@@ArvinHaddadOfficial next I find an agent, owner, broker who will let me give an unbiased truthful tour of a home LOL. The hours of bloopers I have on hard drives...
@@erikvanconoverthat is SO true. If you actually said what you wanted to say about these properties they wouldn’t let you make the video or upload it 👍🏼
Trust me as someone who lives in NYC, the two elevator thing is a HUGE deal. My building is only 22 stories high and I am constantly having to wait 5+ minutes for one to come, and these don’t even open directly into ppl’s homes and can be shared. I would straight up never live in a building this tall with only two elevators, keep in mind there will be many times where one of the elevators will be dedicated to ppl moving in for hours or for the building staff to make trash pickups. Imagine being on the 60th floor and there is only one operational elevator that has to make individual pickups and drop-offs in the lobby, no exaggeration to say you could be waiting 15-20 minutes at times which is obviously horrible if you are in a rush or there’s an emergency. These are the details most ppl do not take into account when buying a place but you absolutely should, it’s something that will effect your life on a daily basis and can never be changed.
100% agree. I live in a Chicago 30-floor building with three shared elevators (2 residential + 1 service) and wait times can be horrendous-and that’s when all 3 elevators are in service. What happens in Steinway Tower if one of its two elevators breaks down? In my building, when one elevator goes out of service and needs repairs, our wait times double. And if someone needs the service elevator for moving or delivery, some of us just plan to not bother trying to leave home or order food/grocery/etc. delivery that day. 😅Usually a broken elevator stays out of service for at least 1.5 days. Something tells me Steinway Tower doesn’t have a dedicated elevator service person on-call for same-day repair.
@@randomchannel323 100%, plenty of places like this end up selling to ultra rich middle-eastern/ Asian clients who maybe stay there a few months a year at most. In that respect the buyers would care less about the day to day operations of the building, good point. That is a common theme with a lot of mega high end NYC realty, It seems like the homes are designed to look good rather than be the most optimal for a family to live in.
I worked on the upper floor of old skyscraper in Manhattan that was skinny and it swayed back and forth in high winds. Doors swung back and forth, the elevators banged against the sides when they went up and down. It was awful. I would never live in an ultra-tall, skinny building like this.
@@floxy20 one can shove one's head in the sand all one wants in denial, but the climate change is real and not just based on science. i remember how winters were like even 20 years ago. it's nothing remotely like that, hardly any snow or frozen over ponds anymore. maybe it's debatable whether it's man made, or god made, or nature made, but it is real.
Imagine hosting a dinner party and having to spend the evening guarding the terrace to make sure some of your inebriated guests don’t fall to their deaths!
i dont know thats a pretty skinny and narrow balcony. its barely useful. im scared of heights so i would feel like im gonna blow off in the wind. some building really scare me to be in lol. i remember the worst time i had a panic attack just from being in a building lol. its funny i know. also they are always bobbling around its so weird.
I have been watching videos about Super luxury condo buildings, and you are the first one to explain about the keyed elevator going directly from the lobby to your condo, and not stopping for anyone else.
I lived in a much smaller building with only two elevators and the waiting was horrible. Often the elevator would be full when it finally arrived. Just the deliveries and servants will create a lot of traffic. Not even a service elevator? Also, how can they be sure there is nobody inside the elevator when it goes to pick up somebody in the middle of their 50M home? I suppose when the elevator is at the 60th floor, you are at the 50th floor, the elevator will go all the way down to the lobby, where a guard checks it is empty. Then it goes back up to to the 50th. That is really inefficient. If the elevator smells really badly then your cheap home will get a bit of perfume also. And if 10 people are waiting in the lobby they each have to wait for the elevator to go up and then down with one person inside?! I would bring a chair and a computer so I could work while waiting. Surely there must be more elevators reserved for the lower floors - but it can't be a lot as the building is so skinny. This baffles me.
Well - one of the elevators is double decker with the bottom one being the service unit going to/from the basement. It is not a third elevator. But it helps a bit. There are no elevators reserved for the lower floors of the tower. There are only two elevator shafts for all the tower apartments (46) from 17th floor (called 20 as they cheat) to the top floor. "A pair of elevators connect each of the tower stories to the ground level and floor 10. One is a double-deck elevator with a service cab on the lower deck, which also descends to the cellar, while the other is a single-deck elevator"
@@pierre.a.larsenThere is never congestion in building like that. I worked for a law firm in NY for many years, we had clients in these fancy building and most of the year these building are mostly empty. The owners have multiple homes in different local and countries, they're usually in residence only a few months a year.
@@cross75man75 Ok - thx - that could explain it. Lol - they are dimensioning infrastructure according to the price of the apartment. The more expensive - less infrastructure. It explains some of the many lawsuits in these billionaire towers. It is similar to supercars. The quality is so horrible that you can only drive a few thousand miles and then you have to take the engine out. They are meant to be used rarely or never. I am so happy I can't afford these apartments 🤣
A friend of mine knows someone who looked at a unit at 111 West 57th. The takeaway from their viewing was that all the rooms are tiny, and things felt on a smaller scale - for example countertops did not feel as deep as standard (such as in the kitchen, and check out the width of the stairs, they are almost unusable) - to give a sense that there was more room than there actually was. The other takeaway was that while it photographs well (especially if you use the proper lens to make it feel bigger, which is the case in Conover's video) is that the build quality was not all that. In addition, I was told it feels very claustrophobic and if there were standard height ceilings it would show how truly cramped it is. Height to width ratio of 24:1 (IIRC) is insane. I don’t care if it has a mass damper, that puppy is gonna sway in moderate to high winds big time. And that “Romeo and Juliet balcony” (good call on that by the way) is useless, and there’s no way you’d get me on that (that retaining glass is not high enough). All of that said, the one thing that never seems to be mentioned about these super slender high rise condos is that they have much fewer units than a building of normal width and depth for that height. That means that, aside from common charges (which for that place are around $20,000.00 per month) the cost to maintain a mega tall skyscraper after a number of years, by so few people will end up costing more than one originally paid for the unit. Yeah, sure, 20K a month for someone who can afford 57 million is no big deal, but after some years when the special assessments start to hit, repairs and upkeep to perform work beyond the general scope of maintenance, that’s going to be insane. (There are some Wilshire Corridor owners out there who know what I’m talking about, and those are folks have much higher percentage of units per height, and the structures are nowhere near as complicated and expensive). I subscribed because I’m really liking your observations. Well done. BTW, Conover did a 2fer (2 units in a single video) at Madison House (in NoMad at 15 East 30th St). The lower unit on the 58th floor, which is a single story, and I like better than the penthouse above, has one of the most insane views of any condo in Manhattan I’ve seen. It alone is worth the 13.9 million asking price. You might want to check that one out. Cheers!
Wow, i didn’t think about collective repair costs! With fewer units and a super tall, new building, I agree. Ongoing costs are going to balloon! Thanks for adding that.
Agreed with everything you mentioned. Having lived in New York, my concern is a fire and only two elevators. Yes, the view is stunning but you don’t live in the view. I won’t mention some former NYC buildings, but you did feel them sway and creek on windy days. If I can’t get out quickly it’s a no go.
I was on the observation deck in Sears Tower in Chicago during a storm about 30 years ago & felt the swaying sensation. Just based on that 15minutes & having to walk all the way down bc the elevators stopped working I’d never in a million years buy a condo/apartment way up a skyscraper. The swaying is really uncomfortable & that was in a relatively wide building & not as high up as this apartment is. If you felt sick & your apartment started swaying side to side it’d be absolutely miserable. Imagine if you were older & had a condition that made you dizzy…you wouldn’t know if it was your illness or if it was the building. Even as a kid the swaying made me feel anxious & uncomfortable.
I was a guest on a 96' Yacht and my room was the most forward aft of the boat as we went through a really windy stretch in the Baja. I was actually pitched off my bed by a half a foot or so most of the night. Swaying in the wind by a few inches? Please, I would sleep like a baby.
My legs turn to rubber just watching him on that glass terrace. I rented a high rise apartment a few years ago with a similar terrace and it was terrifying. Plus, the crazy wind out there at that height made it unusable.
@@ArvinHaddadOfficial Hi Arvin. I'm from Kenya, I've seen the properties in Nigeria and Pakistan that you reviewed and would appreciate if you reviewed this one in Kenya. It's a $5m earthquake proof mansion. Thanks. m.th-cam.com/video/O_R_HqslEUk/w-d-xo.html&pp=ygUWUmVhbHR5IGJvcmlzIGtpdGlzdXJ1IA%3D%3D
At night, reflective glass doesn't do much......one can still see into apartments. I don't love onyx either. I thought it was too soft for countertops. The piano theme was great until we got to the kitchen cabinets. (Did they forget the black keys?) Every elevator shaft eats up space, so I understand limiting it to two. Since units are going to be sold for foreign money laundering, no one will care about waiting 10 minutes for their elevator. The glamour of Manhattan at night is stupendous. All in all, much more thought and quality went into this building. Very little to complain about. I really love the 'corner moments.'
The kind of people who live in situations like this WANT to be looked at through the windows. This is not the kind of place an introvert would be comfortable, at all.
I just can't believe a building can call itself luxury without a separate freight elevator. I'm merely middle-class, and the comfy, beautiful 1920s vintage high rises I've lived in in St. Louis and Chicago had two passenger plus at least one freight elevator for 50 and 60 unit buildings with 15 floors.
No idea why TH-cam recommended this video but I'm very glad they did. What an outstanding, even-handed, in-depth, perceptive assessment of a living space for "the other half". To me, these residences are cold, antiseptic, and very corporate feeling. No warmth whatsoever. And, I must admit, at first I thought that realtor was AI generated.
Hopefully, AI wouldn't make his suit so tight. I had the same thoughts also about the antiseptic feel. Some luxury condos used to put in cheap kitchens/baths so the buyers could redo them to suit, but that was when people actually lived in them.
Although everyone is an individual - as a general principle this extreme exposure to height and glass is unnatural, for most people, in my opinion. Humans have evolved to be physiologically wary of heights. This particular arrangement is so "in your face" that there might be some kind of subconscious stress going on, even if not perceptible. It is possible that many people would be unsettled to live in this structure. P.S. The low height of the glass balcony railing is astonishing. It would be so easy for accidents to happen, and for objects to be dropped inadvertently too.
Too many modern architects seem to find delight in designing buildings that trigger anxiety and alienation while ignoring livability, creature comforts, and even basic safety.
Loving your long and in depth videos. This building really is beautiful and an engineering masterpiece, but definitely only for people completely unafraid of heights. Nobody would ever get me on that balcony.
I think you have summed my thoughts perfectly. The building is stunning and obviously a lot of complex engineering had to be used in its construction. But I could never live in such a high and narrow building! Perhaps I could try the 30th floor? Haha.
Golden hour is world-wide universal with photographers! Always sunsetting where the angle of sunlight shines a golden glow. It's the perfect term for a specific time of day! (I believe that 'finish' on the Steinway pianos is called Black Lacquer, a proprietary stain...gorgeous!) Inefficient kitchen and kind of worthless space on that terrace. Not a fan. Wouldn't want to live in a skinny fish bowl anyway! 🧐 Interesting vid of an iconic structure with phenomenal views! Thanks!
just imagine being asleep during the winter with strong winds and you're on the 70th floor and you feel the vibration while internally thinking about getting the hell out of there 😮😅😢
The way he adds a schwa to the ends of words makes him sound like an immature girl: now-a, wing-a, again-a, view-a, tub-a, building-a... I would want an adult showing me the place.
I agree. I was impressed with some I saw listed for sale on the real estate sites. They were truly beautiful apartments with interesting details and beautiful appointments. But the elevator situation would be a deal-killer for me, and so would the swaying on the upper floors.
It is amazing. Absolutely every observation and critic Arvin made in these videos are spot on. This is the value that a good professional can bring to the table. Outstanding!
@@stanlee3619 lol do you take a sht in a prison cell or something? all bathrooms have windows and a drone can fly wherever. in nyc you actually need a permit and it is hard to get to fly a drone, anybody with permit probably tryna get a nice video of the city skyline and don't want you in it wiping your ass lol
Since you are the "How to buy a mansion guy" I would say a video comparing the pros and cons of mansions / townhouses vs penthouses / luxury condos might be interesting as well. I faced that dilemma a bit in Switzerland where an apartment with private pool terrace in an A+ location was asking the very same as a house in an A-/B+ neighborhood and offered the exact same amenities and comparable finishes and both were lakefront properties. Generally speaking it can also be easy to fall prey to buying amenities which you don't actually use that often when talking about mansions (e.g. home cinemas while common in luxury mansions, do you you really use them enough? Or how do you like to entertain and who are your guests - friends vs business partners?). In many of these cases shared amenities in a luxury condo building can be a cool alternative even though that means a bit less privacy / flexibility. Or take a shared gym in the right building which can also be great for networking. Plus always consider maintenance costs, taxes and available services (concierge, security, chefs) etc... Also learn as much as you can about your neighbors before buying (e.g. families = children noise while very old neighbors means that these neighboring properties might soon come onto the market) and the building (how many apartments and buyer structure/turnover). Or ask yourself the question whether you would also consider buying something which needs a bit of work done (can be great deals) rather than a done house and is a done house really a done house in your eyes. This said, my personal advice to anyone looking to buy property is to gain clarity regarding what you really need and want first (and how much time you actually spend there -> primary vs. secondary residence, etc.)! Once you figured out how you want to live and what amenities and layout you want and which ones are optional/just nice to have approach your broker with that list and ask them to tell you a price range matching these criteria. Don't tell them your budget right of the bat because my experience has been that once you put that number out there they'll only show you properties around that number! Back in 2018 I for example told the broker my budget is 60 million (and also got shown 111 West 57th despite not a great match to my criteria of which one was outdoor space) and they only showed me products around that price point. Only by incident back then I heard about a property which cost half of what my budget was yet met all my criteria in a great neighborhood... and that to me is a bit of a problem that brokers are so budget focused rather than "lifestyle-focused" and hence I suggest you try to reverse that if you can by letting the broker know how you want to live and then let them educate you what this means in terms of pricing. Take it from there. *PS: Another great and educative video, Arvin! You're doing a great job here and I really like your videos!* PPS: I guess two offices in an apartment can make sense: One office for him and one for her.
This may be a bit more than we generally look for in the "comment" section. Has anyone read the whole damn thing? Or understood it if you have read it?
7:51 re your comment on Golden hour - still a common term in landscape photography. Entertaining video! (my late grandmother lived in a penthouse in Philly and she called the “PH” elevator button “the Poorhouse” lol)
Love your critique with no sugarcoating but also highlight the positive aspects of these properties. If I am ever fortunate enough to consult you I will!
You’ll have to get in line. I’ve got plans to book him too when I’m ready to move to LA/Hollywood area. @ArvinHaddadOfficial your investment in doing these is paying off!
There are several lots between this building and Central Park. Some day someone is going to build a tower right in front on this one and obstruct the million dollar view to Central Park.
And who knows? The building built between Steinway Towers and Central Park might be even taller than Steinway Towers, thus not only potentially completely obstructing the view, but also presenting significant privacy issues and lowering the property values of Steinway.
Found this channel by accident. My, my, MY, but as an experienced condo owner, I have to say that you are really spot-on. First-rate comments in every way!
Let me just take a corner moment to discuss a $54M airline sized apartment in a swaying skinny high-rise. I would feel ripped off if I paid more than $12M for a duplex with little character aside from good views. At least the balcony is easy to jump off when you realize what you’ve done. Thanks Arvin for another great video. (Yes, the elevator situation is ridiculous. How long is the wait?)
Something else no-one mentions about penthouse apartments is that at the higher floors you're going to be spending more time waiting for and in an elevator; don't be surprised if it takes 5 minutes from when you press the elevator button in your apartment to when you exit the lobby/garage. Now imagine it taking 5 minutes from your front door to the street; something equivalent is having a big block of land that can only be reached via a dirt path. I live on 9 acres and it takes a bit over 5 minutes from my front door to reaching bitumen, and it gets old sometimes.
How much time does it take anyone to grab a taxi in NYC or do anything? So you have to wait a few minutes for an elevator? The horror! You have hundreds of millions or billions, where do you have to be so immediately?
These elevators are super fast, the ones that service the penthouse floors move up to 7m/s. Which means it takes less than 2 minutes for go from the ground floor to the penthouse. The building has 14 elevators, with 2 that solely service the penthouse levels
Really enjoyed this review and walk through Arvin, I’m fascinated with super skinny apartment living but you highlighted flaws very nicely. I’m sure there are structural nightmares yet to be exposed also … new subscriber here today. Enjoy the golden hour my friend 😝 Rob
Steinway Tower for me is absolutely crazy, as a french parisian citizen, no chance ever to see this type of tower in Paris. However, living there, enjoying "corner moment" not really for me. What about opening the windows and breath the fresh air over NYC...?
I agree with your comments. It is a gorgeous apartment and my biggest ding is the decor. I know everything was probably really expensive, but it looks like an IKEA showroom. I absolutely hated the light fixtures in the main room. Again, probably expensive but they looked kind of off-the-shelf Home Depot. The Juliet balcony could have used some stone (onyx, perhaps)? benches pushed close to the wall as to not impeed circulation. I agree, it so needed another living space on the upper floor, instead of a second office and second master bath. Time will tell if this building and the other new skinny towers will survive a hurricane.
Arvin, you're so right. I currently live in a building only 9 floors high with 1 lift that can stop on every floor. New building modern lift. Takes forever. I can't imagine what it's like having 50+ floors, with two lifts, that cannot stop off on demand. That's insane. And then, what happens if there's a fire? How do you escape from the uppermost floors? It's sexy, but is it livable?
Thats because both you and Arvin are wrong. There are 60 condo units in Steinway Tower, 14 in the Hall and 46 in the Tower. There are a total of 14 elevators. 5 of the elevators are for Steinway Hall, which is the first 16 floors. 7 of the elevators are for the luxury units in the Tower levels. And 2 elevators are solely for the Penthouse levels. The elevators for the Tower levels move at 7m/s, which is fast enough to get from street level to the 76th penthouse level in less than 2 minutes.
Two elevators work fine here. The owners of these apartments have multiple properties and likely will only spend a few weeks a year in this building, if that. So no worry that both elevators would be in use at the same time. On West 57th there are probably right now only a handful of apartments where someone is home today. I walk by these building entrances frequently and have yet to see anyone except a doorman enter or leave, not even a food delivery, It's for good reason in NYC they are called 'safe deposit boxes in the sky'.
It's nice to find a real channel with real information that doesn't rely on bobbles or tricks to grab eyeballs and keep asses in the seats. No yellling or bro speak just logical facts clearly explained. Is this TH-cam? Thanks for this bit of clarity in a sea of internet noise.
Golden hour is still commonly used in photography and filmmaking, so that doesn't strike me as an odd phrase. It's either "golden hour" or "magic hour".
The way Eric is walking is just making me laugh out loud 😀 Arvin, thanks for another very interesting video with so much expert knowledge pointing out topics that I would've never been able to think about before finding your channel .. but meanwhile, I watch these original videos and already spot some significant weak spots that of course Erik, Enes and colleagues never mention. Still you also give kudos when they did something great. Keep up the great work!
Great analysis of a video that is part real estate, part GQ. I watch the content of Erik & Enes because of the access they have to prime real estate, plus they're generally likable personalities. But I wasn't quite sure what was being featured here...the Steinway Tower, or Conover's pricey suits.
Arvin I stumbled onto your channel a few weeks back must say it is refreshing to actually see someone provide a true critique without bias. Most of your observations I agree with almost 100% ie... building in NYC with $130m price and Japanese design--it was bland and boring. The Cali homes you comment on are fantastic as well. Honestly if I ever build a house I am reaching out to you for advice--we are like minded in our thoughts on things. Love your channel!
The one you showed at the end from Enes, I just opened the main TV News website of my country this morning and there was an article about it. Saying the owners are suing the responsibles for the construction of that building. About this one. New York. I can never agree with the prices of most Penthouses. The bedrooms are the size as the ones in my house. Even taking into consideration, the location, luxury, views. You pay so much for such a tight space. And the fact I've seen better penthouses more spacious with better prices, doesn't make me like it at all.
54 million is a subjective value based on your preferences. If this was not worth 54 million it would not sell. If it sells, it is worth 54 million to someone.
@@Tchild2 honey, please stop. You can talk about relativity all day. This place still ain’t with $54 mil. And if someone wants to pay that amount for it, then they are comfortable getting ripped off. Have a good night.
Hi Arvin, I love your channel. So many architecture and real estate channels on TH-cam just parrot what the developer says. Your channel provides real insight and a breath of fresh air.
Good Deal. Not at this ridiculous price point for sq ft. It’s all about the views and exclusivity. Have been following Eric for years and respect him. You are correct in most of your comments. It would be nice not to be condescending toward his comments.
What will this place be worth in 20 years? That is all any buyer considers. Price for SQ foot is nonsense, because with insane wealth, you just need a place to park your money.
They are selling a multi million $ property on door handles, shower heads and shoe shine. They know their buyers. Nothing about wind movement, lift (elevator) reliability, fire evacuation times, foundation inspections or what % of units will be left empty so that maintenance charges are impossible to collect. The sales pitch implies that buyer will sit for hours looking a the view, if they do ever move in my bet is they spend hours looking at the wide screen TV with the curtains (drapes) closed.
I didn’t see any bedroom dressers/chests of drawers to hold clothing, unless all clothing is kept in closets. If there are only two elevators, and assuming they are nicely finished, then it seems like they could get easily damaged when somebody is moving in. The high-rise condominium that I used to work at was only 41 stories tall, but had four passenger elevators and two freight elevators. Of course, the freight elevators were for taking care of the unsightly business that needed to be kept hidden, which included residents moving in, and grocery deliveries. All elevators opened into a lobby or utility hallway, not a private residence, but space was not a scarce commodity. The concierge/ doorman in me can’t help but wonder what kind of nightmare this would be during high-traffic social times such as Christmas and New Year’s Eve.
This is a different class of buyers than those who live at your 41 story building. They are not there 24/7. They are there temporarily (or never). If they do visit, those inconveniences will hardly be noticed in the short term.
One thing i disagree is about the term 'golden hour', it is still very much a trendy term even among kids on instagram, there's even a viral song with that title
I agree, southern exposure to sun and UV is going to fade fabric and finishes of everything in no time. Direct sun will also raise air conditioning costs, and expensive paintings and wall coverings don't like direct sun light. That terrace is only to get fresh air and for smoking, it's really a way to launder offshore money, very nice design, though.
A friend let me spend the night last month. It was way up and I can say without a doubt, I don't like big buildings like that moving under my feet.We had some pretty strong winds that day but there is no way I would feel safe in it. No wonder its so empty.
@@Tchild2 Nonsense! The place costs over $20M! It’s a lack of creativity brought on by laziness. I do themed renovations to real estate and my services are in high demand. It’s not hard; it just requires a bit of imagination.
Love your insightful analysis of the pros/cons of this condo building! This is so much more interesting to watch… than a channel where they just repeat the marketing literature.
You’re wrong on the two elevator thing. The building is probably only ever 20-25% occupied at all times. People are going to be in Europe or Asia most of the time.
Yep, the elevator issue is a non-issue. The owners are not coming and going like they are in some Vegas Hotel scrambling to get down to the casino floor. Most owners are probably not there 80-95% of the year.
It's actually 2 elevators for 46 residences (most vacant most of the time). The Steinway hall portion has its own elevator. There is a third passenger/service elevator. The fitness center floor has its own. Still might have to wait for an elevator, I suppose.
Just discovered your channel. Love the reactions that you have with the cutting comments. Could not do it better myself because that is what I do when viewing the "mansion" videos.
6:43 For many of these multimillionaires and billionaires, real estate is a way to diversify and park their money. It might not make money, but it holds it and holding the money is more important than making it at a certain point.
Out of all those super tall skinny towers, I have to say I like this one the best also!! I love the Art Deco design of the building. It's aesthetically pleasing to look at, but I also wouldn't buy one of those because I would be uncertain of how well this building is going to stand the test of time.
Golden Hour with my golden retriever everyday :) Mind is blown. One of the most comprehensive reviews I have ever seen on TH-cam. New Fan here.
Thanks for being a good sport Pal…. Keep them coming… what’s next home alone?
@@ArvinHaddadOfficial next I find an agent, owner, broker who will let me give an unbiased truthful tour of a home LOL. The hours of bloopers I have on hard drives...
Call me we will do it together
@@erikvanconoverthat is SO true. If you actually said what you wanted to say about these properties they wouldn’t let you make the video or upload it 👍🏼
Do you have a video of the apts toward the top of Steinway? Wondering how the spaces change as the building becomes very narrow toward the top🔝🤔.
Trust me as someone who lives in NYC, the two elevator thing is a HUGE deal. My building is only 22 stories high and I am constantly having to wait 5+ minutes for one to come, and these don’t even open directly into ppl’s homes and can be shared. I would straight up never live in a building this tall with only two elevators, keep in mind there will be many times where one of the elevators will be dedicated to ppl moving in for hours or for the building staff to make trash pickups. Imagine being on the 60th floor and there is only one operational elevator that has to make individual pickups and drop-offs in the lobby, no exaggeration to say you could be waiting 15-20 minutes at times which is obviously horrible if you are in a rush or there’s an emergency. These are the details most ppl do not take into account when buying a place but you absolutely should, it’s something that will effect your life on a daily basis and can never be changed.
Yeah that's true this property would probably be just a trophy / investment property for whoever could afford this home but still
100% agree. I live in a Chicago 30-floor building with three shared elevators (2 residential + 1 service) and wait times can be horrendous-and that’s when all 3 elevators are in service. What happens in Steinway Tower if one of its two elevators breaks down? In my building, when one elevator goes out of service and needs repairs, our wait times double. And if someone needs the service elevator for moving or delivery, some of us just plan to not bother trying to leave home or order food/grocery/etc. delivery that day. 😅Usually a broken elevator stays out of service for at least 1.5 days. Something tells me Steinway Tower doesn’t have a dedicated elevator service person on-call for same-day repair.
no imagine those 2 elevators being clogged up by someone unloading a billionairs worth of food shopping for a week/month
@@randomchannel323 100%, plenty of places like this end up selling to ultra rich middle-eastern/ Asian clients who maybe stay there a few months a year at most. In that respect the buyers would care less about the day to day operations of the building, good point. That is a common theme with a lot of mega high end NYC realty, It seems like the homes are designed to look good rather than be the most optimal for a family to live in.
It's not like many people actually live in these buildings. It's all foreign investors.
I worked on the upper floor of old skyscraper in Manhattan that was skinny and it swayed back and forth in high winds. Doors swung back and forth, the elevators banged against the sides when they went up and down. It was awful. I would never live in an ultra-tall, skinny building like this.
Did you ever bang the hot rich ppl in the buildings?
I love supertall's as marvels of craft and engineering, but the idea of living in one as climate-change makes wind speeds increase is terrifying
@@RTDice11 "Climate change" increasing wind speeds is a new one for me. When will this BS end?
@@floxy20forests never burned carbon the way humans do.
@@floxy20 one can shove one's head in the sand all one wants in denial, but the climate change is real and not just based on science. i remember how winters were like even 20 years ago. it's nothing remotely like that, hardly any snow or frozen over ponds anymore. maybe it's debatable whether it's man made, or god made, or nature made, but it is real.
Imagine hosting a dinner party and having to spend the evening guarding the terrace to make sure some of your inebriated guests don’t fall to their deaths!
Yea, but what a great place for paper airplanes.
That railing is LOW....
Good thinking!!
i dont know thats a pretty skinny and narrow balcony. its barely useful. im scared of heights so i would feel like im gonna blow off in the wind. some building really scare me to be in lol. i remember the worst time i had a panic attack just from being in a building lol. its funny i know. also they are always bobbling around its so weird.
It is scary, for sure, but they would die just the same if they were falling from a third-floor balcony. 😮
I have been watching videos about Super luxury condo buildings, and you are the first one to explain about the keyed elevator going directly from the lobby to your condo, and not stopping for anyone else.
Thanks Stan ... i really appreciate your support
I lived in a much smaller building with only two elevators and the waiting was horrible. Often the elevator would be full when it finally arrived. Just the deliveries and servants will create a lot of traffic. Not even a service elevator?
Also, how can they be sure there is nobody inside the elevator when it goes to pick up somebody in the middle of their 50M home? I suppose when the elevator is at the 60th floor, you are at the 50th floor, the elevator will go all the way down to the lobby, where a guard checks it is empty. Then it goes back up to to the 50th. That is really inefficient. If the elevator smells really badly then your cheap home will get a bit of perfume also. And if 10 people are waiting in the lobby they each have to wait for the elevator to go up and then down with one person inside?! I would bring a chair and a computer so I could work while waiting. Surely there must be more elevators reserved for the lower floors - but it can't be a lot as the building is so skinny. This baffles me.
Well - one of the elevators is double decker with the bottom one being the service unit going to/from the basement. It is not a third elevator. But it helps a bit.
There are no elevators reserved for the lower floors of the tower. There are only two elevator shafts for all the tower apartments (46) from 17th floor (called 20 as they cheat) to the top floor.
"A pair of elevators connect each of the tower stories to the ground level and floor 10. One is a double-deck elevator with a service cab on the lower deck, which also descends to the cellar, while the other is a single-deck elevator"
@@pierre.a.larsenThere is never congestion in building like that. I worked for a law firm in NY for many years, we had clients in these fancy building and most of the year these building are mostly empty. The owners have multiple homes in different local and countries, they're usually in residence only a few months a year.
@@cross75man75 Ok - thx - that could explain it.
Lol - they are dimensioning infrastructure according to the price of the apartment. The more expensive - less infrastructure.
It explains some of the many lawsuits in these billionaire towers.
It is similar to supercars. The quality is so horrible that you can only drive a few thousand miles and then you have to take the engine out. They are meant to be used rarely or never.
I am so happy I can't afford these apartments
🤣
A friend of mine knows someone who looked at a unit at 111 West 57th. The takeaway from their viewing was that all the rooms are tiny, and things felt on a smaller scale - for example countertops did not feel as deep as standard (such as in the kitchen, and check out the width of the stairs, they are almost unusable) - to give a sense that there was more room than there actually was. The other takeaway was that while it photographs well (especially if you use the proper lens to make it feel bigger, which is the case in Conover's video) is that the build quality was not all that. In addition, I was told it feels very claustrophobic and if there were standard height ceilings it would show how truly cramped it is.
Height to width ratio of 24:1 (IIRC) is insane. I don’t care if it has a mass damper, that puppy is gonna sway in moderate to high winds big time. And that “Romeo and Juliet balcony” (good call on that by the way) is useless, and there’s no way you’d get me on that (that retaining glass is not high enough).
All of that said, the one thing that never seems to be mentioned about these super slender high rise condos is that they have much fewer units than a building of normal width and depth for that height. That means that, aside from common charges (which for that place are around $20,000.00 per month) the cost to maintain a mega tall skyscraper after a number of years, by so few people will end up costing more than one originally paid for the unit. Yeah, sure, 20K a month for someone who can afford 57 million is no big deal, but after some years when the special assessments start to hit, repairs and upkeep to perform work beyond the general scope of maintenance, that’s going to be insane. (There are some Wilshire Corridor owners out there who know what I’m talking about, and those are folks have much higher percentage of units per height, and the structures are nowhere near as complicated and expensive).
I subscribed because I’m really liking your observations. Well done.
BTW, Conover did a 2fer (2 units in a single video) at Madison House (in NoMad at 15 East 30th St). The lower unit on the 58th floor, which is a single story, and I like better than the penthouse above, has one of the most insane views of any condo in Manhattan I’ve seen. It alone is worth the 13.9 million asking price. You might want to check that one out.
Cheers!
You are so right about the retaining glass is not high enough. I get vertigo just by watching this video. 😜
thanks for all the info well said
Great observations and info.
Wow, i didn’t think about collective repair costs! With fewer units and a super tall, new building, I agree. Ongoing costs are going to balloon! Thanks for adding that.
Agreed with everything you mentioned. Having lived in New York, my concern is a fire and only two elevators. Yes, the view is stunning but you don’t live in the view. I won’t mention some former NYC buildings, but you did feel them sway and creek on windy days. If I can’t get out quickly it’s a no go.
I was on the observation deck in Sears Tower in Chicago during a storm about 30 years ago & felt the swaying sensation. Just based on that 15minutes & having to walk all the way down bc the elevators stopped working I’d never in a million years buy a condo/apartment way up a skyscraper. The swaying is really uncomfortable & that was in a relatively wide building & not as high up as this apartment is. If you felt sick & your apartment started swaying side to side it’d be absolutely miserable. Imagine if you were older & had a condition that made you dizzy…you wouldn’t know if it was your illness or if it was the building. Even as a kid the swaying made me feel anxious & uncomfortable.
I was a guest on a 96' Yacht and my room was the most forward aft of the boat as we went through a really windy stretch in the Baja. I was actually pitched off my bed by a half a foot or so most of the night. Swaying in the wind by a few inches? Please, I would sleep like a baby.
It’s a beautiful building, but I got vertigo watching it. If I was there in person, I doubt if I would be able to relax.
I'm glad to know I'm not the only one. I feel like I'm going to have nightmares about that f__ing balcony. Especially having pets.
I also like how Arvin makes note of the positive things too…a nice balanced approach to giving us the real deal.
He has to force himself to do that, otherwise clowns like you will cry "baised"
My legs turn to rubber just watching him on that glass terrace. I rented a high rise apartment a few years ago with a similar terrace and it was terrifying. Plus, the crazy wind out there at that height made it unusable.
You just enjoy the deck when the wind is not blowing. Did you see the views? Enjoy the views inside when windy and the deck when it is not blowing.
That balcony is good for one thing and one thing only….SMOKING
planting some green on that there Terrance that is super skinny
is smoking allowed ?
@@margarita8442 on your own property you bought for millions? Hell yeah!
@@KKOPPONG some have smoking restrictions in europe
@@margarita8442 I don’t know for sure but I’d be willing to bet the NY doesn’t have those restrictions especially when you own the entire floor.
Golden hour is definitely still a term in the photography and film world.
Yours is probably the best and insightful real estate channel on TH-cam. Keep doing what you do,man. I really really love this channel
thank you so much for your support
@@ArvinHaddadOfficial Hi Arvin. I'm from Kenya, I've seen the properties in Nigeria and Pakistan that you reviewed and would appreciate if you reviewed this one in Kenya. It's a $5m earthquake proof mansion. Thanks. m.th-cam.com/video/O_R_HqslEUk/w-d-xo.html&pp=ygUWUmVhbHR5IGJvcmlzIGtpdGlzdXJ1IA%3D%3D
That balcony is so scary. 😂
Agree. The railing is so short it feels scary just looking at it!
Could a gale wind lift a person off the terrace and put them in freefall?
OMG, the floor to ceiling windows for me, and the swaying in the wind. yikes.
The balcony is scary…..
I would NEVER go out there .
Seriously. My stomach dropped for a solid minute while the realtor was walking around out there.
Imagine getting locked out on the balcony - another corner moment.
Why would the balcony doors have locks? To guard against the best building-scaling cat burglars in the world?
@@GriffinmcI mean... That is a good point.
Remember those Sky cells from Game of Thrones? That balcony seems perfect for those awful relatives that always appear out of notice or owe you money
@@Griffinmc What about Batman? He is coming to you to catch you for money laundry.
Ain't nobody scaling this building to break in at 1,000 feet up.
Erik is really tall but truly that terrace does not at all feel safe. It should have the extra height glass to prevent you from tipping over.
Seriously, that terrace doesn't look safe. Especially with the high winds at that height.
Creepy
Imagine having a gathering one night over a meal and drinks. One of your drunk guests goes out for a cigarette….. 😅
He’s only 6’0” I wouldn’t call that really tall and that’s what the balcony looks like to him definitely very uncomfortable.
@@LowValueMan YO, SIX FEET IS TALL. BY SEEING THESE NBA FOLKS YOU HAVE BELIEVE THAT IT IS NOT. IT IS ABOVE AVERAGE OF US MEN'S HEIGHT OF 5 FT 9 PLUS.
So funny. These are 2 of three TH-camrs i follow for real estate and then found you and you just shit all over them 😂😂😂. So good
thanks pal ... will keep them coming
you need to give the last one channel.
I totally agree.👍
He doesn't shit on them :D
It's just that Arvin isn't trying to sell us something so he can be honest & transparent
He shows the flaws that you don't normally think about when it comes to actually living in these spaces. These videos are great.
The terrace is terrifying. Pets, children, yourself may fall over the glass barrier. Also an attraction for those who are suicide inclined.
Generally speaking, the Uber-rich tend to not have those kinds of thoughts until a market crash
@@MattttG3😅
You'll only fall 14 feet onto your neghibors terrace lol
You could die falling from 20-30 feet up. What is the difference?
@@MattttG3 Perfect for a market crash, the only is that you might fall on a balcony below.
At night, reflective glass doesn't do much......one can still see into apartments. I don't love onyx either. I thought it was too soft for countertops. The piano theme was great until we got to the kitchen cabinets. (Did they forget the black keys?)
Every elevator shaft eats up space, so I understand limiting it to two. Since units are going to be sold for foreign money laundering, no one will care about waiting 10 minutes for their elevator.
The glamour of Manhattan at night is stupendous. All in all, much more thought and quality went into this building. Very little to complain about. I really love the 'corner moments.'
😆. For the kitchen cabinets I was surprised that they didn’t create black piano keys for the cabinet handles!
The kind of people who live in situations like this WANT to be looked at through the windows. This is not the kind of place an introvert would be comfortable, at all.
I just can't believe a building can call itself luxury without a separate freight elevator. I'm merely middle-class, and the comfy, beautiful 1920s vintage high rises I've lived in in St. Louis and Chicago had two passenger plus at least one freight elevator for 50 and 60 unit buildings with 15 floors.
You are 1,000 feet up. You worried someone has a telescope? What are they going to see? You in your underwear snacking on cheese doodles?
No idea why TH-cam recommended this video but I'm very glad they did. What an outstanding, even-handed, in-depth, perceptive assessment of a living space for "the other half". To me, these residences are cold, antiseptic, and very corporate feeling. No warmth whatsoever. And, I must admit, at first I thought that realtor was AI generated.
Yes, no real old world charm to them at all...soulless!! smdh
Hopefully, AI wouldn't make his suit so tight. I had the same thoughts also about the antiseptic feel. Some luxury condos used to put in cheap kitchens/baths so the buyers could redo them to suit, but that was when people actually lived in them.
I would constantly be so scared living in this building.
You have more chance slipping on the ice and dying than dying in this building.
@@Tchild2 Imagine there is a fire in the middle of the building and you live above it.
Although everyone is an individual - as a general principle this extreme exposure to height and glass is unnatural, for most people, in my opinion. Humans have evolved to be physiologically wary of heights. This particular arrangement is so "in your face" that there might be some kind of subconscious stress going on, even if not perceptible. It is possible that many people would be unsettled to live in this structure. P.S. The low height of the glass balcony railing is astonishing. It would be so easy for accidents to happen, and for objects to be dropped inadvertently too.
I literally get anxiety just watching the video.
Too many modern architects seem to find delight in designing buildings that trigger anxiety and alienation while ignoring livability, creature comforts, and even basic safety.
Did you see him lean out over the balcony, when he was at the corner, in order to see Central Park? NO THANK YOU!
Loving your long and in depth videos. This building really is beautiful and an engineering masterpiece, but definitely only for people completely unafraid of heights. Nobody would ever get me on that balcony.
I think you have summed my thoughts perfectly. The building is stunning and obviously a lot of complex engineering had to be used in its construction. But I could never live in such a high and narrow building! Perhaps I could try the 30th floor? Haha.
Golden hour is world-wide universal with photographers! Always sunsetting where the angle of sunlight shines a golden glow. It's the perfect term for a specific time of day! (I believe that 'finish' on the Steinway pianos is called Black Lacquer, a proprietary stain...gorgeous!) Inefficient kitchen and kind of worthless space on that terrace. Not a fan. Wouldn't want to live in a skinny fish bowl anyway! 🧐 Interesting vid of an iconic structure with phenomenal views! Thanks!
just imagine being asleep during the winter with strong winds and you're on the 70th floor and you feel the vibration while internally thinking about getting the hell out of there 😮😅😢
"getting the hell out of there" and having to wait maybe a half hour or more for one of the two elevators. Honestly...?!!
But you can’t get out bc somebody else is using the elevator rn 😂
I would sleep like a baby. Trust the science and engineering.
@Tchild2 can't trust anything nowadays. so no thanks 😬
I really admire that real estate agent guy who dared to stand next to the glass railing on the balcony to introduce it. I am afraid of heights.😅
Me too. My legs go a bit wobbly just watching the videos of NYC skyscrapers. Yikes!
The way he adds a schwa to the ends of words makes him sound like an immature girl: now-a, wing-a, again-a, view-a, tub-a, building-a... I would want an adult showing me the place.
My palms were sweating for most of the video. Floor to ceiling glass creeps me out even on a second floor. I guess I'll pass on this condo.
Im not scared of heights and that looked scary to me, not safe at all whatsoever, needs a safety glass or something
Perfect unit to buy to overcome your fears. Height isn't bad if you don't actually fall.
The architects did a great job of the interiors. No plain walls and such. Lots of interesting nooks and crannies and changes in the surfaces.
I agree. I was impressed with some I saw listed for sale on the real estate sites. They were truly beautiful apartments with interesting details and beautiful appointments. But the elevator situation would be a deal-killer for me, and so would the swaying on the upper floors.
'The Terrace, a great place if you don't have vertigo' ...I lost it!
Beyond shocking… only 2 elevators to service the entire building. I don’t understand how one unit sold.
A lot of buyers don’t even move in. That’s the shocking thing.
How many people live there at any given time? A dozen?
I don't understand how the building got approved by the building dept to begin with.
$$$…
Most of these flats will never be occupied they are just investments
It is amazing. Absolutely every observation and critic Arvin made in these videos are spot on.
This is the value that a good professional can bring to the table.
Outstanding!
Speaking of the "reflective glass" giving you "privacy," Google "Alex Rodriguez on the toilet" in his Billionaire's Row condo.
hahahhaha
this penthouse is on floor 70 or something. reflective glass or not i dont think anybody can see you taking a sht. very few buidlings nearby that high
@@realgood537 Ever heard of drones?
@@stanlee3619 lol do you take a sht in a prison cell or something? all bathrooms have windows and a drone can fly wherever. in nyc you actually need a permit and it is hard to get to fly a drone, anybody with permit probably tryna get a nice video of the city skyline and don't want you in it wiping your ass lol
@@realgood537and at that point, I say, go for it!!
Since you are the "How to buy a mansion guy" I would say a video comparing the pros and cons of mansions / townhouses vs penthouses / luxury condos might be interesting as well.
I faced that dilemma a bit in Switzerland where an apartment with private pool terrace in an A+ location was asking the very same as a house in an A-/B+ neighborhood and offered the exact same amenities and comparable finishes and both were lakefront properties.
Generally speaking it can also be easy to fall prey to buying amenities which you don't actually use that often when talking about mansions (e.g. home cinemas while common in luxury mansions, do you you really use them enough? Or how do you like to entertain and who are your guests - friends vs business partners?). In many of these cases shared amenities in a luxury condo building can be a cool alternative even though that means a bit less privacy / flexibility. Or take a shared gym in the right building which can also be great for networking. Plus always consider maintenance costs, taxes and available services (concierge, security, chefs) etc...
Also learn as much as you can about your neighbors before buying (e.g. families = children noise while very old neighbors means that these neighboring properties might soon come onto the market) and the building (how many apartments and buyer structure/turnover). Or ask yourself the question whether you would also consider buying something which needs a bit of work done (can be great deals) rather than a done house and is a done house really a done house in your eyes.
This said, my personal advice to anyone looking to buy property is to gain clarity regarding what you really need and want first (and how much time you actually spend there -> primary vs. secondary residence, etc.)! Once you figured out how you want to live and what amenities and layout you want and which ones are optional/just nice to have approach your broker with that list and ask them to tell you a price range matching these criteria.
Don't tell them your budget right of the bat because my experience has been that once you put that number out there they'll only show you properties around that number! Back in 2018 I for example told the broker my budget is 60 million (and also got shown 111 West 57th despite not a great match to my criteria of which one was outdoor space) and they only showed me products around that price point. Only by incident back then I heard about a property which cost half of what my budget was yet met all my criteria in a great neighborhood... and that to me is a bit of a problem that brokers are so budget focused rather than "lifestyle-focused" and hence I suggest you try to reverse that if you can by letting the broker know how you want to live and then let them educate you what this means in terms of pricing. Take it from there.
*PS: Another great and educative video, Arvin! You're doing a great job here and I really like your videos!*
PPS: I guess two offices in an apartment can make sense: One office for him and one for her.
aww man, the dilemma!
This may be a bit more than we generally look for in the "comment" section. Has anyone read the whole damn thing? Or understood it if you have read it?
Sorry I ain't reading that story
@@roberthenry9319hell no
Please do THE ONE house
its on the list
Love Paul McClean but The One is a travesty
7:51 re your comment on Golden hour - still a common term in landscape photography. Entertaining video! (my late grandmother lived in a penthouse in Philly and she called the “PH” elevator button “the Poorhouse” lol)
Holy crap, I am not even finished with watching the 1 billion estate from the last video, yet there is a new one. Nice. :)
i got 2 in edit
17:06 if you put a chair there then go can't go around it, if you try to go around it you're really risking your life." 🤣🤣🤣
Yeah, you'd think a condo of this price point, the balcony would be deeper
Put the chairs on either end of the balcony. You got your seating and no walk around.
Working overtime pumping out these vids, love it
yes sir
Love your critique with no sugarcoating but also highlight the positive aspects of these properties. If I am ever fortunate enough to consult you I will!
at ur service
You’ll have to get in line. I’ve got plans to book him too when I’m ready to move to LA/Hollywood area. @ArvinHaddadOfficial your investment in doing these is paying off!
Gotta love that power outlet over the cooktop 😂
You missed the outlet on the backsplash [@13:25] above the kitchen sink (contravening the electric code of most states)
@@alecs1196 I hope they remembered to put one inside the bathtub too. Wouldn't want to have to work too hard to get the hairdryer over.
There are several lots between this building and Central Park.
Some day someone is going to build a tower right in front on this one and obstruct the million dollar view to Central Park.
And the new apartment's bathroom will face their Livingroom window so you and your dinner guests can watch them taking a bath and shaving.
@@bernieschiff5919 😁 you guys are funny
And who knows? The building built between Steinway Towers and Central Park might be even taller than Steinway Towers, thus not only potentially completely obstructing the view, but also presenting significant privacy issues and lowering the property values of Steinway.
Imagine sleeping in bed and you roll out of bed onto the floor because the building is swaying so much during a hurricane or really windy night. 😂
Yeah, the building isn't that stable for the price of the condos
The tower has a mass dampener at the top which helps to balance out the sway during high winds, which makes it almost unnoticeable
Found this channel by accident. My, my, MY, but as an experienced condo owner, I have to say that you are really spot-on. First-rate comments in every way!
you are on a roll. i sometimes hesitate to watch some of their real estate walk throughs but i never fail to watch one of your takes. great content
I need a corner moment to think about all this.
The architecture is visually striking but its skinny structure is a question mark ❓️❓️❓️ keep them coming Arvin 🙌
The sheer fact that the building is as thin as a needle or pencil means that inevitably, the tower will experience significant swaying.
Let me just take a corner moment to discuss a $54M airline sized apartment in a swaying skinny high-rise.
I would feel ripped off if I paid more than $12M for a duplex with little character aside from good views.
At least the balcony is easy to jump off when you realize what you’ve done.
Thanks Arvin for another great video. (Yes, the elevator situation is ridiculous. How long is the wait?)
🤣
Nah im dying, your to funny man🤣. Had a real crazy corner moment reading your comment
😂
I loved all of the "corner moments".😂🤣
Well he is definitely playing the long game in banking in those corner moments for a corner hour.
So gay
@@ramonkroutz Huh? Was this dude here to review the penthouse or the RE agent? Yuck!
That view is perfect, I look at that billionaires row from my apt
Watched it being built.
Something else no-one mentions about penthouse apartments is that at the higher floors you're going to be spending more time waiting for and in an elevator; don't be surprised if it takes 5 minutes from when you press the elevator button in your apartment to when you exit the lobby/garage. Now imagine it taking 5 minutes from your front door to the street; something equivalent is having a big block of land that can only be reached via a dirt path. I live on 9 acres and it takes a bit over 5 minutes from my front door to reaching bitumen, and it gets old sometimes.
You're right. Dwellers in large hig-rise buildings everywhere complain about this.
How much time does it take anyone to grab a taxi in NYC or do anything? So you have to wait a few minutes for an elevator? The horror! You have hundreds of millions or billions, where do you have to be so immediately?
These elevators are super fast, the ones that service the penthouse floors move up to 7m/s. Which means it takes less than 2 minutes for go from the ground floor to the penthouse. The building has 14 elevators, with 2 that solely service the penthouse levels
glad i found your page, just going through all of them. you confirming so many things i didnt find impressive when watching the originals
Thanks for this video, i was about to get a penthouse in this building! I have decided otherwise! 👍
Really enjoyed this review and walk through Arvin, I’m fascinated with super skinny apartment living but you highlighted flaws very nicely. I’m sure there are structural nightmares yet to be exposed also … new subscriber here today. Enjoy the golden hour my friend 😝 Rob
Such a cool chan ~ pointing out the flaws! Wonder if the 'smoked oak' was from a fire sale?
"I'd rather subscribe to the channel"
Okay, you earned it with that one
TONS of people still say golden hour. I literally hear it almost every day
Steinway Tower for me is absolutely crazy, as a french parisian citizen, no chance ever to see this type of tower in Paris. However, living there, enjoying "corner moment" not really for me. What about opening the windows and breath the fresh air over NYC...?
Paris is a different type of city. You Parisiens have such a fantastic stock of historic buildings, why go high?
With so many golden moments, I thought the agent was going refer to the master shower as having “golden showers”. 😂😂😂😂
Holy crap in 9 hours you already have 21k views👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🎉
I agree with your comments. It is a gorgeous apartment and my biggest ding is the decor. I know everything was probably really expensive, but it looks like an IKEA showroom. I absolutely hated the light fixtures in the main room. Again, probably expensive but they looked kind of off-the-shelf Home Depot. The Juliet balcony could have used some stone (onyx, perhaps)? benches pushed close to the wall as to not impeed circulation. I agree, it so needed another living space on the upper floor, instead of a second office and second master bath. Time will tell if this building and the other new skinny towers will survive a hurricane.
Greetings from Ireland. Love the videos. Very informative.
Glad you like them!
I love how he substituted “Jersey View” with the much classier “Golden Hour”.
Top tier salesmanship right there.
Arvin, you're so right. I currently live in a building only 9 floors high with 1 lift that can stop on every floor. New building modern lift. Takes forever. I can't imagine what it's like having 50+ floors, with two lifts, that cannot stop off on demand. That's insane. And then, what happens if there's a fire? How do you escape from the uppermost floors? It's sexy, but is it livable?
Ya fire would be disaster
You'll have to walk down many many stairs...
Thats because both you and Arvin are wrong.
There are 60 condo units in Steinway Tower, 14 in the Hall and 46 in the Tower.
There are a total of 14 elevators. 5 of the elevators are for Steinway Hall, which is the first 16 floors.
7 of the elevators are for the luxury units in the Tower levels.
And 2 elevators are solely for the Penthouse levels.
The elevators for the Tower levels move at 7m/s, which is fast enough to get from street level to the 76th penthouse level in less than 2 minutes.
Two elevators work fine here. The owners of these apartments have multiple properties and likely will only spend a few weeks a year in this building, if that. So no worry that both elevators would be in use at the same time. On West 57th there are probably right now only a handful of apartments where someone is home today. I walk by these building entrances frequently and have yet to see anyone except a doorman enter or leave, not even a food delivery, It's for good reason in NYC they are called 'safe deposit boxes in the sky'.
Tower Inferno....what a movie
Didn’t they have to take the stairs?
What would even burn in these buildings? It is all stone and metal. Besides, what highrises lately in the USA have burned down in the last 50 years?
It's nice to find a real channel with real information that doesn't rely on bobbles or tricks to grab eyeballs and keep asses in the seats. No yellling or bro speak just logical facts clearly explained. Is this TH-cam? Thanks for this bit of clarity in a sea of internet noise.
I love the south facing view
Excellent presentation. I’ve observed the tiles flying off of the sides of this building during high winds in at least two instances.
Yikes!! Those flying tiles could easily kill someone below.
Golden hour is still commonly used in photography and filmmaking, so that doesn't strike me as an odd phrase. It's either "golden hour" or "magic hour".
The way Eric is walking is just making me laugh out loud 😀 Arvin, thanks for another very interesting video with so much expert knowledge pointing out topics that I would've never been able to think about before finding your channel .. but meanwhile, I watch these original videos and already spot some significant weak spots that of course Erik, Enes and colleagues never mention. Still you also give kudos when they did something great. Keep up the great work!
Great analysis of a video that is part real estate, part GQ. I watch the content of Erik & Enes because of the access they have to prime real estate, plus they're generally likable personalities. But I wasn't quite sure what was being featured here...the Steinway Tower, or Conover's pricey suits.
Erik struts around and poses like he's making a modeling audition video. It's very off-putting.
Arvin I stumbled onto your channel a few weeks back must say it is refreshing to actually see someone provide a true critique without bias. Most of your observations I agree with almost 100% ie... building in NYC with $130m price and Japanese design--it was bland and boring. The Cali homes you comment on are fantastic as well. Honestly if I ever build a house I am reaching out to you for advice--we are like minded in our thoughts on things. Love your channel!
8:42 Oh neat a Suicide door; This place has everything
Is that what that is? A sliding door with no balcony? What is the point?
So when the elevator stops working (malfunction) you are just stuck up there and screwed? Who builds something like this?
The one you showed at the end from Enes, I just opened the main TV News website of my country this morning and there was an article about it. Saying the owners are suing the responsibles for the construction of that building.
About this one. New York. I can never agree with the prices of most Penthouses. The bedrooms are the size as the ones in my house. Even taking into consideration, the location, luxury, views. You pay so much for such a tight space. And the fact I've seen better penthouses more spacious with better prices, doesn't make me like it at all.
This is the best real estate channel and best advise on youtube! I’m a civil engineer and contractor and agree with your comments 99.9% of the times
Arvin is the best.
This unit is obviously very very nice. But it’s very unimpressive for the $54M price tag.
54 million is a subjective value based on your preferences. If this was not worth 54 million it would not sell. If it sells, it is worth 54 million to someone.
@@Tchild2 honey, please stop. You can talk about relativity all day. This place still ain’t with $54 mil. And if someone wants to pay that amount for it, then they are comfortable getting ripped off. Have a good night.
Hi Arvin, I love your channel. So many architecture and real estate channels on TH-cam just parrot what the developer says. Your channel provides real insight and a breath of fresh air.
Good Deal. Not at this ridiculous price point for sq ft. It’s all about the views and exclusivity. Have been following Eric for years and respect him. You are correct in most of your comments. It would be nice not to be condescending toward his comments.
What will this place be worth in 20 years? That is all any buyer considers. Price for SQ foot is nonsense, because with insane wealth, you just need a place to park your money.
Corner hours and golden moments. Wow, realtor mixing it all up lol. Great review!
They are selling a multi million $ property on door handles, shower heads and shoe shine. They know their buyers. Nothing about wind movement, lift (elevator) reliability, fire evacuation times, foundation inspections or what % of units will be left empty so that maintenance charges are impossible to collect. The sales pitch implies that buyer will sit for hours looking a the view, if they do ever move in my bet is they spend hours looking at the wide screen TV with the curtains (drapes) closed.
I didn’t see any bedroom dressers/chests of drawers to hold clothing, unless all clothing is kept in closets.
If there are only two elevators, and assuming they are nicely finished, then it seems like they could get easily damaged when somebody is moving in. The high-rise condominium that I used to work at was only 41 stories tall, but had four passenger elevators and two freight elevators. Of course, the freight elevators were for taking care of the unsightly business that needed to be kept hidden, which included residents moving in, and grocery deliveries. All elevators opened into a lobby or utility hallway, not a private residence, but space was not a scarce commodity.
The concierge/ doorman in me can’t help but wonder what kind of nightmare this would be during high-traffic social times such as Christmas and New Year’s Eve.
This is a different class of buyers than those who live at your 41 story building. They are not there 24/7. They are there temporarily (or never). If they do visit, those inconveniences will hardly be noticed in the short term.
No way you would get me out on that balcony.
Why not? You could die falling from 30 feet up.
I watched all the way through to see Alll the corner moments! Subbed. Thanks😊
Love the authentic POV you give rather than usual youtube real estate marketing BS.
I appreciate that!
One thing i disagree is about the term 'golden hour', it is still very much a trendy term even among kids on instagram, there's even a viral song with that title
The railings for the terraces are wayyyyy too short!
Why is the glass on the balcony so short? Shouldn't it be at least 6 foot tall?
facing north is perfect to avoid the direct sun beating on that window
I agree, southern exposure to sun and UV is going to fade fabric and finishes of everything in no time. Direct sun will also raise air conditioning costs, and expensive paintings and wall coverings don't like direct sun light. That terrace is only to get fresh air and for smoking, it's really a way to launder offshore money, very nice design, though.
It's actually NE, as Manhattan is crooked.
It is a big place, move yourself to another location or install some blinds. You are rich, not a retired cripple.
A friend let me spend the night last month. It was way up and I can say without a doubt, I don't like big buildings like that moving under my feet.We had some pretty strong winds that day but there is no way I would feel safe in it. No wonder its so empty.
You have a gorgeous place like that and it’s painted………….white!
Wow, how original!
Hire a painter and give it your own look. Problem solved. The builders can't accomodate every preference, so they go with the more neutral.
@@Tchild2 Nonsense! The place costs over $20M! It’s a lack of creativity brought on by laziness. I do themed renovations to real estate and my services are in high demand. It’s not hard; it just requires a bit of imagination.
Love your insightful analysis of the pros/cons of this condo building! This is so much more interesting to watch… than a channel where they just repeat the marketing literature.
fyi, golden hour is used in photography all the time, it doesn't go out of style and some of the best photographs are taken at that time.
You’re wrong on the two elevator thing. The building is probably only ever 20-25% occupied at all times. People are going to be in Europe or Asia most of the time.
Yep, the elevator issue is a non-issue. The owners are not coming and going like they are in some Vegas Hotel scrambling to get down to the casino floor. Most owners are probably not there 80-95% of the year.
@@Tchild2 exactly.
I thought Golden hour was a photography/videography term does the soft light really boost real estate appeal?
If I had the money, I would buy it. A 100 % for sure...
It's actually 2 elevators for 46 residences (most vacant most of the time). The Steinway hall portion has its own elevator. There is a third passenger/service elevator. The fitness center floor has its own. Still might have to wait for an elevator, I suppose.
Golden hour is a photography term to me
Just discovered your channel. Love the reactions that you have with the cutting comments. Could not do it better myself because that is what I do when viewing the "mansion" videos.
6:43
For many of these multimillionaires and billionaires, real estate is a way to diversify and park their money. It might not make money, but it holds it and holding the money is more important than making it at a certain point.
Somebody gets it.
Out of all those super tall skinny towers, I have to say I like this one the best also!! I love the Art Deco design of the building. It's aesthetically pleasing to look at, but I also wouldn't buy one of those because I would be uncertain of how well this building is going to stand the test of time.