Noted

In "The Hunt" column this week at The Times, two third-year NYU law students go through the trials and tribulations of finding off-campus housing...

"Michael said, 'I don’t care if I am in Alphabet City, as long as I have a nice apartment,'" [real-estate agent Julia] Perez said. That was unlike most of her apartment-hunters. "Everyone wants to have a nice apartment on Second Avenue."

First apartments for 189 Avenue C hit the market

[Photo from February 2009]

Work on the new apartment building at 189 Avenue C at 12th Street has been creeping along... we noted that workers removed a lot of the plywood on the ground level about 13 months ago.

Now, though, five of the rentals have appeared on Streeteasy. They're available starting Tuesday, apparently. A two-bedroom apartment is priced at $3,400; a studio is listed at $2,400.

Here are the building details:

1 FREE MONTH
Brand New 35 Unit Luxury Building
2 Elevators
Pet Friendly
Fitness Center
Spectacular Roof Deck with River and Bridge Views
Virtual Doorman Services
Washer/Dryer in the Apartment
Dishwasher
Stainless Steel Kitchen
Huge Eat in Kitchen Counter
Tremendous Closets
Toto Bath FIxtures with Rain Showers
Independently Controlled Heating and AC
High Speed Time Warner and Verizon Fios Ready

Here's a view of the 12th Street entrance, just next door to the Social Security Administration Building....



We don't know much else about the building. The 189 Avenue C site that I linked to last year doesn't exist anymore. There slogan was "Come see what's new on Avenue C."

Previously on EV Grieve:
"Come see what's new on Avenue C"

So what's going on at 325 E. 10th St.?

Speaking of 325 E. 10th St. ... A reader sent me an e-mail saying that he or she had been in the process of renting an apartment here. That was until the other day.



"After a long application process (for which we were approved) we were told the entire building was no longer going to be listed for rent. This was while we were in the process of cutting checks for lease signing. Something is up with this building. We were given no explanation, and everyone involved felt as if we had been worked over. This deal has been in process all week, and I know personally I felt comfortable enough with how things were moving to not continue looking for apartments. Could be a condo conversion, or a complete sale of the property to a third party ..."

StreetEasy has listings for 12 units here. I sent an agent at Icon Realty Management an e-mail asking if units here were still available. He responded, "Yes, to schedule a viewing, please call me." I sent a follow-up note, ID-ing myself as a blogger, and asked for clarification on what was happening here. I didn't receive a return response. That was last Wednesday.

In any event, while walking by recently, an agent was showing the apartments... the front door was open. And a worker told me that it was OK to walk in and take a look. So I did.



There are two buildings here.... a courtyard separates the two... From what I could tell, the second building contains the studios, which start at $2,000.




Everything in the studios are top of the line, including the washer and dryer... but the studios seem small — even by small East Village studio standards.




...and here's a one-bedroom unit in the front building...





And here are a few photos from the roof of the second building... the "roof decks" are listed as an amenity here. Doesn't seem like much of a party destination — a little too close to the neighbors .... not that that will deter anyone...






Finally, when I looked at the Icon site last night, there weren't any units listed here now. The jilted renter thinks that the second building is still on the market, but not the front building. So, what's going on with 325 E. 10th St.? This is a story that's likely to be continued...

Marble baths and plank hardwood floors await you on First Street

After a seemingly long time, renovations at 47 E. First St. near First Avenue are winding down...You can actually see the sidewalk again...




According to StreetEasy, there are eight units over five floors, with a storefront on the ground floor. Average rent is in the $3,500 ballpark.

Here's one of the listings from KVNY:

This is a NEWLY renovated 2 bedroom, 2 marble baths duplex. It has a balcony as well as a granite kitchen (with dishwasher) and also it's own washer/dryer unit. It is accented by wide plank hardwood floors & exposed brick. It even has individual climate control and video intercom for extra safety. Please call for access. (PICTURES TO COME. APARTMENT IS STILL BEING RENOVATED) We have numerous apartments all being renovated in this building available March 15

.

And you'll be that much closer to the brunch line at Prune.

Looking at 89 Clinton Street

Walked by the newly renovated 89 Clinton St. between Delancey and Rivington the other day....



Open house? Don't mind if I do!



The unit I saw was advertised as a three-bedroom apt. The bedrooms -- I only noticed two -- were on the smallish side. But very nice. Tiny closet.



This unit has access to the still-being-groomed outdoor space. You have to share the space with the two apartments below...




Everything about the space, which had two bathrooms, was topnotch... wide plank oak flooring, washer and dryer, high ceilings, dishwasher, exposed brick, pinpoint hallogen lighting, individual climate control and video intercom....There was even a wine thingee in the kitchen for people who don't want to keep wine in the fridge. (Will it also hold beer?)



And all on Clinton Street! According to the realtor's Web site, this is an "Awesome Trendy location."

So...what's the bottom line here for the two-bedroom space? $4,695. Oh, excuse me for a moment.

OK, OK... there's no fee. And there's something about a free month of rent with a two-year lease. And with a two-year lease, there will not be a rent increase. Still, that rent seems like a lot in these recessive times. I was under the impression that prices were coming down... The agent said that most of the units were already rented for a May 1 move-in date. What do I know then.

Oh! And the sales agent was sitting in the living room. His said this could be converted into a third bedroom.