New York City Residents Get Paid to Party and Crowd with Friends: How to Rent an Apartment in This Building

A New York City apartment building landlord is paying tenants to host parties and events in his building. SecretNYC tells more about this amazing practice.

Tenants at Brooklyn Crossing, a Prospect Heights apartment building, actually get paid to party. If you've been looking for an excuse to throw more dinner parties, an apartment swap might be just what you need!

Connections among residents

Fees for parties are a way for building management to build a strong community of residents.

Landlords have long realized that while amenities are one way to attract tenants, it's the community that's really being sold. And it doesn't have to be wild parties.

Any kind of meeting is encouraged, from curated social programs to jointly organized events.

On the subject: New Bed-Stuy Housing Lottery: Luxury Apartments Starting at $556 Per Month

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Americans are moving at the slowest rate since the government first started keeping records. That means instead of looking for a place to live temporarily, we’re more interested in a place to put down roots. Add to that the fact that many people are working either fully remotely or on a hybrid schedule in the wake of the pandemic, and our apartments aren’t just places to sleep.

So, camaraderie with those who live around us is important, and developers have noticed this.

Moreover, a 2024 study conducted in Oslo, Norway, found that “socializing with friends and neighbors in the neighborhood is associated with the intention to live longer in the chosen neighborhood.”

Property managers understand that a strong sense of community among tenants can not only keep them from moving, but also generate greater profits.

How to receive the money

As for Brooklyn Crossing specifically, they use the Brodsky Organization's Neighborhood Events program. Through this program, tenants host events in their building, whether it's a wine tasting, game night, or watching a sports game. They can receive Visa gift cards to partially offset the cost of the event.

Tenants must do the following:

• provide the amount of reimbursement, in particular a list of specific expenses, no later than two weeks after the event (with photographs of the receipt);
• post information about the event on the building's internal notice board no later than two weeks before the event;
• take and publish at least 5 high-quality photographs from the event.

Brooklyn Crossing is a luxury building. It offers an attractive set of amenities - the Sky Lounge with panoramic views of the rooftop pool, gazebo and the city below.

Prices for apartments in the building begin from $3900 per month for a studio. You'll have to pay at least $4025 for a one-bedroom apartment. Studios here rent for $1048 more than the average rent in New York City.

However, Brooklyn Crossing is not alone in providing these kinds of incentives to residents. Realtor.com suggests you "start by looking for buildings that promote events for residents or list 'community programs' among their features." However, they note that these offerings may not always be the focus of your rental. You may have to dig around on the property's website or contact the leasing office directly.