Tenant Reviews for 21 WEST STREET

Avoid at all costs

Pros: The doormen are great, the one handyman they have is great but way overworked. Cons: Building management is the worst I’ve had in NYC. They don’t respond to emails, won’t speak to you, won’t stand by their own contracts, new people every year or two. Building maintenance is terrible, trash rooms are never cleaned. There is a fee to use anything in the building, including the lounge and gym. Better to go to Planet Fitness two blocks away than pay the gym fee. Lease renewals are a complete nightmare. They say they use “dynamic pricing” and won’t speak to you about how their price is so far away from similar units in the area or even in the same building. They give you a renewal 3,4,5 months in advance of your lease expiration because the price at the time benefits them, and then when it gets writhing a reasonable time to actually renew and prices have come down they refuse to speak to you to discuss their offer or to make it more in line with contemporaneous prices. There are so many better options in the area, stay away from this building. Advice to landlord: Put a management in the building who can and will actually talk to residents and are empowered to handle issues and make decisions. Hire more building maintenance staff. Stop charging for lounge and gym access or stop calling them amenities.

Avoid this building. There are no true amenities, everything is an extra cost. Even the resident lounge is not available to tenants unless they pay a monthly gym fee. Building maintenance is an issue. I don’t think the trash rooms ever get cleaned, vacuuming of hallways and cleaning of laundry rooms is rare. Building management is the worst I’ve dealt with in over 30 years of renting; they are completely unethical. Onsite management isn’t allowed to make any decisions, won’t let you speak to anyone who can make decisions, and are generally unresponsive. Onsite management turns over every year or two so there’s no consistency. They reduced building staff so that there is really only one handyman for the whole building.

Address the critical maintenance and management issues discussed above. Anyone who signs a lease here without a critical eye is likely to miss serious concerns. The unhelpful and surly management is a problem. Avoid.

I used to tell people I’d never leave this apartment. Now, over the last 2 of the 20+ years I’ve been here, I’m no longer happy with management and how they are maintaining the building and services. It’s very sad.

The building is nice, the area is close to the west side high way and so far enjoy living here. Good location and walk to multiple different subways. It has been nice that laundry is on the same floor and overall positive experience

Good value if you can get a deal for the area but many caveats..

Pros: In comparison to some newer properties in this area- you do get a but more space. Building staff/maintenance is great. However building management, leasing office is not so great. Storage available Laundry machines on every floor. Cons: Major increases in rent after the first year. (I did not have a "pandemic" rate or any concessions when I first moved in.) I have no major issues with management currently but they did make an error with billing when I first moved in with a huge utilities bill which was apparently from the previous tenant. I had to escalate it to Rose Associates Corporate to get it resolved. Questions and requests to management seem to take forever to resolve. The walls are pretty thin and for the first half year of living hear I could hear my neighbor's conversations, coughing, TV etc. They have since moved and I've been fortunate to have someone quieter move in. So noise levels are really dependent on your neighbors. The windows are old and not insulated so if you're prone to noise and drafts. The apts come with these slat blinds that have at least a decades worth of dust on them. PTAC units were filthy when I moved in and they are quite loud. I'm not sure how I feel about the security in this building. There's a doorperson and CCTVs in the lobby but thats about it. It was a common occurrence to find homeless asleep directly outside the building. Many pet owners in the building which is great- however the front of the building does tend to smell like dog urine. Lastly- despite what is says on street easy- this building is NOT Verizon FIOS enabled (only DSL which is very old and slow) Only spectrum and RCN cable are avail for anything close to hi speed- (If you are a tech worker or work from home and you need to have fast symmetrical (download AND Upload) speeds available this will be an issue and ultimately I am not renewing because I was having to many problems. Advice to landlord: Upgrade all units to fiber internet, its 2024!

The front desk is nice and friendly. My family was welcomed every time walked in. The lobby, the lounge and the gym was a bit outdated. It will be nice to remodel and we can use it more often. Otherwise the location and room size was good for us.

We love living at 21 West. The staff are amazing and so friendly and make us feel at home. The apartments are modern and we feel like we’re getting a great size apartment for what we’re paying. The location is perfect for multiple subway lines and being close to the west side highway!

To Whoever, Living in an apartment can be a convenient and cost-effective housing option for many young individuals in New York City. However, in my experience it wasn’t without significant issues and problems making my home an unlivable/uninhabitable place exposing me to a dangerous and hazardous environment. From the persistent ceiling leak to the lack of concern from management, the problems seem to have no end in sight. The first sign of trouble emerged in March when I discovered a ceiling leak in my apartment. Despite promptly reporting the issue to management, no action was taken to fix the problem. Every time it rained I endured a torrential downpour right in my own living room. The gravity of the situation was further confirmed when the Department of Housing conducted an inspection and deemed the issue to be a significant one. The constant leaks and showers every time it rains have not only damaged my belongings but have also created an unhealthy living environment. Mold and mildew are starting to appear, and it's only a matter of time before it becomes a serious health hazard. This lack of response from management raises serious concerns about the level of care they have for their tenants. Despite numerous emails and complaints highlighting the ceiling leak issue since March, no action has been taken. With every rainfall, the apartment transforms into an impromptu shower, drenching the floor and causing frustration. Numerous records, emails and pictures serve as evidence of my attempts to bring attention to this matter. Another problem I have encountered is the paper-thin walls of the apartment. Living in close proximity to neighbors can often lead to noise disturbances, but in my case, the thin walls exacerbate the issue. Even during non-quiet hours, I constantly find myself dealing with noise complaints. This not only disrupts my peace but also raises questions about the suitability of this apartment complex for young adults seeking a peaceful living environment. Even the Department of Housing conducted an inspection, acknowledging the severity of the problem. The walls in this apartment complex are alarmingly thin, making it unsuitable for young adults seeking a peaceful living environment. Noise complaints are inevitable, even during non-quiet hours, as sound easily travels through the flimsy walls. Living here can be an overwhelming experience. The Department of Housing's inspection only validated what we have been saying all along - these are significant problems that needs urgent attention. Unfortunately, the management's indifference towards the tenants' concerns is disheartening. They consistently ignore our problems, leaving us feeling disregarded and unheard. Despite reporting the ceiling leak persisting since March, no meaningful steps have been taken to resolve the issue. Their only offer was an early termination of the lease without penalty, which hardly addresses the ongoing problem. The lack of concern from management is a recurring theme in my experience with this apartment. Despite numerous emails and complaints, they have chosen to overlook the problems faced by their tenants. This indifference is not only disheartening but also indicative of a deeper issue within the management structure. It is evident that they prioritize their own interests over the well-being and satisfaction of their tenants. They seem to ignore all our problems, leaving us to deal with the consequences of their negligence. It's frustrating to think that we have been dealing with a ceiling leak since March, and not a single step has been taken to address the issue properly. For the exorbitant price I pay to live in this apartment complex, the amenities and living conditions should be far superior. It is disheartening to realize that for a mere $200 more per month, one could reside in a brand-new building in the coveted Hudson Yards area. It is undoubtedly not worth living here. For nearly an identical price, one can secure a spot in a brand new building in a better location, offering far better living conditions and amenities. It is a stark reminder that the value provided here falls short of what should be expected. It's clear that the value and quality of living in this place do not align with the price we are paying.Amidst the multitude of problems, the only bright spot in this dreary situation has been the doormen. Their friendly and helpful nature has provided a glimmer of solace amidst the chaos. However, their positive presence cannot overshadow the numerous shortcomings of this apartment complex. In conclusion, the problems I have faced in this apartment have been both frustrating and disappointing. From the persistent ceiling leak to the lack of concern from management, it is evident that this complex falls short in providing a satisfactory living environment. The negligence displayed by management, coupled with the constant noise disturbances and the exorbitant price, make it clear that this apartment is not worth the trouble. It is crucial that potential tenants are made aware of these issues and exercise caution before committing to a living situation that may bring more distress than comfort. The lack of response and action from the management has become extremely frustrating. Despite all the evidence and complaints, it seems like our concerns are falling on deaf ears. The problems with this apartment have reached an intolerable level. From the persistent ceiling leaks to the thin walls and unresponsive management, it's clear that this place is not suitable for living. We urge anyone considering this apartment to think twice and explore other options that offer better value and a more enjoyable living experience.

The staff at 21 West St, is excellent, respectful, and professional! I just wish that some of the tenants on my floor would be more considerate in following the rules of the building when it comes to recycling and disposing their garbage. Overall, this is a great community!