This $4,500 two-bedroom, two-bath could be getting a lot more convenient soon

By Lucy Cohen Blatter | November 16, 2016 - 3:59PM

Yorkville, a neighborhood on the far east side of Manhattan, has been considered relatively affordable, partly because it's so far from the subway on Lexington Avenue. And this $4,500 two-bedroom, two-bath on East 79th Street between First and York avenues is proof of that. But it may not be so far from the subway for long, since the Second Avenue line is still, technically, by most accounts, set to open at the very end of 2016.

The condo apartment, which could be either a share or a family apartment, has an en-suite master bathroom, and the main bedroom has eastern and northern views that include the East River. It's available for one to three years, per the listing.

So is it worth considering? We asked our experts (and veteran renters), real estate research and analytics firm NeighborhoodX founder Constantine Valhouli and freelance writer Lambeth Hochwald, to weigh in with me on this week's Take It or Leave It.

The apartment:

Size: Two-bedroom, two-bath
Location: 460 East 79th Street (between York and First avenues)
Monthly rent: $4,500/month
Flexible layout: Yes
Days on the market: 66
Subway: 6 at 77th Street

Pros and cons:

"This apartment is far from shiny and new, but what it lacks in modernity in makes up for in space. Sure, the bathroom and kitchen could use a serious facelift, but the living room has an extra dining alcove. The price is right, too." —Lucy

"Pros: 1,200 square feet of space with two bedrooms plus an office, for $4,500 ($45 per square foot) is compelling. Sometimes, larger spaces aren't divided into usable smaller spaces, this doesn't seem like the case here. Also, it's got light and river views. Cons: StreetEasy says it's in the Upper East Side, but it's in Yorkville. Le sigh. Neighborhood boundaries matter, folks." —Constantine

"This may seem like a run-of-the-mill high-rise two-bed but the place boasts mega-storage from closets galore to a double window in the kitchen that’s pretty sweet—especially when you consider how cool it will be to chop veggies while gazing at our glorious city. The rooms in this light-filled Upper East Side pad are also generously proportioned, which makes up for the fact that this apartment is way off the main grid at York Avenue." —Lambeth

Who this apartment would be perfect for:

"A young family looking to take advantage of the schools in the neighborhood, but hoping to move on and buy within the next three years." —Lucy

"Since the space can be converted to a three-bedroom, it lends itself to a few options. Roommates, or a couple, or a married couple who convert the dining alcove to another child's bedroom. Or, for someone who works from home." —Constantine

"A couple about to start a family or a small family eager to live in an excellent school district and don’t mind that the place may only be available for the short term (the broker specifies that it’s available only for one to three years depending)." —Lambeth

The verdict(s):

TAKE IT: "As long as you're not turned off by some of the older finishes, this is good value." —Lucy

TAKE IT: "Definitely." —Constantine

TAKE IT: "Provided you don’t mind paying a broker fee and schlepping to the Second Avenue subway once it’s complete." —Lambeth

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