All 46 tenant reviews.

“Pros: The staff is great and the building in clean. Lots of great amenities Cons: They are putting up a building across the street and it is super loud during the day. Advice to landlord: Great condo fees”

“Pros: Doormen & maintenance staff are great and helpful - has not been much turnover; no pest issues; maintenance staff are quick to address requests; apartments skew on the more modern side; near many train and bus stations for easy commute to virtually anywhere in BK, Manhattan & Jersey City; near Seaport & Brookfield; apartment walls are pretty thick; most residents are young professionals or families; apartments facing the back of the building are typically quieter (note however the streets are pretty narrow so sound still travels to the higher floors); just completed its local 11 law repairs; daycare and grocery store are below; elevators are usually never an issue Cons: Brown water from time to time especially on the higher floors which causes the building to turn off the water for a day every month or two; shared laundry room washers should be cleaned more regularly due to mold build up; shared laundry room dryers usually leave things damp regardless of how little the load is unless you use one of the four big machines; major construction on John Street will be a nuisance for the apartments on that side for awhile; "convenience" stores are frequently popping up and closing down so the neighborhood generally smells of weed while walking around; many storefronts have been empty in the area since before and during COVID; new management as of March has aggressively increased many of the board application fees making it unattractive to renters; more condo owners are now putting their broker fees on the tenants which was not always the case (we've been living here for 8 years - 4 years in 2 different apartments with 2 different owners), but still looking for rents similar to the rental buildings in the area; some of the apartments and floors are weirdly shaped or have poor ventilation so be sure to take a look at the floor plans; many apartments are due to be updated (etc., weird kitchen countertops that absorb everything; bathroom floors that have tiny tiles that are making cleaning the grout annoying).”

“Pros: Elevators and doorman Cons: gym needs more stuff”

“Unit 1225 Pros: The amenities in the building were great and the friendly staff were very helpful. Proximity to the subway and the Seaport. Communal grills. Cons: Elevators were rarely all working. Layout of the apartment wasn’t ideal. There was no natural light in the kitchen, bathroom or dining area.”

“Pros: The staff. They are friendly and helpful. Get to know them. When I lived there the super was also excellent. Clean. It’s in FiDi so the location is what it is. Cons: The building management company. They advised the owner, when repairs needed to be made “I’m here to save you money”. Don’t expect assistance from them.”

“Pros: Amenities are always taken care of Cons: The gym is tiny and the indoor lounge is gloomy, but both get the job done”

“Pros: super clean, high cielings all of the amenities are well maintained. if they are closed for repair, its only for a short time. Cons: the heat is electric so its expensive in the winter, but you get to control the heat so its not that bad Advice to landlord: upgrade the air con/ heating units - they work but they'r loud”

“Pros: Easily accessible to subway Clean interiors Friendly, helpful doormen Feel safe Cons: Rooftop/patio is okay Hard to find parking on street Not a lot of light”

“Unit 1007 Pros: All amenities, clean, very well upkeep Cons: Nothing to note, except walls are a little thin Advice to landlord: Nothing to note”

“Pros: big space, nice lobby, cool roof amenities, have only seen 2 roaches 8 months apart and one of them was because there was a small hole in the wall. Cons: fidi is boring but that isnt the buildings fault,”

“Pros: Condo so experience is likely based on your individual owners if renting, mine were great and apartment had very few problems Quiet building overall Incredible rooftop. Had so much fun here Solid gym High ceiling units made it a little spooky but made studio feel immensely huge (already large sq footage) Very convenient location Gorgeous and large entryway 6 large capacity elevators Building staff was truly unbelievable and I miss them to this day. Derek was so great! Cons: Extremely dark in building as is common for Fidi. Prepare to get lots of lamps. Some units oddly shaped when I looked at other units. Mine was great with long hallway to very large rectangular layout”

“Pros: The rooftop, the gym, laundry building, and doormen Cons: Nothing - it’s the best! Advice to landlord: Package management could be better, I’ve had a couple issues recovering certain items”

“Unit 215 Pros: The roof is fantastic and the doormen are amazing Cons: Sometimes the water gets shut down”

“Pros: building staff is super friendly and i felt safe. lots of good amenities and quiet neighbors Cons: my landlord raised my rent and i can no longer afford it. units are really narrow”

“Pros: Roof deck and proximity to subways Cons: Bad management. I had mold in my apartment so bad, the allergist told me to GET OUT. I did. Owner Barbara Schildcrout sued me for rent I sued her for my deposit. I won. Advice to landlord: Get an inspection. I wouldn’t buy here, quality of construction is super cheap.”

“Maintenance at this building is lacking. After warning management several times about faulty infrastructure and preventative maintenance, owners were hit with a major special assessment once the issue became so bad it needed complete replacement.”

“Pros: 24/7 doormen are all really nice and good at their jobs, laundry room is huge and clean Cons: Move in and move out fees, lots of rules from management”

“Pros: Liked living in this building. Had great staff and doormen we still miss and stop by to say hi to. The neighbors are a mix of young adults and families. Subways are close by Cons: It’s financial district so streets are narrow - so not much of a view unless you’re on a higher floor. And it can get loud if the apartment is facing the street Advice to landlord: Nothing in particular”

“Very brown water is a constant problem. Smoke from other apartments also a problem. Staff is excellent. Gym isn't so good. Laundry room is absolutely terrible. All the washers either smell terrible or are filthy.”

“I have loved living here for the last few years, but it's challenging as a renter as the upkeep of your apartment is fully dependent on how great your landlord is as the building will not help with anything that happens inside your apartment. Leaky taps or toilet - your responsibility and in our case, our cost - no-one will help you. Our landlord expected us to fix appliances and other things that would not happen in a regular rental building, while still asking for market rates. The building is close to all the subways, which is great, and the restaurant and bar scene is improving (supermarkets are ok, not great). The garden is lovely but overrun with screaming children, and the venting system is awful - if your neighbor is a smoker it will stink out your apartment every time they light up. The laundry room is expensive and the machines are pretty dirty - there is always hair in them. The gym is great, but can get really busy. Overall it's pretty affordable compared to other places in the neighborhood, but ask your landlord about yours and their obligations as there is no super to support standard apartment needs.”

“I bought an apartment here about a year ago. It has been a really solid purchase. The demographics of this building are quite good, a mix of family with a mix of young professionals. Also, the building is focusing on converting rentals to condos, so you get a more respectable crowd here than you do in other buildings in the neighborhood (i.e. 2 Gold). They always clean everything, from the elevators to the floor, and most of the doormen are pretty nice and accommodating. Also, the maintenance guys are quite handy. They just installed a new deck before the start of summer, and it was quite impressive. Although the building is shorter than numerous in the neighborhood, I have friends who live in neighboring buildings who are jealous of the deck they just installed. Anyways, if you are a mature young professional, like myself, or a family and want good space, this is a pretty good building.”

“Even after i moved out of my apartment they still continued to charge me rent and late charges. Don't let them steal your security deposit for nonexistant damages, use your security for the last month rent. This is a nice building, but it has an extensive infestation of bedbugs. They will deny it, but you've been warned.”

“* The bldg. is impressive-looking. * You can't beat the location--Fulton is a great stop, serving all the trains you can think of. It is also literally minutes away from major hubs such as Penn, 14th Street, etc. * Walking distance to Chinatown, SoHo, TriBeCa, South Street Seaport, Liberty Park, etc. * Surprisingly wide range of dining and shopping options. * Having a big 24-hour supermarket and a pharmacy downstairs is such a great thing. * They did a pretty good job renovating the common areas, like the hallways, elevators, the gym, and the lounges. * Their condo conversion efforts didn't go well at all, so rental residents no longer need to worry about getting kicked out--at least until the housing market pickls up again in a few years (you'd be out by then, anyhow). * The lounge and the terrace are BIG and there are many uses. * I feel like I am back in college, living in the dorms. But... * The laundry area is too small for the # of units (400 ) and the machines are all taken at night and on weekends, so you end up sending your laundry out. * The gym is also too small for the # of units. * They focused too much on prettying up the common areas and went SHOCKINGLY CHEAP on everything inside your apt (from the bathroom and kitchen fixtures, floors, etc.). * Rats...Oy. * Rockrose is clearly interested in selling than they are in renting these apts., so they aren't responsive at all. * The tourist traffic could be heavy, but keep in mind that THEIR VISITS ARE MAJOR SOURCES OF THE CITY REVENUES!!! Be nice to them! * Your next-door neighbor could be five 23-year-olds sharing a 1BR apt. * Noise can be a serious issue--with neighors as well as the giant outdoor AC units in the back of the bldg. * I feel like I am back in college, living in the dorms.”

“Everything you read is true. The management company is painful to deal with. They took every opportunity to raise rent above what you would imagine is normal and decent. The doormen suck and they never open the door for you, not even when you are loaded down with suitcases and are clearly struggling. The best part is that they ask for a christmas donation at the end of the year-- yeah, they got zero from me. Maybe that's what I deserve for being stupid enough to pay over $2K a month to live in a 400 square foot STUDIO in one of the worst neighborhoods in Manhattan.”

“There is a lot of noise coming from one of the terraces in this building and management seems unwilling to do anything. They are trying to sell condos but aren't going to be able to sell any with the obnoxious neighbors. But of course, the sales office is not open from 7 to 11 PM.”

“Do not live in this or any other Rockrose Development building. The company has no respect for its tenants and will do anything they can to make your life hell. Two years at 99 John was enough to know that I never want to deal with Rockrose again.”

“Went to take a shower this morning and the water in the sink and bathtub came out brown - not a little brown but dark. Even running the water for 2 minutes didn't help. Gross. Beware of this building. I'v lived here two years - it was great at first, but it's getting worse by the month because of the Rockrose sleaze and the construction on John Street.”

“2 weeks into my new lease, I received a letter indicating my lease had been canceled and that I had 60 days to move out. I also noticed that my floor plan is available on the Rockrose web site and is advertised for $1000 above what I am paying now. I called to ask why the lease was canceled and the response I received is, "you agreed to sign the lease with cancellation rider." You should note that a red herring was submitted in February to the attorney general's office (http://www.oag.state.ny.us/). If you call the office and ask to be directed to speak to someone about tenant's right or condo conversions, they can tell you about the current status of the conversion plan approval process. I was told that the first review is 6 months and this is generally to correct any deficiencies that Rockrose may have missed. In addition, it may take more than a year before the apartment building complex is completely renovated. If you have any complaints, write a letter to the attorney general's office. They will respond and take this into consideration during the conversion process.”

“Actually living at 99 John Street is, on the whole, a nice experience, aside from the constant and VERY loud construction all around the building. Friendly, responsive doormen; great valet service, decent gym, beautiful roof deck, and well-maintained apartments. The extra high ceilings, and modern appliances in the bathroom and kitchen are all nice touches. The problems all begin if you ever have to deal with the management company, Rockrose. They have a reputation in the industry for trying to screw you over at any opportunity, and they will. When I had to change guarantors on my lease, they informed me that I would not be granted the typical rent increase for my 1 br (in my case $150), but would be charged "what the market would bear," which was a $400 increase. I found this out with only three weeks before the new lease went into effect, making it virtually impossible to move out to another apartment. If you break a lease agreement, they charge you a fee of 2 months rent! The management company has been nothing but condescending. They will do anything they can to make an extra buck off their tenants and will be completely unwilling to work with you on any matter, aside from getting you to sign on the dotted line. Oh, and don't try to take them to court... you've signed away your rights to do that in the leasing agreement.”

“Construction noise! Neighbor's ------- everyday 5 times day and night. Some doormen are ignorant to say "they have the right, since they are paying rent. This is what you face living in the apartment". Dog's barking wakes me up every early morning.”

“I really like living at 99 John. I'm one of the fortunate ones who don't hear the construction noise - I'm on the other side of the street. This is not really a luxury building - the appliances and kitchen and bathroom are quite plain, but the place was clean upon move-in and that's what I care about. It's not that noisy (my dorm was worse). Great place if you're just out of college.”

“I have lived in this building for several years. All new renters and those renewing their leases must sign two riders (1) acceptance of adverse conditions (stating noise and vibration for at least a year possibly longer) and (2) an option that allows them to cancel you lease at any time (there is a 30-60 day notice period). They are also attempting to raise rents but as much at 10%--which might not be so bad--if it were not for all the riders they are forcing people to sign. In addition, if you want the option of canceling your lease--you have to sign a rider that you will pay 2 months rent as a penalty. Like I said, renters beware.”

“Anyone interested in this building should know that the owners are planning on SELLING the building in the near future. They are requiring that ALL new and renewing tenants sign a cancellation rider that lets them cancel your lease with only 60 days notice. Meanwhile, the renter is otherwise on the hook for the full 12 months. If this is a problem for you, you should probably look elsewhere.”

“I've read the other comments on here and if you are looking to live on Park or Fifth Ave, this is not the place you are looking for. But, if you want a relatively cheap, CLEAN place to live with no bugs and OK security (doormen are nice, but anyone can really come in) this is the place to be. Young professionals, not a family atmosphere...can be loud in the mornings, but I was on the 17th floor and it was perfect. I have no complaints...seems like people on this site are looking for more than what they paid for...they obviously haven't seen other "luxury" condos with roaches and ugly lobbies. The apts are pretty plain, but it's a rental, what do you expect?”

“My wife and I lived here for just under a year and then broke our lease and left. Although the staff was very nice and professional, our apartment was a good size and we were close to the subway, there were just too many negatives to consider staying any longer. The building is loud (ambien anyone)and is certainly not a luxury residence. But the greatest factor was that the managment company is just plain awful. Also, don't park at the garge downstairs they will ultimately destroy your car.”

“If you are a juice head or a Paris Hilton want-a-be this place is for you. Otherwise, run.. run hard, run fast, run far far far away from this egocentric yuppie hell hole. I have never been sourounded by so many tool bags, what a disaster.”

“i lived here for a year and had a horrible experience. this is not a luxury building by far. the gym is disgusting and has really old machines (my college gym was better). there's no homey-residence feel. it was obviously an office building. management is terrible. fixtures are ugly. everything is so plain and white. no marble countertops that you would expect from a real luxury building. the bathroom was ugly. toilet and bath tub would always clog. and the worst was waking up to a jackhammer every morning at 6am!!! doormen can be kind of snooty too. there was no intercom in the apartment. anyone can just walk right in the building.”

“Being gay, I found this place to be very cozy and warm, and soft”

“Great building, great staff. Feels like living in a hotel!! We had 2 repairs the last week and both of them where solved in less than 15 minutes. The service is great, good fitness and no problem at all with the noise. This is still a city, so don't expect birds singing when you wake up. I like the grocery stores in the neighbourhood, because they sell a lot of organic food. The subway is right on the corner and brings you everywhere in no time.......”

“This building is overrun with students who treat the building like a dorm... vomiting in the laundry room, loud music, stealing all laundry carts and leaving them in their apartments, etc... The walls are like cardboard (repeat, very noisy) and the building has extremely high turn over... constantly someone moving. Elevators are dangerous and consistently in a state of disrepair. The mail is not delivered until 4 PM and is often incorrectly returned to sender (after 4 years in same apartment). Overall, very disappointing. Parking garage is difficult to deal with and they use your car as a smoking/drinking lounge when you are not around.”

“The buildling is nice, the apartments are well done and the rent WAS reasonable. The renewal terms are ridiculous. The construction noise outside of this building is ridiculous and is primarily due to the fact that Rockrose has been building a 51 story residential tower one block south. When you tell the on site manager, he is very helpful and empathetic. When you call the main office, they say "welcome to NY" as if I haven't lived in this city all of my life. My lease was up for renewal and when I asked for flexibility in my increase, I was told quote - "I have the authority to be flexible on your rent but refuse to do so". To that, I said shove the place up your A$% and off I go to a part of the city that offers the same quality in a desirable location without the attitude of the corporate office.”

“I lived there for 4 years and I loved living there. The staff is wonderful and always helpful. They made it worth living there. The building is great. The marble lobby is beautiful and the view from the roof is fantastic!. If your thinking about living there........go for it!!!<br><br>Only one negative....the parking lot downstairs. One word.......horrible!”