Landlords renovate amenities on the fly to lure families

Landlords, co-op boards and condo boards are tailoring amenities on the fly to keep up with quickly changing preferences, the New York Times reported.

Once-prized perks such as wine storage rooms, grocery delivery and theaters are making way for ballet studios, golf simulators and yoga sanctuaries. And while gyms remain popular, there is a rising demand for more elaborate equipment, the paper said.

At Williamsburg’s Edge condominium for example, the amenities offered when it opened in 2009 catered to the young and single, Highlyann Krasnow, Edge’s director of sales, told the Times. But recently, families have increased their presence at the building, prompting a desire for amenities such as stroller space in lieu of a massage room. Children-friendly amenities have also become a priority at rental buildings.

At the LeFrak Organization’s 1,700-unit Gateway in Battery Park City, a recent, major renovation saw the removal of a disco-era whirlpool bath and installation of wooden floors for children’s ballet lessons.

“The jacuzzi was dated, sort of like in that movie ‘Hot Tub Time Machine,’ ” Mario Gaztambide, a vice president at the LeFrak Organization, told the Times. “It just wasn’t getting much use.” [NYT]  – Hiten Samtani