Types of Buildings
Reflecting the historical and architectural wealth of New York City, there are a wide variety of apartment buildings available in Manhattan. From the Old World charm of a walkup to the luxurious splendor and amenities of a newly constructed high-rise, there is a building for every need and budget. The following is a list provides a brief description of each of them:
- Walk-up Building:
- In some regions, this one-room apartment is called an efficiency. It is basically a one-room apartment with separate bath and sometimes (but not always) a separate kitchen. These can range from very small (big enough for a sofabed and a desk) to very large (can accommodate a king-size bed and have a separate sitting area and dining area).
- Elevator Buildings:
- Pre-war or post-war buildings with elevator service. Most of these buildings have an on-site laundry. Security is provided by an intercom system and some of the more modern buildings have video security. There is no doorman or concierge service.
- Doorman Building:
- High-rise buildings with an elevator and doorman service. While many
of these buildings are pre-war, the doorman building of today is synonymous
with state-of-the-art luxury. Many of the newly constructed high-rises
contain a wide-variety of amenities including large laundry facilities
with maid service, on-site health club and spa, high-speed Internet access,
swimming pools, playrooms for children, parking facilities, and satellite
television systems.
- Brownstone:
- Early 20th century single-family homes, usually four or five stories high. The name was derived from the brown stone materials used in construction. The classic brownstone has an entrance several steps up from the street and a parlor floor with high ceilings and tall windows. The garden floor is a few steps down from the street and opens to the backyard. Today, many of the single-family brownstones have been converted into multiple apartments with separate entrances.
- Town House:
- An upscale single-family private home, usually three or four stories high, with a private entrance directly from the street. Many of these structures contain very desirable amenities including private backyards and roof decks, working fireplaces, and ornate hardwood floors. While some town houses remain as single-family dwellings, many have been reconfigured to accommodate multiple apartments.
- Loft Building:
- hese are usually converted commercial buildings. They are generally found in current or former commercial neighborhoods like Chelsea, Soho, and Tribeca. Most have high ceilings and tall windows. Many have self-service elevators. A doorman in a loft building is a rare find.
- Pre-war:
- Buildings constructed before World War II. Pre-war buildings are renowned for their quality of craftsmanship, attention to detail, and architectural splendor. Generally you will find nine- to ten-foot-high ceilings, hardwood strip or inlaid parquet floors, thick plaster walls that provide good sound insulation, fireplaces, and such woodwork details as moldings and decorative trim.
- Post-war:
- Any building constructed from World War II through to the 1970s. Almost all post-war properties have elevators and laundry facilities; many will have doormen. Most have standard eight-foot ceilings and walls constructed of Sheetrock. Older post-wars may have hardwood strip floors; more often you'll find wood parquet tile. Post-war buildings generally have larger windows.
- Modern Building:
- This term usually refers to buildings constructed in the 1980s. They tend to have an abundance of glass and steel, parquet tile floors, and bigger closets than post-war buildings. Appliances and fixtures tend to be basic black, white, or beige, and the kitchens usually include dishwashers and microwave ovens.
- New Building:
- Ten years old or less. Newer luxury buildings tend to feature marble tile bathrooms and state-of-the-art kitchens, all in light neutral colors. Many offer video security systems, on-site health clubs, and high-speed Internet hookups. Many new condo buildings provide washers and dryers in the individual units.
OTHER COMMON TERMS
- Live/work:
- Usually refers to a commercial building where some residential tenancy is accepted. A live/work space has a kitchen and full bathroom with shower.
- Commercial Loft:
- Zoned for business use only. This loft usually has no kitchen and a small bathroom with no shower.
- Sleep Loft:
- This is an add-on structure usually found in apartments with high ceilings (10 to 14 feet or more). Typically it's like the upper of a bunk bed, with a ladder leading up to it. It usually accommodates at least a double-size mattress, although some are larger. The space below is often used as a closet or desk space, and the higher the ceiling, the more comfortable a sleep loft will be to sleep in.
- Furnished Apartments (for rentals):
- Can include light furnishings (basic furniture) or "soup to nuts" (dishes, utensils, small appliances, etc.)
- Balcony or Terrace:
- Often used interchangeably to indicate an outdoor railed platform extending from the apartment. It can be small enough to accommodate one or two persons standing or large enough for a picnic table, lounge chairs, and plants. It usually has a roof provided from the balcony/terrace of the apartment above.
- Roof Terrace or Roof Deck:
- This implies a larger terrace or patio provided by the roof of the extended floor below. It usually has brick wall barriers around the perimeter, is open to the sun, and some wrap around the corners of the building.
- Garden or Backyard:
- Many ground floor apartments offer private access to the backyard. It can be tiny or large, and in larger buildings with multiple rear exits, it may be semiprivate or shared.