Open House Reports, UWS, September-October 2011

60 West 68th: Busy Sunday for this elevatored prewar building on a pretty park block, much to the disgruntlement of the residents (one overworked elevator, no public stair access).

Traffic: moderate (would be heavier if there was better elevator service)

2AB: 3-bedroom, 2bath, north facing with a view of landmarked townhouses. A compact, well-laid combination, the living room is the combined LRs of both apts, and the 3rd bedroom is a former kitchen, The fixtures are neutral and unexciting. The lack of furniture definitely hurts this listing, as all the corners and imperfect paintwork/woodwork are revealed. The kitchen and baths are in good condition but no serious $ was spent here and it shows. At an asking price of 1.8m+, this listing is priced the same as a more graciously (if less efficiently) similarly located park block Classic 6.

11A/B: Two neighboring listings, east-facing 1 bedroom with large terrace, and its neighbor, a studio with the mirroring west-facing terrace. Possibly a combined 2-bedroom with very good outside space - 2 large terraces. These two listings are all about the outdoor space (east facing terrace has the better view of 68th street & a glimpse of the park if you lean over far enough). The low parapet isn't child friendly, but that is not the target market for either listing. Both apartments in move-in condition, with the studio having the older fixtures (all original in the bathroom). Prewar apartments with outdoor space are rare in this part of the UWS at this price point, so it's possible that someone will fall in love with the terrace and bite.

The biggest hindrance to the listings achieving their price is the overall ambience of the building. At this price point, a lack of doorman (always surprising to me, but a must for many) and slow single elevator are bigger negatives than they would be at lower prices.

A building this size usually won't have a doorman, but one single elevator and high maint? Those terraces will garner interest I am sure, but at the end of the day, no doorman and high maint. Also, what a zoo that must have been getting to and from the apartments. This could be why some buildings prohibit open house.

We avoided single elevator buildings when we were looking. Besides the long wait times, what do you do if you are on a high floor and the elevator is out of service? We're in a small building with 2 elevators and you almost never wait more 15 seconds for one to arrive. Time is the most valuable thing in the world.

Particularly if you park on the street, alternate side fun. Save roughly 600 bucks a month, and then have to deal with elevator break downs? can you sue them for lack of sufficient upkeep? I really don't like walking down 20 odd floors. Multiple functional elevators are must.

When I looked at the floorplan, I saw a second elevator. Maybe there's a service elevator? Everyone was hovering the one elevator when I was there.