Lincoln Center

I fully agree. I see the increased inventory numbers. I see the price reductions. I hear all the conversations. I still see very little of (what I consider to be) affordable quality apartments in high demand locations.

Not sure how far west you want to go, or how you'd feel about the building, but Lincoln Guild has 2 price-chopped 2brs w/ balcony for around 800/sf.

http://www.streeteasy.com/nyc/building/303-west-66-street-manhattan

Thanks -- but I need a building that allows dogs....

srb162 - I don't know how strict you're about the neighborhood, so as a guess:
http://www.streeteasy.com/nyc/sale/228392-coop-50-west-106th-street-manhattan-valley-manhattan
I had a dog (2) problem and saw very few places that allow them.

agreed srb162, we looked in this area for six months and became extremely frustrated. There is very little quality inventory in the area. We had all but given up but came across an FSBO, was aggressive, and got what we wanted (with some compromises of course). It was absolutely worth the stress however, we love it. What are you looking for? I will keep my eyes open and post if I see anything.

Im with srb - who wants a building that wont let in dogs.

re: dogs. I'll third that.

also (and maybe I am prejudiced) dog owners will pay more for a truly pet friendly building - at least that's my experience - and a "no pet building" - no matter what the brokers tell you - is a negative.

I generally avoid buildings with a "case by case" policy. Either they're truly dog friendly, or they aren't.

Haven't thought if it may cost me more. It might, but it's a non-issue for me. My dog's coming!

In the Lincoln Center area does anyone know about this building? http://www.streeteasy.com/nyc/building/165-west-66-street-manhattan
They are putting up scaffolding. I heard they're rebricking the entire building. That's a good thing, its not too attractive. I'm wondering about the prospects for anyone who has to sell while the work is going on. Do you think it would it be possible to low ball any apartments that are listed soon? I like the location, ppsf, and common charges for building with a doorman and gym.

MeMe -- I am not a fan of this building. It is right around the corner from a very large fire department and a large City high school. The original finishes in the apartments are unimpressive and most of the units are 1 and 2 bedrooms, leading to a pretty transient population. I know that it is reasonably priced, though, and there are some units that have been merged that are supposed to be nice. The units facing 66th street are pretty dark, too. I believe the gym is next door, not in the building. I would guess they would be negotiable, but again the inventory of units in this area is not high.

srb162 -- I understand your concerns about the firehouse and that you're not up for redoing a kitchen or bath. Can you please explain the problem with being near a high school? Its not something that would have weighed into my decision making process at all.

MeMe- try to walk by a high school at recess time, especially when the weather is nice. I'd never ever even consider living right by one.

I guess it depends if you work from home perhaps, otherwise are you actually home while school is in session?

I guess my having three teenagers makes me more sensitive to being near a high school. There are weekend events, too, so the crowd/age element is not just between 7:30-2:30pm. But it's probably just a personal choice.

MeMe, I know the area well. I have come to like the Lincoln Tower buildings for their country-like feel (Is this one of them? Sure looks like it from the outside.) The Highschools are no problem. One is a very good charter school, Laguardia for Performing arts, one is not a good public school, MLK, but it borders on the projects anyway. I've never seen loads of kids mulling around the highschool. I've been to some of those w/e events and there are maybe 10 kids standing outside. And remember the highschools are on Amsterdam, not West End. To me the problem is the projects on 63rd and 64th, not the hs, but as long as you're not walking through the projects on the way to the subway you probably won't realize they are there. (on 66th there's no need to cut through, you can go by the city street). However, there are lots of parks nearby, the Lincoln Towers development b/w Amsterdam and West End has it's own guards, and the firehouse is all the way over on Amsterdam, a full avenue away. From what I've lived through you get lots of street noise from West End and the Highway, and nothing really additional from the firehouse. The area is zoned for a good public grammer school and is close to private schools like Calhoun so I imagine the re-sale would be good if you buy big enough for a family.

I too have heard they are redoing the exteriors and I saw lots of scaffolding on the balconies. I would check into the repercussions on your maintenance from that.

FWIW, there is a 41 (I think) story very big building going up across Amsterdam from this building. Not sure when construction starts.

There is a ton of new construction not far away on west 59, 60, 64 street. With all that new inventory, you might be able to negotiate a pretty good deal for yourself and no renovations to do.

keep in mind that below 64th street the school zone is undesirable. If you have kids you'll be aware of that. If you don't, you may want to consider that impact on resale. just FYI

One thing to keep in mind is that there are many people who don't care so much about schools and so looking from columbus circle through 64th may not be a bad idea, as if it has no value to you (then you dont need to pay up if that in case does happen). There are buyers always esp. for pied-a-terres or other people who are similar to the original buyer (i.e. no kids or no need for good public schools). It's a different market but NY has many of these people too who are just attractted to other things about the neighborhood (including park, whole foods etc.).

Interesting point about the schools. The sales office in the Avery (on 64th) was touting eventual plans for a public school to be built in that lower RSB neighborhood along w/ a bunch of other development that is supposedly planned for the area betw 60-64th. Of course they have every incentive to make stuff up. But does anyone know about this? You'd think eventually they will need a school to accomodate all the new construction that's going on there: 10 wea, element, adagio, 225 W.60, 3 more extel buildings planned betw w.60-63, 2 huge rental buildings on w.60. That's a lot of kids to cram into that dingy school on the corner of Amsterdam and W. 60.

Though I have no first hand knowledge, I wouldn't put much faith in the developer or the city in building a new school to accomodate the increase in units. When the new Trump buildings were built between 64th and 72nd, there was/is no new school. As a result, PS 199, which is an excellent school, is feeling the pinch.

It's just one of the ugliest, dullest areas in Manhattan. It's a depressing giant faceless soul-less cookie-cutter beehive. Even across the river looks better. And commute-wise, almost the same from NJ, too. Bleh.

Tell us what you really think stakan.

street-easy: OK. The area is ancored by the back of Lincoln Center, John Jay College of Criminal and the projects. It's quite a hike to any subway, it's desolated and lacks services, it's not Upper West Side and it's not Midtown, it's huge and sprawling, and it's seriously incorrigibly ugly.