The Sabrina

we bought just down the street from it this summer, and I can't tell you how much I love the neighborhood. That said, the units I've seen in the Sabrina need to be gutted or at least somewhat thoroughly renovated, and they were not priced to reflect that TLC.

ali r.
DG Neary Realty

Was there another thread on this forum? Here's what I know. They started selling the units in summer '07. There were sufficient sales to both insiders (existing tenants) & outsiders that the condo conversion is effective. At the time, the prices weren't attractive enough to get all the sponsor units sold and they kept chasing the market down. As far as the sponsor reno is concerned, I walked into a few apts in construction and while I cannot speak to the quality of the plumbing or electricals or anything infrastructural, at least they were attempting to strip paint & preserve the (humdrum) prewar details.
Other issues would be how much work needs to be done on maintaining and repairing the building that
has not yet been done by the sponsor and could cost condo owners $$$ in the future.

Another issue is the unprotected exposure on Broadway. There is a small building on the corner that I believe has significant amounts of air rights that could be demolished.

I haven't looked on ACRIS lately, but as I recall, the sponsors have owned the building for a while and don't have a big bldg mtge.

ugh sabrina. I really wanted to buy there. Fell in lust with a trashy 6 but couldn't get it done. I think there may be issues but what building doesn't have issues. Rachel Realty is weird.

"Rachel Realty is weird."
Please explain.

Look at their adds.

Go see their office.

We bought a gut renovated 5 bedroom duplex in the Sabrina in Oct 2008... the sponsor built the apartment to our architect's specs, and we are very pleased with the outcome, with our life in this building, and with the neighborhood.

Didn't you buy top floor/penthouse? I seem to remember a fairly detailed post about the building from someone who sounds very similar to you -big apt, big reno, etc. Congratulations by the way, glad you are enjoying it.

uws_buyer: I'm glad to see it's going well for you.

spinnaker1: Here's the original thread:
http://streeteasy.com/nyc/talk/discussion/4459-value-of-a-terrace

Thanks spinnaker1 -- you too, West 81st.. The penthouse was a separate purchase made concurrently -- it's used as our office, and is also a gut reno. (The ph's outdoor space with plumbed gas grill is awesome.. just not this time of year...)

UWS: I saw your duplex in the "raw" stage, summer '07, when the woodwork was being stripped. Gives me a spooky feeling to have walked where you now live. Nice staircase, btw. I thought that your apt was the best layout in the bldg.

I agree with comment above, Rachel Realty is weird. I'd buy through them as their merely a conduit, but they are no Douglas Elliman, etc. I think we saw unit 5M, it was during the gut and completely raw space, which was around Oct 08, they were asking $1.3 at that time, and another $250,000 for the reno, now after reno, looks like it was being listed at $1.3. That little building on 97th which sells the rotisserie chicken, the sell line was, that building with it's narrow depth would have trouble accomodating city code elevators, so building up was not likely.

nyc10023: When I think back to what our place looked like in the 'raw' stage, and that we're living in it now, it still spooks ME out! The difference is mind blowing.Love the staircase, the new custom wood floors, gas fireplace with stone mantel, and all the refinished old touches that were restored. (Best part is having a place big enough for our 4 college kids to come home for vacations, live as a family of 7, and accommodate all comfortably and peacefully! For my wife and me - that's priceless!)

When I saw it as "raw" space - they'd already started stripping the doors/doorframes, floor was okay, the staircase looked pretty done to me. That's the apt I would have bought in the Sabrina. Ideal duplex, IMO. I kinda wanted outdoor space too, hadn't thought of the cabana solution.

let's talk important issues uws_buyer -- where do you take your dry cleaning? Someone recommended Hudson, so we just tried it, but it will be our attempt #3 in the immediate area ..any recs would be appreciated.

ali

ali - have you tried the place on W97th, just west of the side entrance to Duane Reade? I'm no expert but my wife is pleased with their service, and they've neither lost nor destroyed anything so far. (We have a charge account and appreciate the convenience.. of course including delivery.)

I did go there once, uws_buyer, and they charged me $28 to clean a sheath dress that only cost me $200 in the first place -- no sleeves, no belt, no jacket, no pleats. (My old dry cleaner charges about $10 for it). So yes, I think they did a good job, but I got fed up with them on price.

ali

so what do you suggest - so far - as your preferred dry cleaner in the 'hood, Ali?

Right now we're sending more and more things to Hudson (on Bway a couple blocks north of us) until they screw up, and anything I really love (my Hermes scarves, for instance) I'm still shlepping down to Kim's, my old dry cleaner on 52nd and 9th.

ali

A long-time Ansonia investor has bought 3B and 3C for $2,200,000.

I use the dry cleaner on 97th next to the Duane Reade and find them great.

Who are the owners of the Sabrina building? Do you have their contact information? Thank you

The sponsor is:

240 W 98th St Co. LLC
c/o Weinreb Management
276 Riverside Drive
New York NY 10025

The Sabrina is a pure gem of a building on the UWS. With its massive marble lobby, high ceiling-ed apartments, fantastic live-in doorman and unique "E" shaped design, there are few places that rival this building for UWS living. In addition, its proximity to Riverside Park is a huge plus.