Small Wonder

A Midtown West studio that looks like a prewar co-op but acts like a condo

By Leah Hochbaum Rosner  | September 11, 2018 - 9:00AM
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This studio has a sunken living room, three closets, and a separate dressing/office area.

Citi Habitats

A sunken living room, charming Art Deco details, three closets, and a separate dressing/office area make this Midtown West studio, 333 West 57th St., #707, stand out from other apartments. Another appealing thing about this $725,000 apartment: It has co-op-style ownership rules and condominium by-laws that allow subletting and pied-à-terre—and a condo-style purchase process with no board approval.

(The listing calls it a condop, and buildings that have a mix of condo and co-op characteristics are often labeled as such, but the definition of a true condop is actually different. You can read more in "Condops demystified: What they are, why you should care—and how to find one.")

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Enter the apartment through a narrow foyer with two coat closets, as well as just enough space to set up a very small dining area. A compact desk could also work well here.  

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Grab hold of an iron railing to descend to the living space with big bay windows that usher in lots of light (although they unfortunately overlook the brick exterior of another building). The room looks to be a good size, and has a TV area with a couch and a coffee table, as well as a futon in the corner. Art Deco details abound, including high beamed ceilings and parquet flooring (but the condition is hard to discern given that it’s covered by a huge rug).

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The windowed kitchen was recently renovated, and has stainless steel appliances (including a microwave and a dishwasher). There’s also a good number of off-white cabinets and an attractive tiled backsplash. But counterspace is lacking.

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The bathroom, which was also recently updated and has a sizeable stall shower and a vanity large enough to store toiletries.

Just outside the bathroom is a dressing room that could also be used as an office space, as well as a walk-in closet.

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The studio is in the Westmore, a two-building prewar complex. There’s a 24-hour doorman, porters, a resident manager, two landscaped and furnished roof decks where residents can grill, storage, bike storage, and a central laundry room. Pets are welcome. Maintenance is $1,420 a month.

The 59th St.-Columbus Circle subway station, where you can catch the A, C, B, D, and 1 trains, is just a few minutes away.

 

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