I just found exactly what you were looking for in Bushwick Brooklyn for $1250 for a brand new renovated 2 bedroom brownstone ground floor unit. The whole downstairs, private entrance, and exclusive backyard use. Fence needs work, but hey, nothings perfect. Just keep looking, they are out there.

Look on craigslist. Go talk to people and make them like you before you even mention the dogs. Sell yourself up. Discuss your income, good credit, good rental history, ect. Offer to put up an additional pet deposit. Provide references to your pets in previous units. Offer to let the landlord meet the dogs first. It helps if you are renting directly from the landlord, not from a management company. Also, another tactic is to even offer to pay a slightly higher rent than what they are asking to cover pets...anything to entice them.

I have a 90 lb sweetheart of a Pit Bull. So trust me, I feel your pain. 1 Giant Pit Bull is like having 14 small dogs as far as finding an aparment goes. Just be persistent. And like I said, sell yourself up as a GREAT tenant and then mention the dogs. You could always ask initally if they take pets, just to not completely waste your time. But don't mention you have THREE decent sized dogs.

Hope this helps!

Posted by: Aggiemare at July 8, 2008 2:45 PM in response to I Have a Problem Finding an Apartment... MY DOGS!

No I haven't spoken with him about it. Do you mean they are wrong because they aren't secure, or wrong because of the whole window AC unit thing?

I am pretty sure he wants to put as little $ into the place as possible. The rent is very cheap, so I am not expecting him to do much for me in that regards. :*( You should see the backyard...I have my work cut out for me at this place.

Posted by: Aggiemare at July 8, 2008 2:48 PM in response to How to install a Window Air Conditioner in a Brownstone with Security Bars?

No utilities are not included. Why do you ask?

Posted by: Aggiemare at July 8, 2008 4:23 PM in response to How to install a Window Air Conditioner in a Brownstone with Security Bars?

Jimmy Legs,

I am not sure where the sound end is? The apartment is located near the J,M,Z Halsey stop. Where is your building? My landlord's name is not Jimmy so I am guessing its not you.

Posted by: Aggiemare at July 9, 2008 11:21 AM in response to How to install a Window Air Conditioner in a Brownstone with Security Bars?

Jimmy Legs,

I am not sure where the sound end is? The apartment is located near the J,M,Z Halsey stop. Where is your building? My landlord's name is not Jimmy so I am guessing its not you.

Posted by: Aggiemare at July 9, 2008 11:22 AM in response to How to install a Window Air Conditioner in a Brownstone with Security Bars?

Thank you everyone for all your advice and suggestions. I am moving in this weekend...so hopefully I can put your tips to good use when I go to search for an AC unit. Unfortunatly, it means I'll be moving in during this weekend heat wave and having to sleep with no AC. :*(

For all those who live in the area near the Halsey JMZ, we should get together and have a BBQ or something! :-)

Posted by: Aggiemare at July 17, 2008 10:40 AM in response to How to install a Window Air Conditioner in a Brownstone with Security Bars?

Doubtful at price in this market, with a washer and dryer and backyard. Not mention the fuzzy inconveniences of the NY retal market.

I would suggest East Willie B IE Bushwick! You will get your space and that price.

Posted by: Pragonetti at July 9, 2008 12:44 PM in response to I Have a Problem Finding an Apartment... MY DOGS!

The south end of Bushwick is around the Halsey JMZ, where both myself and Jimmy Legs live.. welcome to the neighborhood!

Posted by: buckygirl23 at July 9, 2008 1:29 PM in response to How to install a Window Air Conditioner in a Brownstone with Security Bars?

Amana has a floor 9000BTU($399+/-)or 7000BTU ($350) floor standing units which are sold at PC Richards. They work well and have resolved the same issue for our household. The other advantage is that they are very easy to move off season, and they do not drip water like the typical units.

Posted by: OTIS at July 9, 2008 3:36 PM in response to How to install a Window Air Conditioner in a Brownstone with Security Bars?

my place is on eldert. and invite us all over when you get the AC, i'm falling out form the heat.

Posted by: Jimmy Legs at July 9, 2008 3:37 PM in response to How to install a Window Air Conditioner in a Brownstone with Security Bars?

The freestanding ACs kind of suck. They are expensive, don't cool well, and frequently need to be drained.

I don't recommend if it can be avoided.

Posted by: guest at July 9, 2008 3:46 PM in response to How to install a Window Air Conditioner in a Brownstone with Security Bars?

Floor standing units are more expensive our experience is that they work well and do not need draining. We have had ours for 2 years, it keeps our room (19x12 ft, south facing) at a constant 72deg. The other advantage is that it blocks out little light in the light deprived garden floors.

Posted by: OTIS at July 9, 2008 3:56 PM in response to How to install a Window Air Conditioner in a Brownstone with Security Bars?

i had a very similar problem in an old apartment. the LL was not cooperative w/ changing out the bars. I found a really tiny BTU GE model at walmart for $120 bucks. I had only 3" of play from the window frame to the bars. 11:41 is correct, you only need to be concerned with where those vents are at the side, as this is where all the heat/water is expelled and you don't want that draining back into the room. measure the clear space you have and then go to the stores and measure where the vents are on the AC units you see. who cares if the bulk of the unit is on the inside. just make sure it is stable.

Posted by: guest at July 9, 2008 3:57 PM in response to How to install a Window Air Conditioner in a Brownstone with Security Bars?

We have the same situation, but it turns out there is 6" clearance between the sash and the bars, which was exactly what we needed. PC Richards had two or three models that fit within 6". They were all small units--about 5200 btus--but adequate for our room.

Take a tape measure when you go shopping. The units on display probably wont have the accordion frames installed (which would help with the measuring), but you can estimate what the exterior depth will be by measuring from the holes in the AC sleeve where the accordion attaches.

Posted by: guest at July 9, 2008 4:00 PM in response to How to install a Window Air Conditioner in a Brownstone with Security Bars?

Jimmy legs I just meant that the LL should have installed one set of bars that would accomodate an ac.

Posted by: Brooklynnative at July 9, 2008 4:11 PM in response to How to install a Window Air Conditioner in a Brownstone with Security Bars?

I have the same situation (including the cheap-o LL). But you'd think in this day and city there would be more and better options for this situation.

Basically, I took the cue from one or two of my neighbors and bought a standard window unit which I set on a shelf just inside the window and fashioned wood to close off and vent the sides and top out.

More specifically, I had a wood shipping crate I'd found on the street. I removed the top and bottom. I put it in the window, turned so the top became the front/outside and bottom became the back/inside, used wood to close off the remaining window width, and then installed the A/C at the back/inside of the box (using the accordion sleeves to secure the 2-3 inch gap between the unit and the box for venting.)

I got lucky that I had the wood crate and only had to adapt it, but I also considered calling a handyman/carpenter to throw a quick box together with the right measurements.

Another option I considered was to buy a through-the-wall air conditioner with the cover (as mentioned in other posts) which would basically do the same thing (as through-the-wall a/c's are "back-breather's"). Unfortunately, those units tended to be more cost-prohibitive and harder to find with the right voltage. My A/C cost $325. The one t-t-w unit with cover that fit my needs was going to come to $950.

I also looked into the ductless unit, but those also tend to be high-voltage and usually require permenant installation. And are similarly expensive.

The windowless A/Cs are shockingly clumsy, expensive, ugly, and archaic. Again, in this day and city, you'd think...

Posted by: guest at July 9, 2008 4:33 PM in response to How to install a Window Air Conditioner in a Brownstone with Security Bars?