We mostly enjoyed our stay but there was obvious prostitution and drug dealing going on in the building.
The Good:
Great location in midtown manhattan, friendly (but passive) front desk, two sets of elevators that we never had to wait long for, and the apartment seemed pretty clean. Small but useable kitchen (although why cook when you’re visiting New York? 🍕) You’re 1 block from the 34th street subway station where you can catch a bunch of different trains.
The Bad:
It is not a family-friendly building. It is an 8 or 9 story building with all studio apartments. There are friendly people working the front desk, but they’re not really security. Front door is unlocked 24/7 and they dont check anyone coming in and out, from what I saw. While it’s a nice neighborhood, this building is the roughest spot for a couple of blocks. When we arrived late Friday night, with a small child, there were what appeared to be drug dealers and prostitutes out front. There were also lots of college-age kids partying, likely because it was the cheapest room in manhattan. A kid was passed out in our hallway. That first night was the worst of our 4, probably because it was Friday night. We did suspect prostitution on our floor the rest of the week, though, as we noticed one or two women walking in and out of our hallway every hour or so until the wee hours. Thanksfully, with all of the shady activity, most of it was quiet from our room, so we slept well.
Bottom line:
If you dont mind a little bit of rough edges and you just want a good location, clean room and a door that locks, this will work for you. If you are traveling with young children or if you dont like the sound of this, look elsewhere.