January 27-February 2, 2005

cityspace

Old School

by Kate Salute

Across the street from Einstein Hospital, at the intersection of Old York Road and Somerville Avenue, sit two seemingly identical luxury apartment buildings. Both have similar utilities, amenities (cable, a 24-hour reception desk), and emergency maintenance.

The only difference: The residents of one building could be the grandparents of the residents in the other.

York North, referred to by residents and employees as "YoNo," houses a young crowd of students from area colleges such as La Salle and Temple (specifically, upperclassmen sick of dorm life), graduate students, doctors working on their residencies across the street, and other young professionals. The top floor of YoNo holds the penthouse lounge, which appears to be straight out of Big sans the cheesy bunk bed, with a disco laundry room. There's a real disco ball with flashing lights, blaring music of the residents' choice and a Pac-Man arcade game next to the usual washers and dryers. "I never figured that doing laundry could be like going to a disco," says Jennifer Bull, a La Salle senior.

Also located in YoNo is an Internet smoothie cafe (well, coming soon) and a brand-new SIS Fitness Center, yet to be fully furnished, that is part of the all-inclusive rate.

Across the WiFi-equipped courtyard is something a little different. The Yorkhouse Apartments are meant for people ages 55 and older — specifically, middle-income seniors who can't afford an expensive apartment but don't want to live in subsidized housing. The first floor of this complex is a bit different, too. Instead of arcade games or a disco ball, there's a drug store and a space for a doctor's office. That said, the Yorkhouse does have a magnificent lounge with marble floors, beautiful couches, a wooden chess set and, of course, a television.

Yet to be completed are the ballroom and the dining room, but both are shaping up to be places where the community could hold formal events and residents of both buildings could mingle.

Yes, mingle. The Lindy Property Management and Cambridge Management Companies, co-managers of both the YoNo and the Yorkhouse apartments, look forward to combining these different crowds by providing activities that appeal to both sets of residents. "We're just starting out, but there is already an amicable co-existence," said Dale McCullough, vice president of sales and marketing for Cambridge. "The idea is that the apartment is your private space, but you really live in the entire building."