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

Unfortunately, it is accurate. CNR does not want to seek a variance for the lot because it would be difficult, if not impossible to get, and don't want to scale down the size of the proposed development.

Their solution is to seek a rezoning of an entire block to R7A (the same as Atlatic, Fulton and Myrtle). This is a larger scale zoning classification than what the lot was zoned for prior to the rezoning in 2007 (it was previously R6, now it is R6B contextual zoning).

Other developers would love this decision because it would allow them to knock down any building they could buy on the block and build something much larger and taller than the existing mid to late 19th century houses.

If they're going to build it, do it within the scope of existing zoning and don't endanger the rest of the block by making all the other propertis susceptible to demolition and overscale development by unscrupulous developers who don't care about the quality of life for those who live on the street. There was a reason why R6B zoning passed. The only thing that makes this different is that the development is not luxury condos. Fine, but why endanger the whole block to overdevelopment and demolition?

Posted by: 1842 at October 15, 2009 1:33 PM in response to Meeting About Special Lefferts Rezoning Request Tonight

The cornice does wrap around the corner, and looks like it will wrap around the back of the house too which is visible from St. James as you get closer to Atlantic.

Posted by: 1842 at October 14, 2009 1:04 PM in response to 2 Lefferts Comes Into Focus, Exceeds Expectations

BrooklynGreene, I think your comments were meant for another poster. I'm fine with the window sizes and understand the limitations with stoops, ceiling height etc.

Posted by: 1842 at October 14, 2009 1:02 PM in response to 2 Lefferts Comes Into Focus, Exceeds Expectations

Great, looking forward to some progress on streetscape improvements and hopefully some development of empty storefronts.

Posted by: 1842 at October 14, 2009 11:16 AM in response to Fulton BID Gets a Leader

Actually, the windows aren't that small, and they have three exposures, north, west and South. I think this looks great. Plus they'll be planting more street trees (3 on St. James and one in front on Lefferts Place). Frankly, looks like the best one could have hoped for in this situation, imo.

Posted by: 1842 at October 14, 2009 10:44 AM in response to 2 Lefferts Comes Into Focus, Exceeds Expectations

They've done a good job, and it is not a pute replication. I actually think the larger cornice works here, especially as you approach from St. James - it being a corner lot it really anchors it and makes for a nice entrance to the street.

We'll see with 19 Lefferts place. They built to the maximum height after the set back (50'), and it is less visible from other angles (besides the one in the photo). At the end of the day it will depend on the exterior facade finish.

Another smart think, imo, about 2 lefferts place is that it will be two duplex apartments. I would think that would provide two family size apartments of 3 BR each, which are in short supply. With a yard for the bottom, and roof space for the top unit, all in a contextual package on a nice street with close subway access, I would think that they'd sell easily.

Posted by: 1842 at October 14, 2009 10:25 AM in response to 2 Lefferts Comes Into Focus, Exceeds Expectations

Thanks BrooklynGreene.

Posted by: 1842 at October 13, 2009 4:50 PM in response to Streetlevel: Lafayette Grocery Overhaul

I'm referring to what they did to the dry cleaner space they bought across the street. When they went to convert it to a restaurant they cut a main beam in the interior during their unpermitted gut renovation. They had to do emergency repairs in that situation. They had all sorts of headaches with DOB and LPC that time. I find it odd they'd do the same sort of thing again, and no, wouldn't trust them to do things correctly, safely or carefully considering their track record.

I liked the sign too, like most people, but they've ripped it down and damaged it so it will not likely be put back.

Posted by: 1842 at October 13, 2009 3:46 PM in response to Streetlevel: Lafayette Grocery Overhaul

Basically, they could have caused a building collapse across the street at the old dry cleaners, but luckily DOB caught wind of things and emergency repairs were made. I don't understand the sympathy here. We're not talking about quibbling over paint colors, but gutting a store located below several residential apartments in a 150 odd year old building. Permits are needed for safety's sake.

Posted by: 1842 at October 13, 2009 3:21 PM in response to Streetlevel: Lafayette Grocery Overhaul

I'm sorry, but the guys were gutting the place and they expect no complaints?

Read the link, they did a similar thing to the old dry cleaner space across the street, and got in trouble with DOB and LPC then too. They know what they're supposed to do, but chose not to. Silly, and a waste of time.

The local didn't dob them in anyway, there were already complaints filed by neighbors before the local noticed it... though I'm sure their calling pushed DOB and LPC as well...

Posted by: 1842 at October 13, 2009 3:15 PM in response to Streetlevel: Lafayette Grocery Overhaul

That's just lack of attention to detail. People are giving the contractor too much slack. Yes it is more difficult to install these types of tiles, but not very hard (I've done mini hex tiles myself in an area this size). It's such a small area too. Need's to be pulled up and redone.

Posted by: 1842 at October 6, 2009 3:25 PM in response to Penny Tile Disaster?

DIBS is spot on with this. Don't cut them if you don't have too. If you do, leave as much out as possible so you can rethread the pipe if necessary in the future.

Posted by: 1842 at October 5, 2009 3:56 PM in response to Gas Pipe Problems

I would hold back on cutting any gas line pipes hanging from the ceiling as they can be used to hang old fixtures that you have rewired (like large, heavy, old gas or gas/electric chandeliers). It's often the only wayto hang a lights of that size and era without destroying ceiling medallions.

If you do have to cut them, you can just use a sawzall (sp?).

Make sure, of course, there's no gas still in the lines.

Posted by: 1842 at October 5, 2009 1:39 PM in response to Gas Pipe Problems

It would be good if they start to fix the building by the post office, it's actually starting to crumble, with bricks falling off etc. I was going to call 311...

Posted by: 1842 at September 29, 2009 12:07 PM in response to 925 Fulton In Turnaround

Minard, two and three family houses have sold for close to and over $2million in Clinton Hill every years since at least 2005. 2008 was the only year where $2 million was not exceeded (147 St. James came the closest at $1.93 in 12/2008). I don't know if this will get the price in this economy, but saying it won't because people don't pay such prices for Clinton Hill is patently false, regardless of what your opinion of the neighborhood is and what you think people should pay. Just check out the department of finance list of closed purchases for evidence of what I'm saying.

http://www.nyc.gov/html/dof/html/pdf/08pdf/rolling_sales/neighborhood_sales/brooklyn_sales_prices.pdf

Again, who knows what they will get here. But your argument that they won't get $2 million because people don't pay that for Clinton Hill is factually incorrect.

Posted by: 1842 at September 26, 2009 4:07 PM in response to Open House Picks

Argentina wrote:
"This guy had the thickest Bensonhurst accent imaginable."

Tsk...tsk, Argentina.
Shame on you!
Lack of awareness!
You are not hired, Argentina.

Posted by: Pigeon at November 6, 2009 4:21 PM in response to Contractors & Chauvinism

"Males of all different occupations have very strange thoughts about women. It just hardware supply store blokes do not talk to any women so when they see you they cannot hold their ideas."

LOL, bobjohn.

Posted by: mopar at November 6, 2009 5:33 PM in response to Contractors & Chauvinism

There are plenty of skilled professional contractors and suppliers out there so just keep on not hiring the a$$holes. If they have no respect for you then they'll do what they want on the job instead of what you're paying for.

I have my own tools and I know how to use them. I sweat pipes. But I don't have to prove anything to them. I'm not doing any heavy lifting - that's what I'm paying them for.

She who holds the checkbook holds the power.

PS I bought a wreck a long time ago. Got a lot of 'YOU'RE the owner?'. I assured them that it was OK, that it was legal for women to own property in New York State. They rarely GOT the sarcasm. rarely get that attitude any more.

Posted by: jfss at November 6, 2009 6:28 PM in response to Contractors & Chauvinism

"where they called my husband for a decision, who would have to call me; who would call the plumber/electrician, who would then call my husband back instead of me."

Seems like your husband's fault here, lol. Why didn't your husband just tell the contractor you were in charge, and refuse to discuss it?

Ask him that tonight over dinner :-)

LOL -- we talked numerous times about how asinine it was that contractors refused to call me. It was like they were going through contortions NOT to talk to me. My husband and I would both tell them to stop calling him and to call me, yet they couldn't get it through their thick heads. Like a mental block or something that a woman would have decision making capacity.

I used to deal with this nonsense all the time when I worked in IT as a programmer and doing tech support. I worked at a huge academic medical center and the doctors would always questioned my ability when I showed up to fix their computers; my male colleagues never got second guessed like I did. Since they were essentially paying me, I took more BS than I would have liked, but when I'm doing the hiring, I reserve the right not to work with any contractors who have a pathological inability to respect women!

Posted by: brooklynstyle at November 6, 2009 7:14 PM in response to Contractors & Chauvinism

the stupidest part of this is that some of my employees are women. and we still make dumbass sexist jokes..

Posted by: eman1234 at November 6, 2009 8:30 PM in response to Contractors & Chauvinism

eman1234
since when is making a pass at a woman considered a culture?
You't can't imagine how many men bug the crap outta me on a daily basis.
Tis the season to be jolly.........

Posted by: Ysabelle at November 6, 2009 10:20 PM in response to Contractors & Chauvinism

Listen, the reality is that women get hazed in stereotypically male work environments, and shouldn't need tougher skin than men in similar positions but absolutely do.

As a woman who has worked on way more jobsites than offices, I have survived and thrive because I have a very dirty mouth, am not afraid of conflict and am just about impossible to offend. I also go ahead and sympathize with how weird it looks to see a tiny blonde woman lifting a 100-lb bag of cement, actively point out that I am smaller than my co-workers, and generally don't try to act like everything's normal. I am a novelty, and honestly it's easier and more honest to work with it than it is to work against it.

You can't change people, but you can behave as if you will be treated the way you want to be treated, and empathize with the fact that a lot of people in the trades have very little formal education, come from countries that are really sexist, and live in a much more gendered world than you do. This mixture of integrity and empathy is strong. It doesn't work instantly, and is more about developing relationships than negotiating the hardware store, but it works really well.

Posted by: vanburenproud at November 7, 2009 9:33 AM in response to Contractors & Chauvinism

The surprising thing about this thread is it is full of women I had previously assumed were men.

Posted by: mopar at November 7, 2009 10:36 AM in response to Contractors & Chauvinism

"The surprising thing about this thread is it is full of women I had previously assumed were men."

You sexist :-)

Posted by: denton at November 7, 2009 5:30 PM in response to Contractors & Chauvinism