Monthly Maintenance: $1025 – 50% tax deductible ($890 with STAR)
Gross Outlay per month: $1558.00
Net Outlay after tax deductions: $1300/month
Try finding a comparable unit to rent in downtown White Plains for $1300 a month in gross outlay. You can’t.
In addition, the seller is offering one year of FREE parking to the buyer.
* These numbers assume that the buyer pays list price and has a standard 20% to put down on the unit at a 4% interest rate.
Franklin Manor Unit #3A:
This is a beautifully maintained complex with an amazing amount of ambiance and old-world charm. Although no one lives in their lobby, I must say that this is one of the most beautiful lobbies in lower Westchester. The unit is a LARGE 1 BR/1 BA unit – 875 sf LARGE! Beautifully maintained and completely updated with a new granite eat-in kitchen, and a new bath. There are hardwood floors throughout cove ceilings a fireplace and an attention to detail that is the trademark of a beautiful pre-war building. The kitchen is huge. Marvelous for entertaining and cooks dream come true.
Its Passover and Holy Week and even though it is spring, it feels like winter still. We were supposed to have snow on Monday, but thankfully we were spared. In any case, Carlson’s Floral & Gift is ready with flowers, arrangements and all sorts of wonderful arrangements for your home and garden. Just a walk-through is enough to fill your mind with wonderful ideas for your home and garden….
And if you are thinking about selling your home, curb appeal is key and a few arrangements artfully placed can make all the difference in the world. Its an inexpensive way to spruce up ho-hum landscaping.
Happy Spring – even though winter still appears to be with us!
Carlson’s is located on Dobbs Ferry Road on Route 100B near the ramp for the Sprain Brook Parkway.
Ok! I will be the first to admit it! I have one of the worst driveways in White Plains….It might even be an award winner county-wide. It is pictured in part in the iPhone photo on the right…. To begin with, it is long and curved. Its fine for most cars and SUV’s, but for a plow, it can be difficult. To add insult to injury, the driveway is in dire need of repaving. But the length of the driveway means mucho $$$ for re-paving and although according to the government the “recession has been over” for almost 3 years, most of us here on the ground still feel as though we are deep in a recession….including yours truly.
Often when buyers start looking for White Plains NY condos for sale, they find themselves drawn to older complexes with old-world charm. Westchester coops comprise the largest share of pre-war buildings and many high-end Westchester coops end up being on the short list of buyers for White Plains NY condos. The Broadlawn of White Plains is just such a complex.
The complex consists of garden style units surrounded by formal gardens that including Pergola and barbecue area. Built in 1928, the Broadlawn is know for its Old-World charm and architectural details. Most of the units at the Broadlawn have two bedrooms. Many include such wonderful amenities as fireplaces and balconies overlooking the formal gardens. Ground floor units often have private patios. Many units are duplexes. The ground floor units tend to be simplexes with patios while the upper floor units are generally duplexes. The Broadlawn was able to forgo raising its maintenance fees last year – which speaks well to its financial stability. The interior hallways have just been given a facelift and they are also in the process of creating a fitness room on the premises. All of these are positive steps for the owners and are signs of a thriving community.
Over the past several years, White Plains NY has created a new New Years Eve tradition. Dubbed “mini-me” Manhattan during the building boom (aka real estate bubble) of the early 200o’s, the city started its own version of the Times Square ball drop followed by fireworks. I rather enjoy the event although I firmly believe that White Plains needs to stop pretending to be NYC. There is only ONE Times Square and we need to create our own unique tradition. Also, fair warning for those who enjoy a quiet New Years Eve by the fire – this is not that type of gig. There is a tremendous party atmosphere. Personally, I’m more of a “by the fire” type myself, but I really do like fireworks displays too….
Holiday lights are everywhere in Westchester this time of year – from the spectacular to the gaudy to the very simple. So I’m putting up a very simple display today to show how simple sometimes is better than over-the-top. This is a balcony from a pre-war building in downtown White Plains NY. So I used HDR to bring out the texture of the brick and wrought iron railings. The simple lights let the texture and pre-war character of the building shine and still provided holiday cheer. Hope everyone is enjoying their holiday season.
Yes, I know its not all that PC to call them Christmas lights, but most of the lights that are out are Christmas lights – so I’m just going to call them what they are! Whatever you call them and no matter what your religion, the lights are always fun for the whole family. I remember driving around with my parents as a child looking for light displays everywhere we went. Some nights we actually went on “Christmas Light Expeditions”. We would go out in search of lights. Photographing the lights was a bit of a challenge.
The pictures never seemed to turn out the way we expected them to! But I’m going to give it a shot and post as many photos of holiday lights as I can this year. And I will spill on the location so people can go and see for themselves….This first photo is from downtown White Plains on North Broadway. The Broadlawn is one of my favorite cooperative buildings. It has wonderful old-world charm with old growth trees in its English garden courtyard. The complex is known for its holiday decorations. Beautiful and tasteful! This is a photo of the entry.
We should all forget Black Friday – that’s big-box day. Those who care about this country and their local economy should put their emphasis on Small Business Saturday. The day we celebrate truly LOCAL business. Local business is important for the local economy and local revenue. When you shop at a local store almost twice the amount of money recirculates within your local community than in a big-box store. Further, even more money stays within the US. Our big-box obsession has been feeding competitors such as China and India – So I say – SHOP LOCAL whenever you can. Learn to know and appreciate your local merchants. You don’t need to go into New York City either. There is plenty of unique and imaginative retail in the Hudson Valley….Here are just a few of my picks…..
The Broadlawn is a gem of a coop located in the heart of downtown White Plains at 20 N Broadway. Since it is a one of the few pet-friendly complexes in the area, I have been tracking the sales history for some time. Beyond being pet-friendly it is a truly unique pre-war complex with garden style units and unique English Gardens that truly set it apart.
In Q 3 the Broadlawn had six sales with three additional sales since the beginning of Q 4. The median sales price in Q3 was $342,000 for a 2 BR unit with a median time of 153 days on market. This indicates a market that is shifting into sellers market territory after several years in the doldrums. Units with new baths and kitchens with good views have an obvious edge. Sellers with units that need upgrades need to continue to be realistic while buyers also need to understand that the days of naming your own price are over.
At the present time, there are 4 units for sale and 3 additional units under contract. Below is a slide show from one of the 2 BR units currently for sale at $299,000. You can learn more about the details of this listing through the following link: The Broadlawn – 20 N Broadway L-156.
For more information about the the sales history and amenities of this unique complex, you can visit my web page on The Broadlawn of Downtown White Plains.
Before I utter one more word, I will say the obvious – the devastation of Hurricane Sandy has been overwhelming. Three branches of my family have strong roots on Staten Island and I also have a 90-year-old aunt who resides in New Jersey. The loss of life, livelihoods and life savings is unfathomable and close to my heart. None of what I am about to write regarding the power grid is meant to take away or diminish the scope of the tragedy.
*The Bullet:
