808 Columbus Avenue

There have been several discussions of 808 Columbus -- use the "search discussions" box on the right of the page to find them. (Try "808 Columbus" or "Columbus Square.") You can also find an information page about it on here.

If you're a bit more specific, people may be able to answer any questions you have -- but I'm not sure what information you're looking for.

HK306-
Thanks for the tip, I was just curious if anyone was currently living there, had friends living there, if they liked it, didn't like it, etc.

I'll check out the discussion search box.

Have a great day!
Nell

Nell - definitely consider it. But if you want the "NY experience" also look to the pre-wars, particularly something on West End Ave (if you can find something to your taste/affordability there). I used to live around 100th and WEA and now live in the area of 808. They "feel" very different despite how close they are to each other.

Hi AvUWS-

Honestly, 808 is usually out of our price range, but there are two currently available that are much less expensive than normally advertised. Poor Tim, flew out to West Point on Thursday at 0500, then they had oodles of plane isses, so he didn't arrive until 2300. Then had to be up by 0500 again to attend an official exercise at West Point, then got a car and drove into the city for the day looking at some apartments. We originially found one on W. 75th that was a block from Riverside park, zoned for PS. 87, and a decent walk to the express train, and well, Tim said once he got in there it was, shall we say, much smaller than it looked and a bit of a dump. I should have gaged that by the price for a 2BD/1.5 BA.

I would much rather live in a pre-war building, but we are trying to look at non-fees first, as paying close to 18k for simply 2yrs for something we do not own is a bit tough to swallow. If we need to we will, but it is not our first choice. Don't get me wrong, I'm not say realtors shouldn't get paid something for their services, but I think 15% is a bit high for our situation, as we don't plan to stay in the apartment for 5 or more years. He also looked at a really cool unit in the Delmonico Building that he liked, the super was nice, and the management company was completely A-OK with our dog, which you know is the white elephant in th room, but of course, they are looking to get it rented ASAP and it would be a haul of a commute for Tim.

Tim really liked everything that 808 had to offer for the price, I liked that PS 163 was only 2 blocks away and has both a GT and regular track within the same school. I must say the pool would be nice in the winter for the boys as well. He also went to this cool building on 70th and Broadway, great character, loved it, but it was really a flex 2BD vs. a true 2BD and thought it would simply be too small for the 4 of us and our hound. Though the gal said there are many BIG dogs in that building.

So, while Tim did not seal any deals, I think it was good for him to get a feel of how small we can truly live in. I just look at living in NYC as the art of compromise.

Thanks again as always for your great tips and have a nice week-end!

Nell

Jim, not sure what you said, but do you ever tire of being grey?

Nell, $18,000? even if yu sign a 2 year contract the 15% should only be 15% of one years rent. What was your budget, $4000 I think? You should keep a search out for Park West Village which is next to 808 Columbus, 372, 382, 392 and I think 402 Central Park West. They are condos but the 2/bd, 2bth are generously sized and usually go for $4000 range. You might have to deal with a broker since individual owners often like having that;buffer. Lots of people might like the security of a military officer as a tenant (meaning stable, well behaved, etc.) Not sure of the dog policy in the condo building or of individual owners but I certainly see lots of big dogs in the area.

And certainly don't panic. You always have a safety net in Riverdale. I know it isn't the dream you wanted but I promise you will be in NYC and can make that experience work for you the way you want it to. On the plus side I am almost sure PS 24 is better than PS 163. I don't know a lot about these things but I know PS 24 has always been up there as a good school.

Drop an email address here for another suggestion, always in a form other than a real address, like XXX at YYY dot com. It would be for same area but 2bd/1bath within your budget and no-fee. Nice post war building but not much in the way of amenities. I do know they always have vacancies.

If you can squeeze another 400-500/month out of your apartment budget maybe you can swing an apartment in one of the Archstone buildings (Key West, Westmont) with 2 baths.

Whatever ou choose, let us know and we will be happy to give you suggestions as to where to go,what to do, what to eat, etc.

BTW, one thing you had said once was that living in Manhattan would mean your husband could use the car and you would still have hte flexibility to travel by subway. That is true, having a car is very doable even with street parking if you use it everyday. That is what I do. But remember, if you live in Riverdale he will always be walking distance so you will have the car, and street parking up there is generally pretty easy in most spots.

Av, You are grey.

I believe that the Park West Village (372, 382, 392, and 400 CPW) rentals may not allow dogs -- or at least 372. (Owners are allowed to have them, but I think it's different for renters.) That's definitely something to ask a broker -- but if they do allow that, it is a very nice complex. It's very quiet, full of families, etc. -- and the park is right there.

AvUWS-

Here is Jim's incredible prose..."more stream of conscious blah blah blah bullshit. Honestly. Next time tell us before you plan to take a shit too ok? Complete the "you" experience."

Jim,

I find it funny, and truly a bit sad, that you actually think your comments would matter to me. I mean it would be one thing if you were actually a part of the conversation, but your not, and the fact that you have to make yourself heard/read in a conversation that you are clearly not a part of just shows everyone that you possess the antics of a child in that you must simply make yourself heard at all times, whether your input is relevant or even requested for that matter.

AvUWS-
When I put 18k, I was looking at a few apartments that had a fee and were around 4500/mo and then added in first month's rent and a security deposit, plus a possible pet fee. As for the car, Jim,( stop reading because this is a POV sentence, and I don't want you to have an aneurisum), I am thankful we'll have it and are able to keep it up at Manhattan College, for day trips or to visit family in Boston and DC with our dog, but I am really looking forward to not driving anywhere. Let's face it walking a bit more more than likely won't hurt the majority of us.

Archstone is nice in that they take 1 80lb dog, but not chows, rotties, g.sheperds, or pitties. So eventhough Trucker is a mix, and under 80lbs, I don't believe they'd allow him to reside there.

AvUWS-
nmccaffery@lewispalmer.org

Thanks in advance for the tip on the pre-war.

Jim,
I'm waiting for you next insightful and valued comment with bated breath ;) Perhaps you could sent me a haiku or sonnet with your amazing rhetoric, I mean you might as well spice it up a bit-

nellm-consider looking at rental units in townhouses. They give you more space for your money.

realestate19-
Thanks for the tip!

Agree with the walkup apt suggestion - your kids are old enough to go up and down stairs.

Jim,

Drivel, that is a big word for you, I'm glad you had a thesaurus near by. I am amazed you chose to get your point across without a pejorative, well at least for part of your wanna-be rant.

I'll agree with you that suburbia is quite boring compared to city life, but then again, you live in NYC and your on this website far more often than I am, so what does that say about you and your oh so amazing life.

Plus, I'm actually on here gathering great information about NYC from some very nice and insightful people. Please englighten me, if your not on here to pass on useful infomation to others, or to ask for other's guidance on various topics, why exactly are you on this site??

PS. When you choose to put things in quotes, at least do it properly, the end marks go within the quotation Einstein.

"Forgive my punctuation and spelling errors as I am working from a handheld device."

It is not a question of being bright, it is simply a matter of valuing the concept of attention to detail.

I'm disappointed you passed on answering my question, but not surprised.

By the way, I didn't over breed. My husband and I were fortunate to be able to have one beautiful son, and then we chose to adopt another beautiful boy who lived his first 4.5 yrs in an orphanage. So I think that takes me out of the over breeding group.

I have no doubt that you won't over breed, infact do the world a favor and pass on doing so.

While I have heard that there are tough neighborhoods within the Bronx, I'm assuming that is what you were talking about when you wrote, "Bx." The majority of people on this site that I've chatted with stated that Riverdale was a lovely area, just not what most people think of when they think of the NYC lifestyle. Would you agree or disagree?

Nell, internet 101 - Never feed the trolls.

Sorry Nell, you lost me somewhere in the third paragraph, I didn't realize there was a question there. Which is exactly my point.

Av, you're all grey. You must have said something pretty naughty for that to have happened, so isn't that the pot calling the kettle black?

Jim-
It's all good, I've decided you've got your POV and I've got mine, and we're both entitled to feel/say what we wish. Have a good day.

AvUWS- No worries, it is not nearly as personal as it looks.

Do people like the neighborhood?