5423 FIRST AVENUE LLC · avg 4.0 ★★★★★ · New York City
“Unit 8j Pros: Maintenance is excellent. If anything goes wrong, it gets fixed really fast. The lobby and building look great, and the concierge team is always helpful and professional. The apartments are really nice, with great views. The location is awesome too, it’s a great area. Cons: The lobby is starting to feel worn out. The carpet is often dirty, the walls have a lot of noticeable scratches, and it feels like it needs repainting more regularly. The lobby floors also need to be refinished. On every floor outside the elevator banks, the wall covering looks nice in theory, but it’s damaged all over and really needs to be replaced. The common area is underused, which is a missed opportunity. It would be great if there were TVs for communal watching, like games and events. The outdoor deck landscaping was never fully completed, and it doesn’t look anything like what was shown in the property ads. Advice to landlord: 1) Refresh the lobby, it sets the tone for the whole building The lobby is the first impression and right now it’s looking tired. Priority fixes: Deep clean or replace the lobby carpet (and keep it consistently clean) Patch and repaint scuffed walls on a regular schedule Refinish lobby floors so they look new again Even small upgrades here make the building feel better instantly. 2) Fix the damage outside the elevator banks on every floor That wall covering looks good when it’s perfect, but if it’s beat up everywhere, it reads as neglect. Replace the damaged wall panels/wallpaper Use a more durable material that can handle daily wear and carts, bikes, strollers, move-ins, etc. Put a maintenance plan in place so it doesn’t get trashed again in 6 months 3) Make the common area actually worth using It’s a wasted amenity if nobody wants to hang out there. Quick wins: Add a couple of large TVs for communal viewing (sports, events, news) Improve seating layout so it feels welcoming, not like a waiting room Consider simple programming like “game nights” or “Sunday watch parties” once in a while This builds community and makes the building feel more premium without major renovation. 4) Finish the outdoor deck landscaping, or update expectations Right now it sounds like the decks feel unfinished and don’t match the marketing. Complete the landscaping plan fully, plants, lighting, and seating Replace anything dead or sparse and commit to seasonal upkeep If the original plan isn’t happening, be honest and refresh the marketing materials so residents don’t feel misled 5) Keep doing what’s already working (maintenance + concierge) This is a huge strength. Don’t mess with it. Keep response times fast Keep concierge staffing strong and consistent Recognize the team because residents clearly notice 6) Communicate upgrades clearly and visibly Residents don’t just want improvements, they want to feel like management is on top of it. Share a simple monthly “Building Improvements” update Post timelines for lobby refresh, floor repairs, and deck landscaping Let residents know how to report wear and damage easily”
— 119 55 STREET · Brooklyn“Pros: Pretty quiet. I feel safe and the front door staff/super are kind. I’ve never had any real issues with my apartment the whole time I’ve lived here. Cons: The walls are really thin. I can hear the music that my neighbor plays as well as them vomiting in their bathroom. Also, management isn’t great it’s hard to get a response from them. Advice to landlord: Be more responsive!”
— 119 55 STREET · Brooklyn“Pros: Management, delivery lockers, amenities Cons: Ceiling leaked a little Advice to landlord: Keep up the work”
— 119 55 STREET · Brooklyn“Pros: Building will be sold this year, bad management practices, have seen multiple evictions already. Cons: Very bad management :(”
— 119 55 STREET · Brooklyn“Pros: Noise levels, lighting, heat, cleanliness Cons: No coffee shops nor restaurants around the building”
— 119 55 STREET · Brooklyn