Tenant Reviews for 1955 1 AVENUE

I have only been living at this building for a short period of time, but I have to say it has been a great experience so far. I spent the past few years living on the upper east side, but I decided I wanted a building with more amenities with an affordable price. No matter how hard I looked I couldnt find something decent with a reasonable price tag attached to it. Then I fortunately stumbled upon the Aspen and immediately fell in love. There is a modern gym (which people hardly ever use so there are always machines available), valet service, beautiful court yard, and a Rite Aid attached to the building. The apartments still have that brand new feel to it, complete with modern kitchens and bathrooms. I come home and feel very comfortable and excited to enjoy a place like that for the prices I was paying on the upper east side in a walk up building. The greatest down side however is the location. There really is nothing to do over there. I was used to walking downstairs and being in the thick of it all right outside my front door. All you have to do to be in the action is walk to 96th street and you are surrounded by restaurants and bars to enjoy. This is a small price to pay for all the other amenities I listed. I read the other reviews, and to be honest I was worried about moving in because of what I saw. Because of those comments I decided to make a post to give my point of view and express my happiness with the building.

First, the neighborhood, since so much has been written about it! There is loud music frequently and we are on a high floor (so it must be much worse for tenants closer to the street), and if you're a woman you can feel unsafe late at night, but it's not that bad. I think if you're a person of color or white but simply comfortable around people of color, a dash of caution and you'll feel fine. The building: it really could have been special. We were so disappointed, because it looks so nice and seems well designed. But the management of the building ("Brian" is the building manager) is so poor, it's almost illegal (but not quite - these guys know the law and make sure to provide just enough). They outsource the doormen to some security company, which is the most important thing to know if you're thinking of moving here: this means that these guys (and sometimes gals) are lower wage, aren't as invested (as someone else said - although they put a different spin on it - they don't care about you or maybe being tipped or even doing a good job), and can't be bothered. We've had strangers come right to our door and when we called downstairs were told, "Oh, I thought I called" or "Sorry!" One of these days, that person is going to be a burglar or something worse, and that's mainly what I fear (not the neighborhood itself). If you tell Brian about these issues, he pretends to get outraged ("Well, I will speak with him RIGHT AWAY!" he'll say about doorman X) but with minimum wage employees who change every day (because they are outsourced), nothing changes. The above doesn't even address the superintendent, who promises to fix things and doesn't, yells at the tenants - particularly the "lower rent" tenants - and gets away with it. Gym equipment will languish broken for days, dog stains will stay in hallway carpets for months, etc. The building porters are mostly nice and I think try their best, but you get the sense living here that they're not treated or paid well. Overall, it's not terribly safe to live here because of the security guard company, ever-changing doormen, and it's not terribly comfortable to live here because the management won't keep things clean or fix things that are broken. We're leaving as soon as our lease is up.

...and can we please stop with the racist innuendos on this board? Seriously, enough with the "------ music," rent subsidized tenants," "80/20 building," "low cost housing," "bad attitudes," ect ect. If you are a white individual who didn't like living in the company of non-whites, just say it. The building is what it is, and so it the neighborhood. But it's one of the most affordable buildings of its kind in all of Manhattan. The units are nice and modern. The grounds are clean. And I've never had any serious problems with my neighbors. I'm a single, white male who has lived in the building for about 2 years. Yes, the security falls asleep late at night (but no one can get in unless they're buzzed in...so you tap on the glass--the horror!!!). Yes, there is a school across the street (attended by mostly minority children--gasp!!). And yes, it's Spanish Harlem (a whole 4 blocks from 96th street!!!). For those who want a lily white building with doorman who will kiss your insecure behind in hopes of a big Christmas tip, move to Midtown -- for twice as much! The Aspen is a nice place, period.

hello- I am considering The Aspen on First Avenue. I am a single female- is it safe, secure, what about the neighborhood, day and night? I hear there is a shuttle bus- when and where does it run? Any comments on overall cleanliness of building- the hallways, lighting, paint, gym, washer/dryer room? What about the helpfulness of doormen, super? Who helps if your toiet needs repair on weekends? I appreicate you comments-

The staff is fantastic, especially Brian (the manager), and Imir (the super). Any call for maintenance I have made is taken care of same day. The building is clean and the apartments are spacious. The amenities include a great free gym and community room, shuttle bus to 86th street, a very large private courtyard, laundry and maid services who are fantastic and economical to use. Best of all there is a great licensed daycare and preschool in the building that gives priority to tenant's children for available spaces ( visit them at www.buildingblocksplaygroup.com). A real family friendly building, and you won't find more space for less money just on the edge of the upper east side.