An Upper West Side one-bedroom's got charm galore and is pretty well priced—but see if you can spot the caveat

By Lucy Cohen Blatter | September 23, 2015 - 9:59AM

Is it just us or does this $2,500 Upper West Side brownstone apartment have a "You've Got Mail" kind of feel? We could see Meg Ryan's character living in this sweet second floor walk-up, typing away to Tom Hanks from the bed in that tiny bedroom.

The apartment, which has been on the market throughout the entire summer, is a co-op, which might explain the hold-up. The co-op board likely has to approve all tenants, and since this is a small building, we'd imagine they're picky about who lives there.

It's also about $750 less than the area median for one-bedrooms, so there's that. Another nice perk: the extra lofted bed/storage space above the entranceway (look closely at the pictures and you'll see it).

But is it still worth it? We asked our experts (and veteran renters), RentHackr founder Zeb Dropkin and freelance writer Lambeth Hochwald, to weigh in with me on this week's Take It or Leave It.

Size: One-bedroom, one-bath
Location: 110 West 71st Street (between Columbus and Amsterdam)
Cost: $2,500
Flexible layout: No
Days on the market: 125
Subway: 1,2,3 to 72nd Street

Pros and cons:

"I'm loving the decorative fireplace, the exposed brick and the awesome light fixture hanging over the couch. Plus it's got garden views and a library ladder. Seriously quaint stuff. Plus the location, on 71st between Amsterdam and Columbus, is great in terms of access to Central Park and transportation The biggest downsides: the small bedroom, the fact that you have to make a three-year commitment, and the walk-up factor—both exterior stairs and interior stairs." —Lucy

"This is a pretty classic high-end old school UWS brownstone apartment near Central Park with a fireplace and exposed brick. But the bedroom is hella narrow and the three-year lease and co-op application are onerous." —Zeb

"While this UWS one-bedroom is dripping with charm and the garden views are lovely, this isn’t the place for you if you have any form of claustrophobia. The bedroom appears so narrow that it fits just about a bed across and that can be a deal breaker for many." —Lambeth

Who would this apartment be perfect for?

"Someone who cares more about charm than space. Ideally, a person who travels often for work and doesn't have that meh 'stuff,' meaning they could get away with a teeny bedroom for just some clothes and a place to rest your head. You cannot, I repeat, cannot be a couple." —Lucy

"This is a classic 'pied-a-terre,' aka a rich person’s extra apartment for visiting NYC. This place works well for that. This co-op apartment is good for a single renter with a lot of stability and great credit… it’s not great for your average renter. " —Zeb

"A person who wants to make a go of life in the West 70s as there is a broker fee and a three-year lease requirement (this may be another reason this cozy spot may be have lingered this long on the market)." —Lambeth

The verdict(s):

TAKE IT "As long as you're single ... and planning to stay that way for the next three years."—Lucy

TAKE IT "But only if you’re 100 percent sold and committed to the location and the apartment. It’s a lot of work to get into this co-op, and it would be a lot of work to get out, too." —Zeb

LEAVE IT "Unless you’re absolutely sure you can feel comfortable here for three years." —Lambeth

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