We never met Brian, but his friend who let us in the apartment was very kind. The apartment it self was nice and clean and has two floors each with a small terrace.The terraces were however quite worn and could use some maintenance. The plants out there were also in great need of some care and one could sense that this wasn't somebody's home but a rental place.
The street was a little bit dodgy and in fact on the boarder between Palermo Hollywood and Collegiales. There were a few nice cafes two blocks away, but you're quite a walk from eg. Palermo Soho if you don't have a bike.