wanted to wait until I was settled in for a couple of months before writing my review- I am 6 months in.
Everything is at your fingertips, coffee shop, gym, outdoor space, mailroom, path train, basic grocery store, but it's a lifestyle (small footprint).
Staff: the absolute best. They make living here feel like home. Rent payment is a breeze, maintenance is a breeze (wasn't sure how to run ac). Leasing staff went above and beyond to help me when I was in a bind to move.
Apartments:
Beautiful! I am a designer and I have lived in a lot of apartments (from 300sq ft to 1200 sq ft) that I always turn into cozy spaces. I have never been more comfortable than in Urby. I also rent the small storage unit and that has helped. Built in storage, w/d all are done in a great way. The large windows allows in light and makes the space feel much bigger. The bedroom area of the studio is the only thing I would say is a bit small and I am comfortable because I live alone.
I am in one of the bigger studios (several models and the biggest one is amazing). Are they pricey? Yes. But what isn't? I looked from central jersey and all over NYC and this was the most appealing. The community spaces are everything!
Activities: The activities are usually great but recently seem to be timed wrong and I have noticed they diminished the amount of workout classes since I moved in. Please provide more activities on the weekends so people can attend. You could easily fill 2 Sunday yoga classes with a good instructor. Workout instructors are awesome although I was not a fan of the Zumba chic (she showed up late and didn't even apologize or say good morning or any words for that matter.) Gianna the yoga instructor was awesome but moved out of state
Finishes: unfortunately materials aren't great or holding up well, but it's just what construction is anywhere these days. You do see wear and tear from frequent moves.
Noise: A little noise does travel but it's not terrible, and the people upstairs walk like they are 400 pounds, I think they would shake concrete. But this has yet to not be a problem anywhere I have lived, I've had like 15+ apartments at this point. I am however excited for all the construction in the adjacent block to end.
Dog friendly...(update): I love this most. Just got a dog and he loves it here. I do hate that people let their dogs go everywhere and are ruining the grass, which then causes the trained dogs to want to lift their legs everywhere. There is a cute grass path for the dogs at the back by the dog park. I am now guity of a dog that pees where he shouldn't!
Commute: your best commute will be if you are going to downtown NYC. Midtown isn't bad but it does require a transfer. Weekend Path: not having the WTC train on the weekend (long repairs) is painful because it requires the transfer at JS and the loop to hoboken. But I usually just take the path to Newark Penn and got to midtown. If you time it right you are in Manhattan in 20 minutes.
NYers that move here seem to get miserable quickly, but that seems to be the status quo
the second any of them cross a river. Honestly, there are a lot of things to do in the area, since I'm from Jersey and lived in the ironbound, Jersey City, North Bergen and yes even Brooklyn for years, I can tell you this, you need to make friends in the building cause your NY friends will probably not visit you.
But there is sooo much to do, from Prudential arena to the Newark Museum, to NJ PAC, to the Ironbound, to Branch brook park, to hopping on the path to hoboken, JC or NY, it's really about not being a snob and enjoying life. read more