Just in case you are wondering, I live in co-op building. For non-New Yorkers, co-op apartment buildings differ basically from condominiums in that you own shares of the building versus your apartment, you must go through a co-op board approval (and that means stricter financial scrutiny and the down payment is higher. There are famous cases (Madonna) who have been rejected by boards of famous buildings (The Dakota.)
New York Skyline Looking Up Fifth Avenue North Towards 57th Street
In this Sunday’s New York Times real estate section, there is an article Because the Board Says So detailing all the quirky board rules. Just a few cited from the article include “no brokers in the lobby,” “no flip-flops in the lobby,” and my favorite “don’t shake things out the window.” There were few others that were also mentioned but were overturned from a Park Avenue building “The children had to be taken down by their caregivers in the service elevator.” This one is plainly the most objectionable because if you live in New York, you know that most nannies are from the islands (read black) and god forbid they should be see in the elevators with their white charges.
The article made me think of all the rules our building has:
- No umbrellas or wet boots in the hall (this is a popular rule)
- No welcome mats or decorations on the front door (another popular rule)
- No moves can be made on the weekends and they have to be scheduled so there are not two people using the service elevator
- No riding of scooters in the lobby (I learned this one when an note citing the rule appeared under my door.)
- Kids aren’t allowed behind the doorman’s desk (I’m sure someone get their mail or dry cleaning fast enough because the doorman was talking to a child so that person complained.)
- No construction can take place on the weekends (this is a general rule which I understand sorta since most people are home on weekends and who wants to hear banging during your down time.)
- This is by far my favorite and shocks most people, if I do have construction of any kind (that means painting, having closets installed), the company has to have $1million in insurance in the event something happens AND all work must be approved by the board.
Disclosure: NYC Single Mom was not compensated for this post but thought you find it interesting about a slice of life in New York City.
