Take It or Leave It: Is this $3,700/month Lower East Side 2-bedroom worth the money?
This week, our Take It or Leave It team of experienced renters sizes up a Lower East Side 2-bedroom with ivy-covered windows and whitewashed exposed brick walls. Our panelists—RentHackr founder Zeb Dropkin, freelance writer Lambeth Hochwald, and BrickUnderground’s own senior editor, Lucy Cohen Blatter—have 43 years of renting experience between them.
The Apartment:
Size: 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
Location: 176 Ludlow St. between E. Houston St. and Stanton St. on the Lower East Side
Cost: $3,700/month
Flexible Layout: No
Days on the market: 6 days
Subway: F at 2nd Ave.; F, J, M, Z at Delancey St.-Essex St.; J, Z at Bowery; B, D at Grand St.; 6 at Bleecker St.; B, D, F, M at Broadway-Lafayette St.; N, R at Prince St.
Pros and Cons:
Zeb: “This place is located in the heart of the Lower East Side and there are tons of great bars and restaurants right outside your door. But the $3,700/month rent seems a tad high, and all those bars and restaurants nearby might make it a very loud in the apartment.”
Lambeth: “I love the whitewashed brick walls of this quaint, sunny apartment. It seems like it faces the back of the building, so hopefully it’s quieter than it would be if it faced Ludlow. Cons are that the scaffolding out front is pretty unsightly, the bars on one of the bedroom windows could make an occupant feel somewhat claustrophobic, and sharing a single bathroom might prove problematic for two roomies.”
Lucy: “Obviously the biggest pro about this apartment is its location. If you want to be in the center of it all nightlife-wise, this is the place for you. But as someone who’s lived on the Lower East Side before, I can tell you now that the apartment is not big—just take a look at the mini-fridge in the ‘kitchen.’ Plus, there’s no mention of an elevator, though assuming the apartment is on the second floor (#2FE), that’s not too much of a climb.”
Who would this apartment be perfect for?
Zeb: “Young professional roommates who have active social lives.”
Lambeth: “A newly married couple who live for late nights at The Living Room.”
Lucy: “Roommates who are single and ready to mingle. Also, anyone who prefers going out to eat or ordering in to cooking at home.”
The Verdict(s):
TAKE IT “If you’re like me, you’ll love living steps away from all the LES action. But you might want to invest in sound-proof windows to keep the noise under control.” —Zeb
LEAVE IT “It’s just not enough of a find for the money.”—Lambeth
LEAVE IT “…unless you really want to be in the heart of the Lower East Side. You may be able to get more bang for your buck elsewhere.” —Lucy
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Take It Or Leave It is a weekly column in which a panel of long-time renters weighs in on the pros and cons of an apartment that’s currently on the market.
