Bergen Hill Historic District?


Hi all,

I just viewed a gorgeous, immaculately restored 19th century brick townhome in the Bergen Hill area of Jersey City. It’s the kind of house I drool over on Bstoner all the time, but will never be affordable to me and my kind in Brooklyn. Try as I might, I can’t find too much online about this area of JC, which is definitely still on the down side of “up and coming”. Not sure how much I want to be a pioneer — it’d be tough to give up all the amenities of brownstone Brooklyn, even for this gem of a place.

I know there are one or two Jersey folks on this board — anyone have any thoughts on Bergen Hill, and what it’s like to live there now, as well as predictions for the future? We already know the zoned schools are bad.

Just a note that one half of the buying equation lived for a long time in JC, so we’re not totally clueless when it comes to the area.

Thanks!

Categories: Real Estate
By slopette | 05/15/2011 2:29 PM | Comment

Stripping Paint off Metal Hardware


This is a pretty basic question by Brownstoner standards, but bear with me… I live in a rental with what look to be rather incredible brass hardware (drawer pulls, door brackets) currently covered by several layers of white paint. I can tell that underneath that paint is some intricately patterned metal work, and I’d like to expose it. What’s the easiest, most non-toxic method? I am able to remove the hardware. I have no access to outdoor space and have pets, so I want to keep this clean and fume-free if possible.

Categories: Restoration
By slopette | 11/02/2010 9:45 AM | Comment

Button Identification?


I recently moved into a ~1900 rowhouse and found this oversized “button” near our old dumb waiter shaft. It extends through the wall to the other side. A friend who lives in a similar building has the same button, but it is not near any (extant) dumb waiter.

Can someone help us to identify this? Is it a call button for the dumb waiter, or for a servant? It’s been painted over so many times at this point, it’s hard to identify. Originally I thought it was an old, sawed off post!

Categories: Restoration
By slopette | 11/24/2009 10:05 AM | Comment