Inside Patio Gardens

Our fellow PLG blogger Oddsox has moved into her new digs, which is a studio in Patio Gardens.  We've long wondered what the mammoth complex is like on the inside, and now we finally have answers.  We plan to die happy soonish.

Oddsox tells us that all one bedroom and larger apartments have terraces and there's laundry on every floor.  Judging from the pics, the place looks like your typical NYC alcove studio, but at a Brooklyn price.

Congrats and thanks to Oddsox for opening her home to ATP.  Welcome to PLG!

Comments

[Ed]

Patio Gardens is pretty amazing. Views for days. Sun for days. Plus, there is parking downstairs. Best rental option in PLG, provided you don't mind the uninspired architecture (although once it was considered to be a posh residence). No, all one-bedrooms do NOT have balconies - only some.

[PeaceLoveNap]

I live in Patio and it sucks.

They removed the carpeting from the hallways a couple of years ago and it is the loudest building I have ever lived in. No doors for the stairwells or garbage rooms have those shock absorber things on top to keep them from slamming - and so every time a door closes shut it sounds like BOOM.

Many of the areas in the building are never cleaned - ever. The maintenance staff are good guys but they have been cut back to the point where they can't address a tenth of the problems. The landlord is the kind of guy who would rather spend ten dollars, ten times, rather than $50 to fix something right.

Not sure what Ed means by the parking - there is not guaranteed parking downstairs anymore for residents (taken away long ago) and if you do get a parking space you have to pay for it.

[babs]

How long have you lived in PG, Peace? My understanding is that it works like most rent stabilized buildings -- vacated apartments are given a total renovation (including, I'm told, stainless steel kitchen appliances and dishwashers in the 2 BRs), in order to increase the rent to the max (LLs can add 1/40th per month of all Major Capital Improvement costs to the rent), with the goal of eventually getting it over the magic $2000/month figure so it can go off stabilization. Meanwhile old-time tenants get squat, while most common areas are also neglected. However, even at the new rents, it still seems like a gift to ex-Manhattanites and those from more "gentrified" Brooklyn areas -- and as Ed said, the location, views, etc., are great.

[Ed]

I never said the parking was free. I think most people in NYC who drive would agree that having a garage in the building is more convenient and safer than any other option (save for having your own driveway).

I don't think Patio Gardens lacks anything that other buildings nearby lack as well. What standard are you comparing it to, PeaceLoveNap?

[sandra]

This building really isn't that bad. Yes, it should be cleaner, and something should really be done to that courtyard, and why can't security hold packages anymore?

But I'm one of those who lived in both 'renovated' Manhattan apartments (sproatic heat and hot water) and the 'fedders air' apts (NO soundproofing. none at all), so this buliding is almost a godsend.

And Peace, door slams are annoying, but not as much as the people with the annoying dogs that bark only on Saturday mornings, and the screaming children in the courtyard :).

[PeaceLoveNap]

Um, why was my last comment not posted??? For answering the questions people asked of me?

What????

[ATP]

Sorry PeaceLoveNap. Looking through all records we never received a comment from you other than what you see on the screen. There must have been an error when you tried to submit.

[wes]

I like the building. It's old, sure, but really that's it. It has some great potential if things get upgraded, but of course that just means paying more in rent as well.

As an artist tho I love it for the space it provides me. I'm sure my cats would say the same thing. I'm on the 6th fl facing the courtyard and building 580, so it can get loud during the day when the kids play outside, but really, would you rather that, or the kids playing out in the street?

I grew up in a complex like this so for me it's normal. If someone has a birthday or if it's a major holiday there might be some loud music, but 2 or 3 times a year is nothing. I used to live in hoods were it was loud all day everyday. I've also lived in hoods were it was quiet all day everyday, to the point where I couldn't even make any noise. Since I record music from my home studio that wasn't going to do.

Patio Gardens is a good middle point. It has a mix of people living there, and 90% of the people have been friendly since I moved in. The other 10% at worse just keep to them self's. I'ts by no means the best building there is, but it aint that bad either.

Wes

[PeaceLoveNap]

Well, my previous comments got lost, so I'll summarize.

This building is much less safe than other buildings I've lived in. The guy two floors below me had his apartment burglarized and got cleaned out. I have had a couple very scary encounters with people doing drugs. "Security" looks the other way at everything.

The landlord at this building is much less responsive than at other buildings I've lived in.

As far as what someone said about renovated apartments, they're not very well renovated. I'm not sure what you mean by stainless steel appliances..? I can tell you air conditioner they supply you with (you're not allowed or supposed to put one in the windows) is ridiculously underpowered and cheap. If they are putting in stainless steel dishwashers... yay, I guess.

[tom]

I think the rent stabilization after 2000 can only go up to market rate (whatever the landlord wants) if the tenant makes over 100,000 a year, otherwise it still goes up by the annually set percentages.

[sandra]

Peace, just curious to know-there must be something you like about the building, since you're still here-what is it?

[odd]

Ooops sorry to start this but then drop off...

Well I was told that all apts besides the studios have patios, or balconies. Actually the add said "all apts."

My apt is right across from the stairs so yeah I hear the bangs, but I also hear the trains all the time too soo. I figured noise was a fair trade for a short walk to: subway, a pharmacy, the cool K-Dogs, and now Enduro, and a shop with a deli right around the corner. Oh yeah and the park, big plus!!

Everything else in my price range (under $1000/month) either had light and but long walk to the subway, or a short walk but NO light coming in the windows. This was the only place with both!

I like light, and I like looking out and seeing sky, instead into my neighbors living room. I work from home all day so this was very important to me.

The laundry on my floor is the typical grungy little room, but at least the washer is not fetal sized.

For parking, I was only told we get a discount, but there are only like 20 spaces, so guessing there is waiting list. The guy down there, damm I forget names, let my father park there on off for free for 2-3 days while I moved in so that was nice.

I did get all new appliances, nothing stainless steel. The bathroom has all new tiles, but the floor could have used an upgrade...

Lastly, when I first came here due to a faulty door/lock I found myself locked in, at 7:30pm. The maintenance guy, Vito??, Leto?? came within and hour to fix it. Then the new lock wouldn't lock, from the outside. He did come back again, that night, also in about an hour. Maybe it was just because I was new, but that sounds pretty responsive to me ??

Check back in 6 months... LOL

[babs]

Tom, an apartment over $2000 that is vacant is automatically off of rent stabilization. If it's occupied, that's right, it remains stabilized, unless the landlord can prove that the tenant has earned over $175K per year for the past two years. But if you're moving into an apartment that's over $2000 (with certain very rare exceptions relating to developers cutting tax break deals with the city on new construction) it's market rate.

Even if your new apartment is rented to you for less than $2000, watch out -- it may still not be stabilized. Look very closely at your lease -- if you're being charged a "preferential rent," i.e. a rent below the legal stabilized limit, your apartment may also be market rate. This must be disclosed in your lease.

An example: An apartment is rented for $1900. However, the lease discloses that the actual legal rent is $2050, meaning that the apartment is non-stabilized. At lease renewal, therefore, the landlord can go to $2050 plus whatever market rate increase he chooses.

Also please remember that most apartments in buildings with fewer than 6 units are not stabilized, regardless of their rent. Thus, most brownstone/townhouse rentals are not subject to rent stabilization.

[PeaceLoveNap]

"Peace, just curious to know-there must be something you like about the building, since you're still here-what is it?"

Oh, I did write what I liked in the comment that went lost. The views are indeed great. The location next to the park is excellent.

[noq]

Does the elevator work all the time, even on weekends? Do you have both hot and cold water coming out of your faucets, on demand, at any time?

Sounds a whole lot better than where I'm living. Even with my cheesy new stainless steel appliances.

[tomG]

ok I wasnt sure of the income level. So yes...if the tenant makes over 175K for two years then they can charge more once the rent hits 2000 per month. But if someone is there for ten years and gets to 2K a month they will not have their rent jacked up and get forced out..that is very unlikely.... unless they make 175K a year. If they make that much money, it is more than likely they would not be renting anyway. The income tax burden would be very high if they didn't own property to help offset it.

[odd]

I haven't gotten the real lease yet, I had to sign a lease without some other price in it yet, I forget what their reason was. I don't remember the specifics but it was a cluster f*ck. Abba wanted like 20 things notarized and all except one page they wanted notorized that didn't have room for the notary. I tied up someone at my bank for like 40 minutes sitting on the phone with them.

Anyway, I do remember wondering why my lease was going to have two amounts?? I was told my apt would be rent stabalized, but things were pretty frantic trying to move here from some where else, so I never looked into it. oh well.

[babs]

Stabilized rents do go up -- it's just that the increases are set annually by the rent guidelines board. The current increase (for leases beginning 10/1/2006 - 9/30/2007) is 4.25% for a one-year lease and 7.25% for a two- year lease. Additionally, the landlord is required to offer all tenants in good standing a renewal lease (with certain very specific exceptions), providing additional protection.

This increase is, of course, better than the increases charged for some market rate apartments, but it's been my (happy) experience that most small landlords in Brooklyn (owners of properties with fewer than six-units) don't give huge increase, if they give any at all.

On the other hand, if the owner decides to seel the building, the non-stabilized tenants are out of luck once their leases are up if the new owner wants them out.

[wes]

Hey odd, my current lease has 2 prices for it as well. As far as I know one price is what they consider "base rent" for your apt. For mine is like 1,500 something. The second price is what you actually pay a month. The subtract a "rent concession" from your base month to get your actual rent. I was told If I'm late with my rent they can chagre me the "base rent" price. I'm not sure if for just that month, or if the base price would be the new rent price from then on out. Like you I was to busy at move time to really get all into it. All I cared about was the price I had to pay, and carded less of how they figured that price out.

[babs]

Exactly -- the higher amount is the actual premitted rent under rent stabilization guidelines -- the lower rent, that you pay, is the "preferred rent" -- they're giving you a break, supposedly due to market conditions. You should have what's known as a "Preferred Rent Rider" attached to your lease that explains this. And as of several years ago, the law changed -- they may now go back to the regular rent at any lease renewal (previously they were stuck at the preferred rent). In practice I haven't heard of this happening, but you should know that this is a possibility.

And I've never heard of them being able to go to the regular rent just because of lateness -- a fine, yes (spelled out in the lease as well) -- maybe if you just stopped paying rent altogether and they had to sue you they could claim everything at base rent.

[wes]

Word, Thanks for clearing that up for me babs!

[odd]

ditto what wes said!!

I was told that if I missed a payment I owed the higher amount too, and think it was only for that month you missed. Honestly, only glanced at the 15 pages of greyish 8pt font so not sure. They wanted 20 notoraized signatures!? They got 4.

Capital One just did that to my credit cards; miss one payment and your interest rate jumps to something obnoxious like 22% and stays there! I called and cancelled that day. ...errr well the day I read my mail.

[Vanessa]

I have been living in 590 for about 3 1/2 years now, and I have to say a lot of things have changed over this period; some for the better some not. However when I first moved in, the tenant above me was normal ( no loud noise after midnight ) the people who live there now well..... let's just say their body clock is way off, because they drag their furniture between 2 AM and 4 AM nightly, and party at least once per month until 7 AM, complete with nightclub-loud music, and people dancing, stomping, and jumping above my head. On Saturday and Sunday morning these people (who I am told by management are "SENIORS"), play their piano beginning any where from 6:30 AM, move their furniture around, bang thing ( If I sound like I'm going crazy it's because I am). Oh!, did I mention that when I wake up to get ready for work M-F at 5:30 AM they are so quiet I can hear a pin drop; amazing how I tell my daughter don't run, there are people downstairs, and these adults above us don't realize that they live in an apt. and they should keep their off-peak noise to a minimum.

As much as I love my apt's charm, wonderful unobstructed view, layout, sunny rooms, and convenient location, I have to move out before I loose my mind due to a lack of peaceful rest.

If anyone knows of an affordable home for sale in the neighborhood, drop me a line at sandart65@yahoo.com

K-dog rocks, best pastries and soups in brooklyn, i can't wait to check our Enduro.

[jacksoa2]

Do any of you know the contact number to get an apartment? I've been trying through apartment.com and I can't ever get connected. Thanks in advance for any help you can give.

[TLC]

I'm currently in the market for a new 2br. apartment, and PG happened to be one of the places i'm interested in. How long is the application process?