The Blake

interesting...i was looking into that bldg. any issues with the second avenue subway?

I hear that's the law in New York. A/C comes on June 1, and heat comes on October 1, for everyone renting. Maybe if you do your homework, you will find that all rental buildings abide by that rule. I think it's a HIDEOUS law.

The city regulates heating but not cooling. See http://streeteasy.com/nyc/talk/discussion/20349-central-air-are-there-any-rules

does anyone live here that can comment??

I Live in the building. Right now the only noise from the construction is a blast that they do a little after 5 during the week which lasts for about 2 seconds. I am a broker and I chose that building over many other ones in the area. As far as the AC it's a NYC law and we just have to deal with it. Yes it's incredibly hot. DYSON makes a great cooling stand up fan you can use.

I live in a rental and my AC is on. I guess it depends on the building. how's the air quality (due to subway) and traffic by the Blake. Not sure if it would be good for a baby...thoughts?

＞I live in a rental and my AC is on. I guess it depends on the building.

Rental or otherwise, individual apartments do not get to decide when A/C and heat get turned on each year in buildings with heat-pump-based climate control systems.

Purchased or otherwise, indivudla apartments DO have complete control in buildings that have climate control systems that are entirely independently installed and operated.

Newer bldgs. tend to have the latter, but, in my experience, it is more expensive to run...

Bigger/fancier new buildings have four-pipe systems, where both chilled and heated water are pumped to each apartment's HVAC units year-round.

Small low-rise new buildings sometimes have an individual compressor or heat pump on the roof for each apartment.

A typical postwar centrally-AC'd building has a two-pipe system, where either heated or chilled water is pumped to each apartment's HVAC units. The switchover from heated to chilled, getting the cooling towers on the roof going, etc., is a big deal, so most buildings wouldn't be ready for AC in April.

Air quality isn't any sort of issue in the area right now from what I have been told by the MTA people out side. The traffic is a little heavy during rush hour times. My apartment faces 63rd St. and it doesn't really ever bother me besides the occasional horn honking. I am very satisfied with the building as a whole.

bsolomon - have you noticed that the Blake has not yet turned on their AC? Is there also a lot of subway construction going on in your area?

I understand that construction is going on around 63rd & 3rd where the F stop will connect to the second avenue subway.

As per the initial post there is no ac yet on in the building. There is a bit of construction going on at 63rd and 3rd. Doesn't really have any effect on the building yet. I am not home during the day so I can not comment on what is going on between 9-5.

I live in the building. There are always water, heating / cooling and mice issues. And the air conditioning unit is too small and weak to sufficiently cool the place. If you are elderly or have pets or young children, please take this into consideration as the summer months are very very hot, and it's broken down a handful of times this summer. All my neighbor's white laundry turned black and brown because something was wrong with the water pipes (sewage...very disgusting). They would not reimburse my neighbor, even for the money paid for the washer / dryer and there was no sign posted in the laundry room. I can't even begin to tell you how unprofessional they are on the phone and over email. It's also very noisy as the windows don't have special sound barriers. I initially liked that it was a mid-rise building but there's too much noise from construction, garbage trucks, ambulances, street traffic, etc. The website is very pretty, but it's misleading. The best value are the neighboring buildings. Also, I find myself constantly sick and coughing since living here. A real luxury building would be something like the Trump where there are actual shops and white glove service--the Blake charges luxury building prices and it is not a luxury building.

I've lived in the building for 1 year and my wife and I are moving out. As NYC15 suggestts the building is charging luxury building prices but it is not run like a luxury building. If you can afford these prices there are much nicer no fee apartments in the neighborhood. Here are some of my issuse with the building 1) The street is extremely busy..63rd street is a exit street from the 59th street bridge. It's a double wide street where cabs/cars rip through to get across town. If you have a dog or young children you do NOT want to walk on this street. It is not safe. Don't be fooled by the slow weekend summer traffic. Monday thru Friday is busy all hours of the day/night. Not only is it unsafe but it's very loud if you are on the front side of the building. 2) They did not turn the A/C on until June 1. I understand there is no law for A/C but when you are paying these prices A/C is expected to be on when it is HOT outside. Our apartmen was like a sauna for 3 or 4 weeks. Once again not safe for pets/children/old people. You can't open the windows because the traffic is so loud outside. I can go on with other complaints but these alone should discourage you from renting here for the prices they are charging.

I live in this building. Awful management in this building. Heating is out regularly and there have been ongoing mice problems for 3 years now. Plenty of better buildings in the neighborhood to choose from.