Across from a fire station - just idiotic, or not that big of a deal?

Feel free to discount my opinion, as our fire department is down the block, but I'd pass. Even with soundproofing, remember that most of us like to open our windows during the summer. Since alarms are sudden and jarring, you're less likely to get used to the noise than if it were constant and low-level, like traffic. My two cents.

i think it depends about your reaction to noise. some people can sleep through an explosion, others are disturbed by the slightest disruption. its gonna be noisy....are you ok with that.

I find the sirens extremely annoying, despite the fact that I live 15 floors up and a block away from the fire station. However, we do not have soundproof windows.

difficult to sell in 15 years. fire houses do not close (union) or relocate. You will want to sell and will have few if at all buyers.

Don't.

"difficult to sell in 15 years. fire houses do not close (union) or relocate. You will want to sell and will have few if at all buyers."

I can see on streeteasy that numerous other units on the same line have sold at various points in the cycle, each time for a price above the average downtown co-op $ per foot at the time. So, it actually looks like resale isn't an issue... even though I would think it would be.

My experience with one fire house is that they usually wait until they reach an avenue before turning on the sirens. So they come out of the firhehouse with lights but are quiet at first. Dunno how common that is.

I live down the street from one and I also don't believe that they use their sirens until they turn on to the avenues. But don't quote me on that.
Maybe you could just hang around outside the apt for awhile to check yourself? Or ask the doorman if there is one?

the history of sells in a buble should be carefully examine and should include an analysis of how long did it take to sell a place. If you take 1040 fifth for example, one line and its bedrooms are along 85th street and owners have complained about the fire truck noise, however, the apartments are desirable and by history appreciated in the last 20-30 years. Perhaps you can give the address and some description of the unit (size etc) so we can provide better feedbak. In my personal view- I would not touch a unit across from a fire station. Our loft is 2 blocks away (2 avenues apart) from the fire station and it is NOT a problem since the apartment compensates for the occaisonal sirene. Living across the street would be a problem for me.

Valid points 007. I'm looking at historical sales over a reasonably long period of time. The building is the Saint Germain (33 Greenwich), a co-op in a great location in Greenwich Village. The unit is a corner unit on the 9th floor, where you literally can watch the sunset from the living room; has views northwest, west, southwest from living room and then looks straight down 9th street from the bedroom. 800 sq ft 1-bedroom. Allows pets, has roofdeck, all the other stuff we're looking for.

We actually tried asking the doorman about it, and he said "the station is fairly active". We also asked a random old lady in the lobby about it, and she said the truck is in and out about 4 or 5 times a day, and that it obviously makes some noise but it's quick as they turn the siren on as they're driving away (not when pulling out of the house). I've hung around the block and walked around a bit and didn't see any action. It's obviously a great area otherwise.

I'm thinking I may explain to the selling broker that I am interested, except I'm very concerned with the fire station... and I will only make an offer if they allow me to try to knock on the door of a few apartments on the same line and ask them about their experience with it.

I agree with Modern. Unless they are going the wrong way down the street, the truck usually hits the sirens as it approaches the avenue or where traffic backs up to the avenue stop light. Buying directly across the street in my view is better than being closer to the avenue, but buyers in the future may not think the same way (and I might be biased from bien the child of a NYFD Chief).

luck of the draw and your tolerance for noise. who cares if they blast the siren during the week when you're at work. its the 2 AM spring nite when the windows are all open and you jump out of your skin that is a problem. but, twice a year, who cares?

We stayed at "On the Ave" for a few nights bet. apts. It is right across from the fire station. Got woken up at night with really loud sirens (windows closed). So I'm wondering how the Harrison apts across from the 77th st. station are faring.

Fire House? I would not even move anywhere near it. I learned my lesson when I lived across the street across from a car rental company and had long lines of frustrated drivers leaning on their horns impatient to check back in their cars. Horrific!.

bad idea