This place reminded me of New York in so many subtle ways. Then come to find out, the alley on the side of the building is referred to as “New York” in the industry and films many New York scenes there. But it’s not just the aesthetics that gave me this sense. It’s the layered experience of romantic grit, historic simplicity, and the realness of the tenants that live here. It’s not your everyday loft building.

Walking up to it you don’t think much. I find this exciting, like a jewel waiting to be discovered. When I entered the quaint lobby my face lit up in awe. It’s not fancy, there’s no doorman just pure beauty as it was created in 1907, and boy is it breathtaking. And since it is without all the modern day hoopla and distraction, you can just stand there and take it in.

I then noticed the posters displayed on the wall of Broadway in the early 1900s. They’re located right by the front window so I couldn’t help but compare each detail I saw in the photo to each detail I saw happening in real-time on Broadway. It was both astonishing and exciting at the same time.

Astonishing because Broadway has changed a lot, and perhaps not in the most favorable way, to put it kindly. Exciting because of what was and what could be again. To live here is to be in the midst of this transition.  There is a project underway called “Bringing Back Broadway” and I think The Judson is a viable and strong asset to this goal. It encompasses the history but still has that sense of grit and understatement that is appealing.

Touring the units I could have seen myself living in any one of them. They all have big windows, high-end appliances, detailed bathrooms and kitchen pantries. Selective units have washer and dryers and large balconies; other’s have private fire escapes, which for us city folk are considered “romantic balconies”. The rooftop has a BBQ, a comfy entertaining area and a Jacuzzi. The feeling you get from this place is that you’re living among something rather than overlooking it.

http://thejudson.com