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Rental of the Day: 504 Beverley Road
Here’s a three-bed/two-bath for rent at 504 Beverley Road in Kensington. The 1,800-square-foot apartment takes up the second floor of a private house. Too bad the rooms feel a little sterile. Otherwise, the rent isn’t bad: $2,400/month. Like it?
504 Beverly Road [Rutenberg Realty] GMAP P*Shark
04/09/2012 12:26 PM
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Winners of Park Slope Funding Contest Announced
Today Councilmember Brad Lander’s office sent out a release saying that the votes from this weekend have been tallied, and that seven projects garnered the most votes to receive the $1 million earmarked for them in the FY 2013 budget via participatory budgeting. There were 20 projects on the ballot. Without further ado:
1. Bathroom Renovation for the Children of PS 124 – $150,000 (Renovate two dysfunctional bathrooms that serve over 136 of the youngest students daily in a high-needs elementary school. 958 votes)
2. Brooklyn Neighbors Composting – $165,000 (Pest-free, smell-free compost system near Gowanus Canal uses 1 ton/day of kitchen food scraps collected at local greenmarkets and schools to create rich soil for our gardens, parks, and trees. 919 votes)
3. District 39 Tree Planting – $100,000 (Plant 100 new trees and install tree guards on blocks with few or no trees Parks Department will contribute an additional $85,000 to this effort for tree planting. 767 votes)
4. Technology: A Better Future for PS 154 / PS 130 Students – $140,000 (Installation of 15 Smartboards (PS 130), 45 13″ Macbook computers with 2 carts and 2 wireless printers (PS 154 grades 1, 3, & 4). 758 votes)
5. Prospect Park Pedestrian Pathway Rehabilitation – $205,000 (Repair Prospect Park pedestrian paths near Park Circle and Long Meadow to prevent flooding, add 10 trash cans in park. 648 votes)
6. Pedestrian Hazards at the Prospect Expressway – $200,000 (Repairs & additions to badly damaged and dangerous 9 lane Prospect Expressway pedestrian crossing at Church Avenue, area and landscape. 606 votes)
7. Kensington Library Resources and Community Space – $80,000 (New books/DVDs for library, equipment for meetings, storytelling, rehearsals, and small performances promoting Kensington’s cultural diversity. 582 votes)
The release also notes the following: “Lander also committed to push forward on several other projects on the ballot that did not receive enough votes to qualify for a share of the $1 million, but around which community residents have coalesced: Getting ‘bus countdown clocks’ at bus shelters; Working with Kensington’s Bangladeshi community to create an “International Mother Language” monument as part of the renovation of Dome Playground; Address flooding and other improvements at the Ft. Hamilton F/G subway station.; Getting DOT to repave 50th Street between Ft. Hamilton Parkway & 13th Avenue; and Facilitating more community access, WiFi, and amenities at the Carroll Gardens library.” How cool would bus countdown clocks be?
Vote for Participatory Budgeting Projects [Brownstoner]
Photo of PS 124 from PropertyShark
04/02/2012 10:00 AM
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Co-op of the Day: 110 Ocean Parkway, #3C
If you’re looking for a good bang for your buck near Prospect Park, this three-bedroom co-op at 110 Ocean Parkway might be worth a gander. The current owner, who picked the place up for $397,000 in 2006, has done an attractive renovation and is now looking to get $599,000. While not an insignificant mark-up, the asking price for the 1,200-square-foot apartment, which includes a private terrace, is probably not far off from what it’ll go for given the proximity to the park and the relatively modest maintenance of $858. Agree?
110 Ocean Parkway, #3C [Douglas Elliman] GMAP P*Shark
03/28/2012 12:57 PM
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More Muscle Behind Fight to Save G Train Extension
On Friday Public Advocate Bill de Blasio announced that he had created a G Train 5-Stop Fan Club on Facebook to try to convince the MTA to retain the G line’s extension. The extension, which began in 2009 along with the Culver Viaduct rehab work, started serving five extra stations in Park Slope, Windsor Terrace and Kensington. Before that, the line terminated at Smith-9th. Capital New York quoted the public advocate’s statement about the creation of the fan page: “These extra five stops are a lifeline that Brooklyn residents and small businesses have come to depend on,” said de Blasio, who is running for mayor in 2013. …Ending this service will have a profound effect on the community and the mom and pop stores along these five stops. I encourage every New Yorker who wants to see the G train service preserved to join the 5 Stop Fan Club and let your voices be heard.” The Working Families Party also has an online petition residents can sign to try to save the extension.
Bill de Blasio Jumps on the G-Train Issue [Capital NY]
G Train Issue Gains Momentum [Eagle]
G Train 5-Stop Fan Club [Facebook]
03/19/2012 9:30 AM
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A New Look for a Kensington Co-op’s Lobby
Local architect Ula Bochinska sent word of a project she worked on that was recently finished, the redesign of 227 Ocean Parkway’s lobby. The co-op asked her to improve the lobby’s layout, seating area and lighting. Here’s the description of how it turned out: “The newly completed lobby features an improved layout with built-in seating area, dramatic lighting effects, large-scale porcelain tile, wood paneling, window plantings and a light box with photographs of historical Brooklyn.” Bochinska says the job cost approximately $160,000. A couple other before and after shots on the jump.
Brooklyn Lobby Renovation [Urszula Bochinska Architect] (more…)
03/06/2012 11:00 AM
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Open House Picks
Park Slope
352 4th Street
Warren Lewis
Sunday, 1:30-3:00
$1,650,000
GMAP P*Shark
Park Slope
418 4th Avenue
Corcoran
Sunday, 1:00-2:30
$1,399,000
GMAP P*Shark
Fiske Terrace
32 DeKoven Court
Aguayo & Huebener
Sunday, 2:30-4:00
$1,195,000
GMAP P*Shark
Kensington
272 East 5th Street
Douglas Elliman
Sunday, 12:30-2:00
$1,050,000
GMAP P*Shark
01/20/2012 1:09 PM
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Rental of the Day: 333 Ocean Parkway
Here we have a floor-through two bedroom at 333 Ocean Parkway in Kensington. The place is quite nice and the rent, at $1,795/month, is low. The kitchen looks small for this size of apartment, but that’s our only complaint. It’s a few blocks from the commercial drag on Cortelyou (although a longer distance to the subway). What do ya think?
333 Ocean Parkway [Lee Farber Real Estate] GMAP P*Shark
12/12/2011 12:30 PM
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Temporary Closures on the F, G Line Starting Monday
Windsor Terrace and Kensington commuters once again have to contend with subway hassles starting next week, when southbound F and G trains start skipping Fort Hamilton and 15th St/Prospect Park until spring. The closures are happening because of the Culver Viaduct rehabilitation work, which was also responsible for northbound trains skipping the stations for about five months earlier this year. According to the Brooklyn Paper, the closures affect about 11,000 commuters. Meanwhile, Kensington Prospect reports that Brad Lander’s office is saying the NYPD is going to increase its presence in the area, “particularly during the darker evening hours,” because of the recent rash of sexual attacks.
Windsor Terrace Gets F-d (and G’d)! [BK Paper]
F Train Troubles Begin This Weekend, Continue Through Winter [Kensington Prospect]
Photo by beigeinside
11/11/2011 10:00 AM
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Permits Filed for Long-Stalled Kensington Site
There hasn’t been anything doing at 22 Caton Place in Kensington for about five years, but permits filed with the city show that plans for a new building on the site aren’t completely dead. Hudson Companies (of Third + Bond fame) bought the land earlier this year, and DOB permits that were just filed indicate that the firm intends to build a 73-unit development. That means the project will have 15 more units than the former developer was planning, and instead of Karl Fischer the architect is going to be Kiss + Cathcart. Gotta imagine the neighbors will welcome the day when the lot is no longer a stalled eyesore. GMAP
Photo via stalleddevelopment
10/24/2011 9:30 AM
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House of the Day: 314 Caton Avenue
This listing at 314 Caton Avenue on the border of Windsor Terrace and Kensington just hit the market with an asking price of $700,000. The brick exterior has a certain charm. The interior does too, though the new floors are a bummer and the kitchen is straight-up Home Depot. Both of those things are remediable and the proximity to the Parade Grounds and Prospect Park are nice too. Think the price is right?
314 Caton Avenue [Lay Hoon Chua] GMAP P*Shark
08/23/2011 1:19 PM
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New Coffee Shop Brewing in Kensington
Earlier this week a reader sent in this photo showing a sign outside the future home of a coffee shop called Steeplechase that’s going to open on Ft. Hamilton Parkway between East 2nd and 3rd streets. The Kensington Area Resident/Merchant Alliance’s blog had a writeup of the business last month and shots of progress of the interior; it’s supposed to be open seven days a week and have indoor and outdoor seating.
New Coffee Shop on Fort Hamilton Parkway [KarmaBrooklyn] GMAP
06/08/2011 2:00 PM
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Development Watch: 265 Ocean Parkway
Last week a reader sent in the photo above of the development at 265 Ocean Parkway, writing that it looks like it might no longer be a stalled project: “This site’s been abandoned for at least the last two years or so, it seems. Then, two days ago, they erected a new construction elevator, and today they were taking delivery of building supplies. It’s about time!” DOB permits say the 8-story building will have 15 units.
Development Watch: 265 Ocean Parkway [Brownstoner] GMAP DOB
05/17/2011 2:40 PM
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F/G Service Resuming at 2 Stations on May 23rd
The maintenance work that began at the 15th Street and Ft. Hamilton Parkway subway stations in mid-January, resulting in the suspension of Manhattan-bound F and G service, will be done in about a month. The MTA has informed the community that on May 23rd, northbound service will resume at the two stations, as shown in the Windsor Terrace Alliance’s countdown clock above. Meanwhile, southbound service on the two lines from the same stations is scheduled to be suspended from this fall to next spring as part of the Culver Viaduct rehab work.
Windsor Terrace Alliance [Official Site]
04/27/2011 9:30 AM
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Kensington Lot Sells, Will Finally be Developed!
A few months ago we noticed work beginning again at the stalled development 23 Caton, which has seen its share of troubles. Right across the street is 22 Caton, a lot where a Karl Fischer design was once planned. Now, city records show for that 22 Caton has sold for $2,850,000. As it turns out, the buyer is The Hudson Companies, our old friends from the Third + Bond blog. David Kramer, from Hudson, tells us they are in the very beginning stages, but think they’ve got a great location. The architect just hired is Kiss + Cathacart. If the project pulls through quickly, and 23 Caton keeps moving, this block will be looking a whole lot different in no time. GMAP
Image via Property Shark
04/14/2011 9:30 AM
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Rental of the Day: 135 Ocean Parkway
We’re totally into this one bedroom at the co-op building Caton Towers in Kensington. Plenty of space and light, a cute little kitchen, and dark hardwood floors. The whole package, especially in a full-service, doorman building, is nice indeed. Thoughts on the $1,650 rent? Doesn’t seem crazy to us. Update: this was a Co-Op of the Day in January, asking $280,000.
135 Ocean Parkway [Halstead] GMAP P*Shark
03/09/2011 12:32 PM
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MTA: Sorry, a B68 Extension Would be Too Costly….
“Thousands of commuters on the F and G trains have been slapped with major commuting inconveniences since the city began work on the Culver Viaduct last month. The MTA, however, has said too bad. In January Councilmember Brad Lander hit the agency with a petition to extend the B68 signed by 1,238 Brooklyn straphangers. The petition proposed that the extended service would ease the commuting pains of straphangers stranded at both 15th Street-Prospect Park and Fort Hamilton Parkway, where northbound service is suspended until May due to the rehabilitation project. The B68 extension would give commuters an alternative to walking to Seventh Avenue or heading southbound first in order to doubleback and catch northbound trains. Last week, however, the agency wrote a letter to Lander and other local politicians denying the request.” -Park Slope Patch The full text of the letter from the MTA follows. (more…)
02/15/2011 9:45 AM
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Rental of the Day: 401 East 2nd Street
This four-bedroom apartment is in a neat-looking house at 401 East 2nd Street in Kensington. The exterior has some, ahem, idiosyncrasies but the porch (astro turf and all) trumps them for us and the interior is in pretty decent shape for a rental. The $2,400-a-month rent for four bedrooms ain’t bad either. What do you think of that price for this part of the neighborhood?
401 East 2nd Street [David West Properties] GMAP P*Shark
02/02/2011 12:27 PM
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Electrical Explosion Rocks Kensington
A reader, Bill DesJardins, sent in these photos along with the following report about an electrical explosion on Wednesday night in Kensington:
A ConEd transformer blew up Wednesday night on Avenue C, rocketing manhole covers 30 feet up into the air, after which a 45-minute pyrotechnic display attracted onlookers and FDNY response teams. ‘I thought something was wrong because the lights were flickering on and off all morning long,’ reported local resident Roger Kaufman as he returned home at 9 PM only to find his block taped off by NYPD.
At around 8 PM the primary explosion reverberated throughout the neighborhood like a cannon. Immediately thereafter the two manhole covers which had been shot into the air returned to earth, sounding like snow plows as teach bounced off Avenue C between E. 2nd and E. 3rd Streets. Orange flames then erupted from the manholes, their tips transforming into billowing black smoke. Secondary explosions beneath the ground then forced out the orange flames, replacing them with showering of blue-white sparks. Reverberated throughout the duct system beneath Avenue C, the explosions sounded as if emanated by a gargantuan, underground trumpet.
As this scene unfolded on the street, lights in adjacent apartment buildings and private homes could be seen flickering through their respective window. Once completely out, the occupants in these structures came out into the street where they watched, along with ConEd and FDNY personnel, the transformer burn itself out. Around 11 PM, emergency crews from ConEd arrived and busied themselves in the attempt to restore power to the block. These efforts continued throughout the night, and it is reported that power was not restored until 6 AM. By late yesterday afternoon the recovery effort continued with ConEd crews still working to replace feeder cables and transformers wrecked by the previous night’s havoc. It is rumored that salt used during the recent Brooklyn blizzard precipitated the underground electrical explosion.
01/21/2011 9:00 AM
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Co-op of the Day: 135 Ocean Parkway, #14H
We’re probably just falling for the dark floors, but something about this one-bedroom co-op at 135 Ocean Parkway (a recent addition to the Brownstoner Marketplace) is grabbing us. While we wish the ceilings were a little higher, the wide windows and killer 14th-floor views seem to make up for it. Plus, the kitchen, while not large, has been tastefully renovated. As for the price of $280,000, it appears to be in line with several other high-floor one bedrooms in the Kensington building that are also on the market right now.
135 Ocean Parkway, #14H [Halstead] GMAP P*Shark
01/05/2011 12:57 PM
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Co-op of the Day: 510 Ocean Parkway, #2J
The listing doesn’t say that this two-bedroom co-op at 510 Ocean Parkway is being sold by the sponsor, but that kitchen sure looks like a sponsor renovation to us! Otherwise, the 750-square-foot apartment looks pretty attractive to us for the price of $299,000. Of course, the Kensington location, five blocks from the nearest subway, won’t be for everyone, but Ocean Parkway has quite a grand feel to it, so there’s definitely some curb appeal. What do you make of it?
510 Ocean Parkway, #2J [Fillmore] GMAP P*Shark
12/15/2010 12:58 PM
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adam_dahill
May 21, 2012 | 02:16 PM