Shocker - could be worse but not sure how
Not sure which property the other reviews covered - this is one to be avoided. "Local character" does not excuse a miserable, dreary run-down apartment. We had a studio on the 5th floor, facing the street. It's a walk-up and that was clear from the beginning. Furniture would have been rejected by 2nd hand shops - bed was tolerable - bathroom ok but bath towels looked more like hand towels - tiny "kitchen" ok for boiling water - one chair & desk - grotty hanging space - wi-fi only available in the entry corridor, not very useful when you are on the 5th floor.
Total lighting in the studio? 3 table lamps and 2 of the 5 light bulbs were broken so there were 3 bulbs to light the entire place. Surprised we found it dreary?
What really staggered us was the fire escape plan shown on the front entryway. It did NOT cover the front studio we had (by my understanding, that should have meant the studio could not be occupied).. In fact, there was no apparent fire escape access other than the stairs up to the roof, which we did not investigate. This is not a small matter - in NYC fire escapes are life-and-death "must haves" - and this place does not.
The reviews about the neighborhood are spot-on. It's a fabulous area with huge variety of restaurants, cafes, shops, and near subway & bus stops.
By all means, enjoy the UES (upper east side) but find another place to stay.