New to NYC’s Housing Connect is 101 West End Ave, a luxury doorman building on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.
This building is on the corner of 64th and West End Ave and has 26 units up for the lottery ranging from studio size to 2 bedroom units. The income requirements start at $73,200 for a single person and range up to $167,570 for a family of 5 with an AMI of 130%. The lottery is open until January 27, 2022. Interested parties can apply on the Housing Connect website or by requesting an application by mailing 101 West End Avenue c/o CMP Consultants, Inc PO Box 910, Valley Stream NY 11582.
About 101 West End Ave
101 West End Ave is off the direct beaten path of many New Yorkers, but its proximity to transit, Central Park, Lincoln Square, and other Upper West Side attractions is unparalleled.
Homes of modern features and elegant features, each unit has stainless steel and energy star appliances, quartz countertops, dishwashers, microwaves, wine refrigerators, garbage disposals, and custom cabinetry. Some units have city and Hudson River views as well as terraces, walk-in closets, and extra den space. One can enter their apartment through the Latch app (a digital key app) and enjoy other hi-tech features such as a digital heating and cooling system. Not mentioned on the website, however, are the useful ways in which storage space is laid out. In NYC, closets and cupboards can be hard to find but this building has them all.
Each apartment will include cooking gas, heat, and hot and cold water, but the tenant will be responsible for paying for electricity and any charges that come from certain amenities and pets.
The amenities offered include 7,000 square feet of communal multipurpose terrace space with a playground and wifi and 7,650 square feet of new amenity space which include a communal lounge and hang out spaces, a laundry room, a children’s playroom, and a two-floor gym with a basketball court.
The Neighborhood
101 West End Ave is located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, affectionately referred to as the UWS, a moniker to save any additional second possible for an ever-busy New Yorker. The surrounding streets of the building contain other luxury buildings almost creating its own little neighborhood with little restaurants, corner stores, coffee shops, and dry cleaning businesses, to name a few.
As far as transit goes, the 1 train (one of the most reliable lines in Manhattan) is a short walk away, and out front of the building is a CitiBike dock where one can bike over to the West Side Highway or in the opposite direction to Central Park. The neighborhood is perfect for both families and young singles alike, as there are many museums, restaurants, and parks within walking distance that are fit for all ages. Lovers of the arts can enjoy a quick jaunt over to Lincoln Center for performances at the Koch Theater, Alice Tully Hall, or the Metropolitan Opera House.
Families moving to 101 West End Ave can also find many options for schools, one of which is the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts. This school is the top performing arts school in the city and is known as the school from “Fame”, with famous alumni such as Jennifer Aniston, Timothée Chalamet, and Nicki Minaj.
The Inside Residential Scoop
101 West End Ave just recently went through a major renovation, completely stripping the interior decorations of the entire building, including the inside of most units. The dust from the renovations may have settled but more dust of another nature is getting kicked up.
While the interior is now that of a luxury building, with a bright white schematic that greets you as you enter the building, it came with a lot of noise complaints from residents, construction that lasted past the promised date, and un-sightly and uncompleted areas. Now, most of the upgrades have been completed, but there are still flaws the building must learn to work through such as the water being shut off for many hours during the day for “cleaning” or elevator traffic.
The largest complaint comes from the 3 elevators in one of the towers. Due to traffic, there are often huge lines that stretch down the hallway waiting for an empty car to arrive on the lobby level. With no way to access the staircase from the main level to head upwards, tenants are forced to wait as long as 10-15 minutes to hitch a ride to their residences. Tensions often run high and there have been a few verbal altercations as living in an upgraded luxury building causes tenants to maintain inflated views of self-importance.
You can also rest easy knowing security in the building is important as the management company keeps its eyes open to ensure no one is attempting to rent their apartment out on a vacation rental site, potentially causing disruptions. However, with all the flaws, perhaps this is the perfect time to get into 101 West End Ave as a new renter. No doubt the management company will work to improve the building and its atmosphere, time to get in at ground level before rental prices skyrocket.
Before applying, read more on the application process for a Housing Connect affordable housing lottery.
Alda is a mom, Brooklynite, and real estate lover. In her free time, she cruises real estate listings to dream of a perfectly attainable several million-dollar brownstone, much to her husband's annoyance. Alda is also convinced she knows everything there is to know about New York City, based solely on consistent people-watching and eavesdropping. Mrs. Burrows would be an amazing trivia partner but instead chooses to write about all the random stuff she knows.