Abbey Condominium in Gramercy

Sweet!!!!

This is my favorite block - as well on the park...

http://www.streeteasy.com/nyc/sale/152292-coop-130-east-19th-street-gramercy-park-new-york

Sheesh -- original list of 4.5M! Makes you wonder who is really culpable: greedy seller or greedy broker. Probably both, and now they both twist in the fetid breeze.

still overpriced by $1M.

I agree!

Sheesh -- original list of 4.5M! Makes you wonder who is really culpable: greedy seller or greedy broker. Probably both, and now they both twist in the fetid breeze.

I still don't get this schtick. Without knowing anything about the seller people assume these people are greedy bastards that are eating dirt right now and getting shown up from their greed....

The units in this building appear to have limited markets and it is reflected in the extraordinary length of time they take to sell. Is this a walk up building? In any event, the maintenance is fairly high for what I suspect is a building without many amenities. The unit the OP provides the link to is just bizarre to me. The main room is spectacular and dramatic...and that's where the party ends. It appears to be street level (ugh) and for $3M, who wants a master bedroom open to the livingroom? The downstairs, in what must feel like a cave, there is much wasted interior space and the outdoor space appears to be the bottom of what is practically an airshaft. All the white paint in the world won't make it feel less prison-like and claustrophobic down there. The main room's moldings and scale are special, but does not mean you get away with lousy layout, no views, questionable light and basement living when pricing the place. This will remain a tough sell.

Interesting Kyle.... Also I meant above to say that this was NOT my favprite block in Gramercy...

This is on the other side of 3rd avenue.... I'd rather be in between 3rd and Park which I think commands more $$$$$.

I'll walk over there to check it out though....

The one I posted above is also a "weird" layout and situation but, the outside space makes me drool.

All good points, kylewest, thank you.

I know the layouts are strange and this building is not for everyone, to say the least. I would expect some claustrophobia in an 1888 converted church basement. Building does have an elevator though!

I'm interested in the far smaller 1 beds so I am hoping for maybe more price drops.

reaper, I love this side of 3rd; I really love Stuyvesant Square Park. Obviously Gramercy is the jewel, but I like the slight grittiness of things like the Hotel 17. And no one seems to care about the neighborhood between the upper EV and Gramercy proper enough to give it a foofy nickname. I like that too!

If you look at ground or basement level units, be very wary of certain special concerns you should have. Pests are one. Vermin appear more frequently at the street and basement levels--mice, roaches, RATS. Any garbage cans or building garbage sorting areas near the unit or restaurants nextdoor will certainly mean pests. Also, do a super good job of due diligence re: flooding, sewer back up, rain run off leaking in...

Yeah, right now I'm on the first floor (not street) in your standard EV tenement and even that was problematic when I first moved in as far as vermin are concerned. But I caulked the eff out of the place, plus my kitten is a most excellent mouser, ha ha.

I don't think I could handle rats though. Thanks again for the advice.

Speaking of Gramercy... Does anyone know which buildings get park access? Is it only buildings that overlook it?

I had access and I was on the corner of 3rd so, I'd guess that the entire blocks of 20th and 21st from Park to 3rd get access?

Ivy - Is Stuy park totally safe? Didn't they have some major drug problems - just sounds like a FAR cry from Gramercy to me....

Great points about ground level - There's a studio on the park for sale - Way high price but, RATS... Oh My!!!!

reaper, I sit in Stuy Square Park all the time on weekends. I think it is very safe. I walk through it on my way home at night when it's dark and I feel safe (and I am a young woman). It is a bit dark and never very crowded, even on weekends, which makes it seem more foreboding at night, but I would imagine the drug problems are long gone. Now it's just a few homeless people.

It's not Gramercy/Irving (but then ... what is), but SSP is surrounded by the Friends Seminary school, the Abbey and another church, Rutherford Place apartments (a GORGEOUS building), another park that is mostly used by Beth Saint Israel hospital peeps and dog runners, and a beautiful mosaic-tiled church and a few white-brick buildings.

I should probably stop selling this so hard if I want to live there soon! I want other buyers to stay away! ;)

I don't know - maybe it's old news but, what I was told was that the hospital has some sort of drug treatment place and a lot of em wind up in the park...

I'm with ya though - I'll continue to read and swap listings in the area...

Last week I was parked in front of Gramercy park and I hit the auto-lock button on my key chain - well, apparently my windows lowered and were down for maybe 4 hours... My GPS was right in the window, my nice sunglasses were right there - My Easy Pass - Everything... Amazingly untouched. Mayeb peopel thought it looked "Too Easy" to rob?? lol

I think another thing that helps Gramercy Park is all the Police cars from the precinct parked right there.

What did you think of the listing I posted?

It's beautiful. That block is amazing. I also love Irving Place, but these are second or third apartment dreams for me. I'm still looking to buy my first one! But the Abbey is still my favorite. I love the stained glass and the "churchiness" of it all. Must be my Catholic upbringing.

I also like Gramercy House on 22nd -- I love Art Deco and it's definitely more in my price range. But it's awfully large (over 300 units) and I would rather be in the lower end of the neighborhood. Plus the co-op board requires 40% down.

Seems to be cheaper coops in the Sage House on Lex... Awesome location. I don't know anything about the building though.....

I might go to an open house just to check it out.

Sage House has staggeringly high maintenance charges and some very strange layouts with cramped or awkward bedrooms. At least that is what I thought of the several apartments I saw there in the last year. Most were grossly overpriced and sat on the market forever. Very cool medieval halls and lobby, though.

Educate me on the Abbey -- I tend to work more West Side and down -- my computer shows it's a 31-unit building with nine apartments for sale -- I see seven with the same agent, in addition to the two listings that are on streeteasy -- are there a bunch of sponsor apartments that are being shopped?

ali r.
{downtown broker}

Yes, someone please answer Ali R! (Ali I have always liked your smart and polite posts)

reaper, I recall that there used to be a substance rehab townhouse-facility on 17th b/t 2nd and 3rd. Unless there are frequent reports of violence, I would not automatically consider that a deterrent, that's just me though. I am used to/comfortable with aspects of sketchyness when I make my RE choices, as many non-rich people are. Bonus, I avoid certain unbearable "upscale" twirps who have utterly destroyed so much of NYC.

You know who lives on on SSP: Amanda Lepore. She is mos def a legend!

I'm not rich by any means - Although Obama may disagree....

But, one thing I've found in the Gramercy Park area is Old Money and not as many "twirps" that you might find in new construction areas.... I've met and talked to some interesting characters coming out of those 10 million dollar mansions... People who have been there for 30 years and love to talk about the history of that area... People have a special bond and appreciation for that area....

I'm pretty much fine in any area as well - But, walking around the park with my newborn at 2 am I feel as safe as can be....