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"everything lofts"
Reflecting the historical and architectural wealth of New York City, there are a wide variety of apartment buildings available in Manhattan. From the Old World charm of a walk-up to the luxurious splendor and amenities of a newly constructed high-rise, there is a building for every need and budget. Loft apartments for rent and for sale can be found in almost any type of building.
Traditional loft buildings are usually converted commercial buildings. They are generally found in current or former commercial neighborhoods. Most have extremely high ceilings, huge windows and abundant floor space-a premium in Manhattan. Many have self-service elevators. While most are magnificently renovated, you can still find raw open spaces waiting to be designed.
In the 1970's and 80's, theses buildings were most often found in neighborhoods like SOHO, TRIBECA and Chelsea. Now you can find loft buildings in almost every developing neighborhood throughout Manhattan including Greenwich Village, the Lower East Side, Midtown East, Clinton, (formerly known as Hell's Kitchen), The Fashion District, The Flower District, The Upper East Side, The Upper West Side and Harlem.
Five and six story buildings constructed in the early 20th century are the most basic of New York City apartments. As the name implies, they do not have an elevator, and most do not have an on-site laundry facility. There is no doorman, and security is generally a locked double-door with an audio intercom to welcome guests.
Most walkup buildings have been renovated, and some building owners have converted the apartments into full floor-thru loft apartments.
Pre-war or post-war buildings with elevator service most often have an on-site laundry room. Security is provided by an audio intercom and some of the more modern buildings have video intercom and T.V. security systems. There is no doorman or concierge service but it may have a lobby attendant.
These buildings provide Doorman service and have an elevator. They can vary from a detailed, pre-war, ten story mid-rise to a state-of-the-art, fifty-story luxury tower. Many of the newly constructed high-rises contain a wide-variety of amenities including laundry facilities, maid service, on-site health club and spa, tennis courts, running tracts, landscaped roof decks and gardens, swimming pools, playrooms for children, parking facilities, conference centers, lounges, high-speed Internet access and satellite television systems.
Sprawling loft apartments can be found in the some of newer doorman buildings.
Brownstones are single-family homes that were built in the early 20th century and are usually four or five stories high. The name was derived from the brown stone materials used in their construction. A classic brownstone has an entrance several steps up from the street that lead to a parlor floor with very high ceilings and tall windows. The garden floor is a few steps down from the street and opens to the backyard. Other brownstone buildings can have an entrance at ground level, but all offer a sense of charm. Most often they will have decorative molding, period bathrooms, decorative or working fireplaces with simple brick to ornate marble mantles. Most brownstone owners restore the buildings to retain its pre-war ambiance while others renovate using modern materials and fixtures.
Brownstones are still used as single-family homes, but many owners have converted them into multiple dwellings featuring large, floor-thru, loft-like apartments for rent or for sale.
Similar to brownstones, but constructed of brick or limestone, town houses are upscale single-family private homes, usually three or four stories high, with a private entrance directly from the street. Many of these structures contain very desirable amenities including private backyards, roof decks, working fireplaces, and ornate in-laid hardwood floors.
While some town houses remain as single-family dwellings, many have been reconfigured to accommodate multiple dwellings and a few offer large, full floor and multi-level loft like apartments for rent or for sale.
Buildings constructed before World War II are called Pre-war buildings. They are renowned for their quality of craftsmanship, attention to detail, and architectural splendor. Generally you will find spacious rooms, nine- to ten-foot-high ceilings, hardwood strip or inlaid parquet floors, thick plaster walls that provide good sound insulation, arched doorways, fireplaces, large closets and such woodwork details as crown moldings, picture rails and decorative trim.
Any building constructed from World War II through to the 1970s would be considered a post-war building. Almost all post-war properties have elevators and laundry facilities; many will have doormen. Most have standard eight-foot ceilings and walls constructed of Sheetrock. Older post-wars may have hardwood strip floors; more often you'll find wood parquet tile. Post-war buildings generally have larger windows.
This term usually refers to buildings constructed in the 1980s. They tend to have an abundance of glass and steel, parquet tile floors, and bigger closets than post-war buildings. Appliances and fixtures tend to be basic black, white, or beige, and the kitchens usually include dishwashers and microwave ovens.
Ten years old or less. Newer luxury buildings tend to feature marble tile bathrooms and state-of-the-art kitchens, all in light neutral colors or stainless steel. Many offer video security systems, on-site health clubs, and high-speed Internet hookups. Many new condo buildings provide washers and dryers in the individual units. The more recent trend has featured floor to ceiling windows.