High-end residential development has hit New York City over the last five years in ways both shocking and profound. At the far West Side development called Hudson Yards, a new neighborhood is being created that will house thousands. And in Downtown Brooklyn, the skyline has been completely altered with the addition of a dozen or more new high-rise developments.
The glut of rental apartments in these areas is also affecting the market. But despite the rampant development and the modern amenities that often come with it--from children’s playrooms to gyms to roof decks--classic New York City buildings have lasting appeal. That’s because they offer what new developments can’t: history, time-honored charm, and the one amenity that can’t be replicated--age and maturity.
Sturdy and Classic Design
You’ve heard the saying: “They don’t make them like they used to.” When it comes to construction, that’s often true.
“The quality of the build out [in pre-war buildings] is always superior in many ways,” says Frances Katzen, an associate broker at Douglas Elliman on Madison Avenue. “[They] are much more durable and the sound attenuation is much better.”
Kathy Murray, an associate broker also with Douglas Elliman on the Upper West Side, agrees.
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