Advice: Zeckendorf Towers at 1 Irving Place

if you are tired of crowds and tourists, you do not want to live in zeckendorf, or around union square.

avery's reaction was the same as mine. Union Square south is one of the most congested, chaotic areas south of 34th Street. For hours a day you can hardly move on the sidewalk due to a combination of subways, Whole Foods, the park, the convergence of Broadway/Park Ave/14th St, etc. If you do not have an inner center of calm, traversing the area will positively shatter your nerves.

The Irving Place side of the buildings is quieter (and darker since it is in shadows most of the day) but not pretty or charming in any way, imo.

Some of the apartments at Zeckendorf don't receive cell phone signals, for some odd reason. Check to see if your cell phone works in an apartment before renting it.

Also, crazy congested area, not a peaceful place to live.

you might be better off looking at condo buildings nearby but not directly on union square. grosvenor house on 22 w 15th is nice, as it georgetown plaza on 8th st. one issue is that unless you find a listing on craigslist directly by the owner or something along those lines, the broker fee may make it tricky to get to your price target (oneirving has a broker fee - nice folks tho). don't forget condo/app fees which can be $500-$1250 depending on the building. i've seen 1br's for $2900-$3100 in all three buildings during this summer though, so you have at least a chance of getting to $2700 in october. zeckendorf itself is nice - one thing that bothered me is that you have to take two elevators to get to the lobby unless you're on the main (7th) floor. good amenities though.

if you want to stick with rental buildings, the building across the street from zeckendorf (on top of the walgreens) is a rental building (bldg mgmt - just go in and ask the doorman), as is 60 e 12th st (metropolitan equities) and 300 mercer (algin mgmt). alcoves in those buildings were going for 2600-2900 over the summer.

If you are willing to be on Sixth Ave have you considered the Left Bank on 15th and 6th? It's under Manhattan Skyline. There's no DM only elevator. I haven't seen any units in this building but I've seen them in other buildings and they seem pretty decent.

Life is getting easier.

"I agree with kylewest".

which is the building on top of the Walgreens?

I appreciate everyone's comments. I'll look into the suggested apartments listed above and add them to the growing list of options.

If you do not have an inner center of calm, traversing the area will positively shatter your nerves.

???

"which is the building on top of the Walgreens?"

Pretty sure that's 145 Fourth Avenue (on SE 92 Park Avenue South; don't ask me how the hell that could be right - not saying I'm right and SE is wrong; just how the F could it be both? I could see if it had a 14th or 13th St alternate address........ i know the Deed has it as 145 4th, but it does come up under Acris as both..... WTF? )

Well I'm use to the insanity of living on 47th and 8th. Union Square will probably feel tranquil. While the crowds in times square bother me, I think if I liked the area more it would be tolerable. I'm a sucker for convenience, but I really need to live in a new area.

Union Square like its area north and especially north and west is full of homeless kids, meth addicts and crap. There was an article about this recently in the Post about hobos in union square who beg and rob there and then go home to Williamsburg.

jrapps, if you are still considering the area, the related managed rental building at 1 union square south is nice, albeit pricey.

I agree with Avery--try the Related Building at Union Square South. More expensive but nicer than Zeckendorf.

Am I the only person who thinks that is one ugly MF'ing building? Then again, I don't like most of what Related has built in Manhattan, so i guess my taste is different than most.

This building is decent but huuuuuuuuuuuuge. You take two different elevators to get to some apartments. Just unwieldy.

I've seen a lot of 1 bedrooms at 3500, not much cheaper.

I think there are much better deals around there.

Look at the stuff just west of US, like 16 W 16 and such.

"You take two different elevators to get to some apartments. Just unwieldy."

I thought it was almost all/all apartments? (assuming we're talking about Zeck)

I live in the Zeckendorf and like it a lot. Just keep in mind that you will be paying a sizable premium for a 1BR. You can get a "Jr. 1BR" (alcove studio) for $2800-3000, but I have never seen a 1BR below $3200, and realistically they generally go for about $3500.

I personally don't mind the crowds at all, and the roof deck is beautiful, but the area is definitely packed. And yes, everyone except for people on the "first floor" (actually the 7th floor) has to take two elevators- one to get up to the 7th floor sky lobby, and then another elevator to get to their unit.

Has anyone rented in this building recently? Any idea what One Irving's usual fee is? This seems like a nice building to live in but the on-site broker setup is still strange to me.

15 percent of annual rent, of course.

12%

source: recently inquired about a unit but did not rent as they do not allow pets for tenants only owners.

The brokers are not very helpful as they don't return phone calls. I don't know what they are collecting 12% for. They just sit there.

It seems like there are actually two "on site" brokers here -- "One Irving" and "Site Realty." I assume they are unrelated. Has anyone worked with Site / know if they tend to have access to the same listings?

be aware they are trying to make the building non-smoking...kinda defeats the point of owning a condo...

Still amazes me a building half filled with college students goes for what it does. I wonder if newer condos nearby will raise prices or make this look older by comparison.

I love the bit about having to take the primary elevator up to the second lobby so you can access your tower elevator. Efficient, especially when you remember that you left your umbrella back in your apartment.

I lived in this building for two years and it was fine. Clean, decent staff, great location, nice fitness center, decent pool. I would be happy to live here again but was kind of priced out plus there aren't many (any?) 2brs to rent.

One Irving Realty and Site Realty (aka City Connections) are NOT the on site or exclusive agents for Zeckendorf Towers - they just happen to be agents that live in the building and run their business from their homes. There is NOT an on-site exclusive agent for the building. The condo management doesn't do rentals or sales in the building. MOST brokers charge a 15% fee - so 12% is a good savings. New leases must sign riders agreeing to no smoking (good) and no pets (sad) - condo management will be quick to issue fines if the rules are violated.

How does the Zeckendorf Tower compare to the Related Companies building across the street?

Hello. Isn't there one tower in the complex in which the elevator goes right to your floor, without the need the change elevators? Thanks.

Related is a Superior Company. I can personally attest to their care of managing buildings. They would never tolerate a slow elevator much less design a building in such a fashion as to trap people on various floors. Related - expect the best and let them handle the rest! I don't work for Related~! I have rented from them for almost 6 years!

NYPD: Woman pronounced dead after she was found in a Manhattan trash compactor
By Spectrum News NY1 | July 10, 2018 @10:33 PM

A 48-year-old woman was pronounced dead Tuesday after she was found inside a trash compactor in a lower Manhattan apartment building, police said.

Police said officers discovered her body around 4:55 p.m. at the 29-story Zeckendorf Towers near Union Square.

Police said the woman was found unconscious and unresponsive. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

It was not clear how she ended up in the trash compactor.

Her identity has not yet been released as of this time, but sources said she lived in the building.

An investigation is underway.