Jackson Heights Life

I noticed an ad on craigslist where someone wrote:

"I am looking to view an apartment with the bathroom and the kitchen combined. Like in the show Ugly Betty. I am working on a NYC scavenger hunt."   http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/sbw/1118491818.html

I've only seen Ugly Betty once and don't remember the kitchen/bathroom combo.

Are there many apartments like this around NYC?

My aunt had an apartment in one of the old tenement buildings on 98th between Lexington and Third.  She kept the apartment so she could live in Puerto Rico six months, and in New York six months.  She was paying $100 at the time and allowed me to live in it gratis while I attended college.  And yes, the bathtub was in the kitchen, next to the kitchen sink, and it was quite delightful.  The tub was a true conversation piece.  I could watch my meal cook as I bathed.  Once I was done, I simply had to cover the tub, which then served as counter space.  Unbelievable! :smiley6600:

Chuckster:

Forgot to mention my aunt's apartment had the "water closet...an old fashioned chain toilet where the tank was high on the wall".  Great memories, especially that chain toilet.  Just lift your right hand up and pull.  Lift and pull.  Lift and pull.  Great workout.  LOL  Let's not forget the great challenge to get into the kitchen tub.  That as well was one heck of a workout.  :smiley6600:

Friends of mine lived in a Village apartment with a bath tub in the kitchen.  I was always amazed at how much cold beer it could contain ,  it kept many a party going, and going and.....!

Just another pic.  :buck2:

Yes, east 3rd street b/t A and B and east 5th street b/t A and B.  This is typical of pre Certificate of Occupancy ghetto housing in the Lower East Side.  There was just an apartment like this featured in the New York Times Real Estate Section under the slide show.  The apt is on Eldridge Street and is about $350k.  Not something I would ever want to buy into, but it was fun living like that in college!

Thanks for sharing.  Cute, but not for me.  That much money & no full bathroom -- keep it!  :buck2:

Going a bit off topic here, but I thought I’d post anyway because it involves tenement apartments, the Lower East Side and gentrification, and who doesn’t love to read on gentrification?  

The New York Times’ City Room Blog recently had an entry on the topic of gentrification and the Lower East Side.  The blog entry is a sort of recap on a recent discussion that had been organized by historians in order to address the topic of the LES and its transformation from what once was considered a landing spot for recently arrived poor immigrants, to what it is today.

As many of us know, some of the tenement apartments on the LES have undergone major renovations and now are marketed to an entirely different demographic.  An example from the entry mentions $3500 for the same apartment once occupied by poor immigrants.  Well, at that price, I hope it's not entirely the same apartment.

Gentrification can get ugly.  A panelist that took part in the organized discussion is quoted as stating that new residents have amnesia because they’re not in touch with the historic roots of their current dwellings.  However, in the comments section, he goes on to say that his words were misstated.  Another panelist said that the LES’ history is what may be drawing high income newcomers to the area.
 
I have to admit that today’s LES is much different from the LES of my childhood, but is this area really becoming a hot spot for the rich?  Hmmmmm……..  

The Lower East Side’s Changing Fortunes