oh uws 6/7/09

Open houses are way down. There was much activity at 219 West 81 (AVONOVA) with everyone worrying about the financial condition of the building. Apt. 12D. Open views. Decent size, although it certainly didnt feel like almost 1500 sq ft. NOT being marketed by AVONOVA. Apartment is unrenovated, and the halls, elevators are still a huge mess. Lots of worried interest. One attendee asked questions regarding possible BK of owner, to which the sponsoring broker responded "you're the first one to raise that question".

The elevators were fine at 240WE, ditto the hallways on flrs with construction. The main issue one would have would be layout & price, cc & taxes.

nyc10023: Sorry my youngest and I missed you at 333 WEA. We went to the ovepriced duplex (#14A), and meant to circle back to see #12B, but the weather was too beautiful. We wound up at the Central Park Carousel, after a brief stop at 22 RSD #14AB, a thoroughly weird apartment with a dazzling eyeful of the Hudson. Also saw 219 West 81 #12D. It's charming, and mostly original, with wonderful views of the CPW skyline from the bedroom; but it has also shows deep scars from some of the building's infrastructure issues.

I was the first person at the OH. Ahem. I went to see the duplex 2 or 3 weeks ago - I think it's a minor celeb, can't figure out who. It's a well done duplex with a solid traditional staircase (don't love the iron banisters, too Home Depotish). Absolutely no views, but doesn't come across as dark due to wise interior design choices.

We had the same thoughts - I wanted to see 22RSD, never made it to the initial sales presentations when it went condo. Missed the OH by a few minutes.

My kids were at CP all day today.

nyc10023: Dunno who the minor celeb might be. There's a major one in #15C. The broker for #14A slipped that in. He boasted that #14A is the only duplex, and that even J***s T****r couldn't get approval when he wanted to do one upstairs. I think some bold-face movie folks are still in the building (and if you can't figure out who, I'm not sure I agree 100% with your police work there), but not in #14A.

Gee, if all it takes is a beautiful day to knock off OH traffic, including from the dedicated followers at StreetEasy, doesn't that make the case that most people at open houses are voyeurs and not serious buyers? And if so, doesn't that discredit open house traffic as a measure of anything -- except curiosity?

I went to 3 on the UWS and the first two had zero traffic with lonely, discouraged brokers and the third had me and a big family scoping out a 1200 square foot coop, which made me wonder if a board will reject a buyer for being too big for a space?

Grr, you made me ACRIS. JT is no longer in 15C, that apt has changed hands at least twice. The broker said the exact same thing about duplexing to me 2 weeks ago. Latest owner is minor celebrity in the non-entertainment world. 12A/14A is not a celebrity but is in media. Does this make me officially worse than Perez?

My bad on #15C. Anyway, enough with the celebrity stuff. This isn't Curbed.

More color on 333 WEA #12B...don't forget the central A/C. I agree about the lact of continuity between teh kitcken reno and the rest of the place. Just odd. FWIW, I'd pull ou the wall separating the DR and LR. I prefer the 'loft-like' feel of a big space. JM2C

If that makes celebrity status then I'm a god damn icon. I am but a gnat on an elephant's ass.

NextEra: I can't imagine a co-op bd. objecting to a single buyer occupying a large unit. You would generate less demand on the bldg.: garbage, foot traffic, noise, etc.

333 WEA 12B: anybody care to guess what it will go for?

sjbh: I think Next Era was saying the opposite. Big family, small apt.

333 WEA 12B also suffers from being a little tired - especially in the quirky study/ maid's room. Overpriced.

22 RSD - some very odd design decisions. Why the tight galley kitchen when you could have opened it up to the great room? Why was one of the bedrooms built as a study without a closet? Very peculiar - but beautiful views.

100 west 81st duplex - different price point and smaller, but great views and great terrace and very thoughtful renovation. Non-doorman and is tight as a family apartment.

sjbh, patient09 is right -- I was wondering if a family seems too big to occupy a space if a coop board would reject them, for the mirror image of the the reasons you flagged -- more stress on services, more noise, etc.

Yeah, they lowered the ceiling in the maid's in 333 to accommodate central air. I don't know if that was the smartest decision. In addition, I didn't see vents in every room so I question the efficacy of the system.

They need to drastically lower the price to get attention on the market. One thing they have going for them is the abundant light and pleasant views which is unusual for much of lower WEA. Low 2s would certainly get attention.

re 333 WEA #12B... #3B is also on the market, slightly inferior condition but easier to 'fix' in terms of eclectic styling choices. Has been offered @ 2.295 for three months.

Question is...what are those nine floors worth? With the bedrooms facing WEA and far superior views on #12B, I'd say it is significant. Any guesses at the delta?

I didn't see 3B. What are the views like? 336 WEA, 15C with better views, 7, was offered at a much lower price point than 12B. I'm thinking that 12B will close lower than 15C.