So our favorite commenter has returned with great news :
Well Citispaces talked the original developers into finishing the building, paying the contractors (the previous company/buyers had yet to pay anyone including citispaces), hiring a new building management company, and honoring our leases. We’re suppose to move in (to finished apts) by April 15 with all of April’s rent free of charge. Keeping our fingers crossed that our apt will be ready. We’ve gotten keys and are being promised lots of things. Remaining hopeful.
Congratulations to you all, and we do wish nothing but the best for you. I still have high hopes for that building, and now that things have been sorted, it looks like a great resolution to a really scary situation. Let us know, and maybe we’ll meet up with you guys for a celebratory cookout on the roof!
So we’ve been getting advice from many places, but we figured we’d try to track it all here. If you’ve read this synopsis, this makes much more sense.
What do you think?
Poll after the jump
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So the saga continues…heard back from our commenter today on the ongoing situation at the 305 Lofts:
So Citispaces called last night with “good news.” The negotiations fell apart. So the fake owners are out. And the original (real) owners are considering investing money to continue construction and honoring our leases. We’ll find out for sure today. Unbelievable.
305 Lofts McGuinness Flash Update
305 McGuinness -> Fortuna smiles
We’ve been documenting our apartment search, and the relative frustration we experienced when we attempted to secure a lease at 305 McGuinness, and until now, I had to admit to a bit of schadenfreude when I saw the problems that the building was having, but today, my thoughts have changed. In an earlier post, I mentioned that the building seemed empty well after the move-in date of April 1st. Now we know why. On that post, a commenter let us all in on a really horrible situation, more akin to a nightmare than a new dream home. In their comment, we find out that really shady dealings aren’t just the domain of the brokers, since the new owners who were signing the leases DON’T OWN THE BUILDING YET.
Let me repeat that…the POTENTIAL owners have been leasing the building, but didn’t close the deal.
His comment and my feelings after the jump.
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So Shane and I really pounded the pavement, Starbucks in hand (well, mine only) this weekend looking in earnest at the apartments available. We don’t need to move out immediately but research is key. Over 2 days we looked at 5 places and revisited an old friend.
Due to popular demand, we now have a voting poll. Which would you chose if you were shopping? Interesting results so far.
Fun times! Overall, happy with what we saw. Nothing was perfect (which is normal) and we’re a bit reticent to spend a lot of money. Full list after the jump.
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During our busy apartment search weekend, we found ourselves interested in how the new residents were getting settled in at 305 McGuinness. In our continued conversations with our original brokers, they had let us know how inflexible their terms were, since they were filling up so quickly (supposedly). They had many people who were moving in on the 1st of April, so it seemed that we would be seeing many of our potential neighbors moving in at this point if we took a walk over to see it.
The good news is that while we were walking down, we found a fantastic place that close and was having an open house. Great space, nice neighbors, and a considerably nicer view, although any potential smell problems would not be all that mitigated.
But when we passed by the building it was strangely empty. April 1st had been the date we were told that the building would be completely done. Yet it wasn’t. More worrisome: the original small broken window in one of the triplex bedrooms had now morphed into several broken windows. Oh, and the wires and graffiti, first noticed by New York Shitty, were still there.
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We were on our way from 195 Java during our marathon weekend apartment safari to check out what was happening at our favorite 305 Lofts when we passed an unassuming brick building with the magic sign “open house”. It’s called the Belvedere XX and it’s at 185 India. We had time to kill before our 3pm penthouse viewing so we figured why not?
NOTE: didn’t take a picture of the exterior and that building right next to it is 305 McGuinness, only this is an older Google Maps pic hence the unfinished windows. We just walked straight in. Signs were posted for various units. I hit 4 because units 4A and 4B were featured and I figured we could see 2 apartments at once.
Lots of pics and details after the jump.
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So I’ve been chronicling our real-estate search, and I had provided a track-back to a site which, until now, I had really valued for insight while doing our search. Apparently, in posting this honest appraisal process, I had offended this person. I’m hoping to clear that up. I’m not apologizing for liking this apartment. The reasons it does and doesn’t work for a person are obviously personal. I just wanted to give my perspective. Already, I feel stupid. I mean, really? People bitching about each other’s blog? Ugh….
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When we were first heading over to Greenpoint to check out 305 McGuinness I also put in a call to check out the listing for a luxury 2 BR, 2 BA with mezzanine place (pics above), complete with on-site parking. Was told by the real estate agent that it was for 184 Eagle Street but that tenants were in the place so I couldn’t see it that day (Sunday). Weekdays weren’t good for me so I passed.
Then a few weeks back Brownstoner picked up on a story posted by New York Shitty about 184 Eagle St doing hostel duty on the side. Apparently a tipster found the Craigslist posting. So…while they wait for a real rental, they’re making money by renting out the place on a weekly basis where you can get either a bunk bed ($28 per night) or a private room ($78 per night). Um, ew?
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I have to say that all of the places in Brooklyn and Manhattan that I considered moving to, I did not consider Greenpoint at first. Then I saw the posting for the 305 McGuinness Lofts in early February. I am a huge sucker for apartment porn, as I call it, and the new condo-turned-rental developments are great for that. This was a Craigslist listing for a brand new triplex: 3 BRs, 2 BAs, brand new appliances, loft like ceilings, on-site parking and a gym. Shane and I quickly agreed: Yep, going to see that. Per the broker, Baris, these had just hit the market and so far they had curious locals coming to see the building.
Apparently this post has annoyed Miss Heather @ NY Shitty.com. Click here to read more.
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