SKY - Luxury Apartments — Local services in New York

I’ve lived at SKY for seven years, and while the building markets itself as a luxury high-rise, it quietly runs a predatory operation that consistently takes advantage of tenants.

I saw a recent review from someone who’s been here “a "WEEK” and painted it as a slice of heaven. How cute. Let me, a SKY veteran not a vacationer, give you the truth, no cap.

Let’s start with the electricity, because it’s by far the most egregious issue.

When I first moved in, my monthly electric bill averaged $45. Now? It’s approaching $300—a completely unjustifiable YoY increase. For those playing Devil’s Advocate out there: I don’t use heavy appliances and I never run HVAC. I was once billed $199 during a month I wasn’t even in the apartment. I’m a one-person household with modest energy use.

The difference isn’t just suspicious—it’s deliberate. But why? How, you ask?

Welp… This building doesn’t just rent you an apartment—it resells you electricity through a third-party submetering company they went into cahoots with a couple of years back, called Metergy, which is backed by global infrastructure giant Brookfield Property Management (Google them). Brookfield buys energy on the wholesale market at low rates. But instead of passing those savings on to tenants, they resell it at inflated rates. They’re double-dipping: buying low, selling high, and using their ownership of the billing platform (Metergy) to push the cost burden onto tenants—who have no transparency, no choice, and no ability to challenge the rates. Just ask the leasing and management office from whom you’ll receive your electric bills. (Babe, use your smarts, not just your cutes.)

And that’s just the start.

Maintenance comes with surprise charges. Need a lightbulb changed? The cost of that lightbulb will be quietly rolled up into your rent. (Because most of us live on autopay, most of us mightn’t notice.) If it’s not nailed down, it’s an opportunity for another fee—and you won’t find any of this in your lease agreement.

The management office? The ladies seem nice enough, but it’s a revolving door. No one stays longer than a year, so follow-through can be bumpy and accountability is a word with too many syllables. (Ew! What is that? What is that?!) The one person who’s lasted longer than I have? Let’s just say she knows where all the bodies are buried—and I imagine she’s generously compensated for her loyalty.

And then there’s the issue of security—or rather, the lack of it.

In 2023, The Daily Mail reported that SKY’s master key was stolen, resulting in over 30 burglaries and multiple home invasions. The building told tenants locks would be replaced. They weren’t. Which of these two is most infuriating? It’ll make for a great dinner topic with the fam.

Now, don’t get me wrong—the problem is not the doormen/doorwoman, because they are fantastic: polite, helpful, friendly, and professional. But they’re third-party contractors, not SKY or The Moinian Group employees. It’s the lobby layout that creates a security gap. It is alarmingly easy for anyone to stroll through the lobby, past security, and access the elevators. I regularly see strangers wandering my floor, clearly looking for food deliveries or packages. It was at its peak during the holidays.(I don’t know who the architect was, but wow—they really dropped the ball on the lobby flow. I took a lower-division architecture elective back in the day, and even I know you plan for foot traffic—especially in what was supposed to be the largest residential building in Midtown. How do you overlook that in New York City? Doh!)

To current tenants: You’re smart. You’re ambitious. But don’t be seduced like a common fool. You’re not just paying premium rent—you’re funding a system that quietly inviting itself into your wallet.

To prospective tenants: New York is full of beautiful apartments. Don’t fall for SKY’s “sex appeal.” Behind the aesthetic is a building that gouges you from both ends—rent and utilities—while offering no accountability in return. Do your bottom line—and your dignity—a favor:...

The worst apartment ever. My unit was not cleaned at all after my previous tenant moved out. As attached pics, I saw hairs of my previous tenant every where even in the detergent pot of laundry and the bathtub. There were nails of my previous tenant, peanuts and gums on the floor and a used tea bag in the dishwasher. The kitchen was dirty too and microwave was broken. The Toilet was dirty and I couldn’t use a large flush since it always made a weird sound for one hour after I flushed. The drain smelled so bad and I always wore a mask when I use the kitchen. I complained these issues and management sent me a cleaning lady. But she complained this was not her business and cleaned my place for only 15 minutes. What I wanted was a deep cleaning but they closed my cases without fixing this so I needed to clean everything by myself. And I often get smoky air from the vent but they closed my request either without getting back to me and visiting my place to see the issue. Hot water wasn't often available when it was cold and I needed to take a shower with cold water. The biggest issue is a mold of the laundry. As the attached picture, every laundry turned black when I washed it even for few times. (The left front towel is original and the others discolored after washed) A handyman came to fix it but it has not been fixed and I gave up.

I tried to be patient until my contract ends but finally I saw a stranger was trying to break in my place and asked the management to break the lease. They didn’t response until I chased them and said they will charge me 2 month penalty and a forfeiture of my security deposit without mentioning their fault. It’s so unfair they will charge me a cleaning fee though they didn’t clean my place at all. Also they didn't allow me to break the lease in the middle of the month but I left on the 18th and needed to waste lent for two weeks. I wanted to take small claims court but I’m Japanese and don’t know the process well so I gave up and paid $15,000 for penalty. At least doormen were nice but management is the worst. They never pick up calls and reply to me without chasing them. It’s funny they answer to google review and tell them to follow up email though they never respond to email. Also this place is not safe as many people mentioned.

*My contract ended 13 months ago, but Sky suddenly sent me a bill $68.50 without explaining what the bill is. They also threatened they will send my info to collection on the email attached. They have never contacted me since I moved out Sky, I have no idea why they do it about now. I cleared balance when my contract ended and kept checking it was 0 until my resident account got revoked. It’s so weird they say that around now. Of course they don’t reply...

As a seasoned professional who has lived in and managed high-end real estate across NYC and Miami, I was genuinely excited to call Sky my new home. On paper, this building checks every box — a full-service gym, spa, steam room, cold plunge, valet, and a truly warm, world-class concierge team.

But let’s be clear: luxury is more than amenities. It’s responsiveness. It’s cleanliness. It’s integrity. And on those fronts, my experience at Sky was disappointing — and frankly, unsettling.

Upon arrival:

I found mold, peeling paint, live and dead bugs, and a grimy, unsanitized dishwasher filled with hair, food crusted on microwave, debris on floors, thick dust in closet

My bathtub had black residue, and the blinds were sticky, yellowed, and uncleaned

Despite multiple calls, management offered no proactive walkthrough, and instead gaslit my concerns as having “high standards”

HPD records (easily found online) show a bed bug violation reported in December 2024, yet the lease legally stated no infestations in the last 12 months — a clear misrepresentation

I was fortunate to have an assistant conduct a deeper review of the building’s open violations and tenant reviews. It became clear: this isn’t an isolated case — other residents have experienced the same unsanitary move-ins and dismissive follow-up.

📍Here’s What I Recommend for Future or Current Tenants:

Search the HPD Violations Database before moving in (NYC’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development)

File a 311 complaint immediately if you see pests, mold, or peeling paint — this can trigger an inspection

Take photos/videos on Day 1, and don’t wait to report concerns in writing

Document everything, including the condition of appliances and correspondence

Misrepresenting bed bug history may be grounds for lease rescission — consult with a tenant attorney

This is not “high maintenance” behavior — it’s basic tenant rights

Final Thought: I share this not to disparage the entire building — in fact, many of the concierge and maintenance staff have been respectful and kind. But what’s missing is accountability at the top and proper accountable management. If Sky hopes to maintain its reputation, leadership must understand: you can’t just price a building at luxury rates — you have to deliver the experience to match. I'm sure there will be a generic reply to this stating they are working on issues with no intentional follow up so recommend tenants to advocate for themselves to avoid living in hazardous and...