Take It or Leave It: Is this Park Slope two-bedroom with three outdoor spaces worth $4,100/month?
In this edition of Take It or Leave It, our panel of perpetual renters trains their experienced eye on this listing for a Park Slope 2-bedroom with a whopping three outdoor spaces. Our panelists—who have a combined 43 years of renting between them—include RentHackr founder Zeb Dropkin, freelance writer Lambeth Hochwald, and BrickUnderground’s own senior editor, Lucy Cohen Blatter.
The Apartment:
Size: 2 bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms
Location: 14th St. between 6th and 7th Aves. in Park Slope
Rent: $4,100/month
Flexible Layout: No
Subway: G, F at 7th Ave.; G, F at 15th St.-Prospect Park; R, N, D at 9th St.
Pros and Cons:
Zeb: “It looks like this top-floor apartment gets lots of light, and the outdoor space(s) seem big enough for entertaining. There’s also a great modern kitchen and in-unit laundry. Plus, it’s close to the F train and it’s only a couple avenues over from Prospect Park. These are all huge positives. As for the negatives, the fact that some of the rooms aren’t shown in the photos is a little worrisome. Also, there’s only one shower, so if you're planning to share with a roommate, you might feel a little squeezed in here.”
Lambeth: “I get the feeling this airy Euro-feeling space won’t ever feel claustrophobic thanks to the cross-ventilation coming from all the outdoor spaces—a private roof deck sounds pretty fabulous, too. Looks like the owner paid some nice attention to the details here, with the spacious kitchen (so many cabinets!) and deep basin sink in the bathroom. My only hesitation is that the living space itself looks tight and it’s hard to tell just how big the bathrooms are. Also, a half bath isn’t ideal for roommates sharing the space.”
Lucy: “Outdoor space is always a good thing, and the kitchen is so nicely renovated. Plus, there’s an in-unit washer/dryer which is the holy grail of NYC apartments. And, of course, it’s in the ever-cute and popular Park Slope neighborhood. Despite that, I’m always suspicious when a listing doesn’t include a photo of the second bedroom. Is it minuscule? The apartment itself doesn’t look huge—the living room and the one bathroom that’s shown both look like a bit of a squeeze. Also, looks like it’s about a half-mile walk from the D, N and R subway lines, which are more convenient than the closer F and G.”
Who would this apartment be perfect for?
Zeb: “A couple with one child or a home office could do well here.”
Lambeth: “A young couple looking to spend time at music and event venue The Bell House in Gowanus, or who want easy access to the running trails in Prospect Park.”
Lucy: “A small family that loves to entertain outside. Maybe me.”
The Verdict(s):
TAKE IT “…if it’s as good as it looks in the photos.”—Zeb
TAKE IT “With appliance like these and endless sunlight, what’s not to love?”—Lambeth
TAKE IT “… if you don’t mind a walk to the subway and are really hoping for a coveted Park Slope spot.”—Lucy
Ready to rent? Check out our How to Rent Guide...and if the apartment you like requires a guarantor that you don’t have, see if the landlord accepts Insurent, a guarantor solution from one of BrickUnderground’s sponsors.
Take It Or Leave It is a weekly column in which a panel of long-time renters weighs in on the pros and cons of an apartment that’s currently on the market.
