February 2005
February 28, 2005
Happy Ending for 142 Bergen Street
We hope everyone saw the article in the City section of the Sunday Times updating the story on 142 Bergen Street where, we initially reported, the ceiling caved in at an open house last month. According to the article, the seller ended up receiving multiple bids within an hour of the open house. Initially listed at $1.595 million, the house went to contract last week at $1.68 million. As the buyer points out, plaster caving in doesn't necessarily mean the house is structurally unsound.
Would the Price Be Higher... [NY Times]
Ceiling Crashes on Elliman Open House [Brownstoner]
142 Bergen Street [Douglas Elliman]
Monday Links
John Jay High School, Park Slope. Photo by Frank Lynch
Working in Brooklyn Navy Yard [NY Times]
Fighting Ratner's Plans [NY Times]
Residential Sales [NY Times]
Landlord Tax Tips [NY Post]
Existing Homesales Slip [NY Newsday]
$522K versus $545K [Set Speed]
Bronx Next on Hipster Hitlist [Curbed]
February 25, 2005
Open House Picks
Clinton Hill
125 Willoughby
Warburg Realty
Sunday 12-2pm
$1,550,000
Cobble Hill
56 Butler
Corcoran
Sunday 12-2pm
$1,325,000
Crown Heights
1490 Union
Corcoran
Sunday 12-2pm
$775,000
Midwood
2604 Farragut
Brooklyn Heights Real Estate
Sunday 2-5pm
$739,000
Friday Links
Ocean Parkway. Photo by Ann Marie Hughes
Squabble Over U.N. Headquarters [NY Times]
Subway Air Dangers [NY Times]
State May Stymie Subway Fix [NY Post]
Sale of Lollipop Building Gets OK [NY Post]
Menage a Trois in Carroll Gardens [Village Voice]
Property Tales [NY Press]
Cracker Barrel in Brooklyn? [Gothamist]
February 24, 2005
Atlantic Yards Meeting Tonight at 6:30
The anti-Ratner crew is having a get-together tonight. The topic? Democracy and Development in Brooklyn: Promoting and Protecting our Atlantic Yards. Featured Panelists include NYC Council Member Charles Barron, Assemblyman Richard Brodsky and Civil Rights Attorney Debra Cohen among others.
Time: Thursday, February 24, 6:30pm
Place: NYC College of Technology, 300 Jay St. (Johnson & Tillary)
Info: 718-260-9191
Close-Up on South Williamsburg
The subject of a recent Brownstoner rant about its spate of horrible new construction, South Williamsburg is the focus this week of a Village Voice profile.
Close-Up on South Williamsburg [Village Voice]
Williamsburg Hall of Shame [Brownstoner]
Today on the Renovation Blog: Parlor Floor Demo
We took out the closets and bathroom on the parlor floor that had been added at some point during the house's life as an SRO and found the old molding largely intact. More on the Renovation blog.
Opening up the Second Floor [Renovation Blog]
Thursday Links
Franklin Avenue Shuttle. Photo by Seth Lewin
Developer Drops Plan for City's First Walmart [NY Times]
Residential Sales [NY Times]
Average Apartment Over $1 Million [NY Newsday]
Torso Found at Brooklyn Plant [NY1]
Joya II Opening in Park Slope [Chowhound]
Affordable Cut Hard to Find [A Brooklyn Life]
February 23, 2005
Discussion: Nightmare Tenant Stories
In yesterday's discussion of brownstone tax increases, there was a request for a thread on tenant horror stories. We'll kick it off with a nightmare scenario described by an anonymous reader:
A couple years ago, I found out too late that I'd rented to a serial tenant; everything else checked out, but she'd never paid rent for more than a couple of months, then claimed the apartment was uninhabitable, changed the locks, and played the LT system for all it was worth. There were no judgments against her. But a litigation check would have revealed multiple settlements with previous landlords who had paid her to get out, as after she quit paying rent each time, she made life so unbearable for everyone in the building (screaming at the top of her lungs all night, accusing neighbors of being peeping toms, threatening to poison pets, etc.) no landlord could wait for months in LT court to wend through the inspections and evictions - all the rest of their tenants would have left in the meantime. And every settlement had a clause compelling the landlord to give her a recommendation to her next victim. She actually owed her previous landlord $16,000 at the point I rented to her; he was just grateful she'd disappeared and never bothered to enforce the judgment because he was afraid she'd kill him if he tried.
This is why we are going to try to lease or rental unit to a friend! Anyway, please share your renter horror stories and tips for avoiding them below.
Eminent Domain Reaches Supreme Court
People on both sides of the Ratner stadium debate are closely watching what is happening witht the Eminent Domain case now before the Supreme Court. The lawyers for the town of New London, Connecticut stated that it would be acceptable to force the demolition of a Motel 6 to make way for a Ritz-Carlton simply because is would generate more tax revenue. Seems to be a pretty dangerous precedent indeed.
How Eminent Is A City's Domain [NY Newsday]
Property Rights and the Courts [Christian Science Monitor]
House of the Day: Grandma's House in Clinton Hill
This is about as cheap as they come in Clinton Hill these days (though technically this is Prospect Heights in our book since it's south of Fulton). Recently listed for $599,000, this place was on the market for a while last year too, we believe. Not sure for how much. Grandma's been living here for 60 years, according to the ad, but that ain't necessarily such a good thing: Clearly the place hasn't been touch since she moved in at the end of WWII. It'll definitely need all new systems--electrical, plumbing, boiler--and a fair amount of cosmetic work. Even with a fairly serious reno, though, we think you can keep the all-in cost under $1 million. The ad suggests you may even be able to squeeze a small rental unit out of the floorplan as well.
Grandma's House [Corcoran]
Wednesday Links
Red Hook Wall. Photo by Alexis Robie
Build Boom in Old Hoods [NY Daily News]
Real Estate Still Surging in Harlem [NY Times]
Harlem Condos Sizzle [NY Post]
Manhattan Transfers [NY Observer]
Improving Subway Access for NYPD [NY1]
Hot Vanderbilt Ave [Daily Heights]
February 22, 2005
Today on the Renovation Blog: Opening Things Up
Today we take a look at the demolition that is creating a loft-like living/dining space on the second floor.
Opening up the Second Floor [Renovation Blog]
Brooklyn Bridge Park Plan Unveiled Tonight
FYI, the presentation of the plan and the model of the Brooklyn Bridge Park proposal is scheduled for Tuesday, February 22 from 6:30-8:30 at Polytechnic University, 5 Metrotech Center.
New Brooklyn Bridge Park Unveiled [BHA]
Four Family Brownstones Getting Slammed
We received a bunch of emails about this article over the weekend for obvious reasons. The city is clearly over-penalizing people who want (or need) to divide their brownstones into four units. They also are creating an adverse incentive not to play by the book in performing renovations since the trigger for these massive tax hikes in most cases appears to be the DOB filings that result in new assessed property values. Rather than harp on the obvious imbalance in the system, we'd like to hear some concrete advice. One is to reduce the number of units from four to three, but that will more than likely result in a drop in income as well. Please share your war stories as well as recommendations of lawyers, expediters and anyone else who could be useful in fighting a steep tax hike.
In Brownstones, Taxes Suddenly Rise [NY Times]
Tuesday Links
Central Park. Photo by Joseph O. Holmes
Can Half a Building be a Landmark? [NY Times]
Park Slope Restaurant Row [NY Times]
Brooklyn Photog's Home [NY Times]
Leaving Clinton Hill for West Village [NY Post]
Newlyweds in Dumbo [NY Newsday]
Two Brooklyn Hospitals May Close [NY Daily News]
Cyclists Suing Over Bumps on Billburg Bridge [NY1]
Free Wifi Spots in Prospect Heights [Daily Heights]
February 18, 2005
Open House Picks
Cobble Hill
58 Cheever Place
Brown Harris Stevens
Sunday 12:30-3pm
$2,200,000
Clinton Hill
97 Clinton Avenue
Corcoran
Sunday 12-1:30pm
$1,395,000
Cobble Hill
293 Sackett
Aguayo & Huebener
Sunday 12-3pm
$1,299,000
Crown Heights
1469 Dean
Ettelson
Sunday 1-3pm
$549,000
Galilee Baptist Church: Sky's the Limit!
We pieced together the bits of past price data on the Galilee Baptist Church for sale in Clinton Hill provided by our readers and graphed them with the current asking price of $3.9 million. At this rate if the current owners can hold out 'til Summer, they could easily slap a $10 million price tag on this baby! $100 mil in '06?
Clinton Hill Mansion for $3.9 Million [Brownstoner]
BHA Meeting Notes: Skyscraper District Proposed
Brownstoner correspondent Whitbo reports on last night's Brooklyn Heights Association meeting...
Last night was the 95th consecutive annual meeting of the BHA. Nancy Bowe, the president presided over a packed house at the St. Francis College Auditorium on Remsen Street. There were probably 200 people there. Besides Marty Markowitz, there were many other politicians representing the neighborhood, including David Yassky, our City Councilman and many others from the city and state level.
Homepage [Brooklyn Heights Association]
Continue reading "BHA Meeting Notes: Skyscraper District Proposed"
Friday Links
Atlantic Avenue. Photo by Frank Lynch
Grisly Find in Subway [NY Post]
Williamsburg Bridge Hazards [NY Daily News]
Jury Gets Gowanus Drug Case [NY Daily News]
Digital Movie Theater for Park Slope [PR Newswire]
Landscape Cafe in Williamsburg [Gothamist]
Eating at Bouillabiasse [A Brooklyn Life]
Rebuilding a Brooklyn Landmark [NAMC Newsletter]
February 17, 2005
Dry Dock to be Casualty of Ikea Store in Red Hook
Today on Curbed, a reader bemoans the loss of the dry dock in Red Hook that is slated to be a casualty of the Ikea parking lot.
Dock Comes Up Dry in Red Hook [Curbed]
Need Your Input on the Services Blog
Okay, folks. Your expertise is required on the Services blog. We need some input on some recent reader questions about repointing foundations, converting windows to doors, and paint stripping. We can feel all that good karma already!
Multiple Listings [Services Blog]
NY Sun Interview with Williamsburg Broker
The subscription-only New York Sun ran this interview today with Aptsandlofts.com President David Maundrell...
Q: How has the development of the Greenpoint and Williamsburg waterfront changed the market, and how have prices been affected in the last year?
A: Prices have gone up dramatically in the last year, between 25% and 40%. Williamsburg is becoming a more attractive place. It was a very, very large rental community, and the people who rented knew the pockets of good neighborhoods. They didn't need to be sold by a broker. They know it already and they're happy there.
Brooklyn Broker's Favorite Hood [NY Sun]
Homepage [Aptsandlofts.com]
Continue reading "NY Sun Interview with Williamsburg Broker"
BHA Annual Meeting Tonight
FYI, the Brooklyn Heights Association is holding its Annual Meeting tonight at 7:30 at St. Francis College. The address is 180 Remsen Street between Court and Clinton. The keynote speaker is Historian Philip Lopate who will present a lecture on "New York's Waterfront and How It Got That Way." For more information, call 718-858-9193.
BHA Annual Meeting [Brooklyn Heights Association]
Thursday Links
Williamsburg 6. Photo by Bluejake
Subduing a Mammoth with a Paintbrush [NY Times]
Residential Sales [NY Times]
Finger Building Sore Point in W'burg [NY Daily News]
Trader Joe's to Brooklyn [NY Daily News]
30-Year Rates Rise for First Time in 2005 [Bankrate]
Wide Metal Shelving? [Apartment Therapy]
More on Mapping [Unbeige]
February 16, 2005
House of the Day: Clinton Hill Mansion + Carriage
If we are not mistaken, this 9,000-square-foot mansion's most recent use was as a Baptist church. It was on the market last fall. Then it was off the market in December and January during which time we saw signs of major garbage removal. Now it's back on again, listed with Corcoran for $3.9 million. Not sure if someone bought it and is flipping or whether the owner just decided to clean it up before reoffering. There's a big back yard and a carriage house, too, but this place is currently a total wreck. Obviously this could be an incredible house, but we worry that this is going to be a tough sell with the 12,000 square foot pristine Pfizer Mansion two blocks away just hitting the market at the same time for $300k less. That's not to say we don't have fantasies about being able to afford to buy and fix this place up. We worry that at this price level, condo conversion will be the most likely outcome. Anyone have the inside scoop?
Clinton Avenue Mansion [Corcoran]
Pfizer-Built Mansion [Corcoran]
Today on the Renovation Blog: Arch Close-Ups
Today we take a close look at how the arch survived being walled over and then uncovered again years later.
Arch Close-Ups [Renovation Blog]
Dumpster Diving 301
Our friends at Apartment Therapy tipped us off to this...
Building Materials Reuse Workshop
Time: Saturday February 19, 2 pm
Cost: $20 (proceeds go to Green Workers Cooperative)
Location: 217 Butler Street, Brooklyn
Register: classes@madagascarinstitute.com
If you're a designer who's always done a little salvage on the side and wondered how to incorporate your street scores into your work, this workshop will give you ideas on how. We'll highlight a range of salvaged construction materials -- from windows to wood flooring -- and show how they can be used in new designs and remodels. Everyone knows you can make a lamp out of anything, but we'll look at lots of other stuff: classic doorways, tin ceilings, street barriers, and more. You'll get unique materials and original designs, and you'll help make a dent in the amount of construction waste--40 percent!--in local landfills.
Dumpster Diving 301 [Apartment Therapy]
Classes [Madagascar Institute]
Wednesday Links
A Train Brothers. Photo by Joseph Holmes
Cuban Eats in Clinton Hill [NY Times]
Gwyn Heading for Burbs [NY Post]
Heebie-Jeebies [NY Post]
Dry Dock at Sea [NY Daily News]
Dumpster Diving 301 [Apartment Therapy]
New Lounge on Pacific? [Daily Heights]
More on Mapping [Unbeige]
February 15, 2005
Price Reduction on Cobble Hill 4-Story B'stone
We just noticed the asking price on this Cobble Hill place was reduced by $100k recently...
Address:
Nabe: Cobble Hill
Broker: Cobble Heights Realty
Floors: 4
Family: 4
Sq. Ft:
Price: $1,750,000
Status: Active
House of the Day: Bed Stuy Brick on the Cheap
This one just came in. There's no picture on the website yet, but we got one here and we think it looks pretty nice. This bay front brick on Lexington Avenue in Bed Stuy is currently being used as a single family but is legally a 2-family. The basement level is unfinished but presumably could become usable space. The big question mark is whether there are any original details on the inside. The owner is asking $549,000 but is "looking for a quick sale." Contact Fillmore broker Michele Cadogan at 718-253-9600 if interested.
2-Family in Bed Stuy [Fillmore]
Basics: Three Family Versus Four Family Taxes
There was a discussion on the Harlem Home bulletin board this weekend about the taxes on 4-family versus 3-family homes. The bottom line: Taxes are calculated on a property's assessed value, not its market value. The assessed value of a 4-family is calculated by taking 45% of the market value while a 3-family is based on 6% of market value. Pretty good reason to combine a unit or two--even if it means a reduction in rental income.
Tuesday Links
Third Street. Photo by Alexis Robie
Study Pushes Low Cost Housing [NY Times]
Gwyneth's House Comes to Market [NY Post]
Save St. Thomas Aquinas [NY Daily News]
SRO Dispute Ends in Death [NY Newsday]
Just Cut One Brownstone in Half [Curbed]
February 14, 2005
House of the Day: Fort Greene Four-Story
Here's a classic 4-story, 2-family brownstone in Fort Greene that just hit the market. If it's on a park block, as the ad says, then it looks to be reasonably priced. The 1864 house is a tad narrow at 18 feet, but is 50 feet deep to make up for it. Good configuration--3 over 1--with allegedly nice details (7 marble matnels, original shutters and pine plank floors). Plus, there's a deck and landscaped garden. With an asking price of $1,549,000, the price per square foot comes out to $430. Anyone seen it yet?
Fort Greene Brownstone [Coldwell Banker]
Today on the Renovation Blog: Demo Underway
We received our permit from DOB last week and unleashed the sledgehammers. Let the games begin.
All Systems Go [Renovation Blog]
Monday Links
Henry/Hicks. Photo by Bluejake
At Least the Food is Free [NY Times]
Residential Sales [NY Times]
Just Sold [NY Post]
L Train Blues [NY Daily News]
Power Struggle in Dumbo [NY Daily News]
Adorable Wittle Townhouse [Curbed]
February 11, 2005
Open House Picks
Park Slope
503 11th Street
Betancourt
Sunday 1-3pm
$1,500,000
Cobble Hill
489 Hicks
Corcoran
Sunday 12-1:30pm
$1,250,000
Bay Ridge
426 76th Street
Century 21
Sunday 1-3pm
$995,000
Bed Stuy
660 Lafayette
Fillmore
Sunday 12-2pm
$840,000
Red Hook Residents Suing to Block Ikea Store
From today's NY Times:
A group of Red Hook residents and community advocates filed suit against the city yesterday in an attempt to block construction of an Ikea furniture store on the Erie Basin in Brooklyn. The lawsuit, filed in State Supreme Court in Manhattan, claims that the project was improperly approved by the Bloomberg administration and the City Council because it was based on a faulty environmental impact statement and was inconsistent with the city's own land-use guidelines for the area. Ikea and the United States Dredging Corporation, which owns the 22-acre waterfront site where the Swedish furniture giant is planning to build, are named in the suit along with city planners and the City Council.
Red Hook Resident Group Sues [NY Times]
Brownstones Come to Orange County
Brownstones are coming to Orange County, California. Architect Michael Woodley, who designed 36 stone and brick "East Coast brownstones" in Anaheim, attributes the trend to increasing density. Michelle Louis, a 26-year-old financial analyst who bought a three-story brick front rowhouse in a development in Tustin, had her own motivations: "The appeal to me is that it was different. It wasn't the pink stucco you see all over Irvine."
Stone to Stucco [Orange County Register]
Friday Links
Sneakers. Photo by Justin Farrow
Report on City is Positive [NY Times]
A Train Return Reaches 80% [NY Post]
Schools for Sale? [NY Daily News]
Cops Go On Site in Red Hook [NY Daily News]
Man Found Shot in Williamsburg [NY1]
Nefarious Craigslist Listing Device [Curbed]
Brooklyn Industries on SMith Street [A Brooklyn Life]
February 10, 2005
Broker Marks It Up 28 Percent
An eagle-eyed reader tipped us off to these two posts--only a day apart--on Craiglist for the same house in Lefferts Garden. Fillmore (who has the keys to the house) has it listed at $699,000 and discloses in the ad that it needs at least $300,000 of work. Another broker has it listed for $899,000 and tells interested parties that they must RSVP to him/her--which as we all know locks you in to dealing with that broker. If anyone knows who this "Plazasites" person is, we're dying to know.
Fillmore for $699K [Craigslist]
Plazasites for $899K [Craigslist]
House of the Day: Tompkins Place Queen Anne
This four-story Queen Anne in Cobble Hill is absolutely gorgeous as far as we can see: Center stair, marble fireplaces, pristine moldings. The only problem? The house is 14 feet wide. This makes the asking price of $2.1 million an expensive $900 per square foot. Even in these times of $8.5 million brownstones in neighboring Brooklyn Heights this seems very pricey. Then again, as some of our readers constantly remind us, price per square foot is not the fairest measure when evaluating these singly family homes. If you walk in and fall in love, a few hundred square feet here or there is not going to make the difference.
Tompkins Place Townhouse [Brown Harris Stevens]
30-Story Tower Proposal Stuns Heights Residents
There was quite a brouhaha last week at the community meeting about the future of Brooklyn Bridge Park. Hosted by the Brooklyn Bridge Park, the gathering was held to explain why housing had to be included as an integral part of the plan. Brooklyn Papers reported that the announcement of a 30-story tower was met with “audible gasps” by the audience of mostly Brooklyn Heights and Cobble Hill residents. We think that Bloomberg’s concept of using private development money to help fund public improvements makes some sense in theory but will be a disaster if they try to ram projects like this down peoples throats.
Scale of Park Towers Shocks Heights, Hill [Brooklyn Papers]
Homepage [Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy]
Thursday Links
Cobble Hill, Brooklyn. Photo by Satan's Laundromat
Diocese to CLose 22 Schools in Brooklyn and Queens [NY Times]
Sheepshead Revisited [NY Times]
A Furniture Fair for All [NY Times]
News of Price Demise Exaggerated [NY Daily News]
New Restaurant Alert: Fujiya [A Brooklyn Life]
February 9, 2005
House of the Day: Windsor Terrace Bay Front
This three-story bay front brick house in Windsor Terrace is a new listing from Aguayo & Huebener. Postives include an attractive facade, 55-foot depth, and move-in condition. Negatives include a fairly sunken basement level, charmless renovation, and an apparent lack of historic interior details. But what do you want for under a million bucks within a few blocks of the park? We just don't understand why owners persist in doing such cheap-ass renovations...We have to believe that they are only short-changing themselves when it comes to resale.
Beautiful Bay Front Brick [Aguayo & Huebener]
Today on the Renovation Blog: Front Hall Shots
Right this way please! We just posted some photos of the parlor floor front hall on the renovation blog.
May We Take Your Coat, Sir? [Renovation Blog]
Wednesday Links
Dyker Diner. Photo by Cornershots
Brooklyn and Queens Schools to Close [NY Daily News]
Manhattan Transfers [NY Observer]
Shelter: Fashion Stylist in Crown Heights [Village Voice]
MK's Brooklyn Retreat [Apartment Therapy]
Brooklyn's New Heights [Curbed]
February 8, 2005
House of the Day: Lower Slope By Owner
We like to support the for-sale-by-owner crowd when we can, so we were pleased to see this attractive Lower Slope three-story brick on Craigslist yesterday. Currently configured as three full-floor market-rate rentals, the house generates $55,000 a year in income (not sure if that is before or after expenses). That makes the asking "yield" a fairly paltry 4.4%. The property is allegedly in very good condition, though, with a new roof and new heating system. If interested, you can call Valentino at 718-596-0261 until 10 pm.
106 15th Street [Craigslist]
LIU Wellness Center Rising in Ft. Greene
A reader brought our attention to a photographic progress report on the LIU Athletic, Recreation in Wellness Center rising on Dekalb Avenue in Fort Greene. Designed by Arquitectonica, the $40 million, 100,000 square foot structure will have tennis courts, a swimming pool and a 3,000-seat arena. Ground was broken last Spring and completion is expected in October 2005. How are the neighbors feeling about this one?
Athletic and Wellness Center [Long Island University]
Homepage [Arquitectonica]
Tuesday Links
Blue, Pratt Institute. Photo by Alexis Robie
Ikea: Jobs vs. Traffic [NY Times]
Time Capsule in Bed Stuy [NY Daily News]
Toolbelt Diva from Brooklyn [NY Daily News]
NY State Home Prices Up 37% [NY Newsday]
Mayor Touts Affordable Housing Plan [NY Newsday]
Revere Sugar Refinery Project [Red Hooky]
New Restaurant Alert [A Brooklyn Life]
February 7, 2005
Discussion: Facade Easements in Landmark Areas
There were a couple of articles in the New York Times in December about a movement to rein in the aggressive use of facade easements by owners of historic homes looking for a tax-break windfall. The value of the easement can equal up to 15% of the market value of the house and the tax breaks can be spread out over up to six years. Call us naive, but it hadn't even occurred to us that we could profit by promising not to alter our facade--since we already are prevented from doing so by the Landmarks regulations. Clearly that is no barrier though: Basil and Eunice Whiting got a $189,000 break last year when they promised not to alter the facade of their 1850's town house in the Cobble Hill Historic District--and several neighbors followed suit. We'd love to hear from people who have donated easements in already Landmarked areas--and from any lawyers or tax specialists who know whether this will be fair game this year.
Rushing for Tax Breaks on Historic Houses [NY Times]
Tax Breaks on Historic Houses Face Restrictions [NY Times]
Panel Advises Ending Breaks for Easements [Washington Post]
Promenade Brownstone Sets Record at $8.5 Million
The purchase of 212 Columbia Heights by hedge fund manager Marek Fludzinski and his literary agent wife Nina Collins has "raised the bar" in Brooklyn, according to New York Times article this weekend. The house sold for its asking price of $8.5 million--not a bad return for the sellers who had picked it up in 1972 for $55,000. The stratospheric price has paved the way for two other new listings: The 10,000 square foot house at 82 Remsen is on the market for $10 million and 8 Montague is asking $12 million. We think Manhattan-level prices are defensible for Brooklyn Heights, given the neighborhood's architecture and history as well as its proximity to Manhattan, but, with the possible exception of Park Slope, we don't think the rest of Brownstone Brooklyn is in imminent danger of being overrun by hedge fund managers.
$8.5 Million Deal Raises Bar in Brooklyn [NY Times]
Bigtimer Boymelgreen's Brooklyn Buildings
Yesterday's article in the New York Times about developer Shaya Boymelgreen and his billionaire backer Lev Leviev mentions several of their current Brooklyn ventures:
[In January] the partners paid $8 million for a property on the Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn, the last piece in an assemblage of industrial parcels he hopes to turn into a hip village of 400 apartments beside the still-murky waterway. While he is a long way from getting zoning changes and myriad approvals, he has hired the cutting-edge architect Enrique Norten to start shaping the complex, complete with waterfront esplanade and sidewalk cafe, into a dream of urban reclamation. They are [also] building a boutique hotel with 50 luxury apartments at Atlantic Avenue and Smith Street in downtown Brooklyn. And he is building the tallest building in Dumbo in Brooklyn, Beacon Tower, with 23 floors and 79 apartments, at 85 Adams Street.
A Developer Finds Many Opportunities [NY Times]
Monday Links
Park Slope. Photo by Lightning Field
Genius and High Jinks at 7 Middagh Street [NY Times]
Grim Signs in Gowanus [NY Times]
Residential Sales [NY Times]
Houses for Sale [NY Post]
Commuter A-gita [NY Daily News]
Pratt's New Bookstore [NY Daily News]
February 4, 2005
Open House Picks
Boerum Hill
209 Dean Street
Corcoran
Sunday 12-2pm
$1,625,000
Park Slope
503 11th Street
Betancourt
Sunday 1-3pm
$1,500,000
Lefferts Manor
20 Midwood Street
Brown Harris Stevens
Sunday 12:30-2:30pm
$1,399,000
Crown Heights
1764 Bergen Street
Fillmore (Web# 534009)
Saturday 12-1:30
Sunday 1-2:30pm
$599,000
Gehry Comes to Fort Greene
Here's a photo of the new Frank Gehry-designed theater across the street from BAM in Fort Greene, the first step in building out the BAM Cultural District. We're glad they went with the glass-and-steel look over another Bilbao-wannabe titanium structure.
Theater Troupe to Get $38 Million Home [NY Times]
Graffiti in the Closet: Today on the Renovation Blog
We finally got our Certificate on Non Harassment from HPD this week so we're celebrating by posting a few photos that reveal the house's SRO past.
Certificate of Non Harassment, Finally! [Renovation Blog]
Discussion: Tax Increases from Renovations
We got an email from a reporter at the New York Times researching a story about property tax increases. Evidently there are some unhappy homeowners in Harlem who have been hit with big increases as a result of significant renovations and/or C of O changes. We haven't heard much griping from Brooklyn brownstoners, but we'd like to know if anyone has seen this happening. According to the reporter, those with 4-family houses have been particularly hard hit.
Friday Links
Idiotarod, Brooklyn Bridge. Photo by Youngna
Economy Adds Just 146,000 Jobs in January [NY Times]
20 Year Housing Scam [NY Post]
Miller Gets 15 Endorsements in Brooklyn [NY Post]
Gehry-designed Theater for Brooklyn [NY Daily News]
Fed Hikes Quarter Point [NY Newsday]
Brooklyn Open House Frenzy [Curbed]
February 3, 2005
House of the Day: Burg Brick (No Siding!)
After our rant earlier in the week about the eyesores going up on Williamsburg's South Side, we were happy to find this listing of a nice, basic 4-story house that still retains its original character (though we could do without the awning over the front door)--eventhough it's on the North Side, just a few blocks from the Bedford L. Though they tend to get overwhelmed by their vinyl-sided brethren, there actually are a decent number of old brick rowhouses on or near Bedford Avenue. We have noticed that a lot of the older houses in this neighborhood have a much shallower floor plate than those in the true brownstone neighborhoods further South, so it's hard to know what to make of the $1.2 million asking price. We also are not familiar with the broker First Key Realty. Does anyone have any info or comps for this place?
North Side 4-Family [Craigslist]
Thursday Links
Sunset, Brooklyn. Photo by David Gallagher
Condo Fever [NY Times]
Residential Sales [NY Times]
It was the C Train [NY Times]
$8 a Month Chelsea Apartment [NY Post]
City Hall Housing Demonstration [Daily News]
Bachelor Pad to Family Home [NY Newsday]
February 2, 2005
Discussion: Market Value of a 2-Family vs 3-Family
After revealing on the Renovation blog that we are converting our SRO into a 2-family residence, we were contacted off-list by a regular reader who's also a veteran owner and renovator of Brooklyn brownstones. He advised us strongly to convert to a 3-family instead, citing a higher market value ($50K to $75K higher), greater flexibility down the road, and the prohibitively high cost of trying to change the C of O again at a later date. When we were originally discussing the matter with our code consultant, we were persuaded that the additional costs and code requirements of a 3-family (sprinklers or fire escapes, handicap access) made it less desireable. What do you think? Have any of you faced a similar choice? Does a 3-family really command such a price premium?
Brooklyn Architects Focusing on Fabrication
There's an interesting article in the current issue of The Architect's Newspaper that looks at the growing trend of architects doubling as fabricators. At the forefront of the trend are two Brooklyn-based shops, FACE in Williamsburg and Freecell in Dumbo. What's driving this movement? According to the principals of FACE, focusing on fabrication gave them greater independence and a better shot at making some dough at a younger age--as opposed to being a drone in a large architecture practice. Working with one's own hands is clearly part of the attraction too. As Freecell's Lauren Crahan puts it, "I'd never say 'throw out the computer,' but at the end of the day AutoCad can't satisfy your curiosity."
Back to the Future [Arch Paper]
Get Ye to the Services Page!
One of your fellow Brownstoners is in desperate need of a good lawyer to help her seek restitution for $20K she has spent fighting the irresponsible and illegal renovations of a renegade neighbor. Her post has been up on the Services page for a couple days--but so far no comments. Surely someone out there knows a crack real estate attorney. While you're at it, you can chip in your two cents about roof deck additions and cornice restoration.
Services Blog [Brownstoner]
Wednesday Links
Certainly a Place to Crash [NY Daily News]
C Train Back in Service [NY Times]
Midtown Office Market Turns Up [NY Times]
Garbled Words on J and Z Lines [NY Post]
Brooklyn Bus Mayhem [NY Post]
Snow Place to Park in Brooklyn [NY Daily News]
52 Small Schools to Open [NY Newsday]
February 1, 2005
Just a Reminder...
Just a reminder to email us with your questions for brownstone authority Charles Lockwood. We are particularly interested in questions about specific houses, histories, finishes, etc., accompanied by photos.
House of the Day: Bed Stuy Bargain?
When our 2-year-old unexpectedly fell asleep while we were running an errand in Bed Stuy on Sunday afternoon, we found ourself with some extra time to drive around and explore the nabe. It's amazing how dramatically the landscape can change block to block. This 3-story, 2,400 square foot listing from Brooklyn Properties looks like it is on one of the nice blocks. It also appears that much of the original detail remains intact, albeit in need of some TLC. The 3-story house is not particularly cheap at $215 a foot; on the other hand, you just don't find older houses on the market for much less than this. What do you think? Is this a buy at $515,000?
Listing #166 [Brooklyn Properties]
Hall Floors Revealed: Today on the Renovation Blog
We took up the fake wood floors on the stair landings last weekend and were pleased to find the original plank floors underneath. More on the Renovation blog.
Starting with the Cellar [Renovation Blog]
Flipping the Bird at Williamsburg Developers
Al Goldstein used to have a segment on Midnight Blue in which he would ceremoniously give the finger to a person or entity that had particularly raised his ire in the previous week. We couldn't help recalling this last weekend as we strolled around South Williamsburg. Although we complain constantly about all the bureaucracy we are having to deal with to renovate and change the C of O on our own house, surveying the eyesores that developers have been putting up between Grand and Broadway on the South Side made us thankful that our brownstone is in a landmarked district and reminded us that there is a role for government regulation. We honestly don't think we could design uglier buildings than these if we tried. We also wonder whether this crap that is getting built ultimately will be the neighborhood's own undoing. Who wants to pay $700 to $900 a foot to live next door to one of these things? Not us--we're off to Clinton Hill where prices are half that. As for the tasteless developers, we hope the market votes with its feet and refuses to inhabit these soulless spaces. If we had a television show instead of a blog, you can guess what kind of a gesture we'd be giving them.
MORE PHOTOS BELOW
Continue reading "Flipping the Bird at Williamsburg Developers"
Tuesday Links
Trash Can, Williamsburg.
South Williamsburg Chic [NY Times]
Subway Fire Unsolved [NY Post]
Ceiling Crash at Open House [NY Post]
Fires Caused by Illegal Conversions [NY Newsday]
B&J Fabrics [Apartment Therapy]
A Train Lingers at Scene [Daily Heights]
Latest Restaurant Additions
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Teeda
added July 30, 2010 12:00 PM in Columbia Street Waterfront -
Bean Post Pub
added July 29, 2010 12:00 PM in Bay Ridge -
Cobble Grill
added July 28, 2010 12:00 PM in Cobble Hill -
Agnanti Meze
added July 27, 2010 12:00 PM in Bay Ridge -
Margaret Palca Bakes
added July 26, 2010 12:00 PM in Columbia Street Waterfront -
Skinflints
added July 23, 2010 12:00 PM in Bay Ridge -
Joe's Restaurant
added July 22, 2010 12:00 PM in Carroll Gardens -
Elia
added July 21, 2010 12:00 PM in Bay Ridge -
Abilene
added July 20, 2010 12:00 PM in Carroll Gardens -
Pegasus
added July 19, 2010 12:00 PM in Bay Ridge