Table of Contents
A prewar apartment is a term that pertains to apartment buildings constructed before World War II. Prewar buildings are generally considered to be those constructed between 1900 to 1939, but buildings that date back to the 1880s are often included in the prewar category.
Why are pre-war buildings desirable?
This largely reflects the fact that most pre-war buildings are co-ops, which are generally much less expensive than new condos. As an added bonus, most pre-war buildings also deliver on charm with high ceilings, ample built-ins, and original moldings. Pre-war buildings are also great for families.
What does it mean if a building is pre-war?
According to Jamie Safier, a luxury real estate agent at Douglas Elliman in New York City, “prewar” generally refers to buildings that were constructed between 1900 and 1939, before World War II. “They do not make buildings like these anymore,” says Cusani, who lives in a prewar apartment.
How do you know if a building is pre-war?
A prewar building is one built before the Second World War. While the exact years are slightly debated, it includes apartments built in the early 20th century and usually refers to buildings built between 1900 to 1939.
What is a prewar apartment in New York?
In NYC, a prewar apartment is an apartment built before WWII, typically between the years 1900-1939. These types of apartments tend to have decorative features like patterned floors, plaster, moldings, etc. Other features can include high ceilings, too, and sometimes larger windows.
Are prewar buildings quieter?
Because of the aforementioned structural integrity and quality build, most prewar apartments are quite a bit quieter than newer postwar apartments, as the materials between each unit are often thicker.
Do pre-war buildings have elevators?
Usually pre-war buildings, walkups have no elevators and are generally five stories or shorter. Most have a voice intercom for buzzing guests in. (Technically, townhouses are considered walkups, but are simply called townhouses.)Mar 13, 2013.
What are NYC apartment walls made of?
Drywall consists of crushed gypsum plaster sandwiched by cardboard paneling and is generally a half-inch thick. Therefore, unless you’ve found a stud — a vertical beam that’s part of the apartment’s internal structure — you’ll hang your object onto a hollow and relatively weak wall and will need to account for this.
What is postwar apartment?
As you could probably imagine, a postwar apartment is one that was built after the Second World War but before the 1990s. They (prewar) often have more character and each apartment is different from one another, while postwar apartments often look similar to other units that were built in the same time frame or area.
What are post-war buildings?
Here’s a quick primer: Prewar is anything built before World War II, Post-war is anything built between World War II and the 1990s. And new construction is just what it sounds like—buildings that are currently being built or were built in the last year or so.
Why are NYC apartments so old?
The reasons are varied. Some of the buildings have too much residential area, too much commercial space, too many dwelling units or too few parking spaces; some are simply too tall. These are buildings that could not be built today.
Why are prewar apartments?
Prewar apartment buildings were, by definition, created before the widespread use of air conditioning, and buildings are often organized around a court or series of courts. These central outdoor areas provide light and ventilation for interior spaces.
What year is pre-war?
These homes may be old, but they’re full of spunk and charisma. Homes built between 1890 and 1940 — before World War II — were dubbed pre-war.
What is a pre-war 6?
Compass. If you’re drawn to New York’s older, prewar buildings, you’re probably a fan of the classic six. These are apartments with detailed facades, high ceilings, and plaster moldings—and as the name suggests, a layout with six, separate rooms.
What is FT doorman?
A full-time doorman means a full-time salary (and generally benefits are included as well), and the cost of the doorman is typically added to the rent of everyone who lives in the building.
What is a pre-war classic 6?
A desirable layout of pre-war apartments is the “classic six” which refers to the number of main rooms: kitchen, living room, formal dining room, master bedroom, second bedroom, and a maid’s room/office. There are also classic five layouts without the maid’s room, and the classic seven with a third bedroom.
Are older buildings more soundproof?
Not necessarily. It depends on the specific sound control measures in place. In fact, many older apartment buildings are much quieter than their newer counterparts because they were built when construction costs were lower.
How do you find a quiet apartment in NYC?
“Apartments located on side streets are usually your best bet,” he says, “but you can find quiet spaces in buildings located on major streets and avenues depending on where they’re located in the building.” Rear-facing units, for instance, will typically have less noise than street-facing ones.
