Pesky Neighborhood Cats


OK, serious question, and I’m not asking this just to get a rise out of the cat people. I have a real problem I need to solve.

There are a couple of neighborhood cats that have taken to pissing and humping and fighting in my back yard. They like to hang out under the back steps, right next to my bedroom window, and it’s starting to smell like cat piss and they are waking me and my wife up at night. I have started opening the back door and throwing rocks and stuff at them, but they haven’t gotten the point. I assume it’s illegal to deal with the problem the old fashioned way, so I have to resort to other measures. Is there any kind of cat repellant out there? Do I just need to borrow a friend’s mean dog for a while? Any suggestions?

Categories: Quality of Life
By lechacal | 03/25/2010 10:43 AM | Comment

What is a Brownstone?


Serious question — What is the definition of a brownstone? Does the facade actually have to consist of “brownstone” (which I understand is a relatively low strength and easily worked sedimentary stone)? When I see brownstone facades being redone it looks like the workers mix up a mortar mix, add brown coloring and then apply to the facade. Are there “brownstones” that have something other then actual brownstone but have this brown mortar applied as a coating? I have always followed the rule that what looks like a brownstone must be a brownstone, but I am realizing that I don’t actually know if there are rules to what must be under the surface for a building to qualify as a brownstone.

Categories: Facade
By lechacal | 03/25/2009 10:00 AM | Comment

The What – Revealed!


This just in! Investigative reporters have uncovered The What’s true identity!

By lechacal | 10/24/2008 11:17 AM | Comment

Where Was Everyone?


I showed up at about 10:05, looked around… The staff said that all the brownstoner people had left and any stragglers would have name tags (no one did). No one lasted past 10? What gives?

By lechacal | 10/16/2008 10:36 PM | Comment

NOT A THREE BEDROOM


http://corcoran.com/property/listing.aspx?Region=NYC&ListingID=1372456

OK, this is a perfect example of what I have been talking about. By no stretch of the imagination is this a 3 bedroom.

As an aside, I have been to an open house (with the previous broker) and can tell you that it is very charitable to claim this is a 1400 sf unit.

Fail.

By lechacal | 09/17/2008 9:56 AM | Comment

Lincoln Place Condos


Anyone go to the open house for the new condos on Lincoln b/w 6th and 7th yesterday? Interested in what the peanut gallery has to say. I thought:

- awkward layouts, but
- prices are not ridiculous.

Categories: News/Commentary
By lechacal | 09/08/2008 3:33 PM | Comment

Richard Meier Building


Does anyone know how sales are going at the Richard Meier building on Grand Army Plaza? How do sale prices compare with asking prices? I have always wondered how those places could sell for such high prices given the alternatives around the corner in Park Slope proper.

By lechacal | 08/20/2008 9:33 PM | Comment