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I always wondered what the general consensus of New Yorkers on this question. Say you were absurdly wealthy, and you had to choose a place to live in NYC. Would you choose a brownstone/townhouse or a large apartment (of your preferred era), and where would it be located? Personally, I would like a large early 20th-century prewar apartment on Central Park West (with restored period details, no modern renovation except the kitchen). While I’d probably pick a townhouse over a 50s-60s postwar apt. or a modern one, just because of my preference for prewar architecture, I’d ultimately choose the prewar apartment because of the amenities of a luxury building, the open layout (due to their design, the layouts of most brownstones are rather archaic), and the fact that I wouldn’t have to deal with the responsibility of maintaining a building. So what does everyone on this board think?
Penthouse in the LES during non-covid. Living on the 22nd floor right now, I don't hear street noise and I feel very secure safety-wise. I can go out to hundreds of bars and restaurants, grocery stores aplenty, etc. etc. If I could get the entire top floor or something? Hell yeah! Especially since I'm in my late 20s. I'd also like a balcony.
I couldn't own a house or even rent something on the first floor/basement. I'm paranoid of living on the first floor as I feel like I'm the most likely to be robbed place if the building gets broken into. Flooding is also something I'm not fond of. In the apartment maintenance is included so to speak, so I can be lazy and dedicate my time to other things. Brownstone not so much. Plus I have no pests currently, probably would be the same in a penthouse. Brownstone? Forget it. Roaches, mice, waterbugs, misquitos, yuck.
Penthouse in the LES during non-covid. Living on the 22nd floor right now, I don't hear street noise and I feel very secure safety-wise. I can go out to hundreds of bars and restaurants, grocery stores aplenty, etc. etc. If I could get the entire top floor or something? Hell yeah! Especially since I'm in my late 20s. I'd also like a balcony.
I couldn't own a house or even rent something on the first floor/basement. I'm paranoid of living on the first floor as I feel like I'm the most likely to be robbed place if the building gets broken into. Flooding is also something I'm not fond of. In the apartment maintenance is included so to speak, so I can be lazy and dedicate my time to other things. Brownstone not so much. Plus I have no pests currently, probably would be the same in a penthouse. Brownstone? Forget it. Roaches, mice, waterbugs, misquitos, yuck.
I love the architecture and the history of brownstones. But much like Javawood, I have a fear of living in a place that can be broken into. I could never live in an actual house. I need to live in an apartment with one door in and one door out. Forget about a place where there's windows and several doors. I would like a place at least on the 5th floor so odds of someone breaking in from outside are unlikely. Also as much as I hate hearing my neighbors. It's refreshing to know that you have neighbors that could hear you if something happened.
Brownstone? Forget it. Roaches, mice, waterbugs, mosquitos, yuck.
That’s a good point! Recently I remember walking along W 10th and seeing a notice in a townhouse’s front garden that it was being baited with poison for rats. I’ve lived in tenements basically my whole life and have never, ever, had full-fledged-****ing rats, yet this rich family did. Certainly proves that when it comes to first floor/basement dwellings in the city, vermin don’t discriminate.
Brownstone!!! I hate waiting for elevators and think that there's a luxury in either not having neighbors in your building or being able to pick them. As far as safety - ya get an alarm! The big downside is maintenance, but if I had the money, I'd throw it away on a building manager who would arrange all repairs etc.
I don't like the brownstones because the inner rooms don't have windows, and I don't like all the different levels. Stairs, I live with now, so I don't want to do them in this fantasy.
I don't like elevators but that's the trade off.
Huge apartment, central park west, or riverside drive, balcony, but since it is a dream, it is a wrap around terrace penthouse, might as well dream big
You know, I don't think I've ever been in a real brownstone. If I have, I don't remember.
As far as I can remember I’ve never been in a true single family one. I just see pictures off the internet in architecture/real estate websites. Sometimes I can get a quick peek walking by one.
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