Actually, I take that back, I think 'anfore' might be the Italian spelling...

Posted by: 1842 at November 20, 2009 1:18 PM in response to New Restaurant Coming to Bergen Street

That's an amphora, not an anfore...

Posted by: 1842 at November 20, 2009 1:17 PM in response to New Restaurant Coming to Bergen Street

that's gotta hurt Schnall. Phil's the only halfway pleasant, semi-communicative (if that's a word) person at Schnall's office...

Posted by: 1842 at November 19, 2009 5:30 PM in response to Phil from Scott Schnall's office

Call me crazy, but I'd imagine she has hired an architect and/or engineer who will somehow figure out the mind boggling way to maintain or reinforce the structural stability of the wall with windows inserted.

Posted by: 1842 at November 19, 2009 11:26 AM in response to LPC Will Not Reconsider Norah Jones Decision

Wasder, didn't your nosy neighbor dob you in for doing something not to code, like a wood deck or something, that you posted about on this webiste? This is different, Miss Jones if doing it by the book. I'm not your neighbor by the way, so please don't visit any wrath on me ;-).

Posted by: 1842 at November 19, 2009 11:18 AM in response to LPC Will Not Reconsider Norah Jones Decision

I'm still amazed that they can clear a violation for demolishing a building withoug permits with the simple payment of a $2500 fine (someone correct me if the amount was wrong). Also, it looks to be built bigger than the FAR allows...

Posted by: 1842 at November 18, 2009 2:55 PM in response to Development Watch: Grandma's House No More

It's so nice when these storefronts retain some of their original design (or a replication thereof) - woodwork, windows etc.

Posted by: 1842 at November 18, 2009 11:16 AM in response to Coming to Bergen: Mid-Century Furniture Dealer

Denton, it won't get a facade - it's been like this for a couple of years at least. The developers were fined several times and issued stop work orders because they did unpermitted work. They effectively destroyed the two story timber framed house dating from the mid to late 1850s and built this. They were not permitted to do so. As I recall, their work permit was for interior renovation etc., not for additional floor or demolition of the exterior.

They've been trying to sell this overbuilt travesty for a couple of years or so now. It's really too bad because the original house was cute, had a front porch, and was sold for a reasonable 500ish price (plus it was one of the oldest houses in the area).

Really a shame. I still can't believe they just built this and destoyed the old place without appropriate permits.

Posted by: 1842 at November 17, 2009 4:11 PM in response to Development Watch: Grandma's House No More

I had some electricians who where doing some other work neaten them up for me. There were loose bundles, old cables that no longer were used etc.

Posted by: 1842 at November 17, 2009 10:16 AM in response to Removing Unsightly Wires?

Good news and good luck to her. I'll have to stop by and see if I can find any holiday gifts.

Posted by: 1842 at November 17, 2009 10:09 AM in response to Closing Bell: Gradys Collective on Fulton

Spot on MM.

Posted by: 1842 at November 16, 2009 11:00 AM in response to Cobble Hill Neighbors Irked by Norah Jones' Windows

IMO, the size of this place is a plus as well. It is hard to find a one family size rowhouse. Usually, you end up buying something larger and even if you do not need the rental income, the place is so large that it is silly not to rent at least the garden floor (even for a family of 5). Here, you don't have to pay the premium for all the extra space, and can make it a one family with four bedrooms easily, and for around $1MM when done. Good deal imo. A small frame house around this size on St. James (#154) just sold for $1.1 or so (someone posted that on this site - it was featured on this site a few months ago and most said it would never break $1MM for such a small place.

Posted by: 1842 at November 13, 2009 11:58 PM in response to Big Turnout for 437 Waverly Auction

I'm not surprised at this price at all. Spend another $450K doing it up the way you'd like to and you have a great single family with a center stair in a good landmarked location for around $1MM (which is a bit less than a well done renovated version of this house would likely sell for, even in today's market). If I was liquid enough, I would have taken this on, and rented out our current house once this was finished. I wonder if they have the FAR to do a small two story extension? Facing East/West would not result in much of a light issue for the neighbors' back yards...

Posted by: 1842 at November 13, 2009 10:13 PM in response to Big Turnout for 437 Waverly Auction

Congratulations! Well done. The Flea is really impressive and I'm glad you both are getting the recognition for it.

Posted by: 1842 at November 12, 2009 4:52 PM in response to Closing Bell: Martha's Brooklyn Show Now Online

Yes she can. Lease is expiring and she is electing not to renew. Look for a new place.

Posted by: 1842 at November 12, 2009 2:28 PM in response to Condo Owner Kicking Out

Agreed donatella. I just want new places to thrive. A track record of success encourages more development of other empty storefronts.

Posted by: 1842 at November 6, 2009 3:52 PM in response to Fulton Sports Bar Signage Revealed

I'm a guy. Guys can be quite crude and joke around with one another - it's a way of relating that can be foreign to many women - greeting your friends has b*st*rds, telling them they look like sh*t - but the examples the OT posted are totally off for both professional reasons and because it is sexist and intimidating. Some women could dish it back and maybe deal with it that way, but they shouldn't have too.

I guarantee the shop attendant would not have spoken that way to a male customer, and definitely would not have said that to a woman in the presence of a husband, boyfriend or other guy that the woman was with as it would potentially have resulted in a serious beat down.

If a contractor was that jocular with a man, or made such dismissive comments with respect to questions or issues raised, they would not get the business from the guy and no one would be saying "you need to be more thick skinned".

Posted by: 1842 at November 6, 2009 3:38 PM in response to Contractors & Chauvinism

I need some sleep, I meant to write "by the Helmsley building..."

Posted by: 1842 at November 6, 2009 3:10 PM in response to Fulton Sports Bar Signage Revealed

I don't know, to say asking pricing is moderating based on these picks doesn't seem totally spot on. Take the Vanderbilt place - three floor through apartments in need of a lot of work on a small lot. It's an investment property. The Boerum Hill house looks devoid of any details inside and is on a mixed residential/commercial block. The other houses seem in line with what has been asked in those neighborhoods. Just sayin...

Posted by: 1842 at November 6, 2009 3:04 PM in response to Open House Picks

I checked out the website again, and to add to the rather odd marketing, the background picture is of buildings on Park Avenue in Manhattan, but the Helmsley building near 44th Street.

Posted by: 1842 at November 6, 2009 2:57 PM in response to Fulton Sports Bar Signage Revealed

I meant to say "you might not end up attracting as much business...".

Apologies for all the typos, I wrote that too quickly ...

Posted by: 1842 at November 6, 2009 2:53 PM in response to Fulton Sports Bar Signage Revealed

First off, I truly hope that this place is a successful (regardless of the aesthetics of the sign...). It would be a great addition to Fulton Street, regardless of whether it is a place that everyone would want to frequent.

That said, I think from a marketing perspective (and a business plan perspective) they need to be more clear about what the venue is supposed to be - a sports bar with food, or a lounge, or a restaurant, but not all three. Hopefully it's just semantics in the way they are describing what the venue will be, but in my opinion, each of those types of venues a different from one another, and what makes one successful might make another unsuccessful. People generally do not seek out lounges for a "premier" dining experience, or to watch sports. People don't seek out sports bars for a cool lounge experience or fine dining. People seeking a restaurants for a fine dining experience are not looking for sports on TV or loud lounge music.

None of that is to say that a sports bar or lounge shouldn't, or can't, have good food or drinks, or that certain elements from one venue can't successfully be incorporated into another type of venue. However, I personally feel that you should focus on what you want to provide and the types of customers you want to market to, and do it very well. If you try to be everything to everyone you might end up attracting as much business as if you were a bit more focused on the service you want to provide.

Anyway, this is just speculation based on the website description. I hope they do well.

Posted by: 1842 at November 6, 2009 2:49 PM in response to Fulton Sports Bar Signage Revealed

If you're going to zipcar, sign up for one of the memberships where you pay a monthly fee which rolls over month to month for up to two months (I think) and is credited to your reservations. Then you get lower rates for the reservations. Cheapest one day rental rates on weekends are then $103 for the most basic monthly plan. Add taxes and a couple of easy pass tolls in and out of the city and your paying about $124 for the day in my experience. Not too bad for the convenience. I think it is an especially good service if youjust need a care for a few hours to go to Lowes or something like that.

Posted by: 1842 at November 5, 2009 5:47 PM in response to Subway Service on Weekends Is F@#%ed

Can someone please open these sorts of businesses on Fulton Street in clinton hill in one of the empty storefronts. Or just a green grocer type place like the fruit veggie shop down by Sahadi's on Atlantic would do a roaring trade. Goldmine I tell you if you know how to run a place like this and have the capital to get it up and running.

Posted by: 1842 at November 5, 2009 3:39 PM in response to StreetLevel: Lucas Fine Foods Coming to Union

Noki, don't be bothered by bklplebe, a lot of what you want is here. It's still urban, but much less noisy and congested in the neighborhoods you're considering than where you are in Manhattan. We do the bstone trick or treating, play in the parks, grill outside, the whole deal, an really like it. It's still the big city though...

Posted by: 1842 at November 5, 2009 3:25 PM in response to House of the Day: 119 Fort Greene Place

Ok, not surprised dinobot. I just didn't recall off the top of my head any brownstones breaking 3MM in FG. I remembered a few unique places that qualified as old mansions...

Posted by: 1842 at November 5, 2009 3:22 PM in response to House of the Day: 119 Fort Greene Place

Noki, you need to move to Brooklyn my friend...

Posted by: 1842 at November 5, 2009 3:01 PM in response to House of the Day: 119 Fort Greene Place

I know what you mean BHO, but I actually think this block fo FG Place is better than the one on the north side of Fulton - I'd rather not live beside Brooklyn Tech (not that it would be a problem, but given the choice of the two) - but that's just me.

Posted by: 1842 at November 5, 2009 2:59 PM in response to House of the Day: 119 Fort Greene Place

For a brownstone similar to this? I'm not sure but about 2.5MM in FG seems like the highest I've seen. Some other mansions went for more, but their were unique buildings, not rowhouses.

Posted by: 1842 at November 5, 2009 2:45 PM in response to House of the Day: 119 Fort Greene Place

BHO, that block is quite nice if you're familiar with it. It's between Fulton and Hanson Place.

Posted by: 1842 at November 5, 2009 2:39 PM in response to House of the Day: 119 Fort Greene Place

I think 1.6 would be an absolute steal and quite a bit lower than I think it will go for, but who knows...

Posted by: 1842 at November 5, 2009 2:38 PM in response to House of the Day: 119 Fort Greene Place

As for the price in this place, I don't think it is that far off. I'd say 1.825 or so would be appropriate and maybe achievable.

Posted by: 1842 at November 5, 2009 2:36 PM in response to House of the Day: 119 Fort Greene Place

Depends on how you want to set it up Denton. I've seen places where the owners do not give the ground floor tenants garden access, others where they do. Often if they do, they might fence off the area under the deck area so each person can have privacy (i.e. owners not looking in your windows when they are in the back yard, but still having their private garden). That set up is the best imo, it gives the tenants a small patio/garden to sit outside and barbeque etc. It doesn't work so well if you have a deck on the parlour floor that extends the entire width of the hose though - makes it quite dark for the tenants below...

Posted by: 1842 at November 5, 2009 2:35 PM in response to House of the Day: 119 Fort Greene Place

I've used them too and have no complaints. They are courteous and the place is clean and nice.

Posted by: 1842 at November 5, 2009 10:31 AM in response to Great New Dry Cleaner CH/FG

Thanks grand army. I was a bit bummed to see it go, though I'll welcome the new neighbors to what is really a nice neighborhood that continues to develop and get better.

Posted by: 1842 at November 5, 2009 9:54 AM in response to Price Cuts at 272 St. Marks Avenue

Fair enough bxgrl, I can understand taking issue with the statement "just what the neighborhood needed" - even if I agree with the statement (how snarky of me ;-))

I do think that the practical aspect of this (renting space at struggling existing old church buildings) makes a lot of sense though. It would be more cost effective for a small congregation and would serve to preserve our beautiful old church buildings.

Posted by: 1842 at November 4, 2009 1:02 PM in response to Church Reboot on Clinton Avenue

Anyone know anything about the small woodframe one story house with a peaked roof that was torn down to build this? I always used to think it might be quite an old place, mide 1800s, predating a lot of the other P Heights buildings in the area.

Posted by: 1842 at November 4, 2009 12:56 PM in response to Price Cuts at 272 St. Marks Avenue

Why in the world would I donate to them. Bstoner had a practical suggestion - allocate your resources to another stuggling small congregation like St. Bart's by renting time to use their facilities, thereby maintaining an already existing beautiful old church.

The alternative is to build a POS. They should sell the land if they have no money. They'd have plenty after that that they could use to rent time/space in an existing church that needs help in maintaining their building. Of course, with what has been described as the dogmatic nature of this particular congregation, affiliation with any other congregation would not work.

Basically, people seem to take great umbrage at any critique of church developments simply because they are churches. They, bxgirl, read snarkiness and snobbery into it. A POS development is a POS development regardless of who does it and what its purpose is. Just because it is for a church doesn't mean that the community should ignore its ordinary concerns about streetscapes and quality of life issues.

Posted by: 1842 at November 4, 2009 12:23 PM in response to Church Reboot on Clinton Avenue

So everyone's beef with brownstoner's take on this (which essentially is that it would be better if the new church congregation used an existing old church that is in need of funds to maintain its current building) is that he shouldn't be concerned about aesthetics if it is a church? Why not? We regularly bemoan crap architecture and development by for profit entities. Do churches and non-profits get a pass? I don't think they should. Hypocritical.

Posted by: 1842 at November 4, 2009 12:12 PM in response to Church Reboot on Clinton Avenue

Nomi, if you check out the floorplan it looks like there are windows on every side of the apartment, depending on the room. I can tell from the view from the dining room that the dining room/chamber and living room have a northern expose onto Greene Avenue.

Posted by: 1842 at November 4, 2009 12:05 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 126 Greene Avenue, #2W

I agree completely with Bstoner on this one. The problem is that most old underused beautiful churches likely would not want to be affiliated with an organization such as this.

Posted by: 1842 at November 4, 2009 11:41 AM in response to Church Reboot on Clinton Avenue

oops, "you're" not "your"...

Posted by: 1842 at November 3, 2009 4:13 PM in response to Last Week's Biggest Sales

Why does everyone assume that people onlyl put 20% down in their hypotheticals. Sounds like 6th Avenue put a lot more down (in excess of $1MM) - though they do sound like they need to do some real repairs, and a tenant is in place (which likely explains the good price) - plus your in a 3 family and on a busier street.

Posted by: 1842 at November 3, 2009 4:05 PM in response to Last Week's Biggest Sales

I think this will go for more than the asking price. One of the few well priced true 2 bedroom apartments I've seen in a while in the area. Nice looking building from the outside, and good location. Kitchen could be fixed relatively easily with new countertops, backsplash and a paint job. I'd use the small bedroom as the dining room and the other two as bedrooms.

Posted by: 1842 at November 3, 2009 3:47 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 126 Greene Avenue, #2W

Pretty cool, but how bummed are you if you live in an apartment above this place and are not fond of cigar smoke... lol.

Posted by: 1842 at October 23, 2009 10:25 AM in response to Puff, Puff! Cigar Bar for Fort Greene

Fantastic!

Posted by: 1842 at October 22, 2009 4:10 PM in response to Closing Bell: Fulton BID in Action!

Are you on a landmarked block, or one of the blocks that are part of the proposed landmark district extension?

Posted by: 1842 at October 21, 2009 3:50 PM in response to People with Camcorder?

bkln, Lincoln road is in a different (and yes nice) neighborhood - Prospect Lefferts Gardens - this is Lefferts Place in Clinton Hill.

Posted by: 1842 at October 16, 2009 12:16 PM in response to Meeting About Special Lefferts Rezoning Request Tonight

zinka, there is nothing stopping that, nor would there be anything stopping developers from buying other houses and demolishing them for larger buildings.

Posted by: 1842 at October 15, 2009 2:54 PM in response to Meeting About Special Lefferts Rezoning Request Tonight

G man, that is what they are proposing, rezoning at least one block because they do not think that they can legally qualify for a variance from the zoning for their lot. So instead of making the project work in the existing zoning, they want to rezone everyone else's property on the block.

Posted by: 1842 at October 15, 2009 2:53 PM in response to Meeting About Special Lefferts Rezoning Request Tonight