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February 23, 2008
Littlest House in Brooklyn
Well Hello Hello.
I'm so happy to make myself an official member of Brownstoner.com I jsut moved back to the area on a more permanent basis, and have been put in charge of renovating my family's house here on State Street. Hopefully I can get all I can from you guys while I'm here, because I sure as hell gonna need it!
So I live in what might be the tiniest house in Brooklyn, or at least close to it in the hood. I've attached a photo using the BAM Cultural Center pic which seems to have actually divided each lot. The House next store is similar, but I have a store front on the first floor, so living space is 1/3 smaller. But hey it's enough for me, ny byofriend and our cat... but that's about it.
I've been visiting this house all my life, and it's been so strange to watch the changes over the last 20 years, and I know it's only going to continue. Atlantic Center, Target, The weird hanson offices, boreum heights luxury condos, atlantic yards, I didn't even know about this whole BAM Cultural District thing until today while reading the blog. I'm so out of the loop!
Anyone have some good posts about my area? what is my area called? I swear I never know what to tell people. I just say "Oh I live near target" and they go "Oooohhhh okay" I've been randomly searching brownstoner for tidbits, but what I really need is a hood tutorial for dummies.
Alright well it's late, but I look forward to talking more with y'all.
FYI first on my big renovation questions are:
adding another floor (what are the legalities/steps/prices?) and refinishing basement, itty bitty, scary, dirt floor, out of a ghost story.
Comments
Are you for real? This is quite a childish post. Go home.
Posted by: guest at February 23, 2008 6:19 PM
Is that the Fried Guitars place?
Posted by: johnife at February 23, 2008 7:53 PM
Hey 'lilhouse:
You are in Downtown Brooklyn... wait, now they call it the BAM Cultural District, which will soon be known as Atlantic Yards.
If you want to add stories and/or dig out the basement, you will need some real professionals. Start with an architect.
All the best...
Posted by: denton at February 23, 2008 9:07 PM
Once I posted that message I realized that it was just full of late night grammatical errors, and reflective rant. I was going to edit, but I guess the forum doesn't allow that. My apologies.
6:19
I am home. grow up.
7:53
Yes it is Fried Guitar, formally Studio Dep (Tattoo joint) Gary's a really sweet tenant, have you had work done by him?
9:07
Yeah We've been getting recommendations from friends in the area. Been working on small projects through the house before we got to the bigger tasks (stripping grandma linoleum, and cleaning the tar off the walls from a previous chain smoking caveman, etc.) I have yet to call any of them, basically I've just been worried that they might not want to take on such a small project. Adding a floor is usually a big deal, but not when the house is only 20 x 20. I'm probably just being pessimistic.
Posted by: LilHouseNBklyn at February 24, 2008 10:51 AM
lilhouse, you're definitely being pessimistic, cuz adding a floor is not a small job. Especially when combining digging out the basement. You will need a structural engineer at a bare minimum, and to actually add it, you might need all kinds of interesting new things in the way of support. And a new c of o, I believe.
Posted by: denton at February 24, 2008 3:45 PM
But if you add a floor you won't have the smallest house in Brooklyn anymore,
Posted by: guest at February 24, 2008 8:10 PM
I cant help but be pessimistic. The last time I was living in the house and fixing it up I got royally screwed. But we'll definitely be hiring an engineer as well as an architect. The last thing I need is this baby collapsing in on itself.
Posted by: LilHouseNBklyn at February 26, 2008 5:30 PM
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