Hmmm... sounds familiar.
For all of you who read Save Karyn and remember me talking about how I moved into a NYC apartment that didn't have a lock, you might get a laugh out of a email someone sent to the NYC real estate blog Curbed today.
I recently signed a lease on a one-bedroom on the UWS. When I went to the building yesterday to get the keys... the top lock to the apartment was missing -- there's a big hole in the door where there *used* to be a lock.
The super's wife claimed that I was going to have to pay a locksmith to come and install the lock, but I think providing a lock (even though there's a bottom lock already, there's a gaping hole in the door!) is the building's responsibility, not mine. Advice on this matter would be much appreciated.
From
Save Karyn...
I turned around and looked at my apartment. It was the first time I had seen it. It had hard-wood floors and three big windows that looked out onto the corner of First Avenue and 57th Street. It also had two big closets and a small kitchen with a short fridge. The bathroom was a bit old, but it would do just fine.
As I looked around once again, my eyes stopped at the front door. There was a big hole in it.
I found a funny looking phone right next to the door and picked it up. It immediately rang the lobby. Edson [the doorman] picked up.
“Hi Edson," I said. "It’s me, Karyn, in 4E.”
“Hello Miss Karyn,” he replied. I liked that he called me Miss Karyn. It made me feel special.
“There’s a big hole in my front door. Did my apartment come without a lock?”
“Yes, you have to buy your own.”
“Really... and where do I get one of those?”
“There’s a hardware store down the street.”
“Okay, thanks," I said, then realized I was a bit hot. “Oh, one more thing. How do I control the air?”
“Oh, Miss Karyn, there’s no air conditioner. You have to buy one of those, too.”
“Oh, okay,” I said and then hung up.
Hmph. No lock and no air. Maybe I should have asked about those things before I moved in. All the apartments I'd ever lived in in Chicago came with air and a lock. What kind of place doesn’t come with a lock?
Oh well. After hiding my suitcases in the closet, I decided to venture out to the hardware store. But when I got outside, I remembered a cute little shoe store down the street called Otto Tootsie something...
You know, I can always get a lock. And it really wouldn’t be that hot for another few months. With that, I ditched the hardware store and decided to check out the shoe store instead...
I ended up buying the lock eventually, of course. When I moved out, I took it with because I was so pissed I had to pay $300 or whatever for it. I still have it. I should give it to this person.
