I don't doubt that you could find an apartment for $1500 in Chelsea in 2006. Back then Chelsea was a significantly different place. The high line hadn't opened yet, google wasn't there, the stroller crowd hadn't moved in yet.

By the same token, I also don't doubt you could find a decent share where your half would be $1500 south of 96th street today, maybe even in the 20s somewhere.

Neither of those are a studio in the 20s for $1500 in 2015. If that exists, I wish I knew the secret handshake.