Sale at 140 Riverside Dr #16K

That place is a dump. The listing touts 'herringbone floors' and 'original casement windows' but fails to mention both need to be completely ripped out and replaced. The floors are in such a state of gouged and rotted disrepair that you can actually kick around the woodblocks. The windows seem barely able to remain in their frames.

There's a reason no photos are shown. The apartment is full of leaks, rot, and filth. I was appalled to see unflushed toidies (no joke), a sink-full of dirty dishes and all manner of detritus covering the floors of the bedrooms and living room. The apartment is apparently owner-occupied--they really ought to be ashamed to show it like that, let alone to be living in such a sty.

I'm not surprised the place has sat like a turd on the market for months--they're going to have to drop it a lot further if they want it to move.

Price cut number seven hit this evening. Another $50K, to $2.249MM. This listing is chasing the market downhill, and the market seems to be widening its lead.

Million dollar views? Maybe. Two million? Not so much.

West81st, what would an apartment like that (not renovated) have commanded in 2002? Thanks.

lowery: I have no idea. Why do you ask?

My impression is that these folks really don't want to sell. When we were trying to see the apartment several months ago they kept canceling appointments. When we finally got in it was a pig-sty in a grim state of disrepair, as I mentioned above.

If they truly want to sell this apartment they should clean it up and do at least some basic cosmetic repairs. And, of course, lower the price to a solid, realistic number rather than continue to chip away month after month.

I don't understand why a broker wastes time with a sale like this. The owners are nuts and uncooperative, the price is unrealistic, it shows horribly by the accounts above... How desperate do you have to be to spend time and money representing an unwinnable situation like this? The owners may be crazy, but the broker is ostensibly a business person--what is s/he thinking? This is pathetic.

i bet if they do sell it it will be under 700 psf (actual sf that is) som where around 1 mm

16F is also on the market and they are adjacent to each other. If I weren't wedded to our zoned school, I'd consider this combo. Potentially 5 large bedrooms, with Riverside Park views.

^^^ but they are still vastly overpriced, especially when you factor in the massive demo/gut reno work necessary to combine them. Plus, one has to consider the $4,300 combined CC.

Too much trouble and expense for too little return, especially given how generally crappy the apartments are in the Normandy.

Maybe that's why 16F's price is so unrealistic--it's a sponsor sale--in the spring we indicated that we might be interested at around 1.5--(that's when it was listed at 1.95) broker said the sponser wouldn't even consider it--we're certainly glad he didn't--

The 4300 CC combined is reasonable for an apartment that size (5-6 real bedrooms) and view. Don't agree that apts are crappy at the Normandy - the building is classic Art Deco and just wonderful in its buff brick curvilinear corners. I would offer 1m cash for 16F and 1.5m cash for K.

"lowery: I have no idea. Why do you ask?"

Because I have some memories of shopping apts in 2002, but the Normandy was not within my sights. I love the building. 2002 or 2003 is a point at which some people are predicting prices will revert to.

""Don't agree that apts are crappy at the Normandy - the building is classic Art Deco and just wonderful in its buff brick curvilinear corners.""

Exceedingly narrow rooms, full view of highway. There are far better RSD buildings (though the lobby and basement with gym are not bad). The apartments in question are in the setback portion of the building, which also works against them IMO. If I'm gonna shell out for a full river view, I don't want to see the corner of someone else's apartment when I look out the window.

Elliman just took another $99K nibble out of the price, to $2.15MM.

http://www.prudentialelliman.com/Listings.aspx?ListingID=912489

Personally, I agree with Squid about the building, but it largely comes down to taste. Art Deco vs. neo-classical aside, it's not as if you can get a large, high-floor, river-view six at 110-118, 173-175 or 180 RSD for low 2's, regardless of condition. Not yet, anyway.

I'm amazed they're planning an OH; I think that's a first for this listing. I cannot reiterate enough how appallingly badly this apartment shows (at least when I visited several months ago). Perhaps they've cleaned it up - think I'll drop by and take a peek. And yes, the adjacent 1BR is indeed available, for sale by the sponsor.

If walls can come down and both spaces fully combined, it would make a pretty fab space, though, yes - the view of the highway is definitely not so hot (I prefer buildings farther uptown where the highway has dropped down a bit). The big question on combining is "if" - it's not clear which walls are load-bearing; that could make a tremendous difference in whether the combo works well or falls short.

Oh, one thing to add - I don't think I'd describe this as a "large" 6 -- the layout feels quite cramped, with a tiny dining room and equally small kitchen. Bathrooms are very small as well. No maid's room.

The layout/size of this apartment simply does not compare to 6s in buildings like 180, 90, etc and even if in pristine condition it would not be anywhere near competitive.

hey wow they lowered the price to 2.1mm. what idiots. this apt will not bring 1.5mm forget about 2.1mm. they must be on drugs or something. okay so the next door apt is available and you can combine them. unless they are including the next door apt in the 2.1mm they can take this price and stick where the sun does not shine. why this broker sticks with this listing is beyond me. he has no chance of selling it at anything near the ask.

Finally sold for 1,850,000 in 2009 Now 19K is now on the market for 2,695,000- It sounds way overpriced. Anyone see it?

dnmf13: I saw #19K recently. Shows reasonably well, but needs a kitchen and a fair amount of freshening. There's a market for the "K" line, as evidenced by the sale of #5K for $2.275MM. It's a good layout for a buyer who cares more about views and bedroom size than a big dining room. #19K has better views than #5K, but higher maintenance and worse condition, so maybe it trades around the same level. By the way, I think #19K will have competition several floors down in the next few weeks - high enough for full river views, but low enough to knock $200-300 off the monthlies.

Saw Death Wish recently, New York and Riverside Drive has come a LONG WAY :)