May 10, 2008

Prospect Lefferts Garden Feedback

Anyone have feedback on living in the Prospect Lefferts Garden area? Seems like some streets are better than others? Is there enough cafes/bars and mellow but fun social life? Also, is the B train and commute really 30 mins to midtown? Any feedback would be great... thanks!

May 9, 2008

Long Island College Hosptal

The 150 year old health anchor of brownstone Brooklyn now controlled and run from Manhattan by Continuum Health Partners is slowly being stripped of it's assets and threatened with closure.
The Medical Staff has filed a complaint with the Attorney General's office requesting a dissolution of the relationship with Continuum.
The medical staff is convinced that LICH is being controlled and exploited in classic colonial style by the Manhattan institution for
Manhattan's benefit (i.e. Beth Israel, Roosevelt and St. Lukes)
There is no local board and administrative control resides with Stanley Brezenoff the CEO of Continuum Health Partners and not with the LICH CEO.
The health care needs of brownstone brooklyn is second at best to the financial interests Continuum.
The Medical staff is truly concerned that with it's assets sold off by Continuum LICH will either morph into a shadow of itself or disappear entirely leaving Brooklyn Heights, Cobble Hill and Carroll Gardens without it's local hospital.

May 2, 2008

Water from Neighbor Yard

I recently discovered the source of some serious water issues in my yard. Apparently our neighbor has built an extension to their building prior to us moving in. The bottom part of the building has a steep concrete slope that angles toward our yard and when it rains water pours off of their building down the slope and funnels directly into our yard.

This has caused serious issues including overwhelming our drain and flodding the basement and washing debris from their alleyway between the buildings into the yard.

I have been told it is not legal for their building to be designed to make their water problem our problem. I am planning on building a low wall on my side of the property between our fence and their yard that will no doubt create a narrow swimming pool in their alleyway when it rains. But before doing so, I was wondering if anyone can confirm if they are definately in the wrong (illegal, etc.) and what recourse I would have to force them to solve the problem?

Thanks!

May 1, 2008

Clinton Hill:Lefferts Place okay to move to?

Looking at a top-floor 1 br in a brownstone on Lefferts. Want to get some opinions on the block/area before making a stupid decision. Franklin "C" station seems terrible. The Classon/Wash "C" is two blocks away. Any advice? It seems Princess Lefferts Hotel is across the street and is a flophouse. Any opinions out there?

Party wall soundproofing

I searched the forum and found a few posts on party wall soundproofing, but I'm looking for more specific advice, and I would really like to hear from people who did this.

After we moved into our house, we realized that one of our party walls sounded surprisingly thin. We can hear music, TV, conversations, vacuum cleaner, etc. The neighbors are not particularly loud, and what we can hear appears to be a fairly normal noise level (and they can probably hear us). The wall is brick covered by the original plaster. I was surprised that brick and plaster could transmit so much noise, but it does. I've read on soundproofing and I'm getting familiar with the basic concepts (mass and standoff) and with the materials. But the more I read, the more I realize that there is no easy and perfect solution.

I'd like to hear from people who soundproofed their party walls. What did you use and what results did you get?

And where in Brooklyn or NYC can I find soundprooking materials? I was at Lowes and Home Depot recently. When I asked them about soundproofing materials they only had Homasote 440. They had never heard of Quietrock and Green Glue. I was suprised since I thought these thing would be in high demand in NYC.

thanks in advance!

Water softener system vs. filtration system

Can anyone recomend a solution to very hard water? Two of my kids have eczema and I also have dry skin. I want to do something about our water but don't know if I need a filtration system or a softener system. Does anyone have aby experience or advice?

Brooksieboy

April 25, 2008

BACK YARD BAR NOISE - SOLUTIONS

I've lived in house around 4th Avenue for over ten years. Last year 4th Avenue pub opened up a beer garden. Nothing wrong with that - except they stay open all night long on any given day so long as it isn't raining. What once was your only peaceful refuge from the the everyday noise of the city has been ruined. Since they don't play music, the DEP won't issue fines. And the 84th precinct just does the perfunctory visit, the noise stops and then it just stops back up again.

Now you may be thinking, "well don't live the City". Many of us have lived here ten, twenty, 30 years or more. Some are retirees, children, people who have to work in the mornings. None of us can sleep with the windows open. We all have to run our AC's at night because of the noise. The owner unlike the owners of Cherry Tree refuses to work with the neighborhood and do anything to reduce the noise or the hours of operation of the "beer garden".

Many must be thinking, "people like you hold the neighborhood hostage". The reality is 4th Avenue Pub in its complete contempt for the surrounding neighbors holds us hostage. After work, I rarely hang out in my garden because it sounds like a party on any given nice day. I'd rather hear the sound of music than the sound of drunks. Some may think I'm over reacting. Until you've had to deal with this every day for the past year, don't judge.

What I need is some suggestions on how to put an end to this contemptible behavior. I've never been the community activist sort, so I need some leads on how to begin.

Help.

April 24, 2008

Smith and 9th Lockdown for F?

I know the Smith/9th St. F stop is due to close sometime in 2009 or 2010...but I can't find a solid date for it. Or even what part of the year?

Does anyone know if the MTA has established a date? (As much as the MTA can be trusted to stick to a date?)

Union St in Carroll Gardens

Can anyone give me a sense of the noise level along Union St. in Carroll Gardens? (Spec between Smith and Hoyt?) I'm aware a bus line goes down the street.

April 23, 2008

life along on the R train?

Hi Bstoners-

Am considering moving to a home along the R. Weekdays are fine, since I work downtown, but am wondering what the R is like on weekends - is it out a lot? Does it get replaced by a shuttle? I already know the train is pretty slow...but just curious how the weekend service is. Thanks!