The EZPass of Doormen
The New York Observer | By Bonnie Kavoussi From Ocala, Fla., and Unity, Maine, the fate of New York doormen may be decided. The two towns headquarter the remote command centers of the Virtual Doorman, a technology that, as the name suggests, acts as a building’s doorman in everything but a warm body. Plus, it’s cheaper: $9,000 to $17,000 for installation, maintenance extra, while a real, live doorman might run a building $80,000 annually.
Ding Dong the Doorman’s Dead!
New York Post | By Sarah Ryley It’s the rise of the cyborg doorman. Cash-strapped developers are trying to save bucks and lure buyers with lower common charges by installing “virtual doormen” – staffers sitting in command centers as far away as Florida who can buzz guests and deliveries into buildings at a fraction of the cost of a regular doorman. One Manhattan-based company, Virtual Doorman, saw its sales jump last quarter· with 10 new buildings, its biggest quarterly increase since· starting in Cyberdoorman, based in The Bronx, said business could double this year to 76 buildings.
Today in New York
Hip to be Small
Security Products When people think of Manhattan, they usually envision soaring high rises equipped with white-gloved doormen or charming and luxurious prewar brownstones. Yet within the last year, the real estate market has seen a rise in a new and exciting breed of buildings — what many are dubbing “the boutiques.” A growing pocket of new buildings, as well as older refurbished ones, have created a resurgence of interest from homebuyers and sellers within Manhattan. These boutique buildings, usually with less than 40 units and consisting of younger, tech-savvy clientele, are smaller than their more traditional counterparts, yet have fetched record prices for developers and homeowners alike. Why the trade in taste? It’s all about demographics. For this clientele, these smaller buildings provide a much more intimate and personalized feeling without the high costs associated with maintaining the traditional amenities offered in older full-service buildings. In addition, these high-end buyers are looking for some degree of anonymity from their neighbors and the doorman and prefer the smaller set-up.
Technology Takes the ‘Man’ Out of Doorman
am New York | By Andrew Lisa It’s the rise of the cyborg doorman. Colin Foster doesn’t envision a New York without doormen, he just pictures a new kind of concierge manning the lobbies of buildings that otherwise wouldn’t have one. The buildings he’s targeting are smaller structures with just a handful of units, and the person he wants to service the entrance isn’t really a person at all.
It’s Carlton, Your Cyber Doorman
Bloomberg | By Catherine Holahan In Manhattan, the modern interpretation of “luxury building” probably just means there’s enough living space for a couch and a dining room table. This is not to be confused with a “modern luxury building” like the one being developed by the architects at Flank in the ultra-exclusive Sutton Place neighborhood. The plans call for a glistening glass tower composed of eight spacious townhomes—each with conveniences one might expect for a $3 million price tag. Think a personal car and driver at your disposal.
This Start-Up Would Like You to Meet Your Virtual Doorman
New York Times | By Andrew Ross Sorkin The doorman occupies a complex spot in the New York City class system: the doorman is at once status-symbol, diplomat and taxi-hailer. And now, he may be virtual, if one start-up has its way. BusinessWeek notes that New York-based Virtual Service announced an upgrade to its “Virtual Doorman” that enables users to interact with a service programmed to handle everything from unlocking your apartment door for the dog walker to accepting packages and turning away solicitors.
Good Day New York
CBS Evening News
Why Some Say ‘No Thanks’ to a Doorman
New York Times | By Teri Karush Rogers While managed access control may be one of the fastest-growing pieces of tNEW YORK is in the midst of an epidemic of new buildings that promise to deliver every service known to man, woman, child or pet. Central to all of that, of course, is a doorman. But to some people, the presence of a doorman is seen as a negative, not a benefit. Yes, a doorman can put the newspaper outside your door, walk your dog when you’re sick, make you feel important, keep an eye on your children (or your babysitter) and haul your shopping bags to the curb. But he is also privy to some of the most intimate details — and moments — of your life.