5th Floor Walk Up? (neighborhood, utilities, living)

[Dark of the Moon]

My first NYC apartment was a 6th floor walk-up on the UES in the late 1970's. I wouldn't want to do it now but, obviously, I was much younger then and I did get used to the stairs. Groceries weren't so bad, but the biggest (and heaviest) problem was cat litter for my babies. Carrying 20+ pounds of clay litter upstairs -- and dirty cat litter back downstairs -- was NO fun at all.

[Moderate Guy]

I once had a fourth floor walkup. It was great for me but bad for my love life. My girlfriends would spend so much energy puffing and panting on the way up those four flights that when they finally got to my apartment, they'd just drop themselves on the sofa with a beer and the remote leaving me hanging.

The puffing and panting to get to my place left no room for more.

[Sahona]

Originally Posted by Miles

I once had a fourth floor walkup. It was great for me but bad for my love life. My girlfriends would spend so much energy puffing and panting on the way up those four flights that when they finally got to my apartment, they'd just drop themselves on the sofa with a beer and the remote leaving me hanging.

The puffing and panting to get to my place left no room for more.

Ha ha, you're so funny Miles!! Always got a tale to tell

[MsJ27]

Originally Posted by im2005

Has anyone actually lived in one of these? I found a great apartment in a great location, but it's in a 5th floor walk up. Do you get used to it or is it always a pain? I'm especially worried about moving in and coming home after a long day and having to trek up all those stairs...

I couldn't imagine!! It's bad enough when I visit people who have walk ups... I get so out of breath. If I were you I'd SERIOUSLY reconsider!

[Wevi]

I live on the 6th floor of a walkup.

Plusses:
First year I lived here I went down two sizes.
I never feel like I have to join a gym or do any other exercise.
Doesn't get harder, really, although if I'm here for my elderly years I expect it will. (It does get harder with more than one trip in the same day, however.)

Cons:
If you ever get to the first floor and realize you forgot something upstairs, it's a pain in the ass. The only thing I'll go back upstairs for is my wallet.
Can't do a big grocery shop.
Some people won't visit.
One year I broke my arm and going up and down all those stairs was scary for the first month or so. I had to walk downstairs backwards so that I could grab the handrail with my good arm. I can't imagine what I would have done if I'd broken my leg. (Oh yea, and paramedics don't want to carry you down all those stairs either. I had to walk. ouch.)
In the summer, I have to make sure I have water with me for the walk up or I'll dehydrate by the time I reach my door.
Carrying pets up and down when they need vet care. (I think this is the biggest hassle on the list.)
An elderly neighbor of mine ended up pretty much floor-bound after an illness/injury.
Another post reminded me of this: The last ten minutes of any trip are always ruined by having to lug luggage up all the damn stairs.


Overall, I haven't minded it. I just want to move because it's getting too expensive.

[vitalove]

I lived in a 5th floor walk up once. Great views, nice building but the stairs were a pain in the bottom.

Still, I survived. I don't recommend it but if it's a good place in a safe neighborhood and the apartment is really good for the price, it's kind of hard to knock it. Especially in this town.

[heidi777]

If it was me, I'd take the apartment - especially if it is otherwise a good deal and you like the area, etc. No one above you is a real plus. Our upstairs neighbors are extremely inconsiderate so would be a huge relief to not have anyone above hammering and banging at all hours. The exercise would be an added plus for me. Wonder if my memory would improve, LOL.

[nygeek]

I lived on the top floor of a 4th story walkup and never got used to it. I was in my thirties at the time (not long ago!) and would go out less because of the stairs.

I'd make multiple trips to do errands in previous apartments but in this particular one, the going up and down four flights was not fun. At first I thought it would be forced exercise but that idea soon faded and I'd combine all my errands into one trip to avoid those damn stairs.

Taking garbage down and carrying a shopping cart of groceries up was just pure hell. I loved to bike to work but stopped because carrying the bike up and down everyday became way too much. Any time we ordered food delivered, I'd walk down to the second floor to meet the guy because I felt bad that they'd have to trek up four flights with a pizza or whatever.

Ordering furniture was fun too. Some places charge you per floor after the second floor so anything you order, you should tell them that you are on the xth floor of a walkup so the delivery folks don't freak when they get there.

The absolute worst thing-- as someone mentioned earlier-- is if you forget something and have to go back up. The hot weather in July and August make it feel like 20 flights.

One other thing: the top floor gets HOT as hell in the summer because of the tar beating down on the roof. When I moved from that top floor apartment to an apartment elsewhere on a lower floor I was astounded at how much cooler the place was in the summer.

[kitkat826]

Another positive about top floor apartments: less noise. I am on the fifth floor and I almost never hear my neighbors.

[SOON2BNSURPRISE]

Do these places have air conditioning?