The Elm East

Lived here for 4 years. The staff is super friendly and helpful. Management company is easy to work with. Great building that is well maintained. There is an R/M subway station literally a few steps out the front door. Grocery store right across the street is very convenient and has large selection of meats and veggies.

My husband and I really enjoyed living in Elm East. The staff members are superb and friendly. We appreciate the greetings of the staff as we enter and exit the building. They really keep the building clean and in top shape. Management is efficient and responsive with all of our concerns. We are very impressed with the professionalism and courtesy of everyone.

Just recently moved out of The Elm East, after 3.5 years, and overall had a very good experience. Pros: -My unit specifically had a huge terrace as it was on the 2nd floor facing the back of the building. Also had a huge walk in closet, which I believe all units have, as well as additional storage space in the room with the water heater -Building is directly above the Grand Ave-Newtown R train (M train is there on weekdays as well). Can get to Manhattan as fast as 20 minutes, usually by transferring to express train at 74th-Broadway station. -Q58 and Q53 buses are right in front of the building, Q60 and Q59 also have stops close by -24 hour staff, so there was always someone at the front desk. Packages were accepted and kept in a cabinet, in a very organized manner. Staff also regularly cleaned/vacuumed and removed trash from trash room -Lots of retail (Target, Best Buy, Macy's, Queens Mall) and restaurants within walking distance -Due to Covid, my rent was frozen for my entire 1st 1 year renewal lease, and the first 6 months of my 2nd 1 year renewal lease, and it then only went up by about $25, which I appreciated -Received a heating credit of about $100, during Feb/March, due to the high electric bills Cons/Dislikes -Because of the location there were usually lots of people in front of building, waiting for buses, going in/getting out of train station, or just walking/shopping on Broadway in general. Would have to step past people standing in doorway of building at times, and just generally always felt crowded outside -My unit's kitchen layout/amenities could have been better. There was no dishwasher and no pullout drawers. Also had to buy a microwave when a built in one would have fit perfectly above the stove. -The apartment units are 100% electric, so during the winter especially, the Con Ed bills were very high. My unit didn't get that hot in the summer thankfully.

I’ve lived in this apartment for many years and have always appreciated its convenience — there’s a Chinese grocery store and a few nice bakeries nearby, and it’s right next to the subway. The building management is always professional, responsive, and truly committed to taking care of residents’ concerns. For example, when a neighbor was walking their dog in the hallway — which was against the building rules — management stepped in promptly, and the issue was resolved quickly. However, the biggest downside of the apartment is its poor insulation. The walls retains heat poorly, so even with rising electricity bills in the winter, it still feels very cold indoors. Another issue I’ve faced is noise, specifically in my unit where the bedroom shares a wall with my neighbor’s kitchen. In the past, the tenants next door were polite and respectful, and we coexisted peacefully for years. But during the pandemic, when rent increases slowed, it seemed to attract a different kind of tenant — some with much lower standards of behavior. The current neighbor frequently cooks in the middle of the night (after 10pm), and the clanging of pots and pans right against my bedroom wall makes it almost impossible to get a good night’s sleep. Management has tried its best to communicate with them on my behalf, but unfortunately, the situation hasn’t improved a lot. I still value this apartment for its location and the efforts of the management team. I just hope that, moving forward, more attention can be given to tenant screening and building insulation, so long-term residents like myself can continue to enjoy a peaceful living environment.

Rent seem reasonable until you turn the heater on! Electric bills are horrendous in this building. No communal heating. The A/C produces the electric heat. Also the hot water is an electric water tank in the apartment in which you have to pay for the electric to keep warm. Budget $200-300 in the winter months for electric and $150-200 per month for the summer months. Door staff are excellent. Access to train excellent. Insulation between apartment oldish but noise can be heard from Tv's and loud talking. The bedrooms tend to back onto the adjacent apartment living room.