Rivergate

Very young, lot of recent college kids
near heliport and NYU medical, so, expect a lot of noise

The noise is tough...

Yes I know. Sacrifice. I need more space. I'm used to college kids - I live in Windsor Court now - that doesn't bother me. This apt faces West which is the only way you can face and not get the helicopter noise. We went and saw 20th floor south facing apt with a great view but it was so loud.

also the obvious, long walk to train...I live on 36th and 1st, so know the area pretty well

Yep neither of us take the subway often. My husband works on 30th and 8th so the bus would be really easy from there. I love all the parks there - st. vartans and Rusk. Do you own or rent brokers? Do you like it down there. I'm pretty close and am down there to the parks quite a few times a week. How is the noise from the helicopters? Which way do you face?

cccharley, rivergate is one of the worst rental buildings in manhattan. the noise there is horrendous. and there's been many incidents of the young college graduates acting rowdy, such as throwing up in the lobby or haveing REALLY loud parties in their apartments, without regard to their neighbors.

Jus stay away from rivergate at all costs.

Rufus I live in the same type of building right now - rowdy youngsters. It doesn't really matter to me. I would rather trade off noise for 400 more square feet and an extra bathroom.

ugh. i guess it's your call. the murray hill buildings in general are horrendous.

I like it here and my daughter is in nursery here so we are staying another 2 years at least. The K-6 school is one of the best in the city too

I loved the rivergate. The fountain in the lobby is totally relaxing when you get home. Its far from the subway so you need to take cabs alot. I love Murray Hill. It's my second fav nabe next to the UES.

OriginalPoster, what do you like about murray hill? it's dirty and overrun by trashy people.

Original - that's where we are headed next. I can't find a comp for the same price so staying down here for a bit longer. I need space. 700 sf with a toddler and a dog is driving me mad. This apt is over a 1000sf so it will be huge to me

I had friends living there and they said there's nothing in the neighborhood. The rooms are large but the area is dead at night.

the area is god awful. only people who can't afford to live anywhere decent choose to live in that area.

there's alot more going on on second and third avenues these days. you'll have good food delivery options. borders is an avenue away. you're right about the park, it's a great community. i'm assuming the school is ps 116? i have a number of friends who have really liked that school. if you can tolerate the loud parties, and you're going to have them almost anywhere the rent is cheap, it's not a bad option for a family.

Julia - you must be kidding - what will I do at night with a 2 yo? I've gone out for the last 30 years. I'm happy for a larger apartment. I can go anywhere from Murray Hill to anywhere else to eat in the city - village or UES. I never go to the UWS so it's a very convenient area for me. As for nightlife - the city is at your feet just a taxi ride away if you so please. As for the daytime - everything is within a couple of blocks. There are exceptional parks for kids right across the street -important to me - nightlife at my door is not

The thing I liked about Murray Hill is that it is quiet and there are nice professional people living there. I am not a downtown hipster. I am not into clubbing or the whole "scene." I currently live on the UES. The cool thing about Murray Hill is that its homey and nice. There are a million restaurants there that aren't expensive. Theres the movie theater and borders about 2 blocks away from the Rivergate. Its definitely my fav place to live besides the UES.

cccharley, I used to live at the Rivergate. Great building, great apartments, balconies are a big plus. I got used to the noise, but that's a very personal preference. Neighborhood has pluses and minuses. For kids, playground by the building and a bigger one across the street are huge. Being that far east is a bit annoying, compared to where you are at Windsor Court - a lot less stuff right on your block, farther to get anywhere, etc. The other negative was that the rental office was a huge pain to deal with, to the point that when wife and I were considering returning there (I had lived there with roommates before we were married), we decided not to deal with their attitudes and told them to &%&^ off.

It sounds like you and I have some similar situations - we have a young kid too, although no dog. If you want, give me an email address, and I'll write you offline if you want to discuss Rivergate more and/or share tips on apartment searching.

Thanks new - here use this one twiggy500@aol.com So funny - guess there are only so many buildings that suit what we need. It is only a rental. I'm sorry to be leaving Windsor because after being here so many years we've developed a nice relationship with management. Even if our rent is a few days late - no big deal. Wish their jr 4 were cheaper but then again there is only 1 br in their jr 4 and this one has 2 and such huge kitchen. I could really stay there a long time while waiting for prices to drop. I think we need at least 2 years to reach a soft bottom

A number of diplomats live there...i don't know if that's a plus or minus since they have immunity.

Julia - why does this matter? Are they going to attack me and get away with it? Lots of diplomats children go to UNIS- it's a great school and that certainly wouldn't prevent me from applying there. I think it's a plus. I like an international atmosphere, but I really think it doesn't matter in the least. Remember this is just a rental. Diplomats can buy into any condo in NYC is they have the funds.

those diplomats must not make good money since they are forced to live in such a mediocre building as rivergate.

Rufus are you rich? There needs to be housing for all types of people. Not everyone can live on fifth. What's your concern? Please leave my thread. You are a broken record. I don't even know why you are on this message board. You have nothing to add but slings and arrows. I don't know you but you seem like a nasty little man - and I like everyone. Why don't you change your attitude or maybe you prefer to be Scrooge

Rivergate has a few vacancies and they are offering incentives to move apartments, at this point you (or your broker) should get 13 months for the price of 12.

ali r.
{downtown broker}

Ali - thanks- I asked about the free month and they blatently lied to me and said no incentives. Then when I went touring the leasing agent said to make an offer about the rent. So now Im doing my application - after that is approved I have to give my offer- should I ask for my free month and a rent reduction or just my free month. I would rather be low and have them counter. I'm not using a broker because last time I did I got no fee but I had to fore go a free month. This time they don't have pay a fee so they can deal with me

How can they say they're not offering incentives when they send me an EVERY WEEK telling me to bring my clients there because of the great incentives? That makes me p'od, it really does.

Ask for both.

ali r.
{downtown broker}

Cracker Boy, you wrote:
"
rufus
2 days ago
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cccharley, rivergate is one of the worst rental buildings in manhattan. the noise there is horrendous. and there's been many incidents of the young college graduates acting rowdy, such as throwing up in the lobby or haveing REALLY loud parties in their apartments, without regard to their neighbors.

Jus stay away from rivergate at all costs." [sic]

Aren't these the very same young college graduates whom you think are the making of a relatively okay Chicago neighborhood? Isn't that what you always go on and on and on about? And are you mental?

You know what Ali - they have weekenders who don't work there all the time. When I called and asked for the guy who took me around they said he is only there a couple of days a week. So I'm going to insist on my free month and offer $150 off the rent and see what they come back with. I'll also sign a 2 year lease. Thanks for your help. I pretty much figured they were offering that since all the other big landlords are doing the same. I would look into their other building The Murray Hill but they changed their dog policy to no dogs - but you know what that may be flexible too

the crap you and Ali are describing about the management company is exactly what I was talking about. I'll write you shortly.

I have had to deal with my management company exactly four times in five years. three times to get new keys, and once because they didn't post a payment (called and left testy message, end of problem). Maybe I'm just lucky, or maybe I'm low maintenance (haven't called to complain about NYU guys playing basketball upstairs at 1a.m., for example) but I don't know how much it matters. Having a landlord/management company you love in NYC is certainly the exception, not the rule.

Got back from the leasing office - what a pain - $1000 deposit for my little dog -ugh. Anyway Ali - they said no free month! They said they were offering brokers a month fee if they brought in clients. The good news is that they dropped the rent to what my offer was going to be without me even asking - got lowered today! So $155 off the rent is great. It is actually a terrific amount of space for the money and the kitchen renovations and appliances are beautiful. I went to see an already renovated apt of the same line - high up - would have loved it but not worth the $400 more per month and I am for some reason more nervous on the 30th fl with a 2 yo than the 5th floor. Bummed about the free month but will be checking the Sunday papers for an ads offering free months. I can't wait to face West again and grow a garden on my balcony. I better be approved. So any recommendations for cheap movers? I so hate moving.

could you tell the rent - if you dont mind?

sure I don't mind. $3195 Here is the floorplan
http://www.manhattan-skyline.com/properties/layouts/river2.html

that's a really good price. thanks!!

I did not know that we could make an offer on the rent. So they came down from 3350 to 3195.

They officially reduced it. When I toured on Sat they said make an offer bc 3350 was over my budget. When I went in today she said the rent was 3195 firm. It was funny that it was the same as I was going to offer. I guess in today's market you can offer anything and they can turn you down. Just like they did when I asked for the free month. My apt on the upper floor was around $3595 I think or maybe $3695. Great Western view

that's a great layout...enjoy

glad you got the place cccharley!

next time I will ask to go in with you so I can scoop up the month -- it still doesn't make any sense that they would offer it, but not pass the savings on to you.

I am sorry about the pet deposit but I can tell you as a former landlady you got off cheap!

ali r.
{downtown broker}

Thanks Julia- I'm thrilled for space. We pay $3045 for a 1 br with a small dining area. Even with the wall put up my daughter will have a nice sized room (bigger than one that many 2 brs consider a full bedroom) and a large living/dining area. Oh and lots of closets and an extra bath - all for $154 more a month. I'll take you next time Ali - Im going to get my license too

Newbuyer - you are right about the rental staff. They are not pleasant. Driving me mad already trying to get this ridiculous amount of paperwork ready for them. All has to be so fast - and I"m not even moving for 6-8 weeks. Crazy. I think they still think it's 2007 with it's frenetic pace. I didn't hear any phones ringing while I was in the office.

I agree that you don't have to deal with them often, that's why it was a relatively minor minus.

The price seems amazing. Either (a) rental market really is softening, (b) you got a great deal, or (c) I have been mis-reading the market all along.

We are in the market for a rental (need something bigger though), I am definitely emailing you to ask for pointers.

Rivergate is one of those buildings that is reflective, rather quickly, of the way the market is heading. Large buildings often don't want to keep empty apartments, and they can be faster to react to slowdowns. My complex, the dreaded Peter Cooper Village, is kind of the opposite. They paid so much, on the basis of such unreasonable rent projections, that they have been glacial in their response to the downturn. I don't know if it's apochryphal, but I'd heard a couple of months ago they had enough vacant apartments to fill five buildings. When I moved in four and a half years ago, my high floor renovated two bedroom, two bath in PCV went for $2750. Now I've heard that the two bedroom, one bath in Stuyvesant Town (much smaller) starts at well over $4000, I believe $4800. You'd have to think they'd revert to approximately 2004 levels.

Aboutready - I called pvc and st - here is what I was told - $3420 for a 1 br and pc and one month free- they are large but now that i have this apt I can't compare - I got 2 baths and more space. If they were down under 3000 I would have jumped. Stuy starts at $3055 for a 1 br - give me a break - I'd much rather stay at Windsor. Better location etc. The 2s $3900. Can't believe how cheap PVC was when you moved in - what are you paying now. My friend is in a 3 br at ST and her rent just got bumped up huge. My father told me they need to rent each apt for something like $10000 a month to break even - they are headed for bankruptcy. It will go down as one of the worst deals in history

how do people justify paying so much to live in stuy town or peter cooper? they look like dreadful housing projects, and the location is awful. there are so many dumb people out there; it's really sad.

Rufus the renovations inside are beautiful. The grounds and parks are beautiful. Great for kids. All but the structures themselves are very nice. It's a terrific place for families

cccharley - I currently pay a little over 4000 for a 1200sf two bedroom, two bath, high floor, one of the more convenient buildings. My daughter goes to school on the upper east, far east, so the commute isn't bad (up 1st in the morning, cab via FDR in the afternoon). I think they will probably go into bankruptcy, or, more likely, do a short sale. There's been a lot of landscaping work recently. The last time we saw this level of activity MetLife was putting it on the market. I've read they'll be through their reserves by September. They are losing market rate tenants during the renewal process like you wouldn't believe. When did your friend renew the lease? I'd heard they weren't anticipating increases in rental rates (info as of October, however). The $3900 for that small ST 2 bedroom is an improvement, I believe, as amazing though it may seem.

Rufus, you sad little fellow. I really do intend to ignore you, but when you call me dumb...
I sold a loft in Chelsea. For the total monthly that I paid there, I now pay my mortgage and taxes on a 4000sf 1800 center hall colonial upstate on almost three acres with a paddock and a horse barn, my monthly car lease and parking are paid for, and 75% of my rent is covered. I will buy again in the city when and if the rent/buy numbers make sense. In the meantime, we like to walk and the east village is 10 minutes away, the flatiron area is 15 or so minutes, Union Square is 20 minutes. Life is good, could be better, but have no real complaints (well, those NYU guys could quit playing basketball upstairs at 1:00 am).