Building Drama

The entrance to Wellington Tower.

The White Gloves Come Off: Delinquent Condo Dwellers Feel the Pain

Gracious living is the hallmark of life at Wellington Tower Condominium. Luxuries like a round-the-clock doorman, concierge and parking valet, a skylit swimming pool, on-site maid services, dry cleaning and spa facilities provide residents “with the very essence of living well.”

Unless, that is, a resident falls from grace.

A few years ago it became obvious to the board of the East 82nd Street building that not everyone was contributing to Wellington Tower’s luxurious lifestyle. A few occupants—not many, but a few—were more than a little bit behind on their common charges. And although they weren’t paying for the kinds of comforts that smooth out life’s rough edges, they were still enjoying them. This didn’t seem right to the board. So they cut the delinquents off. Read More

Anomolous Amenities

Flipping through the pages counts as reading! (Courtesy of House Beautiful)

Forget iPad-Powered Apartments—Libraries Are (Somehow) a Hot Amenity These Days

Some developers wanted to turn precious New York libraries into condominiums, but now some are making sure that their condominiums have libraries within the building. Maybe it makes sense. In a slump of apartment sales, it might just be easier to panel a lower-level studio apartment with fine oak wood, buy out a row at the Strand, and add another bullet point to the amenities list! Read More