M650 Flats

The price to rent: ~$ 2000 for a 2 bd 2 BA (prices have dropped considerably since I left, I paid more than this, but this is what two units just rented for) DO NOT pay more than $ 2500. You are getting gypped and could live in Hoboken or Downtown for ~$ 3000 in a high rise luxury building!
This place is in the middle of the GHETTO and it’s S-​C-​A-​R-​Y. People walk around like zombies, begging for change and leaving broken liquor bottles all over the street. The sidewalks are littered with garbage. I’ve stepped in a chip bag full of human piss, seen a full catheter bag on the steps of the armory, among other things. I’ve lived all over and I’ve never been afraid to walk on a street during the day — here, you have to be.
Like going out to dinner? Or even grabbing a drink at happy hour? HAH! I hope you have a car*! Because there is absolutely no place to have a sit down dinner within walking distance of this building, unless you count Burger King. Also, this building is a 20 min walk through the ghetto to the PATH (not convenient)
*the parking situation sucks. The deck always breaks and the cars in the regular spots always get banged up. No guest parking available and cars get broken into on the street. Also, cars block the entrance 2 the garage on a regular basis.
The place was built by Brunelleschi Construction (HGTV kitchen cousins) — and I believe they did a shoddy job. The elevator is slow as molasses and literally shakes so badly (don’t worry, only «when it’s cold out») that it’s scary. The building is only a few years old but now needs a $$$$$ repair because apartments were flooding where the Carrino’s built the addition. Bruncon SUPPOSEDLY offered to contribute 10% toward the repair on the condition that owners sign an agreement that would absolve him of any liability… The deal was not signed. I think that individuals looking to live in the 8 Erie building that they are building also need to be advised of this.
The units themselves may look high end, but they were poorly designed. (Cabinets hit each other causing damage, same with doors and walls, the floors are dull and scratch like paper, insulation is terrible your heating and cooling will be at least $ 200/​month, you can hear people BELOW you, smoke detectors fall out, etc.). The building is also poorly secured for being in such a bad area.
Anthony Carrino, part owner of Bruncon, the company that built this building — built a spite fence to block the one nice feature of the building — a view of downtown JC and some of downtown Manhattan. (One of the only redeeming qualities of the building.) After complaints were made about the ridiculous fence (which was put up in violation of more than one Jersey City law), he proceeded to call the fire inspector to report an «unauthorized» grill on the roof… Welp, the fire inspector showed up and found his in plain sight! The inspector also wrote up a bunch of other violations the building had. I’m not sure if Anthony lied about it to his partners in the building company, but when people got pissed, he blamed it on the very person he called the complaint in about — but given that most people have had a problem with him in the past, no one believed him. He denied calling the inspector, which I honestly believe make him an idiot AND a liar.
While they only own two units in the building, Anthony Carrino, Alfonso Carrino and Francine Carrino (of Bruncon) act like they run the place. Anthony Carrino took what was designated a handicapped space and has filled it with trashy motorcycles. He has another motorcycle that makes entering and exiting the garage in an SUV difficult. I’ve been advised that he plans on moving into 8 Erie Street in Jersey City which I hope will bring some much needed peace to the building.
Tax records reveal that quite a few of the original owners have sold their units and moved to (presumably) to better areas. Some of the ones that remain rent their units out because they simply cannot afford to sell the units for a loss. AVOID AT ALL COSTS!
*EDIT* I have heard that people are upset that I have posted this review. HOWEVER, I am protecting future «Susie T.‘s» from falling victim like I did, to the idea that this neighborhood is currently up and coming, the idea that I don’t have to share my personal living space with a family of colossal douche bags, the idea that I’d be able to patronize friendly neighborhood establishments, etc.
If you are looking at buying or renting in this building, don’t take my review as the gospel. I had a bad experience, but maybe you won’t. I’d hope that most people out there are educated enough to get facts on their own. This review is simply a reflection of my experiences. I encourage you to walk around the neighborhood at different times of day and talk to people in the building.