The Inside Scoop on the John Adams, 101 W. 12th St. in the West Village

If you're looking for a full-service co-op in Greenwich Village, The John Adams at 101 West 12th Street is one worth knowing.

The location is hard to beat: right at the corner of Sixth Avenue and West 12th Street, putting you within easy reach of transportation, restaurants, shopping, parks and everything that makes this part of Greenwich Village so desirable.

It's a big building—but that's part of the appeal

The John Adams is a substantial 21-story building with more than 400 apartments. And because so many of the apartments are studios and one-bedrooms, it can be particularly interesting for buyers looking for a pied-à-terre in Manhattan—something the building explicitly allows.

There are larger apartments as well, including two-bedrooms, convertible three-bedrooms and some terraced penthouses, so there's considerably more variety than you might expect.

The roof deck is a real highlight

The building has a landscaped common roof deck with tables and a gazebo, and the southern views are terrific. From up there, you get a completely different perspective on Greenwich Village—and on a beautiful day, it's a great place to sit outside without leaving home.

The John Adams also offers full-time doorman and concierge service, a live-in superintendent, garage, bike storage and laundry, and the common areas have been renovated.

And here's the really interesting inside scoop

Officially, the building doesn't allow washer/dryers in individual apartments.

But there's an exception that's worth knowing about.

If you own two or more apartments and combine them, you can create what the building refers to as a "ghost kitchen"—essentially a kitchen that isn't being used as a kitchen. That can allow you to install a washer/dryer.

It's an unusual rule, but exactly the kind of detail that can matter when you're evaluating an apartment here.

The bottom line

The John Adams isn't a boutique Village building—and that's not necessarily what you're buying it for.

You're buying location, service, space, views and flexibility, with the added benefit of a building that allows pied-à-terres. For someone who wants a Manhattan base in the heart of Greenwich Village, particularly a studio or one-bedroom, it's an intriguing combination.

And as with any large co-op, the individual apartment matters enormously. Floor, exposure, light, views, layout and outdoor space can make one apartment dramatically more appealing than another.

That's the inside scoop on The John Adams at 101 West 12th Street.