Has anyone heard of this place? Is it legit?

http://harlemjazzandgospelgetaway.com/Welcome.html

If you mean are these people really trying to rent out their house - probably. the clue is that they don't list a price - and I bet it won't be cheap.

If you are interested after you make full enquiries I'm sure someone in the area could quickly check it out.

Actually, they've already rented it out for a group, not knowing that short-term rentals are illegal, so I was hoping to find out if it 1) actually exists, 2) is possibly legal (maybe they actually qualify as a hotel and pay tax?).

Call them.
There are several other places that are near the gospel churches up north. You'll love it.

sf7307,

I know short-term apartment rentals are not legal but I'm not sure it applies to an independent house. If you google the contact information--lina fina nyc--a costume designer site comes up.

If they're not charging you tax then they're not an official BnB - as in don't meet fire codes etc. But - if it's their own house - which it seems to be - there's no chance that you will be thrown out since there are no legal tenants to complain. (It sounds like people who bought and expensively renovated a hose and now have a much lower income and need to rent it to pay the mortgage.)

Not sure what arrangements you have made with them - just to rent their house - or to have them organize some sort of tour for you. If the latter I would ask for a complete itinerary and proof that they have actually paid for what they have sold you.

If it's just a place to stay - you're quite a bit out of the way of most tourist sights. You could call the local police precinct and see if they're aware that the people who own the house take paying guests.

The police will not care that a house is being rented out, they have too much to do to care. It's hard enough to get them to get them to respond to real problems.

If you can provide an appoximate address, I can go by and see it. Depending on just where in Harlem it is located it could be close or a few block from the subway and shopping.

Some of the side streets in Harlem are not exactly safe at night and depending on where you are going in the City you may have a problem getting a taxi to bring you way uptown, although that is changing.

This area of the city we have a "service cars", and they don't have meters, so it is more expensive to take one. You can call a service for a car or hail one on the street and look at the license plate they have to have L for livery cabs as a part of the plate number. The one nice thing is that they are generally larger than taxis so a bit more comfortable.

I probably live a bit north of the house and have clients in Harlem so let me know if you want a look see as to where it is and if it will work for your group.

Sorry - car service cars (usually black sedans) have a license plate starting with a T - not an L. they may or may not be more than a cab - but you need to settle the price before you enter - since they are free to charge whatever they want. Also, they are supposed to work on a phone call basis - not pick people up off the street in midtown manhattan - although if there ar no available taxis they often will - as long as there are no police present.

As for checking with the police, I didn't expect them to go and check out the house, but just to let you know if they have had complaints from people who thought they had rented it out and then found out it was a scam (which they probably would have heard about for a whole house).

Thank you both. Travelbuff, I'm probably going to take you up on your generous offer to check it out -- I'll get back to you as soon as I have the details.

Be glad to help. Service cars up here are hailed like taxis, I took one tonight to get home. They are not usually black here.

They are not "service cars" they are "car services".. You can order one by phone or pick one up on the street in most of the outer boroughs and Manhattan above 96th St. The local one I use - New Familia - has mostly black sedans - but also a few larger vehicles if you need - and some that are beige or white.

Note: these are mostly for local use - although they can go to the airports etc. but they are not the same type of service as large "special event or airport" car services - Carmel or Dial 7 - and charge lower rates.

Just to clarify, the cars in this area, Harlem, Washington Heights, Inwood that travel the streets picking up fares are called "service cars". They may or may not have a company that sends them on jobs to pick up passengers, some have CB radios, some do not.

Most of the service cars are larger sedans and come in every color of the rainbow. The cars are owned by the driver and licensed by the taxi commission and as corrected earlier have a "T" (sorry for stating that incorrectly) at the begining of their plate. If you stand on a corner in this area the service cars will give a honk to see if you are looking for a ride. Yellow taxis are few and far between up here.

Thanks, that's very helpful information. I haven't gotten the scoop from the group "leader" yet (the person booking the accommodations), but I will soon.

we're renting the house with friends in early october through vrbo. looks very nice. hope it is!

The group loved it - I can send you some pictures if you send me an email (at dm no space love no space 51 at gmail)

sf, sorry I didn't see your reply. We're just back from our long weekend and our group loved the house too. Here's my trip report:

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...tes/harlem.cfm