Lincoln Towers - UWS

I looked at this complex, and I've had friends who lived there. It's nicer inside than you'd expect, but still seems kind of dreary to me. Lots of families. Used to be very underpriced psf, not nearly as much so recently, should revert to a better value (my guess) in the end. I think it is zoned for a very good public school, but that was years ago so things might have changed.

The room dimensions are quite nice, and there is a lot one can do with the kitchen because it tends to be very long. Great closet spaces, good light in the apartments. Awful terraces. I've seen apartments that look quite beautiful, but I've never seen anyone manage to make the terrace look inviting. My friends have been happy with the building services.

Regarding location, it's a bit far out, but if you work in midtown it's convenient if you don't mind walking/busses. I don't really like the Lincoln Center area myself, but I'm sure it's changing rapidly with the new developments.

the studios are well over $400k...the bldgs remind me of stuyvesant town..government housing.

aboutready - thanks. that was useful.

julia - right, i agree that the building is not easy on the eyes, but I was wondering if anyone had input about the interior.

We sublet the same apartment twice in the 140/142 building which you enter from 66th street - 15th floor. Dogs allowed. Small bathrooms, big apartments. Liked the building inside, liked the maintenance. Neighborhood was fine for me (I use Lincoln Center) but my partner likes the busier feel of midtown, so we are on 52nd and 8th now - a very high decibel neighborhood.

Since we've left, they tore down the Red Cross building (66th and Amsterdam) and the new building seems to be a very hi-rise residential rental building without NYC opera on he lower floors as had been proposed.

The walk to Broadway and the subway wasn't bad and there is frequent M66 bus service right in front of the build to get to the east side. Also convenient West End Avenue bus that turns left on 57th Street.

Thanks Cliff.

Back in 90' you coulda bought a alcove studio for $50K. I almost bought a studio in late 90's so I could get the parking space ($50K) right in front of the building, should've done it. BTW if you need a car (like a do with the kids) the parking there is cheap and if you can a parking space right in front of the building... it was be totally cool for a guy like me :) So I can go get groceries, pick up kids, and the wife (oldbuyer).

I looked at the studio apartments and they are large with walk in closets...multiple windows and I could have done a bedroom but the bldgs were so sad looking.

Isn't Lincoln Towers a land-lease property? When does that lease run out? IIRC, its not for some time, but there will come a day. Something to know before buying.

julia - sad looking on the inside?

67 & walter - we would be renting.

It's not a land-lease. I contemplated buying an apt too (with a parking space) back in '01. It was right after 9/11, and they were trying to sell a low-ish floor potential combo (2 large 2-bedrooms) in 160/170? for 800k with parking spot. Those 2brs were huge, so really you could have made a large 5-bedroom apt with LR, DR, FR, and an 8x10 laundry room.

Anyway, the interiors are fine, layouts generous but the exteriors are horrible and unchangeable. It used to be full of retirees, but it's turning over very quickly as they are mostly zoned for PS199 and it's a bargain compared to other things in the catchment zone. And the residents are very well-organized politically, which I think explains why they were not zoned out of PS199. It's a solid middle-class bulwark for the Lincoln Center neighborhood.

Yes, I am very familiar with the place as I looked at several apartments there in 2005. The majority of the units I saw were owned by seniors and they did not do any upgrades to them. THe place used to have nice views of the river, but Trump blocked them.

The facade of the building looks like sh*t, but the lobby is VERY nice. I was suprised when I walked inside because I was expecting the lobby to be a complete dump.

Hi, these are well kept buildings with respectable tenants and owners. I've been in most of the buldings with each having its own co-op board and rules(some are more difficult than others).

Here is their website with all the good stuff. Good luck! http://www.lincolntowers.com/

I only looked at studios and they needed gut renovations on the kitchen and baths but the alcoves were large and would have allowed me to have a wall built with a french door...but they were asking over $400k.

also not all the bldgs allow pets and the maintenance is high.

The majority of the apartments at Lincoln Towers are going to need work.

I have friends that live here that bought a renovated apartment. The apartment is beautiful, lots of light, good space, decent psft (about 10-15% lower than comparable units in the neighborhood), and the parking is a real benefit as well. I always hated the buildings for aesthetic reasons, but I'm coming around based on how nice my friends place is. Also, it is not that far away. The East building (don't know the number) has a door a few steps from Amsterdam and 69th, which is pretty convenient.

Thanks all! Glad to hear its not a dump.

it's definitely not a dump.

Julia, I'm not sure if you have looked recently, but there are a number of studios under the 400k mark now. If you are patient, it may go even lower.

But then Julia will find something about it to complain about (no offense Julia). It needs too much work. The building is ugly. The maintenance is too high. There is no sleeping alcove. The view sucks. There is no natural light. The street is too noisy. It's on the ground floor. There is no doorman. It's too far from the subway.

Been wondering for ages why no one I know (at least the metrosexual types) EVER looks at this place when apartment shopping even though Lincoln Center area not bad, price way lower than other reasonably comparable locations. I especially wondered since a lady in her 60s who lives there has a large two bedroom that seems perfectly nice, with a nice layout..but her maintanence is over 2k a month now.

Studios there were below 300 not long ag0...and I mihgt buy if they go that low again

We looked at this one, http://www.streeteasy.com/nyc/sale/266247-coop-205-west-end-avenue-lincoln-square-new-york, last week (as a rental, asking $5995).

The location was decent. Certainly not ideal, but not as "far away" as I expected. Building was so so. Lobby was a little rough. Amenities were decent. Apartment overall was decent (for a rental).

I actually found the lobby to be quite nice. The only things I disliked about Lincoln Towers when I considered buying there is the high maintenace and the ugly exterior.

I remember tears in the rug or chair or something. Looked a little worn to me, but I honestly wasn't paying much attention. Maybe it varies from building to building. The lobby would not be a deal breaker for me.

I've got some friends that live in 160 on a lower floor that faces the parking lot. The view kinda sucks, but it's much quieter than being streetside. They've got a huge, what I think was, studio with a wall and door for the bedroom. Still, the livingroom/dining room is large enough for a sectional, a fishtank, a computer desk, and a dining room table. The bedroom has a queen and a dresser. Great sized place; except the bathroom is small.

They also have "original" bathroom and kitchen (for another couple months, anyway), so they can definitely be dated.

Still, it's not "far" if you don't mind walking one Ave to 66th and Broadway for the 1 and the area is "tranquil" by usual NYC standards.

I like it, but I agree the area isn't very "neighborhoody," nor does there seem to be much in the immediate area, but it's not that far to get to the good stuff.

I'd rock it for the right price; ESPECIALLY if I had kids. Not a bad spot for that at all.

I agree with uwsmom an InvestorMan - quiet feel and lots of green good for kids. We will consider it when buying.

What's wrong with the location? I guess it depends which building, but some are very close to 72nd express and Broadway. It's right next door to PS 199, a great public school.

I would say that the location and kid zoning are great. The exterior isn't so easy on the eyes.
I think outdoor parking is available for purchase too.

aifamm - It just doesn't have the same neighborhoody feel that a tree-lined street does. Coming from one a spits distance from central park, this would be considerd somewhat "far away" for us. But as InvMan put it "not that far to get to the good stuff". It's all relative.

Really, I find it more green then a tree lined street. You know they have grass in there. Yeah grass. :) Anyway, I was just pointing out that it is sneakily close to cpark, riverside park, and broadway. So I would definitely not put a negative on the location.

if the prices were low than it would be a great place to live but if it's equal in price to bldgs. in the neighborhood it's horrible...government housing!!

NEWSFLASH Julia: EVERYONE lives in government housing. The govt. is going to start buying mortgages, so essentially the govenrment will own a piece of nearly every house in the country. And if the owner defaults, then the govt. owns 100% of the property. That's right: government owned McMansions. Government owned condos!