at home for deliveries large and small, or run off to the P.O. or UPS facility to pick them up? Do you like pickup/dropoff service for laundry and drycleaning, but don't love waiting at home?

Do you want your friend to pick up / drop off an envelope from your bldg. when you're not home? Or are you a work-at-home couch potato who doesn't mind waiting around.

Plenty of people manage just fine without a doorman, but for many others it gives them a lot more freedom.

there are some really great streets in the village that i would love to live on...the west side is nice but for me you can't beat the village...i live in a non-doorman bldg and don't have a problem...having a doorman would be nice for accepting packages, etc.

Thanks everyone! Simple answer. The reason why the maintenance is higher in the village is because there are fewer units in the building to share the expenses. It's a smaller building which I forgot to mention. Of course my attorney will look into pending lawsuits, etc. if we make an offer.

Regarding the convenience of a doorman. We would not be sending/receiving deliveries/packages often and the dry cleaner/laundry is a block away and UPS is close by too.

alanhart - I don't disagree with you, but the doormen themselves think of their position primarily as a security role. They will do the other stuff (deliveries, buzz people up, anser questions, etc.) but their #1 responsibility is security.

This is a very personal decision. I prefer larger buildings with financial risk more spread out among greater number of shareholders. I also prefer conveniences of a doorman and added security: dry clean, keys for friends, extra set of keys for when I don't have mine for whatever reason, packages, had deliveries, watch my bags while I run back out for something at store, etc. It is also really hard for someone to steal a TV when they have to get by a doorman.

Personally, I would go with whichever 'hood I like better, since that will be your home.

Also, I would take into consideration if there is a noticeable difference in commuting time.

And whether you have friends or family nearby.

Having a doorman is nice, but not imperative for security or otherwise. My wife lived alone for 4 years at our current place, with no problem. She became friends with nearby merchants, and we sometimes have packages delivered around the corner at the liquor store, and have left extra keys with the guys that ran the cafe across the street (who also happen to live in our building). So you can find other ways of having people help out with these things.