I would definitely recommend staying in Chris studio to any backpacker wishing to "truly" discover what is like living in New York City.
I had no bad surprises with this studio, as it is exactly what it is said to be : a shared studio apartment in East Harlem.
The location is very convenient, since it's less than a block away from the 103rd St/Lexington Avenue subway station (2 minutes walk) and 5 blocks away from the 96th St/Lexington Avenue station (15 minutes walk). You will also be a block away from Central Park and the Museum Mile, which really is a nice and green place in NYC.
Chris was very nice and funny (we had a lot of good conversations and laughs together) and advised me to go to a lot of places I won't have ever thought going to (like West-Harlem, which was one of the place I liked the most in New York). He also advised me to go to good restaurants (Hot'n'Crusty, Milk-Burger, ...)
This is exactly the kind of experience I am looking for traveling alone in foreign places, so I truly had a good stay !