Take It Or Leave It

Does a private patio make this small two-bedroom on the Lower East Side worth its $4,100 rent?

By Lucy Cohen Blatter  | April 20, 2016 - 12:59PM
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Two major pros in this small two-bedroom: The location and the outdoor space.

Corcoran

If you're dying to live on the Lower East Side, it's hard to get more central than this $4,100 two-bedroom, one-bathroom on Stanton Street. But like everything else in New York real estate, it's got its fair share of pluses and minuses. It's in a co-op building, which means you'll likely have to pay a co-op application fee, pass a board and will likely only be able to live there for a year or two. There's also a pretty significant outdoor space that's calling our names during this beautiful week of the weather. 

So is it worth considering? We asked our experts (and veteran renters), RentHackr founder Zeb Dropkin and freelance writer Lambeth Hochwald, to weigh in with me on this week's Take It or Leave It.​

The apartment:

Size: Two-bedroom, one-bath
Location: 85 Stanton Street (between Orchard and Allen streets)
Monthly rent: $4,100
Flexible layout: No
Days on the market: 20
Subway: F at Second Avenue

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Pros and cons:

"The location and the outdoor space are far and away the biggest draws here. The kitchen is a decent size, but everything else seems to be on the smaller side. That second bedroom is an odd size and I can't imagine fitting more than a small crib and dresser or desk in there. Plus, the fact that it's on the ground floor means you'll be starved for light." —Lucy

"Smack dab in center of the hip Lower East Side, this apartment sports a large back patio, one big bedroom and one smaller, and is on the quieter back side of the building. Downsides are it won’t get much light, and it has some odd angles in one bedroom and in the dining area."—Zeb

"The price is certainly right for this Lower East Side two-bed which has one huge saving grace—an outdoor space that’s ship-shape. All you might need is a broom to sweep it clean before you start furnishing it. On the downside, the rooms look extremely dark and a one-bath share makes it challenging." —Lambeth

Who would this apartment be perfect for?

 "A single person or a couple who want an office space and love to go out and take advantage of the restaurants and bars all around them. " —Lucy

"Good for roommates who love bars, live music, great food, and fancy coffee all within a few blocks from your front door." —Zeb

"A super-tidy couple who don’t need a ton of light to thrive."—Lambeth

The verdict(s):

LEAVE IT "This apartment is basically a one-bedroom with a little extra space, and for that, it's rather pricey. Also, the co-op part of the application, which means you have to be vetted by the board, will be a hassle." —Lucy

TAKE IT "If you’re going to make the most of the LES and will entertain friends on the patio in warm weather, this spot is worth it." —Zeb

TAKE IT "You’ll be so busy restaurant-hopping that it’ll be nice to have a nice quiet retreat to come home to." —Lambeth

 

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