Avalon Clinton — Local services in New York

Yikes, the apt has terrible features:

1. wood looking wallpaper on the kitchen cabinets and the bathroom vanities (really!);

2. awful HVAC units that are full of mold that develops because the units produce excessive condensation that drips down into the units. These units send mold everywhere in the apt through the dust. See pictures of mold cultures I grew out and sent to a lab for identification. The mold is toxic Aspergillus Niger.

These units are old, do not have proper “filters” to filter the air coming into the apt thus allowing copious amounts of dust through the unit, plus mold spores in the air and onto everything in your apt.; small particles of sand get through this alleged filter and onto my glass dining room table that is next to the AC unit. The sand also sticks to the top of the AC unit as water collects on top of the AC unit and when it dries, the sand is stuck to the open vents on top of the unit.(Aug 2023)

Oh, and a few days ago, (2022) the 3 elevators in the north tower, where I live, were all shut down during the daytime for 1/2 hr for some unknown reason.

3. the concierge step away from the front desk for 10-15 to help a tenant or use the restroom or to get food or drink and no one fills in for them. Anyone can just walk into the building between 7 am and 11 pm. At 11 pm the doors lock and you must use a key fob to open one front door. This key fob system is not used when between 7 am and 11 pm when the concierge steps away. The concierge leaves a clock stating how many minutes they will be gone. Anyone could go into the building!

4. in apt washing machines full of mold (it took me a month to get a new machine which I take proper care of);

5. awful dishwashers that scratch up your silverware; and much more.

I lived in a house for 23 years and know what proper AC filters look like. There is a fabric inside the filter to collect dust. I have to change my Hepa filters once a month when they should last for a year. I have been wearing a medical mask in my apt so try to lessen my inhalation of dust. See attached pictures of the “alleged filters” and my filthy Hepa filters. I took the “alleged filter” to Home Depot and was advised that what I was holding was not a filter. The maintenance person who came to my apt recently referred to this solely metal contraption as “the filter”. He stated that it was clean. That’s because there is no paper or material to trap dust in. The kitchen counter top is terribly chipped all around the inside around the sink. This is a dangerous condition as one could cut one’s hand. I had to place plastic cutting boards on both sides of the sink to guard against my hand being cut. There are small chips throughout the countertop.

Now (August 2023) I have discovered that the HVAC units contain mold and send mold into the air that lands on my stove too, my dish drainer, my Keurig, my kitchen knife set, the blinds, everywhere. I have been wiping moldy dust out of my Hepa machines for the past almost 2 1/2 yrs and and mortified. The mold caused me to develop thyroid problems for which I now take prescription medicine. Building knew of the mold from last year, at least if not earlier, and is doing nothing to get rid of the moldy HVAC units in my apartment. Another tenant contacted me over the weekend, saying he has suspected mold in the building is dismissing him. I am in apt 15G of the North tower. The building is violating the law regarding removal of asthma and allergens, including mold, from the apartments. This is a breach of the warranty of habitability implied in all leases. The building is retaliating against me and harassing me because I’ve told other tenants about the mold. There are also security issues, because when the concierge takes breaks in the evening, the building does not have someone sit in for that person nor do they lock the front doors. That means anybody can enter the building, which I have seen. I have seen delivery people waiting. I had to post one star to get...

I"m amazed that so many people have written good reviews here. Wonder if there's a "bonus" or "free" Amazon gift card for residents who write glowing reviews. Unless things have gotten DRAMATICALLY better in the last 12 months, there is a bill of goods being sold folks on here. My experience at Avalon Clinton was hands down the worst experience I've ever had in 11 years of NYC living. My 1-star rating is not reflective of ALL the people involved in this behemoth albatross, but rather the totality of the horrid experience I had at Avalon Clinton South (510 W 50TH - the South tower across from the North Tower listed here on Yelp). Good people often work in terrible places. Because I'm an eternal optimist, I'll run down the good things: 1) Leasing agents were fantastic, not pushy, and friendly. 2) Building is new-ish (2007-09 construction). 3) Building amenities are very nice, but as in all Avalon buildings, you pay for them (gym is $75/month). 4) Apartments are modern and many have washers/dryers. 5) Maintenance folks were fast and did great work.

Now for the bad: Despite being falsely billed as a "smoke free living" situation, I dealt with a constant barrage of unsavory characters smoking pot in the stairwell by my apartment, blowing cigarette smoke in the public hallways, throwing cigarettes on my balcony, having over prostitutes at all hours, doing drug deals in plain sight on the roof deck, and partying at all hours of the night. This seemed to be endemic to the entire building, as the very nice doormen confirmed to me. One night alone, the doorman got 16 complaints about pot smoke and smokers. Which brings me to the security issue. There is ZERO security in this building. Nada, zip, zilch. The bean counters at Avalon decided to hire just one "all purpose" person to sit behind a desk (so it's not really a doorman, as he can't get up to open the door). Unlike other buildings that purport to be "luxury," Avalon Clinton skimps on doormen, and most importantly, security. During my treacherous 10 months there, I saw things that looked more like they belonged on Riker's Island than in a "luxury" Manhattan building with a higher than $4K/month price tag to live on the top Penthouse floor. (They have three "penthouse" floors -- ostensibly to give reason for astronomical rent prices). The ultimate reason for my 1-star review, however, is the complete lack of spine and resolve of the management to attempt to do ANYTHING about the aforementioned egregious issues rather than providing short "I'm very sorry to hear this" emails and mealy-mouthed passive-agressive "well, it's an 80/20 building...." comments. There is a bigger systemic problem here.

So, if you want to engage in illegal activity, drug deals, hiring/running brothels, partying on a roof deck with unlimited access hours (e.g. you can go up there and scream and smoke pot and have hot crazy sex with 10 of your favorite prostitutes at 3 AM who walked right past the non-security), AND you want to pay more than a mortgage on a mansion in most parts of 'Murica, go ahead and move to Avalon Clinton. I'll also be happy to sell you some radioactive waste land in Long Island if you desire an even more elevated "luxury" experience. Finally, thank you Avalon Clinton for allowing me to leave your Titanic on 10th Avenue after only 10 months in renter's prison. I do appreciate them allowing me to move to another of their buildings. They have some great buildings in their portfolio, but this is NOT one of them. I'm working before the statute of limitations expires to try to get back my moving costs when I had to flee this building due to the complete lack of any work done to ameliorate the constant pot and cigarette smoking and dropping of cigarette butts on my balcony. ...

Love this apartment!!! First off we were moving from San Francisco to here and had to do a lot over the phone and web trying to find a place. We worked with Steffon and he was super helpful. Talked on the phone about how the pricing and everything worked (confirming what we saw online) and the website was so easy to use and understand. Everything was explained clearly and all apartments had great floor plans and layouts. We decided this was the place and booked a studio online. Was super quick. After applying a few days later we were signing the lease for move in 2 months. So easy.

They emailed us for extra stuff they needed (renter's insurance, proof of electric) and the day we arrived in NYC we showed up to the apartment super early (the one time the flight is super early is when you don't need to be somewhere early). The concierge desk watched our bags while we waited for the leasing office and we went and got breakfast. Got back and they took us up to our new apartment.

We were so scared booking something like this online on what we would get. We got to the apartment and it was perfect. Gorgeous apartment with amazing view of the Hudson. The entire building is just gorgeous. The roof (we are in the south building) is amazing! The view is impressive and when friends come over they are wowed.

The appliances are all perfect, not crazy new but modern and clean. And all work perfect. The A/C works great and even in this last crazy hot month our electric bill was only $112. So not bad with days over 100. The bathroom is super nice and giant medicine cabinet which is nice. The paint and the floor is easy to clean. The kitchen has nice tile. Overall it is an amazing place. Utilities other than electric are included and we pay the option $95 for the gym (includes me and my roommate) which isn't bad for a gym that is just downstairs and offers all of the machines you expect.

The place is quiet (we are on 16th floor) and we don't hear our neighbors or anything and windows are thick.

We have a small poodle/terrier mix and she loves it too :D the place is super pet friendly and the concierge desk has the poop bags if you need some and treats for the dog. There is a one time fee for pets (like $500 I think). Which wasn't bad since my old apartment charged monthly. We are near a little park that has a dog run which is awesome.

The location is amazing. Like 15 minute walk to Time Square or central park area and a CVS 5 minutes away. We love this place. As long as the rent never skyrockets on renewals we expect to stay here for as long...