The Sierra

This is a really great location, but after a year they raised my rent by $ 200. It was already too much for a studio, so a $ 200 increase was a bit obscene. I know — WAAA it’s too expensive to live in Manhattan. The thing is, Related is owned by Stephen M. Ross. The guy is worth $ 6.5 Billion and he owns 95% of the Miami Dolphins. I don’t like when people say they’re a great tenant, but I never complained about anything, say hello to all the staff and took care of them at holiday time. I counter-​offered with the same rent or $ 50 more, but they were determined to increase it more significantly. I’m really disappointed and I’m sure this is part of an algorithm that takes into account the inconvenience of moving vs. putting up with a large increase. They have this down to a science.
Mr. Ross donates hundreds of millions of dollars to all sorts of organizations that honor him for his generosity. $ 1.1 Billion to John Hopkins University. Some $ 300 Million to the University of Michigan. That’s lovely, but he wouldn’t be able to do any of that if he wasn’t systematically raising rent on hard-​working people annually. Mr. Ross also owns Equinox Fitness Clubs. His wife is 30 years younger and is a famous jewelry designer.
It’s just a bit sickening that a company generating so much revenue can’t see the value in treating their tenants with a bit of respect and loyalty. It’s all about the numbers for them.
And I just learned that Mr. Ross is a major contributor to horrible politicians like Mitt Romney, John Boehner, Eric Cantor, and Mitch McConnell. I guess it’s good that I’ll be moving away because I don’t like the idea of my money going to politicians who deny climate change, oppose rights for women, oppose raising the minimum wage, and who support unnecessary wars.
I hope you’ll consider living somewhere else.

How can a place on one of the dirtiest streets in NYC claim «clean air» by forbididing the residents to smoke in the privacy of their own homes? Additionally it is «pet friendly». Since when is pet dander considered to be a healthy environmental factor for respiratory quality of life? Smokers don’t smoke in the hallways or on elevators. This is a new policy of many of the properties of The Related Group of Companies. Why do they want to prohibit people from smoking a cigarette in their own home? Do the windows not open? Is there such poor ventilation building wide that the least odor from one apartment from travels to another? Get rid of the stinking pets that walk through public areas and in elevators and show some respect for rights of the humans that live in the building. It is not a kennel. The zeal with which the landlords advocate for the pets rights deflects attention from the ventilation problems in the building. Absolutely disgusting to put «pet friendly» and «concern for air quality» in the same sentence. There are so many people with sensitivity to animals — allergies and so on. Additionally, not everyone is enamored by the sound of barking dogs through the walls and hallways. These animals are NOT confined to the owners’ apartments. Why is a smoker persecuted as if they are infringing on others’ rights if they are not smoking in the hall or the elevator? I guess animals have more rights than people at The Sierra and The Related Group of Companies properties.

This is the center of the Universe.
Just two blocks to Union Square
5 blocks to the Meat Packing
5 blocks to the West Village and Central Village
½ block to all the trains
½ block to West Village Market
3 blocks from shops on 5^th Ave
Amenities
— washer and dryer in unit
–24 hour doorman (amazing staff)
–gym is quant but has everything that you need.
–large roof deck with incredible views, 3 BBQ’s and refrigerators
— sundeck
–dog friendly
The views from the roof top of this building are phenomenal.
This is a non-​smoking building, which seems a little strange to me when you’re paying an exorbitant amount of rent, you should be able to do whatever you want in them.
They also have units with patios if you can afford the open air…
Always wanted one…

TOTAL SCAM
CONS
Building is really located on 14^th Street. Hence the 3 minute walk to the elevator. They are using the back entrance as the front and vice versa.
Low ceilings — 8ft’ gets very claustrophobic after a few weeks.
Dismal and gloomy green carpeting in hallways.
Besides the doormen and most of the porters, the people who work here, especially in the back office are sad, extremely rude and aggressive.
This building is actually an ⁸⁰⁄₂₀ building (20% is low income so they can get a tax break!). This means your neighbors may be talking about guns and jail like I have personally experienced. Hang around in the lobby for an hour and see the surprising crowd for yourself.
Good luck ever hearing back if you have a problem.
Once you sign on the dotted line, they really don’t care about you.
Rent is overpriced by 10−18% market rate
My lease clearly stated that I may move on the «date that this lease expires». This was not the case as they did not allow me to move and forced me to stay for 2 extra days, charging me $ 250!
PROS
Nice sunroof.
Doormen are very nice. They’ll even put packages in your apartment if you ask them.
BOTTOM LINE
Considering all of the above, the rents are GROSSLY overpriced. You’re pretty much living on 14^th street which has a salvation army directly across the street. You get a very unpleasant crowd, I was embarrassed to have my family over.
I grew up in New York and have a lot of experience renting apartments. You could get much more for your money elsewhere!

Great ambience and all but sand grains in my overpriced fish killed it for me.