Alden - 225 Central Park West 1705/1603

Just bumping this thread which was locked by moderators for a week.
The interior design is a bit of a minus, but I guess the real problem is needing to move the kitchen downstairs and the bedroom upstairs. Do you have to keep both entrances, and do the charges reflect the fact this is a 2 apartment combo?

I think it unit is actually quite interesting. From the picture, though, it looks like the kitchen is already downstairs (you can see the dining table and stairs going up). Also, keeping the doors intact when combining units is required at many coops, and I have no reason to suspect that the monthlies don't reflect the combined figure for the two original units.

Why hasn't it sold, you ask?

Well, when we speak of "buildings with unreasonable coop boards," I think the Alden will be toward the top of the list. I have heard so many horror stories about blocked sales, unreasonable and unpredictable enforcement of the rules, etc. etc., which probably explains the shockingly low PF pricing in this bldg. despite the CPW address.

Thanks for that! You're right about the kitchen being downstairs already - I was confusing myself. The layout would make more sense if the kitchen dining room was on the same floor as the living room and terrace, instead of the other bedroom; and the two bedrooms should be together on the floor without the terrace, probably with another ensuite.

I just noticed there is a an open house there on Sunday. Although, judging by various coop threads on here I imagine we stand minimal chance of ever getting approved by the board if they're as bad as you say. Wonder who is on it.

It's a former apartment hotel, so low ceilings, small rooms, small scale.

Then again, there's not much else available of that size on CPW that's park-facing and with a terrace. Not even all of these: http://streeteasy.com/nyc/sales/nyc/status:open%7Cbeds:2%7Cbaths%3E=2%7Cdescription:terrace%7Cstreet:central%20park%20west

A former hotel? That's interesting - and thanks ++ for those listings. Afraid 445 is way too far up CPW, and 9th floor (no terrace on floor plan) too low - both for preference and for comparison. And $8m a bit out of range at the moment...

That's one funky floor plan & if the board are being difficult with these sellers, what do you think you might face when you want to sell.

Co-op also requires a larger than normal down payment -- 40% maybe? And that could also be a deterrent.

That is one spectacular terrace but the layout is just awful. The terrace is dictating the price, which is way too high for a stunted 2 bedrm. This apt really wants to be combined with another one to make it proportionate.