Hi guys, I've left NYC for quite a few years, and have decided to come back permanently by the end of the year (great timing, eh? >.>) When I was living in NY, I rented, but this time, I would like to buy. Unfortunately, I'm not sure exactly what I want. I do know that I would like to live in either Tribeca or SoHo. My criteria is simple, I would like to get a place that's at least 1850 sf,... [more]
Hi guys, I've left NYC for quite a few years, and have decided to come back permanently by the end of the year (great timing, eh? >.>)
When I was living in NY, I rented, but this time, I would like to buy. Unfortunately, I'm not sure exactly what I want. I do know that I would like to live in either Tribeca or SoHo. My criteria is simple, I would like to get a place that's at least 1850 sf, and I can spend up to 4.5M. I prefer a relatively new building, but I'm interested in an old loft if it's very appealing (such as being a penthouse, having a terrace, etc).
I'm wondering if anyone can help me decide between getting a loft or a new condo. For condos, I'm looking at buildings such as 101 Warren, Fairchild, SoHo Mews, 200 Chambers. However, I heard that most of these buildings have problems. Fairchild has questionable interior/spacing, SoHo Mews has a bad location, 101 Warren is fast becoming a rental bldg, 200 Chambers is plagued by the smell of the Palm downstairs. I'm wondering if any of you guys can comment on these condos.
Additionally, listings such as these are very attractive:
http://www.streeteasy.com/nyc/sale/374170-condo-202-spring-street-soho-new-yorkhttp://www.streeteasy.com/nyc/sale/391706-condo-111-hudson-st-tribeca-new-york
However, these older buildings don't have a doorman (is it that big of an inconvience?) I'm also afraid they suffer from typical problems with old buildings (rats, leaking, rusty pipes, etc)
Lastly, can someone tell me the merit of living in SoHo? Are there good super markets that's accessable to SoHo residents? Is it usually very noisy? What concerns do people have about living in SoHo vs Tribeca?
Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!
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Response by divvie
over 16 years ago
Posts: 456
Member since: Mar 2007
Later today when I have enough time I will be able to answer a lot of your questions and point you to links that you will find useful but you appear to have done quite a bit of research already. So would you mind posting please where you have done your research because I don't want to repeat what you already know?
For example, smell from palm at 200 chambers could be curbed (not a great source of info) or it could be wiredny (a very good source on top of which I may not be able to add much).
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Response by SMattingly
over 16 years ago
Posts: 100
Member since: Oct 2007
You've no doubt seen that you will have a lot of choices (good news and bad news). The issue of Brand New vs. Almost New was touched on in an interesting NYT article a few weeks ago that you probably saw. If not: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/31/realestate/31cov.html?scp=8&sq=real%20estate%20stock%20exchange&st=cse If the amenities and location work, an Almost New building should have lived through its shake-out period and should be more easily financed, though they still have a question of investor (over) concentration.
An "old" loft is a totally different story. While most in Soho and Tribeca are coops, not condos, there are some condos (such as 111 Hudson, as you say). You sound as though you are certain you don't want a coop, but there are some positives to owning a coop rather than a condo.
You'd provoke a long SE thread on the Soho vs. Tribeca question, I am sure. One person's 'pro' is another's 'con'. Some preliminary thoughts: some people prefer Soho because it has a more active street life, physical scale tends to be lower, retail is more abundant (nearby supermarket on LaGuardia Place above Houston), more 'art-y'; some prefer Tribeca because of park + waterfront access, there are more choices among new-and-not-so-new-and-very-old buildings, weekends are quieter, subway access is more varied and efficient. Depending on ... depending on a million things, of course, including which part of Soho or Tribeca, including where you spend your time, and your family structure ....
People who want a doorman usually want the (implied) security and/or the convenience for deliveries and/or the bundle of amenities of which a doorman / concierge is a part. People who do not want a doorman don't want to pay the additional monthlies for one, can make other arrangements for deliveries, and may prefer not to have someone 'know their business'. Lots of I-like-chocolate vs you-like-vanilla here.
I don't want to comment on specific current listings in a public forum (long story) but if you'd like a more extensive dialogue I am happy to talk one-to-one. If you'd prefer to not directly engage, feel free to check out my blog, www.ManhattanLoftGuy.com. Given your parameters, you will have many choices. The hard part will be figuring out which buildings give you the most bang (on what you *really* want) for your buck. (They will bang on different things.) Good luck.
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Response by alphataru
over 16 years ago
Posts: 34
Member since: Jun 2009
@Divvie- I did most of my research on Wiredny, this forum, and City-data. The problem with 200 Chambers was posted in the thread about the building on Wiredny, however, the last update was a while back when the Palm first moved in, so I'm not sure if they were able to fix the smell problem. For the buildings I've listed, I've looked at threads on Wiredny pertaining them and postings on Curbed. However, I do find that most of them are quite dated, and not much is posted by current tenents. Anyway, I look forward to reading your insights :D
@Smattingly - My problem with coop is that I'm not sure if I want to go through the 'supposedly' stringent vetting process. Also, it would appear like there are quite a bit more condos in SoHo/Tribeca area that satisfy my requirement than coops.
In terms of Tribeca or SoHo, my question is actually more geared towards SoHo, since I'm a bit more unfamiliar with that neighborhood (I went there a lot, but never considered it for living). I'm not trying to spark a debate as to which is better, since I've read about Tribeca quite a bit already. Instead, I would like to know of what life is like in SoHo, is it really that noisy during the weekends, why people like it, is it readily accessable to necessities, etc etc.
In terms of doorman, I'm wondering if you could enlighten me as to what people ususally do when they have no doorman. I really don't need the added security, since whether or not that's even effective is debateable. My concern is more with mails (what happens when a signiture is required) and furniture (since I'll probably be at work when they are delivered. What do people do in buildings with no doorman?
Thanks a lot for your reply. I'll sned you an email when I have a chance to pick your brain a bit more :P
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Later today when I have enough time I will be able to answer a lot of your questions and point you to links that you will find useful but you appear to have done quite a bit of research already. So would you mind posting please where you have done your research because I don't want to repeat what you already know?
For example, smell from palm at 200 chambers could be curbed (not a great source of info) or it could be wiredny (a very good source on top of which I may not be able to add much).
You've no doubt seen that you will have a lot of choices (good news and bad news). The issue of Brand New vs. Almost New was touched on in an interesting NYT article a few weeks ago that you probably saw. If not: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/31/realestate/31cov.html?scp=8&sq=real%20estate%20stock%20exchange&st=cse If the amenities and location work, an Almost New building should have lived through its shake-out period and should be more easily financed, though they still have a question of investor (over) concentration.
An "old" loft is a totally different story. While most in Soho and Tribeca are coops, not condos, there are some condos (such as 111 Hudson, as you say). You sound as though you are certain you don't want a coop, but there are some positives to owning a coop rather than a condo.
You'd provoke a long SE thread on the Soho vs. Tribeca question, I am sure. One person's 'pro' is another's 'con'. Some preliminary thoughts: some people prefer Soho because it has a more active street life, physical scale tends to be lower, retail is more abundant (nearby supermarket on LaGuardia Place above Houston), more 'art-y'; some prefer Tribeca because of park + waterfront access, there are more choices among new-and-not-so-new-and-very-old buildings, weekends are quieter, subway access is more varied and efficient. Depending on ... depending on a million things, of course, including which part of Soho or Tribeca, including where you spend your time, and your family structure ....
People who want a doorman usually want the (implied) security and/or the convenience for deliveries and/or the bundle of amenities of which a doorman / concierge is a part. People who do not want a doorman don't want to pay the additional monthlies for one, can make other arrangements for deliveries, and may prefer not to have someone 'know their business'. Lots of I-like-chocolate vs you-like-vanilla here.
I don't want to comment on specific current listings in a public forum (long story) but if you'd like a more extensive dialogue I am happy to talk one-to-one. If you'd prefer to not directly engage, feel free to check out my blog, www.ManhattanLoftGuy.com. Given your parameters, you will have many choices. The hard part will be figuring out which buildings give you the most bang (on what you *really* want) for your buck. (They will bang on different things.) Good luck.
@Divvie- I did most of my research on Wiredny, this forum, and City-data. The problem with 200 Chambers was posted in the thread about the building on Wiredny, however, the last update was a while back when the Palm first moved in, so I'm not sure if they were able to fix the smell problem. For the buildings I've listed, I've looked at threads on Wiredny pertaining them and postings on Curbed. However, I do find that most of them are quite dated, and not much is posted by current tenents. Anyway, I look forward to reading your insights :D
@Smattingly - My problem with coop is that I'm not sure if I want to go through the 'supposedly' stringent vetting process. Also, it would appear like there are quite a bit more condos in SoHo/Tribeca area that satisfy my requirement than coops.
In terms of Tribeca or SoHo, my question is actually more geared towards SoHo, since I'm a bit more unfamiliar with that neighborhood (I went there a lot, but never considered it for living). I'm not trying to spark a debate as to which is better, since I've read about Tribeca quite a bit already. Instead, I would like to know of what life is like in SoHo, is it really that noisy during the weekends, why people like it, is it readily accessable to necessities, etc etc.
In terms of doorman, I'm wondering if you could enlighten me as to what people ususally do when they have no doorman. I really don't need the added security, since whether or not that's even effective is debateable. My concern is more with mails (what happens when a signiture is required) and furniture (since I'll probably be at work when they are delivered. What do people do in buildings with no doorman?
Thanks a lot for your reply. I'll sned you an email when I have a chance to pick your brain a bit more :P