BY MARTHA WILKIE | Many New Yorkers dream of having a little outdoor space of their own. But for those lucky enough to afford a bit of earth (or balcony or roof deck), do they really use it?
My first post-college apartments (with a bunch of roommates) in Boston was a rowhouse with a deck and backyard. I rarely set foot in the backyard! Nowadays, of course, I’d love to have a garden, but could never afford it in today’s market.
Laura Rich, founder of Exit Club, a group for successful entrepreneurs, used to live in a studio on W. 13th St. with a shared garden. She misses the space, where she used to throw elegant parties.
“The garden made the tiny space feel luxurious,” she said.
Now she lives in a house with a yard in Boulder, Colorado, but mourns the loss of her New York City outdoor space.
“My backyard here is unkempt and gets too hot in the summer,” she said.
Agent Beth Chase has buyers who insist upon it.
“There are clients who will not live without outdoor space,” she explained. “Beautiful outdoor space is rare.There is a premium, but it adds great value to the apartment.”
One of the places Chase currently represents is in the East Village, a two-bedroom, two-bath with a private balcony at 70 E. 10th St.
“This apartment is a rare find,” she said. “The sunsets are incredible.”
The views of the Empire State Building, Chrysler Building and the spire of Grace Church belong in a fantasy movie version of New York. It’s on the market for $2.64 million.
https://streeteasy.com/building/stewart-house/18f
In East Harlem, a two-bedroom, one-bath condo at 353 E. 104th St., Apartment 9A, has a private balcony and communal roof deck. The deck sports attractive outdoor furniture and plantings, including herb boxes. Observatory Place, which is LEED certified, is a new doorman building with an amenity newly popular for the Fresh Direct-era: refrigerated storage for deliveries. $795,000.
https://streeteasy.com/building/observatory-place/9a
On the Upper East side, a penthouse unit in a new development at 302 E. 96th St., has a roof deck with breathtaking East River views. Two bedrooms, two baths. $2.025 million.
https://streeteasy.com/building/vitre-condominium/ph3s
For rent in Harlem at 2032 Fifth Ave. is a one-bedroom, one-bath in a brownstone with a glorious roof deck with panoramic views. The second-floor home features central air, a nice original mantlepiece, marble kitchen countertops, central AC and a virtual doorman. https://streeteasy.com/building/2032-5-avenue-manhattan/2b
