I've lived at 63 West for seven months now, and they've been great.
MY STORY:
I originally came on as a replacement roommate in a sublet-type deal, and four months later when the lease was up and my roommate was moving back to Texas, I could have bailed. But I decided to find another roommate and stay for another year.
THE BUILDING:
63 is actually 6 buildings next to each other, with 3 on 63rd and 3 on 64th. They are connected with an internal courtyard. The buildings and apartments are definitely not all equal. My building, 244 W 64th, is where the leasing office and 24-hour concierge is, so I feel like my building is a little nicer than the other ones. Slightly cleaner and more well-lit.
THE LOCATION:
Location is fantastic. You are right behind the Lincoln Center, and two avenues away from the 66 Street station. You can also walk to Time Warner Center for 59th Columbus Circle. You have tons of grocery stores around (ask me... I bet I can list 10 within 10 blocks off the top of my head) and regular shopping. The immediate area is a bit desolate for dining options, but several blocks down is Hell's Kitchen and several blocks up is the real UWS, both of which have lots of food. The area is really neighborhoody but still convenient to get around town. Also, you're blocks away from the Hudson River with a really nice pier, and a couple of avenues away from Central Park. You walk east and wind up right at one of the main park openings.
The buildings are next to the Amsterdam Project Houses, which everyone asks me about. I have never felt unsafe walking home, and I come and go at all hours. Everyone is minding their own business, and if you ever smile at the people who hang out on the street, they'll remember your name and always ask you how your day was. That makes me feel like I live in a nice neighborhood with a real community feel.
MY TERMS:
My apartment is a 2-bedroom, 1-bath, and I think it's about 600 square feet. When I moved in I felt claustrophobic, but now I feel like it's a very nice size for a New York apartment. My rent was $2500 a month, but in September it was raised to $2650 a month. I did once see a paper where they listed apartments and rents, and there was a HUGE variety in pricing. Not sure if something shady is going on there, but all the same sized apartments are definitely not the same price.
MY APARTMENT:
Now, the actual apartment: windows everywhere. Two in the living room, one in each bedroom, and one in the bathroom. "Kitchen" is actually a kitchenette, which means apartment-sized stove and fridge, literally 8 inches of counter space, and it just opens up into the living room. The living area is pretty large. Rooms are probably about 6x12... a twin bed gives you a lot of floor space but I have a queen bed and a dresser in my room.
THE BUILDING, AGAIN:
The complex also has a small gym (1 or 2 treadmills and a couple of other machines), vending machines (well, soft drinks), lots of laundry (2-4 machines in every building), and a 24-hour concierge (pick up mail, packages, dry cleaning, etc whenever you want!). The concierges are really the ones you interact with the most, and they, along with the maintenance team, are all really nice. There is one girl in the office who gives weird looks and isn't particularly friendly, but if you can manage to not speak with her, you'll have a pleasant experience.
THE BOTTOM LINE:
When my lease is up next year, whether I stay will decide on how much rent goes up and if I can find an equivalent place with a dishwasher! read more