We all know that
parents—like most home seekers—don’t examine a property on its own when considering
whether to buy or rent it. They care about outside factors like the
neighborhood, the location relative to the office, and of course, the local school
options. For responsible parents, the old saw “Location, Location, Location”
goes hand-in-hand with “Education, Education, Education.” We all want our
children to have a good education, for their growth and happiness as children
and for their future. But the question of what’s a good education—or good
enough—is deeply personal and very complex in a city where there are so many outstanding
choices among public, private, charter and parochial schools (as well as
mediocre choices).
For that reason, when a
city family with young children is in the market for a new apartment, it’s also
a good time to do extensive research about local education—how to identify good
schools, how to do admissions work on every level, from nursery through high
school. In terms of education, what does living in a certain place guarantee
you, if anything?
We report stories about
these issues all of the time, of course. (And you can find many of them on our
website.) Think of this story less as a comprehensive
overview for researching local education than as an informed starting point to
education resources every parent should know while they’re researching where to
live locally.
For independent (i.e.
private) nursery schools and ongoing schools, check out Victoria Goldman’s
various tomes, with their straightforward info on schools and admissions
policies. The Parents League is another wonderful resource,
as is the Independent School Admission Association of Greater New York, more
simply known as ISAAGNY.
For public school, Clara
Hemphill has three editions out—covering grade, middle and high school,
respectively—and the website she founded, Inside Schools,
is the place to go for candid but reliable overviews of particular schools. But
a local parent interested in public school should also become familiar with the
Department of Education’s website—especially its
school search engine and data on particular ones of interest to you. At the
very least you will be able to learn which local public grade school a
particular building is zoned for. And then you will be able to check out some
baseline data like reading and math scores by tabbing over to the area on
“Performance & Accountability” and looking up ELA and Math scores by school
from the last few years. By the way, the DOE website lists good charter info
too, but interested parents should supplement it by visiting the Charter Center’s website.
In selecting the following
available properties, we aspired to our usual goal of trying to give readers a
feel for the marketplace while hopefully turning them on to a few places they
may like. This time however, the added thread is that every property is zoned for
a good local public school (see sidebar matching properties and schools). But
don’t take our word for it: do your own research.
424 West End
Avenue, Apartment 16J (above)
West River House | Upper West Side
In one
of the few luxury rental residences on West End Avenue, this high-floor
apartment has much to offer, including a gut renovation with condo-like
finishes, a convertible 3 bedroom with 2.5 baths, approximately
1,400-square-feet with a gourmet chef’s windowed and eat-in kitchen boasting Costa
Esmeralda granite counters and stainless steel appliances. There are customized
closets and a large master bedroom with an ensuite master bath. The full-service
building is pet-friendly, has a 24-hour attended garage, penthouse fitness
center, a landscaped furnished roofdeck with magnificent views of the Hudson River
and the city skyline, a bicycle storage room and exclusive Sky’s The Limit
concierge service.
Number of Bedrooms: Convertible 3
Asking
Price (Rental): $8,595/month
Contact: Manhattan Skyline’s
rental office, 347-728-0367
160
Riverside Drive, Apartment 1A
Upper West Side
This beautifully renovated, super bright
3-bedroom into 2 on Riverside Drive offers
townhouse-style living within an excellent full-service prewar building.
Currently configured with 2 bedrooms and a full-size den/library, this original
7-room floor plan can easily serve as a very spacious 3-bedroom. The apartment
remains true to the old-world elegance, detail and scale of early century
architecture, while enjoying a contemporary renovation with quality finishes
throughout. The entertaining expanse is spectacular with a fabulous flow
including an open side-by-side living room and den, formal dining room and a
beautifully renovated oversized gourmet eat-in kitchen.
Number of Bedrooms: 3
Asking Price: $2,275,000
Maintenance/CC: $2,861
Agents: Deanna Kory,Corcoran, 212-937-7011; Ileana López-Balboa, Corcoran, 212-323-3214
2025 Broadway, Apartment 2CD
Nevada Towers | Upper West Side
A wide open, lofty space that’s ideal for
entertaining and still makes for easy living. This 3-bedroom also boasts a renovated
kitchen and bath, plus a big open dining room right beside the spacious living
room. With split bedrooms, new floors, smooth ceilings and a bright Western
exposure, this home is almost too good to be true thanks to its super-prime
location in a well-run, full-service building that also includes a renovated
rooftop sundeck.
Number
of Bedrooms:
3
Asking Price: $1,095,000
Maintenance/CC: $3,011
Agent: Brian Lewis, Halstead,
212-381-2252
333 East 91st Street,
Apartment 30AB
AZURE | Upper East Side
Two corner apartments have been combined to create
this sprawling 4 bedroom, 4.5 bathroom condo-op with 10-foot ceilings and
stunning floor-to-ceiling windows featuring amazing city and East River views. The 
spacious
eat-in kitchen features pristine caesarstone countertops and appliances by
Viking and Bosch. Each bedroom features an ensuite bathroom. The master bedroom
boasts an oversized walk-in closet too. What’s more, Azure’s 6,300 square feet
of amenity space includes two rooftop terraces, a resident’s lounge, dining
area, children’s playroom, game room and a state-of-the-art fitness center. The
building is also pet-friendly.
Number
of Bedrooms:
4
Asking
Price:
$4,535,000
Maintenance/CC:
$6,371
Agents: DavidGreczek and Ammanda Espinal, Prudential Douglas Elliman, 212-828-4848
330 East 70th Street, Apartment 4D
The Lawrence House | Upper East Side
This beautiful
2-bedroom, 2-bathroom home is located in a full-service doorman building and
features a marble entry and open floor plan. The kitchen has been fully updated
and opens to a large dining and living area. The master bedroom has a renovated
ensuite full bathroom and a large walk-in closet. The second bedroom has a
quiet Southern exposure making it a perfect office or child’s room. The second
full bath has been renovated with a shower-tub. The building is located on a
charming tree-lined street, so you’re in the heart of the city but also apart
from it.
Number of Bedrooms: 2
Asking Price: $895,000
Maintenance/CC: $1,770
Contact: For sale by owner, 330e70th@gmail.com
or 917-592-070
34 East 30th Street
Murray Hill
This full-floor loft with a private terrace is a
dream space with a motivated seller. Approximately 2795-square-feet, the loft
was fully renovated in 2008 and features an enormous living room, 4 beds and 2
full baths, and a pretty south-facing terrace with open city views. The co-op
has condo rules, including unlimited subletting. There’s a full-time onsite
super/attendant M-F, who accepts all deliveries. Pets allowed. Live/work
allowed. Must be seen to be appreciated.
Number of Bedrooms: 4
Asking Price : $2,695,000
Maintenance/CC : $3,253
Agent: Juliana Frei, Brown Harris
Stevens, 212-396-5886
10 Barclay Street
Barclay Tower | Tribeca
A classic and upscale Glenwood rental
building and one of the most luxurious addresses in Tribeca, these stunning
apartments feature public spaces furnished and decorated by acclaimed American
designer John Saladino. The three-story Colonnade and main entrance showcases
French-chiseled limestone columns and walls as well as hand-carved Italian
gargoyles. The posh amenities carry on with spacious apartments, each with
their own washer and dryer. The views are unsurpassed. There’s easy access to
all the restaurants, shopping and recreational spaces that are making Downtown
an increasingly popular area for families. And Barclay Tower has a great children’s playroom, too (see image).
Number of Bedrooms: 1-, 2- and 3-bedroom
rentals
Asking Price (Rental): 1BR start at
$3,795/month; 2BR start at $5,795; and 3BR start at $11,900
Contact: Glenwood Management’s Downtown rental office, 212-430-5900
59 John Street, Apartment 6C
Five Nine John Lofts | Financial District/Tribeca
Seller is
offering 12 months paid common charges on this impeccable 1650-square-foot true
3-bedroom, 2.5-bath corner condominium residence with private storage. Five
Nine John Lofts was designed by Andres Escobar and the residence has been
beautifully embellished by artist Benjamin Lai. This spacious floor plan has an
open chef’s kitchen, huge windows, custom closets and marble baths. The
property has a spacious 24-hour attended lobby, media lounge with an adjoining
garden, fitness center, roof terrace and live-in superintendent. This home is
perfectly sandwiched between Fidi and Tribeca, and all the area has to offer.
Number of Bedrooms: 3
Asking Price: $1,425,000
Maintenance/CC: $2,130
Agent: Marc J. Palermo,
Warburg Realty Partnership, 212-380-2410
20
Henry Street, Apartment 3A/S
Brooklyn Heights
This
stunning loft home is located in the historic Middagh Building portion of the
new Brooklyn Heights condominium, 20 Henry
Street. Formerly home to the Peaks Mason Mints
Factory, this loft conversion features one-of-a-kind historic elements such as
oversized arched industrial windows and original exposed heavy timber
structural beams and columns. These 19th century lofts are complemented with
classically modern finishes throughout. Kitchens include premium Bosch
appliances, caeserstone counters, custom Wenge cabinetry and Grohe
fixtures. Spa-like master bathrooms feature custom teak vanities, Calcutta gold marble
tiles, freestanding soaking tubs, polished Parthenon stone counters and Kohler
fixtures.
Number of Bedrooms: 3
Asking Price: $1,475,000
Maintenance/CC: $1,386
Agent: Michael Chapman, Stribling &
Associates, 718-855-2823
Prices
on all properties as of February
15, 2012. For more tips on real estate and design for families, sign up
for our weekly newsletter.
The Featured
Properties & Their Zoned Public Schools
160
Riverside Drive PS 166, 132 West 89th Street
2025 Broadway PS 199, 270 West 70th Street
333
East 91st Street PS 151, 421 East 88th Street
330
East 70th Street PS 183, 419 East 66th Street
34 East 30th Street PS 116, 210 East 33d Street
10
Barclay Street Spruce Street School, 12 Spruce Street
424 West End Avenue PS
9, 100 West 84th
Street
59 John Street Spruce Street School, 12 Spruce Street
20
Henry Street PS 8, 37 Hicks Street
School data was obtained using the school
search engine at schools.nyc.gov
