LifeAt My Building Lacks Communication

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Let me set the stage.

It’s a Saturday night. My wife and I are hanging out with another couple at our apartment. There’s wine involved. It’s 10:45pm. Alicia Keys comes over the speakers. My wife and her friend get the urge. Before you know it, the four of us are belting out a wicked rendition of “No One.”

Music to our ears. Everyone’s ears. Just not my upstairs neighbor’s.

BOOM. BOOM. BOOM.

The thuds were loud. Precise. Unmistakable.

“Shut the F up!”

After a few minutes of debate on how to address the problem, we decided to let the banging slide - and out of courtesy - tone it down a notch. Maybe the woman upstairs had a headache. Was sick. Had to wake up early. Doesn’t like Alicia Keys.

Who knows. What really got me heated is that in 2008, there’s really no other way for neighbors to communicate displeasure, except with primitive stomps and elevated broomsticks.

Or so I thought.

Thanks to a tip from the gang over at Into the Box (A very sweet looking site that features videocasts on NYC real estate), I’ve learned about LifeAt, the community within a community.

Acting as a virtual building bulletin board, residents can communicate with neighbors, supers, facilities and property managers - all without having to knock on a single door (or floor!).

Being your typical, iPod-wearing, head down in the hallway, New York building dweller, I’m the last guy that wants to talk about the weather on the elevator up. But give me a chance to consult with neighbors via the Internet at my convenience - that’s a good service.

Among the things LifeAt allows you to do:

Selling something? Post a classified.
Skunked by the Chinese take out? Spread the word.
Apartment 2-J keeps slamming their door? Air your grievance.

Property managers and building developers use the microsites to post news and updates for residents and to attract potential buyers and renters. The success of each site is fueled by the active participation of its membership.

LifeAt is currently available in approximately 200 New York City buildings and has already spread to buildings in Illinois, Virginia, London and other places.

Developed as a tool to help transplants get acclimated, I think the product’s reach has much greater potential. You know the way they say that most accidents occur close to home? Well, I also think sometimes the worst communication occurs close to home. This is a great first step to opening the lines.

The site allows you to suggest a building. I probably wouldn’t get any buy-in from my neighbors, but it might be worth a try.

Like any social networking undertaking, it will only succeed if the people follow.

I’m gonna slide this article under my neighbor’s door. Maybe then she’ll stop stomping. Actually, better chance she’ll grab a baseball bat.