The pros: The managers (Dennis and Sen) were very accommodating and friendly. Dennis handled the reservation before check-in and he was very clear about some of the quirks and issues with the apartment: it’s a 4th floor apartment with no elevator and only one A/C unit that can provide comfort to part of the apartment. The place is much larger than expected and was very clean and in a great neighborhood, surrounded by bars, restaurants (some of them really excellent), and just two minutes away from the 7 Subway line. The streets are quiet and internet worked reliably well.
The cons: as previous reviewers have pointed out, it takes a while for the check-in process because the manager has to walk you through a very long list of “dos and don’ts”, not because he’s being pedantic but rather because it is a pre-war building that has never been renovated or upgraded in any way. None. As such, it is a delicate apartment that requires things to be done just right to prevent all kinds of maintenance issues. For example, one has to ensure that the shower curtain is pulled all the way and covers the wall to prevent water to end up on the floor because from there it is a short trip to the apartment below. The bathroom ceiling light is turned on by gently pulling at a very specific angle a very long shoestring from the ceiling. And one can operate only one large appliance at the time to prevent the circuit breaker, hidden in the basement, from tripping. That means one must turn off the A/C unit to toast bread or use the microwave or dry your hair with a blowdryer. The walls are decorated with some nature paintings and printed notes that remind you what to do and how to do things to avoid problems. The 7 train can be heard every time it goes by.
The gentlemen who manage this property have been very kind and provided great recommendations regarding local business. I’m very grateful I stayed at this place: the apartment took care of our needs, kept us safe and close to where we needed to be. However I feel the responsibility towards fellow travelers to warn them that this place is a dump. A clean, well managed dump. Personally I prefer to stay where I don’t have to worry about causing an inconvenience when I flip a switch or take a shower.