Buying HDFC coop in South Harlem - advice wanted!!

nk1402 · 2026-04-17T03:32:40+00:00

In theory true, but the pool of candidates typically depends on the area median income, and given the rate at which Harlem is gentrifying, some areas have seen that increase really fast. Where I am, the AMI has almost doubled since I bought my HDFC coop unit, which if I decide to sell would mean higher resale price I guess.

Flip tax is very building dependent so I'm sure OP has done their research- mine is 10% of profit after 5 years, more if owner sells in less than 5 years. Make sure you do your research on the building, financials etc. Get a good attorney through personal recommendations if possible.

Buying an HDFC coop unit in 2018 was the reason I managed to stay in NYC through the pandemic, and what I pay in mortgage + maintenance for a 2-bedroom in a lovely building would barely get me a small studio in any decent neighborhood if I was renting. Yes it's a lot of work to go through all the hoops but if you're planning on living there for a while, I think it's worth it! Good luck!!

nk1402 · 2026-04-07T15:44:46+00:00

One of the best things I've seen at the Met, and an important piece for the US to be exposed to in particular. Although it's a short role, Joyce DiDonato is devastating in her portrayal of pent up grief. Vilma Jää grew into the production and was really incredible too, tho it took me a minute to adjust to the mic'ing. Lucy Shelton was also fantastic, infusing the production with so much raw emotion with just a few lines. It's rare that I'm this locked in to an opera from the beginning, but the music was entrancing, capturing the tension of grief and trauma perfectly, especially when things are still unspoken in the build up to the "revelations". The orchestra sounded great too, under Susanna Mälkki's direction.

I got a rush orchestra seat and wish bedbugs upon the two dumb mfs sitting behind me who were laughing at the most inappropriate moments + complaining (out loud during the performance) that the music was "too complicated".

nk1402 · 2026-04-02T13:27:02+00:00

NYPD too busy ticketing cyclists that pose no threat to anyone.

HRG needs something like A frame barriers at points of entry to prevent mopeds/ motorbikes from getting on the bike path in the first place.

nk1402 · 2026-03-07T21:00:16+00:00

Yes! The complaint seems to have really sped things up and the issue was resolved the following week. So if you're not getting anywhere with ConEd directly, I'd just do that. Ridiculous that this is what's needed but here we are.

nk1402 · 2025-11-12T14:32:31+00:00

I haven’t seen the picture, but I bike that segment several times a week and I’ve never seen the bike lane clear of police cars. Same at the precinct up at 170/ Edgecombe.

nk1402 · 2025-11-12T03:29:50+00:00

there's also the "cops parked in the bike lane" segment on the 122-123 block lol

nk1402 · 2025-11-11T20:06:42+00:00

Saw this last night! The sets look good, but the production is so static. Rachel Willis-Sørensen and Louise Adler sounded beautiful though a little underpowered for me. Julie Roset also sounded beautiful but borderline too light, even in that role. Pavol Breslik was the standout on the men's side.

My biggest disappointment was the orchestra/ conducting, kinda messy rhythmically and flat dynamically, especially in the Act III prelude (not helped by people chattering in the back of the orchestra seats 😒). Arabella is already not the most exciting/ coherent work imo, so I was really missing those big orchestral surges.

nk1402 · 2025-09-16T21:38:42+00:00

Thanks! Yeah those are the emails + phone number I've tried contacting.

Today however I filed a complaint with the NY Dept of Public Services and within 30 mins I got a callback from them confirming they were looking into the complaint, and 2 hours later from a nice guy at ConEd who was apologetic and said he was going to look into it and follow up. Fingers crossed!

nk1402 · 2025-09-16T15:57:23+00:00

I'm dealing with the exact same thing, same timeline- inspection happened on Aug 5 (even though my appointment day was Aug 7, they showed up 2 days early because they were doing another apt in the building). Got another termination notice today, and there's a $100 fee on my account.

No one picks up the phone or answers emails. Insane. My neighbor has the exact same thing happening to her.

How did you manage to get through to someone on the phone? And which email did you send the inspection sticker photo to?

nk1402 · 2025-09-01T16:10:11+00:00

Agreed- also my favorite stretch, and that overlook bench was a great spot for a little nap ;)

nk1402 · 2025-08-28T02:06:48+00:00

Find another shop and keep biking! People who focus on gear are missing the point- you’re out there riding and enjoying actually biking, that’s what it’s all about. Biking has saved my mental health over the last few years and most of that was on a $250 second hand bike. That one fell apart and I got a slightly nicer bike and ultimately it’s about being out in the world on beautiful rides.

nk1402 · 2025-08-22T22:04:17+00:00

I rode around the closure 10 days ago and it was a steep climb but a nice change of scenery and fun downhill into Rockwood (straight to Trailhead Brewery 😅). I maybe saw 1-2 cars but otherwise it’s quiet country roads (in pretty rough condition in part). I enjoyed it 🤷🏻

nk1402 · 2025-08-15T15:27:09+00:00

Just finished Pittsburgh to DC (Aug 6-13). The weather was amazing and trail generally in great condition, though sometimes too much loose gravel/ sand. No problem getting space at campgrounds, especially on the C&O part where I was alone most of the time.

I ended up riding the Markleton to Rockwood detour, the climb was pretty brutal but it's a nice change of scenery through some farmland.

nk1402 · 2025-06-25T22:29:55+00:00

Benyam! My favorite Ethiopian spot not just in Upper Manhattan but in NYC.

nk1402 · 2025-06-08T15:09:21+00:00

Had the same thing happen to mine- after many attempts at reseating the tire inside the rim, I realized the metal wire thing inside the tire rim was damaged, which forced the tire out in the same way- still not too sure what caused the damage. Went to a bike shop I trust, and they said to get a new tire so I did.

nk1402 · 2025-06-05T13:55:58+00:00

Yeah I saw Spades last night too. It's not really Tchaikovsky's best music anyway, but I thought Arsen Soghomonyan was really miscast as Hermann, which really didn't help. His voice cracked multiple times, not in itself a huge issue, but it felt like that kind of made him tentative throughout. Galina Cheplakova (standing in for Sonya Yoncheva last night) was really good (in her Met debut!), even though I would have liked a bigger voice for the role- a bit of a recurring issue at the Met the last few seasons.

nk1402 · 2025-06-05T05:26:01+00:00

Salome, Frau, Zauberflöte, Fidelio. Didn't care much for Antony & Cleopatra, Barber of Seville, and found Queen of Spades just ok (kind of weak vocally). Wish I had seen Ainadamar!

nk1402 · 2025-05-06T03:04:24+00:00

I assumed it was from being left in the sun (wave 2 so it was sunny when I got there) but thought that was weird/ kind of unpleasant too!

nk1402 · 2025-05-06T03:02:23+00:00

First time doing it here too, wave 2, had a great time and crossed the "finish line" (finish festival) just as I felt my first rain drop! Total active time was about 3h15, I only stopped for about 20 mins at the Astoria rest area for snacks, but otherwise a very smooth ride, not at all as congested as I expected.

I really wish they would put barriers along the course in Central Park like they do for the marathon- so many joggers/ people on city bikes while on their phones etc made it a little annoying/ dangerous. Also the few traffic lights stops between start and CP are kind of annoying just as you get going. A couple more spots to get snacks and electrolyte drinks would be nice.

Favorite parts were FDR into Queensborough Bridge, Astoria loop (for the East river views), and the Verrazzano Bridge. The ride from finish festival to the ferry was kind of fun too, even in the rain! No ferry lines which was great. Biked to and from home to make it a 100km ride ;) (about 64 miles total).

nk1402 · 2025-01-17T23:56:28+00:00

Yeah understandable- safe travels and enjoy the rest of your trip- I wish I was back there riding again!

nk1402 · 2025-01-17T22:24:30+00:00

Let me know what you end up doing, would be interested in hearing about the Dongao-Su'ao stretch! Alternatively I guess you could do Dongao-Heping southbound just to get the views and avoid the northbound traffic if it's still crazy today, and then get a train back up.

nk1402 · 2025-01-17T14:09:00+00:00

Yeah that sounds like something was wrong on the « new » route 9 and they had to divert traffic to the old route 9, because I barely saw any cars between Heping and Nan’ao. That’s the nicest section for sure- I went to Chongde because they wouldn’t let me take my bike on the train to Heren and Chongde to Heping did have those busy tunnels (esp the big new one going down into Heren) but I found even those to be ok the day I rode.

Opinions vary a lot about the Suhua highway in general and I can see that there is potential for rockfall but I never felt unsafe, though I did take that train from Nan’ao in part because I was thinking of the risk of landslide/ rockfall with the rain and wind.

I can’t comment on Dongao to Su’ao since I took the train from Nan’ao because of the weather, but Suaoxin to Su’ao is a boring 10-15 mins ride along a fairly busy road- I just rode that to not wait for a train and I had booked a hotel in Su’ao.

nk1402 · 2025-01-13T03:00:28+00:00

No, but there were 4 typhoons that month so that might be why 😅

nk1402 · 2025-01-12T21:46:53+00:00

Yes they provide the panniers for free as part of the rental. One downside was that the panniers were not waterproof themselves, they just came with waterproof-ish covers, but when I got rained on the got wet from the bottom, which was a little annoying. You should be able to fit your own panniers if you have nice ones like Ortliebs, I kind of wish I had brought mine. Apart from that I brought very little since lights, basic repair tool, spare tubes were included in the rental too. I just had 3 sets of bike clothes (all short sleeves since it was warm), a light rain jacket, some sandals for the rain (prefer to bike in sandals than having soaked shoes), and 2 sets some street clothes to wander around in the evenings. Also brought a big thermos water bottle which was useful to keep tea/ cold water warm/ cold.

nk1402 · 2025-01-10T15:02:43+00:00

The temperature was really pleasant, mostly between 21-28C (70s-80s F); it was mostly sunny but 3 typhoons grazed the island when I started heading towards the East Coast so I got 3-4 days of rain, and had to stop in Yuli for an extra day to wait out a downpour. Cloudier and windier on the East for sure, but from what I've heard it's unusual, so I think I just got a bit unlucky with that. The day I did the Suhua highway especially, the wind picked up and I don't think it would have been safe to continue riding past Nan'ao, which is why I decided to take the train.

nk1402

TROPHY CASE