Bed Stuy Lawyer ASAP!


Hi wonderful obsessed brownstone people! So nice to find like minded folk and I hope to be in more serious contact soon. Right now I am in a bit of a bind and hoping you can recommend a good real estate lawyer who is familiar with bed-stuy and all of its trickiness. I am at a loss here and am keeping my fingers crossed. If you would like to call my cell is 503-490-5511 (yes, oregon number, but I live in bed-stuy). I have a deadline of this afternoon and my lawyer just decided to extend his vacation. great.

thank you!
amy

By Brownstoner | 05/31/2005 3:17 PM | Comment

Landscape Designer


Hi,

I am the owner of a brooklyn brownstone, looking for a recommendation for a
landscape designer for the backyard. Heavy shade . ..

THANKS.

By Brownstoner | 05/31/2005 3:00 PM | Comment

Marble Mantel Repairs


I just had a mantel moved up from one fireplace to another. The piece was already broken in 4-5 pieces when I bought the house. Is there anyone you’d recommend to patch everything back before I can have it re-installed? Also, can the same repairers also strip the paint and do general cleaning?

Categories: Restoration
By Brownstoner | 05/30/2005 4:47 PM | Comment

SOD


Can anybody recommend a good place to get grass sod from?
I’m in the Park Slope area.

Thanks

Categories: Restoration
By | 05/26/2005 4:03 PM | Comment

Foundation contractor


Can anyone recommend a good foundation contractor or structural enginer?

Thanks

By | 05/26/2005 2:37 PM | Comment

Major plumbing repair needed: Advice sought


I have a major plumbing problem that needs to be addressed and I’m looking for advice about how to get it fixed. I’m not sure if I should contact a plumber, engineer, or even a general contractor. Any advice on how to go about this project would be appreciated.

The problem: During periods of heavy rain, water from the combination sewer line under my Clinton Hill street backs up into the basement of my townhouse. The water comes up through the utility room drain, then the basement toilet, then the drain at the bottom of the outdoor basement stairwell at the rear of the house. This has happened about a dozen times during June through September over the past 2 years. This happens when it’s really pouring; those 15 minute summer showers that drop inches of rain. I can get anywhere from a trace of water to 6 inches across the entire basement (1200 sq ft). As soon as the rain lets up, the water drains out quickly through the utility room drain; the lowest drain in the house.

I know I could “simply” have a check-valve installed between the trap and the sewer-main connection. I’ve had a couple of plumbers recommend that, but they acknowledge that it’s not a total solution. There is still the problem of the water coming from the roof, from the outdoor stairwell drain, and from interior plumbing fixtures. That water needs a place to go when the valve is closed, or else it will backup into the basement. I can’t seem to find any professionals to look at the whole problem and come up with some creative solutions. For example, maybe after installing a check valve, I could install an awning over the rear stairwell to prevent water from entering the drain. But what to do about the roof and interior water? Maybe I could install a holding tank to handle the roof and interior water while the valve is closed? Or maybe I can dig up the sewer-main under the street and lower it a few feet

I’m will to look at all possibilities!

Anyway, I’m not sure how to go about solving this problem. All the professionals I’ve dealt with so far have only come up with half-solutions. Where are Brooklyn’s plumbing visionaries? I’d be much obliged for any advice you can offer.

Categories: Plumbers
By | 05/26/2005 1:30 PM | Comment

Finding Old House Plans


I’m considering making some medium-sized renovations to my Brooklyn townhouse (opening up a galley kitchen, adding a bathroom), and I understand that the first step is that I need accurate plans/blueprints of my home. I have no idea if there have ever been any plans drawn up of my house, but there was an extension added by a prior owner, so I guess their might be. Do you know: a) how to find out if there are plans on record anywhere with the city, b) if not, how much I should plan on spending to get some drawn up, and c) any recommendations for an architect who could/would do such work even if I might not actually do the renovation anytime soon?

Thanks,
CG

Categories: Restoration
By | 05/26/2005 8:24 AM | Comment

Homeowner’s Insurance


Hi:

I’m researching the finer points of homeowner’s insurance. Do renovators find stiffer rates or fewer vendors than they expected? Has anyone bought riders for flood damage, sewer backup or code compliance? Where can a brownstone buyer go for thorough, honest and minimally lively advice on an airtight insurance package?

Categories: News/Commentary
By | 05/25/2005 10:15 AM | Comment

Historical price data



Does anyone know where I could get data for average rents and co-op sales prices for studios, 1-bed, and 2-bed aprts in Brooklyn over the past 10 years?
I’ve been able to get bits and pieces for certain years, but mostly nothing. I’d like to prove my theory that rents have stayed relatively flat compared to the skyrocketing sales prices. I’d also like to throw in how those prices compare to the median income of people who live in Brooklyn.
Thanks
(more…)

By | 05/24/2005 3:53 PM | Comment

One Montgomery Place


Has anyone heard anything about the contruction that is taking place at One Montgomery Place in Park Slope? The garage next to One Montgomery Place was recently torn down. The NYC Dept of Buildings BIS indicates that all the apartments in the building are being renovated. The current rumor is that all the “apartments” will be used as Dr.’s offices, others rumors say that all the apartment will be sold as condos for residential use.

What do people hear?

Thanks.

Categories: News/Commentary
By | 05/23/2005 10:40 PM | Comment