The Underground Apartment Market

Would love to know the architects/contractors used in both projects. Thinking of undertaking something similar at a partially below grade condo we just purchased. Thanks!

Anyone who has spent some time in London knows that basement apartments are quite common.

Sea level rise will obviate all these dull spaces.

Did you have to remind me of my first apartment? When it rained too much my tub and toilet filled up with sewage. I know of others with apts that flooded because of gaps in the waterproofing of the basement walls - not uncommon.

If you have millions to spend, you might be able to make the basement apartment livable, pleasant and even wonderful. But most people living in basement apartments live in miserable conditions with too much moisture, not enough light, and too many cockroaches. How about some pictures of how the average New Yorker living in a basement apartment lives?

great article!

The whole apartment is gorgeous, but I keep looking at the master bedroom wallpaper —I think it’s the coolest I’ve ever seen!

Lots of illegal basement apartments on Long Island, so I'm familiar with the potential perils of this kind of setup. Basically, most basements are not legitimate dwelling units because they lack sufficient light, ventilation and emergency egress to the outdoors. Another problem in this rainy mid Atlantic area is drainage. Where does the water go? Drainage issues can be addressed, but it costs a lot of money, requires expertise most people don't have, and takes regular maintenance to keep the space relatively dry. It's a burden most residents and owners aren't prepared to take on. I'd rather live in a less fancy building or neighborhood but be on the 2nd or 3rd floor. Even a ground floor setup would be a big advantage over a basement dwelling.

No thanks! I look at other townhouses in my community and see stairs to the ground and sump pumps, read leaks. I'm on a hill, a TRUE English walk out basement.

The Yanev's residence is the most delightfully cosy apartment I've seen for quite some time. It seems like a proper home that cocoons the family in a nurturing environment. I have lived in various apartments over the years, including a half floor sub-penthouse in a high rise condo. However, I always felt that something was missing and as nice as the finishes and facilities were, I was never really "settled" but merely inhabiting a glass box that just happened to host my possessions. I think there's a basic human instinct to want to be connected to the ground. I love the indoor-outdoor connection. In a city such as NYC, we do sometimes forget to stay in touch with our humanity.

One feature below-grade bedrooms often have: less noise. I had a below-grade rear bedroom for several years and it was the quietest room I've ever slept in. Assuming there's no water problem, and that emergency egress is up to code, a lower-level bedroom can be a great sanctuary in this big, noisy city.

My first solo apartment was a "garden level" basement apartment in someone's house. It was fine for a 25-year old as a starter rental but the idea that people are spending millions of dollars to live below ground, at increased risk of flooding, mold, and break-ins is baffling to me. I'd be interested in a follow up several years from now to see how well these places are working out.

Here in Vancouver, homeowners let out tens of thousands of "illegal" basement suites. "Illegal" in quotes because the city would create a monumental housing problem if administrators ever sought to enforce the laws. Tenants would find no where to live. Homeowners count on the revenue to help cover mortgage payments or living expenses.

Gorgeous though the apartments may be, they're still incredibly susceptible to creepy crawlies! Thanks but no thanks.

It’s great until it rains.

These prices pretty much explain why residents of the island of Manhattan cannot relate to The Rest Of Us, and shouldn’t even try. Financially and probably culturally, it might as well be an island in the middle of nowhere.

Isn’t it illegal to rent residential units below grade (underground) in New York?

Not in a million years. Basements are basically large water collection devices. They have leaked, they WILL leak now during periods of extended or heavy Rain. AND, they WILL leak in the future, guaranteed. Of course I have a basement, this is Kansas, tornado central. Nearly everyone has a basement, and they ALL leak, eventually. I use mine only for storage, with everything elevated on pallets or crates. And yes, I have a newish, heavy duty sump pump. My next home will be a Condo, on at least the third or fourth floor. For security AND leak avoidance. And in downtown Seattle. Seriously.