prewar and postwar residential building construction process nyc

Many experts say that postwar architecture can’t hold a candle to prewar units when it comes to construction. Prewar properties were built to last and included hand-finished plaster walls, durable hardwood floors, and solid-wood doors. “This can be an issue for people with physical limitations.” Pro: Sturdy construction “So many apartments have narrower doorways and smaller bathrooms,” Kurzweil says. The law established standards for making buildings accessible to people with disabilities.

Furthermore, older heating systems are noisy and the windows are usually thin and not energy-efficient.Īnother potential issue is that prewar apartments were constructed before the Americans With Disabilities Act became law in 1990. “There’s no central AC or HVAC, so you can have a nice, expensive apartment, but you are still using a window-unit AC,” he says. Residential, a brokerage in New York City, agrees. If it gets too hot, you’ll need to open a window. “During the winter, your heat is either on or off no climate control, no thermostat, simply steam heat,” she says. Con: Lack of modern conveniencesĪccording to Daniele Kurzweil, a real estate salesperson with the Friedman Team at Compass in New York City, there’s one major con to living in a prewar apartment. They are sturdy, sound, and provide form and function to the homeowner,” says Tami Kurtz, a real estate professional at Triplemint in New York City.

“The advantage of living in prewar apartments is that they are full of architectural beauty.

Prewar and postwar residential building construction process nyc