Magic Security on 3rd Ave: an East Harlem base built for multi-tenant access-control work

Magic Security Systems files its address as 2149 3rd Avenue, Suite A12, New York, NY 10035. The block sits at the 117th Street corner of 3rd Avenue, on the eastern edge of East Harlem where multi-family pre-war apartment buildings and small commercial storefronts share a single corridor. The firm’s longer name — with “All Access Control Installation & Repair” in the listing — signals where most of the day-to-day work happens: building entrances, intercoms, electric strikes, and fob systems rather than apartment-interior camera work.

The multi-tenant access-control pattern

An East Harlem walk-up between 100th and 125th Streets typically has between 6 and 24 residential units behind a single front door. The legacy entry system is almost always a buzzer intercom from the 1970s or 1980s with cracked plastic buttons, faulty wiring inside the apartment risers, and a non-functioning lobby speaker. Modern replacements come in three forms: a 1-to-1 swap with a current-generation hardwired intercom, an IP-based intercom that runs over the building’s existing CAT5 telecom run, or a video-intercom system tied to a cloud platform with mobile-app integration for tenants. The choice depends on whether the building has accessible cabling pathways and whether the property manager wants to host the platform.

Electric strike and magnetic lock work

Behind the intercom decision is the door hardware. Electric strikes mounted in the door jamb release the lock when the call button is pressed; magnetic locks hold a metal armature against an electromagnet bolted to the door head. Each has its own failure modes — strikes fail mechanically over time, mag locks fail when the building loses power without a battery backup. Most East Harlem retrofits use a strike on the inner vestibule door and a mag lock on the outer street-facing door, with a battery backup sized for the building. A first walk-through should confirm which hardware is on each door before any quote.

Fob systems versus PIN codes

Smaller buildings often default to PIN-code keypads at the front door; larger buildings move to fob systems with managed credentials. The trade-off is administration: PIN codes require resetting when tenants turn over, while fob systems require the property manager to maintain an active-credentials list. Most East Harlem property managers running 6–12 units prefer PIN codes for the simplicity; managers running 20+ units typically prefer fobs.

Calling: who books the work

The toll-free number is +1 844-981-2012. For access-control work, the call almost always originates from property management or the building’s super, not from an individual tenant. The first conversation usually covers the building’s unit count, the current intercom system age, and whether the building has an active management company or is owner-managed.

Getting to 2149 3rd Avenue Suite A12

The address is a 6-minute walk from the 116th Street 6 train and a 5-minute walk from the 125th Street 4/5/6 hub. Drivers from out of town use the FDR Drive Exit 18 (East 116th Street) or the Triborough Bridge to East 125th. Curb parking on 3rd Avenue is metered until 7pm; the side blocks of East 117th and East 118th are easier off-peak.