Why I returned to NYC from Miami: ‘Constant heat, humidity, and sunshine is not my jam’
- Robert Pullen’s co-op satisfied his wish list and cost $615,000—the same as his Miami Beach condo
London Terrace "won me over," Robert said. "It’s an iconic and historic residential building."
Robert Pullen bounced back and forth to New York City over the years. He moved to Miami just before the pandemic, but all that sunshine was not for him. After four years, he headed back, landing in a co-op building in West Chelsea, a neighborhood where he used to live. Here’s his story as told to Kelly Kreth.
I was born and raised right outside of Detroit and moved to Columbus, Ohio, in 1992. I first moved to New York City in 1993 and lived there a few different times over the years.
Most recently I was living in Miami Beach—I moved there for work in February 2020, just weeks before the Covid pandemic started. It was a crazy time for sure! I’m the vice president of a textile manufacturing company in South America.
[Editor's note: Robert is not a Newcomer—his trajectory is more like a boomerang—which was compelling to us. If you want to see more first-person accounts about why a renter or buyer decided to take a chance on NYC, check out other articles in the series.]
I was lucky: Florida was not in a lockdown like NYC, but I missed all my friends and the life I planned for in Miami never really transpired. I was supposed to be in Miami for a year, but because of the pandemic, I ended up staying there for four.
I absolutely loved my Miami Beach neighborhood, the Venetian Islands, which is one of the few walkable areas of Miami Beach. I was right across from The Standard Hotel, a block away from the restaurants in Sunset Harbor, and two blocks from Trader Joe’s. My French bulldog Harry and I walked all the time, which is unusual for Miami residents.
I owned a two-bedroom, two-bathroom place on the 17th floor right on Biscayne Bay, high enough to have ocean views. It was a luxury building with a pool, incredible gym, 360-degree views from the roof deck, underground parking. and a private dog park. I had paid $615,000.
I loved the space because it had lots of windows and a huge terrace, along with an incredible primary bath.
I didn’t like the white tile throughout, and I would have loved some NYC-like character, like real wood floors and more architectural details. I also disliked the weather: Constant heat, humidity, and sunshine is not my jam.
I also enjoyed spending time at Faena Hotel (coincidentally we’re getting a Faena Hotel in my new West Chelsea neighborhood in a few weeks). I had a Vespa, which gave me a lot of freedom to get around Miami Beach.
Why he decided to leave
Miami is not a super easy place to make friends, but I met a lot of great people in my building—mostly other dog owners, since we had a private dog park.
But by March 2023, I was just done with Miami; the people aren’t sincere, the weather bummed me out (I like seasons) and I just missed the hustle and bustle of a real city. I decided to sell—my first two offers fell apart but I finally found an all-cash buyer and I closed in November 2023.
Wanted: A studio in a doorman building
I reached out to Yianni Vitellas, an agent at BOND New York. I first met him in the ’90s and who knew that 30 years later we would still be friends and he would be my realtor? Really cool!
I told him I wanted a studio just to chill and get back to a smaller living space. I travel a lot for work, and a studio suits me fine.
Also on my wish list: a windowed kitchen, a doorman, and elevator if above the third floor. The apartment could be a condo or co-op, but had to be dog friendly. I was open to doing a moderate renovation and was also looking for an open layout and natural light. My price range was $700,000 to $900,000.
We started looking at apartments in the middle of the summer. Most places I saw were in Chelsea, but we also looked in West Village, Greenwich Village, Clinton Hill, and Downtown Brooklyn, and we did a hard hat tour of a new development under construction in Brooklyn. I saw over 20 places with Yianni.
Ending up back in West Chelsea
Chelsea wasn’t my first choice. I had lived on 20th Street when I moved to New York for the second time—on September 11th, 2001, a devastating day for NYC.
I was kind of bummed that I couldn’t find a place in Brooklyn or the Lower East Side, but I think I ended up exactly where I was supposed to be.
My 600-square-foot studio is in London Terrace, a co-op building that won me over—it’s an iconic and historic residential building. This was an off-market listing, so I could not have done this without Yianni. I paid the same price for this studio as my two bedroom in Miami and was thrilled to get everything on my wish list, plus a roof deck—an unexpected bonus.
I made an offer in November 2023 and Yianni put together the huge co-op board package, had a draft contract sent out mid-November, we signed on December 1st, and then closed in May 2024.
I couldn’t move in until March 2024, which made life interesting. I stayed with friends in different cities and led a nomadic life for five months.
I had to sell a lot of things in order to downsize and I just finished a renovation: I tore down walls and figured out how to make a walk-in closet.
I also got rid of my car. I love public transportation, and take the bus since I live on 23rd Street, which has select bus service. I still work from home, so I have no daily commute.
What he likes about the neighborhood
Coming back to West Chelsea felt like coming home. I feel super lucky to have landed here.
Some things I love around here are the High Line—I walk it every day to get to Equinox in Hudson Yards. And the best barber, Rudy, at Chelsea Garden Barbers (he’s an icon).
I love Tia Pol, an incredible little tapas bar that feels more like the Lower East Side than West Chelsea. And every Saturday I head to Chelsea Square Diner for the best avocado toast I’ve ever had!
I mostly grocery shop at Trader Joe’s and Western Beef (right next to Chelsea Market). Super easy!
I’ve picked back up with so many of my old friends. And my 6-foot, 1-inch, 21-year-old nephew had an internship for two months last summer and stayed with me in my studio—a tight squeeze! I think I will stay in NYC this time around.
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