Let me start by saying that this apartment has many positive attributes...along with a few things that are somewhat less than ideal, but not necessarily "deal breakers." The significant positives include:
-- Central Tribeca neighborhood with many great restaurants and cafes all-around, Franklin Street subway stop is also very close;
-- Quiet street and quiet unit (other than some clanging noise from the heating pipes...);
-- Very well equipped with explicit directions for relevant items & issues;
-- Extra tall ceilings (I would estimate approx. 18 ft.) and large big windows that provide lots of light;
-- Comfortable bed(s) & nice/comfortable furnishings;
-- Spacious living area;
-- Great water pressure in the shower and nice towels;
-- Laundry access (no extra charge) right outside of the unit;
-- Easy self check-in process.
The issues to consider before renting:
1) There is a uniform heating system for the whole building (steam/radiator heat with old, exposed pipes from floor to ceiling) so you cannot control when the heat comes on or off as it is set by "New York City code." Both the building and the unit seem to retain a lot of heat so the place can become extremely warm & stuffy when the heat is on and the stairway to the building is insanely warm with the heat on. We had to keep a window open or run the A/C throughout our late April visit to "override" the heating situation, even with the radiators in the unit turned off. The pipes are also a bit noisy when the heat is on, though the heat is thankfully automatically turned off between 10 p.m to 6:00 a.m. as long as the temperature outside is above 40 degrees.
2) The loft-style nature of the unit means that the "bedroom" is only separated from the rest of the apartment by sliding opaque doors that provide visual privacy, but do not block sound or light as everything is still open to the ceiling. (This only matters should not everyone staying in the unit have the same sleep/wake routine.)
3) The internet is very slow -- not so good if you need to be online a lot for work during your stay.
4) Older building with a lot of "mustiness" outside of the unit itself. Definitely noticeable, but not a big deal.
Overall, we very much enjoyed the spacious and comfortable feel of the apartment and the wonderful Tribeca location.
