William Gottlieb Real Estate

William Gottlieb Real Estate Introduce

In the expansive world of New York City real estate, few names carry the weight and history of William Gottlieb Real Estate. This is not a typical real estate agency that simply brokers deals for individual clients; rather, it is a significant real estate development and management company that owns and operates a substantial portfolio of properties across downtown Manhattan. The company's unique history and business model set it apart. It was founded by the late William Gottlieb, who was known for his eccentric style and his strategy of acquiring architecturally notable buildings and never selling them. Following his death, the firm, now run by the Bender family, continues to manage this vast empire of over 100 properties. Its holdings are concentrated in highly desirable and historic neighborhoods, including Greenwich Village, the Meatpacking District, and the Lower East Side. The company's legacy is tied to the preservation of some of the city's most charming and distinctive buildings, which remain a part of their portfolio. Understanding William Gottlieb Real Estate means recognizing it as a major landlord and developer, not just a brokerage, with a focus on its own properties and a significant role in the city's real estate landscape.

The office of William Gottlieb Real Estate is located at 353 W 12th St, New York, NY 10014, USA. This address places them in the West Village, a neighborhood known for its historic brownstones, cobblestone streets, and a blend of residential charm with trendy retail and dining. The location itself is a testament to the company's historical footprint in the area, which dates back to the founder's initial acquisitions in the 1950s. The office is situated in a highly accessible part of the city. While it is not a traditional brokerage with walk-in client services for a broad range of listings, its location is central to its own portfolio of properties. The West Village is exceptionally well-served by public transportation, with several subway lines and bus routes within a short walking distance. This makes it convenient for tenants, commercial partners, and other stakeholders to reach the office. The neighborhood is also a "Walker's Paradise," allowing for easy navigation on foot. This physical location underscores the company's deep-rooted presence in Lower Manhattan and its focus on its core portfolio of properties, which are often concentrated in close proximity to their main office.

As a real estate development and property management company, William Gottlieb Real Estate does not offer the typical services of a standard real estate agency. They do not act as a buying or selling agent for the public. Instead, their business model centers on the management of their own extensive portfolio. While they do not have a public list of services, their operations primarily involve the following:

Property Development and Investment: The firm is a major developer in the downtown Manhattan area, often engaging in partnerships and redevelopments of their existing properties. They have been involved in notable projects that have reshaped parts of the Meatpacking District and other areas.
Residential and Commercial Leasing: As the owners of a vast number of buildings, William Gottlieb Real Estate manages the leasing of both residential and commercial spaces. This includes handling tenant inquiries, lease agreements, and property maintenance for their own buildings.
Portfolio Management: The core of their business is the management of their large and diverse portfolio, which includes everything from walk-up residential buildings to mixed-use and office properties. They oversee the financial and operational aspects of these holdings.
Preservation and Restoration of Historic Buildings: A key aspect of the company’s legacy is its focus on acquiring and preserving historically significant buildings. They have been involved in the restoration and maintenance of many of these properties, contributing to the architectural character of the neighborhoods in which they operate.

The business model and history of William Gottlieb Real Estate serve as its primary features and highlights. The firm's most significant characteristic is its identity as a long-term owner and developer, rather than a traditional brokerage. This approach, established by the founder's ethos of never selling, has created a unique real estate empire. The company's portfolio is a collection of historically significant buildings, which contributes to the preservation of the city’s architectural heritage. They have been instrumental in the transformation of areas like the Meatpacking District and have played a role in the development of landmarks such as the High Line. For tenants, however, the experience can be mixed. One public review from a tenant describes a series of negative experiences, including repeated plumbing issues, gas service shutdowns for months, and rigid, unhelpful management policies regarding access and key changes. The reviewer's frustration with a lack of communication and what they describe as a "total nightmare" experience highlights potential challenges in the tenant-landlord relationship with this particular company. While these reviews are specific to a tenant-management relationship, they underscore the importance of due diligence for prospective renters. The company's profile as a major landlord, with a vast and diverse portfolio, means that the tenant experience can vary. Their business is not built on brokering single transactions, but on the long-term management and development of their own assets, a model that has both historical significance and operational challenges.

For individuals or businesses needing to contact William Gottlieb Real Estate, the company’s contact information is available. Their office address is 353 W 12th St, New York, NY 10014, USA. You can reach them by phone at (212) 989-3100. A mobile number is also provided: +1 212-989-3100. It is important to note that these contact details are primarily for communication with the property management and development company itself, not for general real estate inquiries or brokerage services. Given the company's business model, these lines are intended for tenants, potential commercial partners, or those with business related to their specific properties. Prospective tenants or clients should be prepared to communicate with a large-scale property owner and manager, whose operations are centralized around their own portfolio, rather than a traditional agent who might be able to show a variety of listings from different owners. The availability of both a landline and a mobile number suggests a commitment to accessibility, which is an important factor for tenants or partners seeking to address issues or conduct business.

When considering William Gottlieb Real Estate, what is worth choosing depends entirely on your needs. For someone looking to rent an apartment or lease a commercial space in a building owned by the company, it is essential to understand that you are dealing directly with the landlord and their management team, not with a third-party brokerage. This can offer a more direct relationship but may also come with challenges, as highlighted in the provided review regarding maintenance and management communication. The review is a powerful caution for anyone considering a tenancy, as it details significant issues with repairs, utility access, and tenant-landlord relations. For those interested in the historical and architectural significance of a building, renting from or doing business with William Gottlieb Real Estate might offer an opportunity to be a part of the city’s heritage. The company's focus on preserving and restoring classic New York buildings is a strong point. However, it is not the right choice for individuals seeking brokerage services to buy or sell a property, or for those who need a wide range of rental options from various owners. The company's value lies in its unique portfolio of long-held assets and its role as a major landlord and developer in downtown Manhattan. For a prospective tenant, it is crucial to research the specific building and its management history carefully to ensure the experience aligns with their expectations, as the provided review indicates a significant disconnect for at least one tenant.

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William Gottlieb Real Estate Location

New York New York County New York West 12th Street

353 W 12th St, New York, NY 10014, USA

William Gottlieb Real Estate Reviews

An average rating of ★1.4 from 21 user reviews.

managementcompanycatdoorscall

★ 5★ 4★ 3★ 2★ 1

Absolutely do not rent from this company. I’ve lived in one of their buildings for two years and had many issues. First, they have had to tear up my living room wall twice to fix the same pipe. Then the gas has been shut off for months now, so have not been able to use the stove or oven.Worst was this morning. With two days notice they informed us they are changing the front door lock. I’m out of town for the month and have someone housesitting for me, who now will not be able to access my building. Management said that even if they were cat or dog sitting they wouldn’t release the key to anyone except me, in person.Total nightmare, rude employees. Cannot wait to leave when my lease is up.
December 17 · Jacob Galash
Absolutely do not rent from this company. I’ve lived in one of their buildings for two years and had many issues. First, they have had to tear up my living room wall twice to fix the same pipe. Then the gas has been shut off for months now, so have not been able to use the stove or oven.Worst was this morning. With two days notice they informed us they are changing the front door lock. I’m out of town for the month and have someone housesitting for me, who now will not be able to access my building. Management said that even if they were cat or dog sitting they wouldn’t release the key to anyone except me, in person.Total nightmare, rude employees. Cannot wait to leave when my lease is up.
December 17 · Jacob Galash
Lived in a WG building for 4 years and had soo many issues, all of which WG made every effort to dodge responsibility for. They were renovating almost the entire 4 years, using incompetent contractors that would leave the apartment doors open so construction noise echoed through the building, unlock the building front doors and forget to lock them when they left at the end of the day, and sometimes even buzz my apartment at early hours to be let into the building. The crown jewel, however, was when a worker stepped through my ceiling, creating a gaping hole and blowing ceiling material everywhere. It scratched/stained several of my personal items and I was denied any sort of compensation by management and even told to just color in a scratch on my leather purse with a Sharpie (lol). Also had multiple break ins where shady characters were sleeping in the lobby or knocking on people’s doors, and it took more than one call from multiple neighbors to get WG to solve the security problem (and again, I was told that my umbrella stolen from outside my apartment door by a criminal was my fault because it was a fire code violation). Management was also only available by phone from 9-5 on weekdays. Giving a second star only because, during those hours, they were responsive to low level requests and generally sent good contractors quickly. But whenever it got serious they just tried to gaslight me into thinking this was just normal nyc living!!
April 07 · Zoe Woolf McGinn
Lived in a WG building for 4 years and had soo many issues, all of which WG made every effort to dodge responsibility for. They were renovating almost the entire 4 years, using incompetent contractors that would leave the apartment doors open so construction noise echoed through the building, unlock the building front doors and forget to lock them when they left at the end of the day, and sometimes even buzz my apartment at early hours to be let into the building. The crown jewel, however, was when a worker stepped through my ceiling, creating a gaping hole and blowing ceiling material everywhere. It scratched/stained several of my personal items and I was denied any sort of compensation by management and even told to just color in a scratch on my leather purse with a Sharpie (lol). Also had multiple break ins where shady characters were sleeping in the lobby or knocking on people’s doors, and it took more than one call from multiple neighbors to get WG to solve the security problem (and again, I was told that my umbrella stolen from outside my apartment door by a criminal was my fault because it was a fire code violation). Management was also only available by phone from 9-5 on weekdays. Giving a second star only because, during those hours, they were responsive to low level requests and generally sent good contractors quickly. But whenever it got serious they just tried to gaslight me into thinking this was just normal nyc living!!
April 07 · Zoe Woolf McGinn
we've had many issues despite only living here for less than a year, including the space being extremely dirty upon getting the keys, ants, mice, accumulation of trash that is not picked up promptly, the water being shut off randomly, no power/wifi for periods beyond what was explained, etc.not easy to get ahold of them - no way to after 5pm or on weekends. maybe the worst part of it all is the company's offices are on a prime block in the west village. fresh flowers, modern art and decorations in the office, which was weird to see - service to tenants is not the priority.
May 20 · megan puppet
we've had many issues despite only living here for less than a year, including the space being extremely dirty upon getting the keys, ants, mice, accumulation of trash that is not picked up promptly, the water being shut off randomly, no power/wifi for periods beyond what was explained, etc.not easy to get ahold of them - no way to after 5pm or on weekends. maybe the worst part of it all is the company's offices are on a prime block in the west village. fresh flowers, modern art and decorations in the office, which was weird to see - service to tenants is not the priority.
May 20 · megan puppet
Lived in one of the properties for a while, Neil Bender kept coming in drunk and pissing on my cats… didn’t even say thank you afterwards.
March 19 · R.F. Richardson
Lived in one of the properties for a while, Neil Bender kept coming in drunk and pissing on my cats… didn’t even say thank you afterwards.
March 19 · R.F. Richardson
My advice: STAY AWAY from any buildings they manage. We have lived in 6 other buildings during our time in NYC - this is by far the worst manager you'll ever deal with.I have been leaving there for a bit longer than one year. I have had roaches and mice since the day I moved in... I have asked for the exterminator every month.... I saw him once.So far, I've had to call them about 2 different issues - it takes around 3 calls to be able to get the super to come... each time the person who picked up the phone ended up shouting at me and my boyfriend. I have never had another person shout at me on the phone (or in person) and it really makes it incredibly uncomfortable. I would like to have the super come and seal a whole that has been letting mice into my apartment for the past 6 months... and i would like to do that without having to wait 6 months, calling 5 times, and getting shouted at (and threatened) by the management company.... is this much to ask?
May 24 · Mayra Lujan
My advice: STAY AWAY from any buildings they manage. We have lived in 6 other buildings during our time in NYC - this is by far the worst manager you'll ever deal with.I have been leaving there for a bit longer than one year. I have had roaches and mice since the day I moved in... I have asked for the exterminator every month.... I saw him once.So far, I've had to call them about 2 different issues - it takes around 3 calls to be able to get the super to come... each time the person who picked up the phone ended up shouting at me and my boyfriend. I have never had another person shout at me on the phone (or in person) and it really makes it incredibly uncomfortable. I would like to have the super come and seal a whole that has been letting mice into my apartment for the past 6 months... and i would like to do that without having to wait 6 months, calling 5 times, and getting shouted at (and threatened) by the management company.... is this much to ask?
May 24 · Mayra Lujan