Forum: Quality of Life
March 31, 2008
storefront or new gallery at 17th and 5th?
There's a storefront on 17th between 5th and 6th that's empty but for a chair and some neo-renaissance paintings.
Anyone else notice it?
What's going on there? Gallery? Art Project? Beginning of something else?
Heavily chlorinated water of late?
Has anyone else noticed a very sharp increase in the amount of chlorine in Brooklyn municipal water lately?
We live in Clinton Hill and in the last week or so the chlorine in our drinking and showering water has been off the charts - completely undrinkable, and really drying out our skin and hair.
It doesn't go away after letting the water run, a Brita pitcher doesn't get rid of chlorine (not even the odor), and we have been forced to leave open pitchers of water out for it to evaporate.
Needless to say, it's becoming quite frustrating.
I plan to call 311 about it, but wanted to see if anyone else is having the same issue?
Thanks!
March 27, 2008
Bad neighbours!
I've spoken to them, I've tried to be reasonable - but their smoke alarm goes off once in the morning, and three times every night. Garbage everywhere, and there is probably four families living in a legal 2 family at best.
Who do I complain to - any advice or experiences?
Thanks
March 25, 2008
Health Hazards: neighbor's never ending renovation
Our neighbors in the brownstone next door launched a very extensive renovation plan last year now 6 months past the proposed end date with no end in sight. We put up with months of loud noise 7 days a week and white dust particles but then came the fumes. These chemical odors are so strong they give you instant headaches. A number of residents in my co-op are retired or work from home so there is no escaping overpowering fumes. We've tried calling 311, made complaints to the health dept, EPA and even had inspectors come out and assess the situation. The workers continue to keep windows shut while using toxic paint, varnish and stains unless we remind them several times a day to open windows to ventilate so the fumes don't just travel next door. We have developed coughs, runny noses and are concerned about longterm effects. Our neighbor is practically non-responsive (while living elsewhere). Any suggestions? Should we be staying somewhere else too? What is reasonable to inflict on neighbors?
March 18, 2008
Armory/Homeless Shelter in Crown Heights
I've been considering moving to a condo on Pacific between Nostrand and Bedford and I love everything about it... except the homeless shelter down the block at Atlantic and Bedfordn Aves. Does anyone have any info on crime in the area surrounding this shelter? I read in a blog that there is talk that it could be converted into a community center of sorts, anyone know if this is in the works?
Thanks in advance
DEP Damage
I'm looking for tips on what we should do. After I called 311 about a fire hydrant outside my house leaking into my basement and creating a sink hole in my side yard, they came out and repaired the hydrant and told me they'd be back to fix the sidewalk they broke up and refill my sideyard with dirt. They haven't been back. Today I called 311 again and found that their records show that DEP has closed the case and plans no further work. Well I still have the sink hole and the busted up sidewalk. Now the City tells me that I can either file another complaint with 311 who will send out DOT who will perform the work and then bill me and then I can seek reimbursement from the City by filing a claim with the Comptroller or I can have the work performed and file for a claim. It all seems so, so, wrong. The City's workers can just make a mess of things, write it in their reports and walk away and the homeowner has to fix it and file a claim? I'm not so keen about having DoT inspect and make the repair because a lot of the sidewalk is the original bluestone, warts and all and we don't have the money to redo it now. Suggestions? Advice?
The "F" Train....
Anyone notice the F train is becoming increasingly more and more crowded? I usually take the F between 7:15am - 7:35am and get on at 7th Avenue. As recent as 2 months ago,I was almost always able to get a seat at Jay Street, if not before that at 4th avenue... now I can't get a seat until sometimes BWY/Lafayette. And the rushour home is ridiculous at this point, luckily I get on at 57th where it's pretty empty IF the train is running on time, of course!
Now before some idiot posts something stupid - I am only asking because it's been my observation and am wondering if there has been a genuine influx of people in our nabes and if you all have noticed it as well....
car break-ins in fort greene
there's a stretch of our block that is boarded up for construction (the Carlton Mews project), where car windows are routinely broken into, sometimes several times a week. we avoid parking there, obviously, but sometimes it's necessary when no other spots are open. i'm wondering if anyone has suggestions for what we can do as a block to fight this problem. hopefully everyone is reporting the break-ins, but even so, i'm not sure what good that will do.
March 13, 2008
A new idea for Brownstoner
Reading about the Methodist Hospital annex at Novo conjured up flashes of the plastic pachysandra diorama in the revolving hospital entrance on 7th Avenue. Seems many of the larger businesses (and the hospital is a business) don't know or care about design. The Brooklyn Chamber sponsors an annual 'architecture' awards that lauds commerce, not design. What about a Brownstoner/Design*Sponge effort to commend design?
Know you guys are busy and probably overextended, but wouldn't it be a great?
love ya,
Ms. Wink