Touche, Sparafucile!

Posted by: Brooklyn Chicken at November 19, 2009 4:42 PM in response to Brooklyn Speaks to File Its First AY Lawsuit

Architect66, thank you for your spot-on analysis.

There are always anti-development people, and anti-anti people who hate everything. But FCR handed these cranks the support of more mainstream folks (like me) by blatantly cirvumventing and making a mockery of the processes designed (however poorly) to encourage thoughtful development. As Architect66 pointed out, THAT is why they are facing endless litigation. By shutting the reasonable people out, they sent them (and their wallets) into the arms of the cranks.

As an example of the blatant bullshit promulgated in the EIS, on a playoff game night Pacific Street is estimated to receive a maximum of an extra eighty cars above normal traffic volume. COME ON.

Posted by: Brooklyn Chicken at November 19, 2009 1:14 PM in response to Brooklyn Speaks to File Its First AY Lawsuit

Heartbreaking for the owners. Extremely sobering for any potential buyers of anything in Brooklyn. What a nightmare.

For those of you who missed it on the previous thread, the Corcoran posting, proudly bragging the condo's sold status!

http://www.corcoran.com/property/listing.aspx?Region=NYC&ListingID=877070

For those of you in the know, how could this happen? It looks like there is no drainage whatsoever -- except what drains into the house.

Posted by: Brooklyn Chicken at November 17, 2009 1:21 PM in response to Footage from 357 4th Street Condo Lawsuit

I SINCERELY hope Ms. Jones gets to read these posts. Team Norah! Team LPC-compliant lot-line windows!

Posted by: Brooklyn Chicken at November 16, 2009 3:29 PM in response to Cobble Hill Neighbors Irked by Norah Jones' Windows

According to the NY Times article -- if I read it correctly -- the land in New London was not seized by Pfizer. It was seized by the City of New London for a private development that was somehow related to Pfizer reinvigorating the town. In the case of Atlantic Yards, the land would actually be seized by a private devloper.

Am I missing something?

Posted by: Brooklyn Chicken at November 13, 2009 10:28 AM in response to Friday Links

Huh, I was JUST looking at this structure this afternoon and thinking how the addition on the top was so much more attractive and interesting than the blah brick box below, even though that is arguably more "contextual."

The lighting in the picture makes the top look light-colored, but actually it's pretty dark. The setback keeps it from dominating the streetscape. That stretch of Smith is pretty unlovely, so no sorrow on my part for anything different.

Posted by: Brooklyn Chicken at November 10, 2009 5:13 PM in response to Development Watch: 311 Warren Street

Thanks, Aishling. At least that house has some style, if an aesthetically unappetizing one.

Posted by: Brooklyn Chicken at October 27, 2009 12:59 PM in response to Last Week's Biggest Sales

Sing it, Tyburg. And WHY is NYC leaving this tasty traffic enforcement income on the table?

Posted by: Brooklyn Chicken at October 8, 2009 12:55 PM in response to Collision at Grand Army

I don't have a dog in this fight, but the following anti-Friends on State Street letter was sent to the Boerum Hill egroup yesterday:

This isn't the right forum to get into the issue. There are a lot of people on State street who are very upset about this because years of community planning went into the designation for the site as residential and we already feel encumbered by Downtown Brooklyn, institutions like the jail and the court system. There is a site on Schermerhorn that Brooklyn Friends School has been offered. Its slightly more costly to build over the subway, but that street is zoned for a school and can handle the traffic that a lower school would bring. So we are not against a school, just a school on State Street. I urge people, if they would like to hear ALL the facts about the issue, to come to the [Boerum Hill Association] meeting. If you cannot make it, we have a website- www.keepstatestreetresidential.wordpress.com

Posted by: Brooklyn Chicken at October 6, 2009 12:21 PM in response to Brooklyn Friends Relocation Gains Support

While it is true that part of PS 261's district is in Boerum Hill, the sad truth is that most of Boerum Hill is zoned for PS 38 (the Board of Ed gave it an 'A', so maybe it just LOOKS bad). For parents who are paying attention and are able to make choices, living in Boerum Hill means finding an out-of-zone or private alternative. A variance into PS 261 isn't guaranteed, and for a while 261 was refusing to give variances to families zoned for PS 38.

Posted by: Brooklyn Chicken at October 5, 2009 2:12 PM in response to Boerum Hill: In a Nutshell

Etson, you are so right. When I saw the picture I thought it looked like pretty much any new construction in Houston.

Posted by: Brooklyn Chicken at October 2, 2009 2:42 PM in response to The Venetian Unveiled

Is that Hall Street house also near some projects? I can't make them out on the map.

Posted by: Brooklyn Chicken at October 2, 2009 2:36 PM in response to Open House Picks

Wow. It's um, wow.

Looks like it might have been dropped in from Seattle?

Posted by: Brooklyn Chicken at September 30, 2009 3:49 PM in response to Development Watch: 170 North 5th Street

Like Chuck, I live near this structure. I can attest that neither Chuck nor I are brokers. (Hiya, Chuck!)

It's definitely better looking up close, although the size of the limestone blocks is sadly close to cinder block (what was the thinking there??). It is TONS better than the burned-out shell that stood for decades. I look forward to seeing the interiors during OHNY before passing any further judgment.

Posted by: Brooklyn Chicken at September 25, 2009 3:03 PM in response to Listings Up For 93 Nevins Street

Well, it's in Boerum Hill. Boerum Hill goes east from Court Street.

Posted by: Brooklyn Chicken at September 23, 2009 11:49 AM in response to Advertising Begins for Big Boerum Hill Development

Where can I sign up to be a counter protestor? The Westboro folks are the ones who picket the funerals of soldiers killed in action -- God hated them because our gov't and military tolerate homosexuals. These disgusting sentiments cannot go unanswered.

Posted by: Brooklyn Chicken at September 23, 2009 10:25 AM in response to Wednesday Links

Northsloperenter, The best kid cell phone is made by Parents and is sold at Target. YEARS of amusement. They are not fooled by cheap versions and will prefer the real one to them.

Posted by: Brooklyn Chicken at September 18, 2009 2:10 PM in response to New Toy Store on Atlantic

How can I get a job at ESDC? Doesn't seem to require much work.

Posted by: Brooklyn Chicken at September 17, 2009 2:53 PM in response to ESDC Approves Revised Plan for Atlantic Yards

Well. The real new council member for the 33rd is someone unelected, unaccountable, and often accused of corruption: Vito Lopez. This is the dark side of term limits.

Posted by: Brooklyn Chicken at September 16, 2009 10:48 AM in response to Democratic Primary Results

As someone who resides near the stadium site, I certainly hope the optimistic predictions about no traffic congestion are true. But I doubt it. Car people are married to their cars. Mass transit has stated publicly it has no plans to increase mass transit options around events. And the multiple types of events needed to finance this financial albatross will be mostly one-off events, like concerts and conventions. Drivers will learn -- after they spend hours stuck and honking their fool heads off on my residential street -- too late that they can't park conveniently.

The only way to really reduce the number of drivers in the immediate area of the stadium is to have substantial congestion pricing: $60 to drive anywhere near the arena on an event night should put people on a subway car.

Posted by: Brooklyn Chicken at September 10, 2009 5:37 PM in response to Ourousoff Weighs In On Barclay's Center Design

Shuttering a busines for 30 days for lacking a sidewalk cafe permit seems pretty draconian to me. For the money, I'd rather tickets were given out for serious QOL issues like dog poop on the sidewalk or even, say, moving violations like speeding or running red lights.

Posted by: Brooklyn Chicken at September 8, 2009 3:34 PM in response to Streetlevel: Provence en Boite Shuttered by DCA

Chiming in as a parent: yes, the younger set needs to run around (it happens indoors, even if it happens outdoors), their little footfalls are astonishingly loud (they land with their whole foot), and it is not reasonable to expect anything else with a child under 5 or some special needs kids. Also, because bedtime is at 8, young children are usually at home after 5, to allow for dinner, bath, bedtime prep, etc.

That being said, the parents have an obligation to limit the annoyance caused by their childr(ren)'s natural tendencies. Hours will not work (see above). Carpet may work, and while many condo / cooop associations have an 80% coverage rule, I don't think this is a law. Enforcement can be difficult, too. But if the family has an issue with carpets (they can be dusty), the playmats are an excellent idea.

The advice about how to approach the parent is good. While your previous approach didn't sound too "confrontational," taking a "help the child be able to run around without bothering anybody" tack might smooth his hackles and make it easier for him to hear your concerns.

Good luck.

Posted by: Brooklyn Chicken at September 8, 2009 11:53 AM in response to Running Child Upstairs

As my father used to say about the carting industry: satisfaction guaranteed or double your garbage back.

Posted by: Brooklyn Chicken at September 3, 2009 6:07 PM in response to Dumping on Vanderbilt Avenue

BoerumResident, the DOT didn't properly mark the trial median at Bond and Atlantic. A short time after it was installed, a car smashed into it on a dark, rainy night. I don't know if there were any fatalities, but I can't imagine anyone just walking away from that. The DOT later dismantled it with no plans to reinstall it.

While any traffic calming measure anywhere is an improvement, Atlantic Avenue is by far more dangerous, especially the particularly fatal intersection at Hoyt.

Posted by: Brooklyn Chicken at September 2, 2009 1:40 PM in response to Calming Traffic at Bergen and Smith

Ah, mom-bashing. Favorite sport of the childless -- and, as Brenda demonstrates, a cannibalistic entertainment for some mothers, too.

The problem, my childless friends, is something you cannot remember or fathom. The problem is 2 and 3-year-olds who cannot be reasoned with. Who see TREAT and only TREAT and who, naturally, have a fit when TREAT is cruelly denied them. What's wrong with an occasional treat? Nothing. A treat every single day at 5:30, an hour before dinner? That is a problem. So, at least sometimes, the answer must be no. And that no is greeted with a tiresome fit.

And what's with these parents without backbones? You surely remember being told no and accepting it. But there's a problem with your memory.

While you may remember some moments when you were 2 or 3, you really do not remember the whole experience of it. YOU DO NOT REMEMBER BEING 2 OR 3. NO ONE DOES. You remember being, say, 7 or 8, when you could better understand and accept "no" and "we will have ice cream on Friday but today is Tuesday."

Dealing with fits is part of the bill of parenting. But we're entitled to a wee bit of resentment when it happens every single day. It feels like a setup.

Finally: please note the article did not interview any dads or paid caregivers. Just moms. Just so once again you could indulge in a little cheap, class-based misogyny.

Posted by: Brooklyn Chicken at August 19, 2009 10:27 AM in response to Wednesday Links

No yard? But I nitpick. How is that area?

Posted by: Brooklyn Chicken at August 17, 2009 1:41 PM in response to House of the Day: 2101 Albemarle Terrace

This is actually the first summer I can remember where we can actually go in the backyard during daylight hours in August. So, the bad news is that in other years it's been worse.

For your BBQ, make it lunch, rather than later in the day when the mosquitoes are most active. Fans might work, although I've never tried them. Have multiple cans of Deep Woods Off around. The "Family" Off has too little Deet (~7%) and isn't very effective. Deep Woods is 25% Deet.

Deet is pretty safe, but if you are concerned about using it on your 2 yo, then indoor fun is your best bet. "Swim" in the tub, make oatmeal or lentil "sandboxes." He can really swim in local public pools that have "wading pools" that are 1" deep. Double D Pool at Douglass & Nevins has one. The Red Hook pool doesn't have a wading pool, but it does have a huge area of sprinklers.

Posted by: Brooklyn Chicken at August 17, 2009 1:39 PM in response to Mosquitos

Boerum Hill, when you actually get an answer to this one, please post. I would love an outdoor fireplace, if only to roast endangered birds in it.

Posted by: Brooklyn Chicken at August 13, 2009 5:23 PM in response to Outdoor Fireplaces?

I'm with the non-haters. Anyway, without the last bit of scaffolding removed, we can't really judge the whole thing.

Posted by: Brooklyn Chicken at August 13, 2009 5:17 PM in response to Scaffolding Down at Greenpoint's Pencil Factory

What a jerk that guy is. What's next? 9-11 performance "humor"? AIDS hilarity?

Posted by: Brooklyn Chicken at August 13, 2009 9:37 AM in response to Thursday Links

What's up with these idiot parents? In very short walking distance from Cadman Plaza are at least two excellent playgrounds, designed with young children in mind! When I was towing around my young children, if I encountered a park filled with flying projectiles, I WENT SOMEWHERE ELSE.

Posted by: Brooklyn Chicken at August 12, 2009 4:52 PM in response to Closing Bell: (Astro)turf War

Slate.com recently ran an article about antique stoves. It listed several dealers who might be interested in your piece.

http://www.slate.com/id/2224335/

Posted by: Brooklyn Chicken at August 10, 2009 3:06 PM in response to Antique Enamel Stove - Free

Building on Bond has great mac-n-cheese. Just saying.

BOD, you are SO RIGHT. They should spend a fraction of the energy the spend on naming and decor on actual food preparation. I had nearly the worst food I've ever had in my life at Gravy.

I don't know why the Health Department hasn't shut them down. It's not just the lot next to it that is filthy. One time, my spouse had a quesadilla at Pacifico that appeared to be blue corn. On closer inspection, it was covered with MOLD. Now you know why the lights are so dim and the margaritas are so strong.

Posted by: Brooklyn Chicken at August 5, 2009 12:23 PM in response to Brooklyn Food and Drink Round-Up

WTBound, I know one of the families who were affected by the last expansion go-round. It was as you said: their house was compromised by BC's construction; they were abruptly evicted; they had to live in a hotel for months; no apologies were ever made; the administration treated them like whiners. So, if BC gets flak for expansion plans, they have only their history to thank. BC should consider hiring an ombudsman to establish better community relations.

Posted by: Brooklyn Chicken at July 31, 2009 1:12 PM in response to Berkeley Carroll Expansion Stirs Up The Neighborhood

That hotel restaurant looks like... a hotel restaurant. It immediately suggests overpriced mediocre food.

ITA, though, that a rooftop bar anywhere is an instant hit. Best wishes to the Bleu folks!

Posted by: Brooklyn Chicken at July 29, 2009 1:48 PM in response to Inside Hotel Le Bleu's Restaurant

Good luck, Honeysuckle. As a landlord with a really, really ugly rental kitchen, I'd be thrilled. Think it through and make a proposal that will make sense to both of you. You might want to ask for a five-year lease, though, to make sure some of the unpleasant scenarios above don't happen to you.

Posted by: Brooklyn Chicken at July 20, 2009 4:55 PM in response to Comestic Renos on a Rental?

The author of the CasaCara blog, who sometimes posts here, has done what you are proposing. Most recently, she has lived in a Boerum Hill rental and rented out several of her properties. Here's her blog:

http://casacara.wordpress.com/

Posted by: Brooklyn Chicken at July 20, 2009 4:40 PM in response to Renting Out Entire Brownstone?

In a novel approach, I am going to ANSWER THE OP'S QUESTION. Ira Levine on Court Street is a great real estate attorney. I don't know if he specializes in the areas you need, but I bet he can point you to to a good local lawyer who does.

Good luck.

Posted by: Brooklyn Chicken at July 15, 2009 8:40 PM in response to Neighbor's Huge Tent

Half are sold? Who are those idiots?

Don't forget, the Satori is half a block from a soon-to-be superfund project.

Posted by: Brooklyn Chicken at July 15, 2009 1:49 PM in response to More Price Cuts at The Satori

As a long-time resident of Boerum Hill, I can't say which block is safer, but there are some differences.

That block of Wyckoff is architecturally diverse. It's very near Smith Street and the F/G. The northwestern edge of Gowanus Houses starts at Hoyt & Wyckoff.

That block of Bergen Street is landmarked and fairly uniform architecturally. But a bus runs along it. A noisy bus. Every 20 minutes or so. You're further from the F/G but fairly close to nearly every other train in NYC as well as to Atlantic Avenue life.

Six of one, half dozen the other.

Posted by: Brooklyn Chicken at July 2, 2009 9:51 AM in response to Living in Boerum Hill

An unusual amount of love for DDDB here today! It would be nice if some money followed that love. I will be writing a check for $50 today myself. Just saying.

My block association is a member of DDDB, and while you have a point, FtGreeneCorey, that there will always be haters, the haters could not have built themselves such a relatively broad constituency had Forest City not conspired to ride roughshod over our reasonable complaints. The only other topic my block association has rallied around has been our annual block party.

I certainly hope this project is abandoned. I'm disappointed there will be a hole in the ground for many years but pleased that the inevitable hole in the public's pocket (that site does need a lot of remediation for any new construction) will be smaller. It might even yield some real public benefit.

Posted by: Brooklyn Chicken at June 30, 2009 3:06 PM in response to Court of Appeals Will Hear AY Eminent Domain Case

As usual, this thread is off an unrelated and unresolvable tangent.

Posted by: Brooklyn Chicken at June 29, 2009 3:12 PM in response to House of the Day: 357 Pacific Street

Amending my post, 433 Pacific Street, previously a HOTD, appears to be off the market.

411 Pacific Street, also a nearly-new renovation, is still available for a comparatively cheap 2.475:

http://www.brownharrisstevens.com/detail.aspx?id=993912

Posted by: Brooklyn Chicken at June 29, 2009 1:43 PM in response to House of the Day: 357 Pacific Street

One block down, on Pacific Street between Bond & Nevins, are two 20' wide brownstones with rental income, both asking in the same ballpark.

The bottom-floor kitchen/dining room makes poor use of the space. Everyone ends up hanging in the kitchen, which is cramped and uncomfortable, and the parlor floor hardly gets used.

Posted by: Brooklyn Chicken at June 29, 2009 1:31 PM in response to House of the Day: 357 Pacific Street

Hey, BK, please don't shout.

But this is not a deal. It's negative income for taxpayers. If large-scale development is dead (and who am I to argue), then maybe this one should go into a financially-induced coma for a while.

Posted by: Brooklyn Chicken at June 25, 2009 11:37 AM in response to MTA Ignores Fiduciary Duty, Approves Revised Yards Plan

MTA board members are worse than crooks. They're lazy and not terribly diligent when spending other people's money. If they had to open up the whole process again, that would be SUCH A DRAG. Hearings, white papers to read, meetings with angry constituents, etc. Then there would be phone calls from angry mayors, BPs, and other interested parties.

They just want to go home (in their cars).

Posted by: Brooklyn Chicken at June 25, 2009 10:51 AM in response to MTA Ignores Fiduciary Duty, Approves Revised Yards Plan

Red, that was exactly my experience with the SCA. A hearing was conducted to get community-input into the plan. Any criticism of the plan was politely shot down in flames. Thank you for your input. This hearing is closed.

Posted by: Brooklyn Chicken at June 24, 2009 8:28 PM in response to Council Subcommittee Hears Case of PS 133

Hey, Etson, there is a very amusing academic paper in your comment! It is well-known that constructing fancy corporate headquarters is a good reason to short a stock, but we'll have to add stadium naming rights to that.

Maybe Barclays has a financial relationship with Forest City?

Posted by: Brooklyn Chicken at June 24, 2009 10:56 AM in response to More Naming Rights for Barclay's