What you need to know about buying an apartment with direct elevator access
- They are commonly found in co-op loft conversions and new-construction condos, mostly in lower Manhattan
- 'Anything that makes a place unique adds to the price these days'—and private elevators are a luxury amenity
You'll find a private elevator at this floor-through, two-bedroom-plus penthouse at 18 Desbrosses St. in Tribeca's historic district. It is listed for $3.9 million.
Having a private elevator that opens directly into your New York City apartment sounds swanky—if you can afford it. But is it safe?
In this edition of Buy Curious, Brick turns to Sydney Blumstein, an agent at Corcoran, to hear about where you can find apartments with this amenity, who typically buys them, what security measures you should expect—and what to do when someone you don't know gets on the elevator heading to your apartment.
[Editor's Note: A previous version of this post was published in September 2023. We are presenting it again with updated information for September 2024.]
The question:
I’ve been thinking of buying an apartment with a private keyed elevator, but I’m concerned about safety. Do I need to worry about strangers getting into the elevator with me? How do these elevators work?
The reality:
Blumstein grew up in a converted loft with a keyed elevator and still spends lots of time visiting her parents there, so she has first-hand experience with the ups and downs of this feature.
"First-time visitors are always mystified when they try to figure out how to get the elevator to move," she says, "and they are equally surprised to discover it opens directly into an apartment."
How do they work?
According to Blumstein, most of these types of elevators have a key-lock system where each resident’s key will only allow access to their specific floor. Residents can also buzz people in from their apartments.
"The front door of the elevator is locked and can only be opened by key or if someone is providing you access. The elevator will literally not move without inserting the key into the lock inside the elevator or by the resident ringing you up."
Her building uses a non-duplicatable Medeco key, which she says is pretty much the norm in older buildings (and in all her listings)—and that you must remember to turn the key back to the locked position after pressing the button that moves the elevator.
She says some buildings, such as the one shown below, have key-locked elevators that serve all the units on each floor and open onto a common hallway. "This is an older building, but they've put in a key system that automatically bounces back to the locked position for added security, so you don't have to rely on your neighbors to do this," she explains. (A similar setup is at The Broadway Arms in Williamsburg, where key-locked elevators open onto individual floors and a two-bedroom condo is on the rental market for $6,250 per month.)
Private elevators in new construction tends to rely on magnetic cards in the control board of the elevator, keypads with codes, and even fingerprint readers. The elevator door won’t open unless you enter the right combination or access with the right key.
Where are they found?
As a luxury amenity, you can expect keyed elevators to be in large, floor-through, loft-style apartments and penthouse units.
And since these elevators are usually in buildings with only one or two units per floor, the apartments tend to be more spacious than those accessed off of common hallways.
"Historically, you find this in prewar buildings, namely warehouse conversions, in Greenwich Village, Soho, and tiny parts of Tribeca, where sometimes the buildings have been sistered together and the elevator will serve the east and west side," Blumstein says, adding "whereas in the Village you find the grander floor plans that are 2,500 square feet."
You can search on StreetEasy by doing a keyword search for "direct elevator." Of the 71 results, the majority were in lower Manhattan, with a smattering in other neighborhoods as well as Brooklyn.
Are they in condos or co-ops?
Blumstein reports seeing them mostly in co-ops, which is the case for the listing at the top. She is also aware of condos like The Metropolitan in Williamsburg that offer key-locked elevators. "These often have a huge freight elevator that serves two units with those giant doors that open on opposite sides into adjacent apartments," she says.
But in "older school buildings like 55 East 11th, which is a conversion that went from warehouse to artist rental to co-op to what it is now, which is a higher-end co-op, the elevator just services one side of the building because the adjacent building has the exact same setup, as does the one across the street," she says.
There are, however, a decent number of condos with this amenity feature (including the five listings below), so suffice it to say you can find keyed elevators in both types of buildings and in a range of styles and eras, from brand-new towers to smaller prewar or midcentury locations.
Are these apartments more secure?
"Absolutely," Blumstein says, pointing to the fact that the elevator won't open or budge without a key or action by the resident.
Sometimes the apartments are in posh buildings with doormen; others (like hers) have a video intercom, which can be activated to view the interior of the elevator. You can often find buildings with steel gates just outside the elevator. And for extra security, cameras with multiple views and alarms are also common.
Loft-style apartments tend to have entrance doors that lock between the elevator and the home. "We had one but honestly never used it because of the built-in safety of the keyed elevators," Blumstein says. "A key-locked apartment is as safe or even safer than having a doorman, which you can often breeze right by."
Do you have to worry about a stranger getting into the elevator with you?
"Hypothetically, sure, but in 30-plus years my parents have never had this happen," she says, nor has she ever heard about anything from her neighbors—and it's a tight-knit group.
Indeed, loft buildings are generally small—one or maybe two units per floor—so you'll more than likely know everyone and form a grass-roots lookout operation.
In new construction condos, there's usually a doorman who will only allow residents or their guests to enter the building.
And in the event that you ever do find yourself in the elevator with someone unfamiliar, remember that without special key access, the door will not open on your floor.
Does having a private elevator add to the price?
"Anything that makes a place unique adds to the price these days," Blumstein says.
She reports seeing a major uptick in buyer interest in unusual spaces "because there's so much homogeneity being created in the marketplace and a lot of similar materials—how many times are you going to see a Bosch dishwasher? So it's about having something that stands out."
A keyed elevator is particularly appealing for people who don't necessarily want to interact with a doorman or have to tip them during the holidays. Plus, at least in older loft buildings, "there's a sense of community where the neighbors collaborate to buzz in deliveries so packages are left in the hallway or the elevator, which is safer than in the lobby or package rooms," she says, speaking from experience.
"And after a 20-year chapter of raze and rebuild," Blumstein adds, "the idea that we are still honoring spaces with keyed elevators makes me feel like we are leaning into the prewar beauty that makes New York so special."
Check out these apartments with direct-access elevators.
111 Murray St., #PH 2, Tribeca
This 7,488-square-foot penthouse is in a luxury 64-story condo dating to 2018. It has five bedrooms, six full baths, one half bath, and an additional 222 square feet of outdoor terrace space. The glass-walled interior offers views of the Manhattan skyline, Hudson River, and New York Harbor. The private elevator vestibule opens through double white oak doors onto a formal entry. Other features include a gourmet kitchen, a 90-foot great room with a stone fireplace, and a dual-bath primary suite with custom dressing rooms. The asking price is $39.5 million; monthly common charge is $16,565.
522 West 29th St., #3A, West Chelsea
Located in Soori High Line, a full-service condo near Hudson Yards, this 2,491-square-foot, three-bedroom, three-and-a-half-bath unit is on the market for $4.995 million, with a $3,427 monthly common charge. A private elevator landing leads to a double-height great room with 18-foot ceilings, a gas fireplace, oak-paneled walls, and floor-to-ceiling windows. The Poliform eat-in kitchen has integrated high-end appliances, the primary suite a city-view soaking tub. Outdoor space includes two terraces off the bedrooms and a partially enclosed heated swimming pool off the living/dining area.
33 Park Row, #11B, Fulton/Seaport
Accessed by private elevator, this two-bedroom, two-bath condo is 1,348 square feet and has 11-foot ceilings, custom oak and marble finishes, and wall-to-wall windows overlooking City Hall Park. It is one of 30 units at No. 33 Park Row, the first residential property in NYC by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Richard Rogers, Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, where amenities include a full-time doorman, fitness center, bike room, children's playroom, and media room. The sponsor unit is asking $2.705 million; monthly common charge is $1,776.
440 Atlantic Ave., #PH1, Boerum Hill
This three-bedroom, three-bath penthouse with a private terrace is one of eight units at the six-story boutique condo, built in 2013. It is listed for $2.999 million, with a $1,115 monthly common charge. The private elevator opens into an expansive open-concept living space with industrial finishes, soaring metal ceilings, and a wall of floor-to-ceiling windows. Other features include smart home technology, central AC, solid oak floors, and private storage that transfers with the sale.
214 Richardson St., #6, Williamsburg
Listed for $1.55 million, this 1,250-square-foot, two-bedroom, two-bath condo features two private balconies, 10-foot ceilings, an open layout, floor-to-ceiling windows, a renovated chef’s kitchen, brand new hardwood floors, and a private keyed elevator. The circa-1950 building has nine units on 10 stories, security cameras, and a virtual doorman. The monthly common charge is $1,095.
—Previous versions of this article contained reporting and writing by Leah Hochbaum Rosner.
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