Condo pick of the week

A sleek, three-bedroom duplex in Chinatown, for $2,395,000

Headshot of Emily Myers
By Emily Myers  |
February 25, 2019 - 12:00PM
image

The upper floor of this basement duplex is a mix of sleek white with mahogany floors.

Compass

This Lower East Side duplex, 7 Essex St., #1A, is offered at $2,395,000 and has modern finishes, mahogany hardwood floors, and sizable outdoor space. There aren’t enough three-bedroom units on the market in the neighborhood to provide data on the median price but the last three-bedroom unit in the building changed hands in 2016 for $4,300,000.

One thing to be aware of with this listing: The lower floor appears partially below ground. There are pros and cons to basement apartments but the main problem can be drainage. The floors on the lower level are finished with ceramic tiles that look like wood—which can stand up to flooding better than real wood. You’ll want to ask about additional waterproofing measures undertaken during the renovation. Also check if there’s sump pump as a back-up. The lower floors face north so they won’t get as much sunlight as the south-facing kitchen/dining room above.

image

An island between the kitchen and the dining area makes this a practical family room. The island can be used as a breakfast bar and there’s plenty of storage. The aesthetic is sleek and modern with stainless steel appliances, white cabinetry, and countertops. There’s even a white backsplash, which might be hard to keep clean.

image

image

image

The living room has access to a decked area fringed by greenery. 

image

The bedroom on the upper floor is just off the living room and has views of the garden and the brick wall beyond. It also has a closet. 

image

The master bedroom is on the lower floor and has access to a terrace. The light-colored, wood-look ceramic tiles in here were chosen to maximize light.

There’s also a third bedroom on the lower level but the only bathroom on this floor is the en suite master bath. The master has plenty of closet space but occupants of the third bedroom would have to make use of the slim storage area in the corridor.

image

image

The bath on the upper floor contains a tub and also has a washer/dryer. 

The building has 16 units and 12 stories. Amenities include an on-site superintendent, a bike room, shared roof deck, and virtual doorman. The monthly charges are $1,685 and monthly taxes amount to $1,800. Pets will be considered on a case by case basis. 

image

Trains nearby include the B, D, F, M, J, and Z lines, making it an easy commute to the city's main business districts.

Seward Park which is right next door to the property and is currently undergoing some upgrades.

 

Headshot of Emily Myers

Emily Myers

Senior Writer/Podcast Producer

Emily Myers is a senior writer, podcast host, and producer at Brick Underground. She writes about issues ranging from market analysis and tenants' rights to the intricacies of buying and selling condos and co-ops. As host of the Brick Underground podcast, she has earned four silver awards from the National Association of Real Estate Editors.

Brick Underground articles occasionally include the expertise of, or information about, advertising partners when relevant to the story. We will never promote an advertiser's product without making the relationship clear to our readers.

topics: