Normal NYC problems, plus some other craziness
Pros
The super Mario is an incredible guy. So friendly, would bring up home-cooked Dominican food all the time.
Cons
Just gonna start off by telling the crazy story of my move-in: I'd asked the Super if he could move some packages up from the lobby that were being shipped before my move-in. He was kind enough to do so, but in the process accidentally brought a package someone had abandoned in the lobby that was not mine. When we moved in, the apartment was filled with air fresheners. He explained to us that "a rat had died in the wall and the smell would go away soon." As we were unpacking our boxes, we noticed the box that was not ours. It was filled with a mattress topper and wrapped inside the mattress topper was a dead dog. We told the Super and he helped us get rid of the box. None of this was ever acknowledged by the landlord. Ultimately, it was just an accident but felt worth mentioning. SKETCHY/UNSAFE: Teens coming in frequently and smoking weed in the stairwell. Door-to-door electricity salesmen scamming elderly. I did the NYC free lead test and there's lead in the water. I posted the notice next to the elevator for folks in the building to see in case they had kids, it was taken down within 5 mins. BUILD: This is one of those places that was "recently refurbished" but super quickly so there are tons of weird mistakes. Like once you start to look at the details closely you see how the work was done slipshod. Best example I could give was that my lights were wired wrong so that there was always a little bit of current going through them. That meant they were always a little bit on, even at night. PESTS: Normal but I definitely had cockroaches and mice and I had to get rid of them by trapping them myself and fixing the space under the door -- fortunately, I'm good at stuff like that. NOISE: The part of the neighborhood it's in means there's loud music blaring all day/night during the warmer months and the icecream truck circling. ELEVATOR: Tiny, bright yellow elevator that you feel like you're going to die in. TRASH: Is outside and need to go down in the elevator to access.
Decent building - horrible management - avoid Accord at all costs
Pros
Cost, if you speak Spanish you may get along with neighbors if you'd like to, most are nice and friendly.
Cons
Do not be nice or co-operative, they see it as a weakness and will ignore your request. You must be mean to get any attention at all, and even that will be limited and constantly tested. They likely leach off a certain % electric from apartment meters of those they consider suckers. They also have a magical heating system that adds 5 to 10 degrees to whatever EVERY Meteorology website shows to be the temperature in Inwood. That or the building exists in magical place where the laws of thermodynamics don't apply. Do not be fooled by the lease, heat and hot water is not included, it's provided whenever they decide to or fear an inspector will come by. I haven't left yet, but I can already tell it is one of those building where no one ever gets their security deposit back unless they threaten legal action, so I would recommend doing a full video prior to move in and a full video after you have moved everything out, as sending them both is likely the only way you'll get your deposit back without a protracted fight.
Advice to the owners
You don't need any advice, you know what you're doing it and why you're doing it. I get it to a certain sense, being a landlord in NYC is not easy, but that's still not a reason to be scummy to regular tenants that want nothing more than what the lease states. If you don't want to provide something remove it from the lease.
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