The Rachel Bridge Apartamentos

maintenance is very responsive and has patched the ceiling up numerous times now (though at a certain point...why? The roof isn't fixed, so it's only a matter of time before it happens again). There's also a lot of closet space, which is nice, and the apartment is larger than most you'll find in Manhattan for this price point. That being said... The biggest issue: ROACHES. You'll see them crawling in the laundry room, lobby, elevators, hallways...it's a major problem. They ruined my printer and microwave—and got into my laptop, effectively nuking the battery. I've tried copious amounts of prevention/extermination tactics, but it's a building-wide issue. I'm going to have to get rid of all of my furniture when I move, which is going to be extremely expensive to replace. It's almost impossible to get behind the stove due to the placement of the island (makes me wonder how they installed the stove in the first place), but once you pull it forward, you can see just how shittily the apartment was put together. Think huge uncaulked gaps between peel-and-stick tiles and the wall and similar gaps between the floor and the wall. Behind the fridge is the same. Also—I don't have an exhaust fan. Never have; just the metal hood with nothing inside. The laundry room has a good number of machines, but there are a handful of broken ones on any given day—and they're rarely marked, so you'll effectively waste your money because management can't be bothered to put up out of order signs. Given the location, the intense traffic sounds are inevitable. Really the least of the building's issues (and no fault of the building itself). The elevators can get filthy (think sticky floors and small piles of trash) and, when they go out (sometimes 2/3 at a time), take forever to be fixed. Overall, I don't recommend living here.

cabinets. I also have 3 CLOSETS, including a linen closet, so there's a lot of storage space. The stove/oven is a bit smaller than I'd like, but still big enough to be useful. There are plenty of outlets around the apartment. The bathroom also has a real medicine cabinet. Pros: -Management and maintenance have been EXCELLENT. Very professional, on top of things, and responsive whenever there's a problem. Maintenance staff are very nice and clearly care about doing their job right, and they consistently do. -Good location. Multiple subway stations, lots of shops/restaurants/grocery stores/pharmacies, and cute parks all within a few blocks. Easy commute downtown on the A or the 1. -Some apartments (including mine) have balconies! Nice views, lots of natural light. The windows are pretty big too. -Security guards at the front desk 24/7. Makes me feel much safer, especially if I have to go out/come home late at night. -The overall atmosphere of the neighborhood is nice. People are mostly pretty polite and friendly, and it feels like a comfortable residential neighborhood. Lots of families and kids. I've never felt unsafe here (I'm a woman, early 20s). Cons: -LOTS of road noise. The buildings in this complex are built directly over where I-95 cuts through upper Manhattan. The road noise is loud and incessant. BUY EARPLUGS BEFORE YOU MOVE IN. -Move-in was a little bit of a hassle. There's no unloading area or freight elevator, so you'll need to double park on the street and use the normal elevators, which are a little small. Be careful where you park cause you could get a ticket. -A certain subsection of residents have no respect for communal spaces. I'm talking chain smoking and urinating in the stairwells, leaving trash and dirt in the laundry room, things like that. -Some roaches, though this is normal in Manhattan. They haven't been a huge problem for me so far, and the exterminator is competent, but I figured I'd mention it.

public transportation. When worrying about your child's education you have many choices at walking distance of schools in which you can choose from. If you are in need of help you can count on your friendly community neighbors to lend you a helping hand.