Fifty Third and Eighth

Though the doormen/​janitors are pleasant and the apartments are well-​kept, the management company finds any excuse to (over)charge and make living at this building incredibly difficult. The icing on the cake was when, upon vacating the apartment, we were charged for the basic cleaning and floor repairs that were done. No warning, no explanation. The lease said that basic cleaning and normal wear on the floors would be covered upon vacating. Not true. We were charged $ 4K+ for all of this. Complete thievery. Wish someone had warned me.

The building itself isn’t bad. However, the management company is awful! They held our security deposit for OVER 3 MONTHS after we moved out. We had to send multiple emails that were mostly ignored. When we finally did get it, they charged us for the most frivolous things:
— $ 300 for cleaning fees which they could not produce a receipt for (extremely shady and unprofessional)
— $ 1100 for scratches on floors which were there when we moved in and also clearly marked on the move in sheet.
DO NOT MOVE HERE, THEY WILL TAKE YOUR SECURITY DEPOSIT.
These guys are up there with the worst scammers and thieves in the NYC real estate market.

I don’t understand all of the bad reviews! I lived here from 2009 to 2010 (about 1.5 years). I’ve lived in NYC for about 6 or 7 years, and moved about once every year, so I have some experience with different management companies. I love the management company, the apartments, and I really love the staff. I would submit a maintenance request online, and it would be resolved either that day or early the next. In addition to the doormen there is security that walks and monitors the floors on weekends — it keeps the noise level and parties in check. The doormen are so friendly and know everyone’s names (even my dog’s, and he loves them as well.) The maintenance team is great and so is the live-​in super. The gym is nice and always clean and working. The public restrooms are clean and the laundry room is fine (most managed properties have the card deposit system, this is nothing new.) Beats quarters! I will agree, the elevators can be a little slow during peak hours, but again, nothing new. When I moved out I promptly received my full deposit back. No issues. The building is in a great location, and the condo finishes are beautiful. Nothing but love for The Metro!

Why are people hating on The Metro?! I live here and love it. The doormen are very friendly and do their best to make sure that you are happy. The maintenance staff is prompt and efficient. The laundry room is always well maintained. The garden and roof deck are always clean.
Also, this building is in a very convenient location. The place is above a 24 hour Gristedes. Across the street from a 24 hour Duane Reade. One block away from great Thai food. The A, C, E, B, D, 1, N, Q, and R trains are all extremely close to the building. Central Park and Columbus Circle are only six blocks away.
Management is a little strict, but would you rather live in a dorm? My approval and lease was an easy process. They are a bit strict on the use of the freight elevator, but I don’t have any qualms about this. Again, I’d rather have a a management company that cares a bit too much than one that doesn’t care at all. Long live The Metro. Also, the coolest people live here. And by coolest people, I mean my roommates and I.

Given that the apartments are fairly well-​renovated and the staff is good, the Management Company had to work hard to get the bottom rating. I have leased my entire life and never encountered such an abusive company with regard to ridiculous legal notices, constant camera surveillance and ridiculous charges on your monthly bill. The management knows full well that it is hard to find a good place in Manhattan. Therefor management can make specious or downright fraudulent charges and the tenants who live in the building basically have to pay or they are going to have credit scars and some record of a dispute with a landlord.
I would lease somewhere else if any reasonable equivalent presented itself. I myself plan to go through the trouble of a move in New York this year, because I simply can’t stand and don’t trust them anymore.

I’m sick of this place and the management company’s blatant disregard for its tenants.
I can’t hear the fire alarm from the living room. I was asleep on the couch and it must have been going off for 3 mins before it woke me.
I am also fed up with the unnecessary work they do all the time. The elevators are slow or just flat out not working, I can’t hear the fire alarm, with almost no warning they’ll turn off the water but let’s replace the front walk for no reason.
I am also fed up with the piece of shitty laundry room set up. The system they have is rigged to forced you to waste money. You have to buy a laundry card, which cost five dollars and then you to put money on that card, in increments of ten, no matter how little you actually need. This way they ensure that you will eventually lose money. Also, the cards generally stop working.
The washing machines never work. they just fill with water and sit there. so that’s more money you have to waste.
So yeah move in if you want to die in your sleep and be nickled and dimed over every little thing.
The apartments themselves are nice and the door men are great.

i used to live here a couple years ago for a couple years.
bad things:
its a renovated old building, so still rickety here and there. there were some floods/​leaks on the upper floors where we were, tubs clogging often, etc.
the leasing office is alright. mostly pretty nice, but not awesome at giving good deals. they’ll get you where they can.
loud on the lower floors.
the windows rattle and scream like banshees on the windy nights on the higher floors.
walls are paper thin.
on move-​out, my friends left a little mess, and they charged a ton.
good things:
meant-​to-​be-​condos — so pretty nice fixtures, counter tops and appliances.
close to a whole lot of subways (ABCDNRQW1) and bagel stix downstairs.
grocery stores less than a block away
duane reade across the street
amazing bars and restaurants all over the place
young building with young people who are still pretty respectful about everything.
gym downstairs, if you can get it for free.
rooftop for tanning, but not so conducive for parties or anything.
if you can get a good deal on a flex or something in this space, its not a bad gig. but if you do flex, DEFINITELY GET WINDOWS in the pressurized wall — its more $$ but your living room wont feel like a prison.
i generally liked living here; the doormen were always really nice and down to earth, and the valet guy was great about packages and small talk. the only thing is pretty much the overpriced apts during busy season — but i guess that’s nyc.