88 Charles Street — Stan na najvišem katu s južnom orijentacijom za ljude koji još uvijek vjeruju u mir.

Nedvojbeno je da je ovo jedna od najpoželjnijih lokacija u NYC-u. I matematika se slaže: zašto iznajmljivati u ovoj ludoj tržišnoj klimi kada možeš potrošiti taj novac na vlastiti dom?

Stan se nalazi na najvišem katu. Svijetao je. Stropovi su visoki, kuhinja ima prozor, kupaonica ima prozor, a dva velika južna prozora pozadi gledaju na mir, a ne na kaos. Želim biti jasan da se nijedna od ovih stvari ne bi trebala uzimati zdravo za gotovo.

Što dobivate:

Mjesto na najvišem katu s južnom orijentacijom, s dva velika prozora i tišinom koja vas tjera da se pitate je li grad konačno odustao — nije, ali nećete to čuti.
Spavaća soba koja prima krevet punih dimenzija ili queen, s dva prozora, što je dva prozora više nego što većina spavaćih soba u New Yorku zaslužuje.
Otvorena kuhinja — s prozorom, kao što je prethodno navedeno, jer očito je netko ovdje vjerovao u prirodnu svjetlost i križnu ventilaciju.
Dva ormara u hodniku, što u ovom gradu čini ono što pravnici nazivaju "dovoljnim prostorom za pohranu", a ja to nazivam "malim čudom".
Kupaonica s prozorom, koju odbijam uzeti zdravo za gotovo.

Praktične informacije (budući da ste pitali):

Pranje/sušenje dozvoljeno uz plan i odobrenje upravnog odbora.
Kućni ljubimci dobrodošli — zgrada nije predrasudna prema psima i mačkama.
Podnajmjene dozvoljene nakon jedne godine (tri od svake pet godina).
Prijateljski nastrojeno prema onima koji traže privremeni smještaj.
Mjesečni troškovi su niski.

Zgrada:
88 Charles je petokatna zgrada od crvene opeke, sagrađena oko 1880. godine, dio 84–88 Charles Street Owners Corp — 45-stanovni kooperativ koji se, unatoč značajnim izazovima, uspio održati onakvim kakav bi trebao biti: uglednim, tihim i nenametljivim. Dvadeset stanova raspoređenih na pet katova. Nema konzierge, nema teretane, nema "sadržaja". Vi ste odrasla osoba. Ne trebate to sve.
Ulica:
Prošao sam većinom blokova na Manhattanu. Neki su u redu. Charles Street, između Greenwich i Hudson, nije u redu — ona je ispravna. To je ono kako bi ulica u ovom gradu trebala izgledati: drvećem okružena, s brownstone zgradama, povijesno očuvana i potpuno slobodna od razvijanja koje vas tjera da osjetite da je grad odustao od sebe. Rijeka Hudson je blizu. Washington Square Park je blizu. Svaka podzemna željeznica koja vam može zatrebati je blizu. Restorani su izvrsni. Neću ih nabrajati. Živite u New Yorku — pronađite ih sami.
Kratka povijest, jer kontekst je bitan:
Ulica je dobila ime po Charlesu Christopheru Amosu, koji je posjedovao zemljište kroz koje je prolazila ulica i koji je također odgovoran za Christopher Street i nekadašnju Amos Street (sada West 10th). Između 1866. i 1936. godine, točno mjesto gdje se nalazi 88 Charles zvalo se Van Ness Place, nazvano po poljoprivrednoj obitelji koja je zauzimala to kvadratno ulice do 1865. godine. Grad je promijenio ime. Grad uvijek mijenja imena. Bar se ovo ime zadržalo.

***NAPOMENA: NEKE SLIKE, PAS (Idemo Knicks!), BIJELE SOBE, SU UREĐENE/VIRTUALNE***

Započnite svoje sljedeće prekrasno poglavlje u New Yorku upravo ovdje, upravo sada.

88 Charles Street — A Top-Floor South Facing Sunny Apartment for People Who Still Believe in Peace.

It is incontrovertible that this is one of the most coveted blocks in NYC. And the math maths: why rent in this crazy rental climate when you can spend this money for your own home?

The apartment is on the top floor. It is sunny. The ceilings are high, the kitchen has a window, the bathroom has a window, and the two large south-facing windows in the back look out onto quiet rather than chaos. I want to be clear that none of this should be taken for granted.

What You Get:

A top-floor perch that faces south, with two large windows and the kind of quiet that makes you wonder if the city has finally given up — it hasn't, but you won't hear it
A bedroom that fits a full or queen, flanked by two windows, which is two more windows than most bedrooms in New York deserve
An open kitchen — windowed, as previously noted, because apparently someone here believed in natural light and cross-ventilation
Two hall closets, which in this city constitutes what lawyers call "ample storage" and what I call "a minor miracle"
A windowed bath, which I refuse to take for granted

The Practicalities (Since You Asked):

Washer/dryer allowed with a plan and board approval
Pets welcome — the building is not prejudiced against dogs and cats.
Sublets permitted after one year (three out of every five)
Pied-à-terre friendly
Monthly maintenance is low.

The Building:
88 Charles is a five-story landmarked brick brownstone, built circa 1880, part of the 84–88 Charles Street Owners Corp — a 45-unit cooperative that has managed, against considerable odds, to remain exactly what it should be: handsome, quiet, and unbothered. Twenty apartments across five stories. No concierge, no gym, no "amenity floor." You are an adult. You don't need all that.
The Block:
I have walked most blocks in Manhattan. Some of them are fine. Charles Street, between Greenwich and Hudson, is not fine — it is correct. It is what a street in this city is supposed to look like: tree-lined, brownstoned, historically intact, and entirely free of the kind of development that makes you feel the city has given up on itself. The Hudson River is nearby. Washington Square Park is nearby. Every subway you could possibly need is nearby. The restaurants are excellent. I won't list them. You live in New York — go find them.
A Brief History, Because Context Matters:
The street was named for Charles Christopher Amos, who owned the land the street passed through and who is also responsible for Christopher Street and the former Amos Street (now West 10th). Between 1866 and 1936, the precise block where 88 Charles sits was called Van Ness Place, named for a farming family who occupied that square block until 1865. The city renamed it. The city is always renaming things. At least this one stuck.

***PLEASE NOTE SOME PICS, THE DOG(Go Knicks!), THE WHITE ROOMS, WERE EDITED/VIRTUAL***

Start your next beautiful New York chapter right here, right now.