A nice building but not well maintained.
Pros
Very nice hardwood floors, beautiful facade and close to public transportations. Units have lots of room. Updated front door security. Modern commercial laundry facility in basement.
Cons
Building interior is not well maintained. Hallways are very dirty and some units have non functioning interior doors. Radiators are very loud and leak. Street facing units are noisy due to high volume traffic on Caton Ave.
Advice to the owners
The communal spaces could be cleaner. Renovations are very slapdash and sloppy.
Prewar apartments (huge rooms)
Pros
The rooms are large and not chopped up. Heat and hot water are free. The heat is kicking when it's on. I tell my friends to bring their flip-flops. Laundry place across the street with huge machines that are fast. I love the market next door. A bit pricey but they have EVERYTHING in a pinch. Close to the park, F/G and B/Q.
Cons
The building is a co-op, where one person bought 90% of the apartments, who is cheap. Our fridge died and our new fridge is incredibly small (we have to squat to look into it/get anything out.). The landlord is brusk, but will get things moving if you call him. The super isn't hideous but isn't there best. He's a cross between the Swedish Chef from the Muppets and a Druid. It takes Jedi mind tricks, the flute of a snake charmer, and hostage negotiation skills to get him to do anything if you aren't greasing him annually. Porch pirates run a muck, despite the video cameras and new security entrance (sometimes the video works, sometimes it doesn't.). So, the landlord is attentive, but cheap with what is done. Hallways get painted every 5-8 years. Repair jobs in the apt are done by the super and his (very friendly) side kick. English is their middle language and we've had to be the middle interpreter previously when they were doing a plumbing hack job on a leaky ceiling. (We can still hear it leaking internally). Laundry machines in the basement charge extra for hot water and various cycles and are the size of a microwave. Section 8, beware. You'll be accepted, but God forbid you are late or worse. Basic human dignity will not be given to you by the super. The stories I could tell.
Advice to the owners
Pay the electric bill on time. It's not fun to come home to warnings of darkness from the electric company. Accept rent checks digitally. Get a printer and ditch the mimeograph machine. We are in a New century.
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