building at 162 West 56th Street

Carnegie Plaza is an old, charming building with an absolute ton of potential. The units are very large with beautifully vaulted ceilings and good layouts. Unfortunately, 162 W 56th St has a horrible management company and staff as well as a useless super (who does not actually live-in). The building has been poorly maintained for many years, which is unfortunate because of how wonderful it could be.

The other main issue is the constant construction close to the building. Its a double whammy, with construction across the street at Carnegie Hall as well as the adjacent lot at 160 W 56th St (a hotel is now going up). It begins at 8 am and continues thru the night as well as on weekends. The worst part is the noise every night between the hours of 1 am and 4 am from the 25 different garbage trucks that pick-up and compact the construction materials and trash from Carnegie Hall. The noise is so bad that it wakes my family almost every night.

I went to an open house here and saw an apt I really like. I was wondering if there has been any improvement in the management since 2012? Or if the construction at Carnegie Hall was completed and the noise issue resolved?

The owner of the apt is on the condo board, so I am hoping that I will not have a problem with management. The noise issue would be a deal-breaker though. I would appreciate any feedback. Thank you.

This building has transformed itself. The old management is gone. The lobby has been remodeled and the hallways are next. It's solid prewar so you can't hear your neighbors. The new superintendent is enthusiastic and personable and definitely lives in the building with his family. Some of the staff have worked here for forty years. They watch over the owners like family. These are condos, not coops. You own and are responsible for your own apartment. The good part is you're free to do whatever you want in your own apartment, rent it out, remodel it without having it approved by the board etc. on the flip side, you're responsible for repairs inside the unit. The renter who has been bad mouthing the building never understood that her landlord/owner was responsible for answering her many complaints and not the staff. The construction at Carnegie Hall is almost finished and the noisy excavation next door should be over by June. It's been obnoxious but they are almost thru the worst part of the construction. The prices are low mainly because the building has no parking, gym, bike room or rooftop terrace - just good size quiet apartments in a killer area.

Hello, I am looking to purchase a unit in this building. I am glad the construction noise is almost gone. Well.. it is the city.. there will always be noise..
I saw a post from jessievillanova who said the building is infested with bed bugs.. Has this issue been resolved? who controls this issues since it is a condo building?
Thanks

The same renter who's been posting bad stuff about the building brought bedbugs into her apartment . Both the renter and the bugs are gone. The condo pays for inspection of any suspect apartments but if they need treatment then the owner of the apartment is responsible.

I hope this review can shine more light to the building. (I am a condo owner) It's a pre-war building, however it's quality is superb when compared to the newer construction. The walls are over a foot thick in between units and the hard oak flooring maintains its reputable quality since the roaring 20s.
The lobby was renovated a few years ago; brought back the elegance and sophistication only to mirror that of its sister building - the Carnegie Hall. They are in the process of upgrading all the wall-papers and carpeting to add more shine to this jewel.
The building staff is friendly and helpful and treats the tenants like family. If you are ever in need of any assistance, they are a call away.