That is terrible!!!

Posted by: BrooklynGreene at February 2, 2010 7:13 PM in response to Closing Bell: Wrong Turn in The Heights

GREAT NEWS!!!! Thanks!

Posted by: BrooklynGreene at January 30, 2010 2:58 PM in response to McDonald's on Tillary Closes!

There is very, very little decent Thai food served in New York City in my opinion. End of story.

I'm sure though that this spot may turn out to be a nice neighborhood place close at hand. The South Asian restaurant didn't do very well as I remember.

If you want great Thai food served in a restaurant, head to the West Coast or go to Thailand. Make sure you tell the server to hold the sugar! Thai food has been getting progressively sweeter over the years in Thailand which is annoying but considering sugarcane is native to Southeast Asia, I guess it's not bizarre. Of course, eating tomatoes, baby corn and carrots in Thai food served in Bangkok is a bit annoying to purists!

But of course, even the chili is not native to Southeast Asia, right?

Anyway, looking forward to something decent since the Cambodian place closed (as rundown as it looked...which was kind of "authentic" and the fact that I got food poisoning from the twice)...what happened to the owners? I read about them...didn't they get screwed and lose their business when they relocated to Manhattan and are now under a mountain of debt?

Posted by: BrooklynGreene at January 30, 2010 2:57 PM in response to Streetlevel: Joya Expanding to Fulton Street

First of all, Rob, quitcherbitchin' already about the TOREN. For goodness sakes, maybe you could manage to actually BUY a place there with the FHA loan (split infinitive alert!).

Now, Brown Harris Stevens often doesn't offer enough photos on their listings for my taste. The Cheever Place is an example. Can they show more than FOUR photos for a house asking this kind of price? Is this eBay? They don't seem to invest much in photography. Certainly Corcoran does...but you often get the impression they have them heavily worked so they end up looking fake...or are stretched so wide they're in Cinemascope!

Meanwhile, BHS did manage to have a lot of photos of the PLG house, but this is because the owners had their own professional photography done since the wife is the designer. Disclaimer: not my taste.

I have to say I agree with many above that this PLG house is, sadly, overpriced for the location and the owners may end up just breaking even or even... It'll be one of those life lessons I guess.

I kind of felt this when they put the house on the market which was immediately after a big "PR campaign", if you will. I first spotted the house when Cara at Casacara@blogspot and OTBKB (never understood that name for a blog but anyway...). I had a light argument with Cara over her use of "ethnic" in her effusive blurb but we ironed it out. I feel the house is, unfortunately, an example of the very, very recent, and suddenly out of fashion "my kitchen's cooler than yours" movement and must more appropriate for Manhattan or a better location in Brooklyn. It might fly on Apartment PsychoTherapy still but on Brownstoner, in cynical New York City/Brooklyn, times they are a changin'...

Posted by: BrooklynGreene at January 30, 2010 2:48 PM in response to Open House Picks

I'm sorry but I have no idea what BHO means above.

I kind of have to agree with Bklnite. Can you do a 12 months later entry as well? Also, what is your criteria for choosing Open House Picks? Some (many in fact) are mediocre to downright horrible. Are you trying to give a price spread, a neighborhood spread or something along those lines?

Posted by: BrooklynGreene at January 30, 2010 1:46 PM in response to Open House Picks: Six Months Later

I'm glad the family finally sold the house. Considering the narrower width and location of this house and the money the new owners will need to spend on a renovation I think a near-one-million selling price was terrific. Congratulations!

BTW, this is a nice quiet area. I would almost think about living there but you kind of need to be able to drive more or hike it to the subway...at least that's my impression.

I'll stick with Fort Greene for the duration I guess.

Posted by: BrooklynGreene at January 30, 2010 1:40 PM in response to 216 17th Street Sells Close to Massively Reduced Ask

Although there isn't too-too much at the flea market for "our demographic" as they say, I really do appreciate the nice atmosphere and the energy at the flea market, both in summer and now in the (former) bank. I used to have an account there. It's strange to be able to go "behind the counter. And it's interesting how positively junky the formerly unseen, non-public areas are compared to how elaborate and decorated the public spaces are. My impression was going from landmarked cathedral to boiler room by passing through one doorway!

It's also a place to run into people you haven't seen for ages.

All the best on these COLDDDD days of mid-winter! One more month and March will be here!

Posted by: BrooklynGreene at January 30, 2010 1:31 PM in response to Closing Bell: One Month Mark for Flea at One Hanson

That's a rather narrow how in Brooklyn Heights with air conditioners cut into the area under the window sills. It really doesn't have a ton of curb appeal so I can see why it didn't go for more.

I'm extremely happy the Fort Greene house sold for a nice price. The co-owners are lovely people and have faced some reverses in this life. They did a ton of work on the house and beautified the neighborhood. Now, they can break up their household and figure out the future with a decent dime behind it. It is a charming house and I wish the new owners all sorts of happiness in their new home!

Nokilissa should have snapped up this house! (or did she?...H'mmm?)... Anyway, whoever it is, welcome to the neighborhood!

Posted by: BrooklynGreene at January 19, 2010 6:54 PM in response to Last Week's Biggest Sales

That photo reminds me I haven't been to that yarn shop next door for ages and keep meaning to get over there.

Posted by: BrooklynGreene at January 19, 2010 6:45 PM in response to Streetlevel: Atlantic Ave Yoga Shop Saying Goodbye

Oh, please Nokilissa! Let's not over-indulge ourselves with the rat images! I was okay with the mention of the rats but your vivid imagings actually gave me goosepimples too!

Anyway, I guess regarding rats: yuck...but at least they're not in the house!

This house is super convenient for the subway and getting to businesses on Flatbush and Atlantic that those of us deeper in Fort Greene might not bother to walk to. Plus, you can go to BAM and their cinema (which has a different film every night) in a minute and a half.

To those uninitiated, Gemini10, you should realize that someone will, yes, buy this house, and probably put a lot more than $159,000. There are people who will pay "decent money" for this house and then rip out the duplex and one of the apartments and create an owner triplex and one rental.

For all we know, the interior might be rebuilt very mod. I'm basically a fan of original detail but as I've gotten older, I like the, sense of light, clean lines and easier upkeep/cleaning needed in a mod interior.

I agree with FunkyMonkey that this is a neighborhoody street.

Posted by: BrooklynGreene at January 19, 2010 6:44 PM in response to House of the Day: 143 St. Felix Street

I'm sure very few people here care, but I wrote the other day on a Fort Greene thread that there had been vacant lot on Cumberland that had changed hands, that the price had been run up to the point it looked likely no one would be able to buy it and make a go of building the 4-condo building now.

This is what happened in the 80's: properties were flipped and finally someone was left holding the bag..meanwhile, properties lay fallow for years throughout the 90's. It happened with buildings as well as vacant lots.

Now, as I remember, the most recent owner of the lot on Cumberland had filed and, I remember, received approvals for the 4-unit building. I was said to hear that the lot's asking price was $1 million. It just seemed that nothing would get built since the price of the land was too high. The land would add $250K to each apartment on its own.

Anyway, I noticed the lot now has building permits on the fence. I am amazed someone is going through with a new building project right now but all the power to them!

Posted by: BrooklynGreene at January 15, 2010 9:35 AM in response to Open Thread

Well thank goodness! Oddly enough we just took this bus this weekend. It was super convenient. After we left a concert at Barge Music we hopped right on a B25 that sitting at the stop waiting to begin its run. It took us right up Fulton into Fort Greene.

Posted by: BrooklynGreene at January 12, 2010 6:16 PM in response to Closing Bell: Curtains for the B25?

OOps...typo alert...

...but who cares?...

Posted by: BrooklynGreene at January 12, 2010 3:42 PM in response to Carlton Mews Changes Hands

BHO,
Such stunning insights. You should get on the lecture circuit you know.

:-)

Posted by: BrooklynGreene at January 12, 2010 3:29 PM in response to Tuesday Links

Goodness gracious! I wasn't implying the young men who were working on this development were ill-intentioned in anyway whatsoever.

I do find though that sadly, the cost of land got run up so that someone ends up holding the bag. For example there is a rather, luckily, no offensive vacant lot on Cumberland which was owned, I understand, by our Presbyterian Church. Apparently the lot was sold for something like $200,000 and was resold a number of times, each time doubling the price. I think the last asking price for this regular vacant lot was $1,000,000. There was a proposal that was approved by Landmarks for a 4 storey building with 4 condos, one per floor. Well, in the end, it didn't happen-- someone spent quite a bit of money on architects, lawyers, expediters and filing fees.

Meanwhile, back at the Carlton site, they spent a mint on similar efforts, got final approvals and also from the Community Board. They really made a wonderful effort. Sadly though, it just seemed the market wasn't there and for whatever reasons, maybe construction financing could not be secured.

The Brooklyn Cohousing group got involved rather late in the game. I was really routing for them. Had times been different (i.e. had the land been cheaper and had we not been at the tail end of a cycle with diminishing "demand" versus "supply") then maybe it would have all come together.

Sadly, it did not.

Also, let's face the fact that the cost of the land and existing structures is high. If the financing was over $8 million, who knows what other funds the developers invested in this project. Part of the problem for the cohousing group was that the base price of the property pushed the individual apartment prices a little too high for comfort...and this just before all "hell broke loose". Very sad timing and very sad the base price for the land was too high to make this work.

Had the cohousing group been founded 10 years before and secured the land from the original church in the early 90s. the who thing would probably have been much less costly and the project as a whole, much more viable.

I just wish there were some real bankruptcy possible where someone woud have to accept a complete loss and these parcels in NYC could settle back down to logical prices. As they are, many of them will sit vacant. I find it to be a shame.

Posted by: BrooklynGreene at January 12, 2010 3:28 PM in response to Carlton Mews Changes Hands

What a blah photo of Flatbush with that DeKalb Avenue FCR apartment building in the background...reminds me of another city somewhere in the U.S. You almost wonder if this is near a Greyhound terminal...

Anyway, regarding Atlantic Avenue being difficult to cross and dangerous: I agree. I am shocked that when I try to cross that "highway" at S. Portland to get to the bridge going to 6th Avenue, the walk sign starts flashing "don't walk" as or even before I get to the middle of the avenue. The light really, really, really does not give pedestrians enough time to cross. I can only imagine if I used a cane or were blind.

Drivers use Atlantic like a highway and go way over the speed limit at times.

Posted by: BrooklynGreene at January 12, 2010 9:24 AM in response to Tuesday Links

I have to say I'm a little floored that there was such a huge outstanding loan. I thought the younger men in the partnership had poured in personal funds to purchase the property. But then, they "bought out" the older man for, I think, more than that $5 million listed above. I guess he had been the "financing" behind it for the most part. Maybe that is when they took out such a huge loan into the 8 millions.

Such a shame that this happened.

It reminds me of what happened after the crash in 87 when, by 1990, no one wanted/could to touch properties that had been "flipped" multiple times so that their final asking price by 1990 was well over the market. We had a bunch of houses and a couple of lots in that predicament that sat empty into the 90's because of this.

Oddly enough, because of a combination of greed and/or idiocy we still have a couple of lots still sitting empty, one of them prominent on Lafayette in fact.

I really, really hope something can be done with the church because the last round of demolition and then neglect was a huge mistake. It was in okay shape before but now seems to becoming derelict. In fact, it apparently has a raccoon family living in it.

Let's hope the property's new status will help get something built. Considering the amount of work that needs to be done on the church and taking into account "the market", I would think a developer would want to pay under the $5+ million mentioned above.

Posted by: BrooklynGreene at January 12, 2010 9:17 AM in response to Carlton Mews Changes Hands

What I don't understand is how this impacts the bigger picture? Is that wonderful building supposed to be ripped down? Is it going to be grabbed through eminent domain or is the owner simply selling it to FCR?

I used to pass that spot constantly walking back and forth to Park Slope from Fort Greene. I wrote and said from the outset that the taking of the Carlton Bridge and the promise of closure for just 2 years was so much malarky. Now it "turns out" the bridge (that was) may not be replaced for years, and years, and years. Such a "surprise".

Posted by: BrooklynGreene at January 11, 2010 12:53 PM in response to Moving Day for Boymelgreen

I don't know much about renovating a rental per se but I have some ideas. Why not try one of those laminate snap-in-place floors? I think IKEA has cheap ones that don't need to be glued down...so cheap you won't mind installing it in an apartment. Otherwise, there are more expensive, nicer materials like roll-out linoleum or cork.

For a backsplash, I think there are some stick-um products that are relatively cheap and easy to install.

For the counter: sad to say but go with Formica or whatever version of that that is available. It is really the cheapest solution and bright color can look kicky and really pretty sensational (red or orange). But, if you're handy, probably a plywood base could be made and support either a homemade concrete counter or you could glue down tiles (if you get a good deal) and grout them. But these are only ideas! I have seen TV shows where these are being made and they make it look fairly easy and I have no real idea how difficult making a counter from cement might end up!

I heard that IKEA has dropped its line of furniture-like kitchen base cabinets that have their own stainless steel counters, sit on their own legs and don't need any real installation. I'm not entirely sure though. They have a number of options.

I guess appliances are available all over. Just figure out the most affordable place for what you want.

Listen, do not move any sink or plumbing. And of course, if you have a gas cooker, don't even think about moving the pipe. You didn't mention it, but I hope you don't think you can gut the kitchen and move everything around. Gutting really requires a permit too. Just do a light cosmetic "freshening" up.

And, yes, paint and color can do a lot for a rental apartment.

Posted by: BrooklynGreene at January 11, 2010 12:42 PM in response to Best Materials for Rental Reno

Well Finally! Why did the opening drag on for so long? We have friends who live right near by and it seems like years and years since the work started.

I'm not exactly pleased this is going to be operated by the YMCA which will necessarily pull a profit from it. Why couldn't the City run it?

Posted by: BrooklynGreene at January 11, 2010 12:16 PM in response to Armory Athletic Center in the Slope Finally Opening

Congratulations!!!
Will the pizza wood oven vendors be there or will it be impossible?
We'll try to come this weekend or next.
:-)

Posted by: BrooklynGreene at January 7, 2010 5:36 PM in response to Countdown to The Flea at One Hanson

Do I really need an iphone? That's one we've been debating for the last week or so.

The husband is against having one himself, feels that email is an imposition as it is and he has no desire to lash himself to an iphone which would basically equate to email-all-day-long as it were.

Personally, I kind of like the idea of being able to handle internet stuff when I'm on the go. Problem is the screen might be too tiny and hard to read and I'm not so sure I can type on a touch screen like that. I would LOVE it if it could be hooked up to the laptop so I could have a bigger screen to view things in their regular size but the young man at AT&T said it cannot be done, that I would have to pay for a separate internet connection for the laptop. Hhh...

The iphobia is $70 per month at the lowest level. Wasder, why are you paying two different $120 bills? Is it really $240/mth just for the iphobes? Can you get a family plan to reduce the cost?

Posted by: BrooklynGreene at January 4, 2010 3:38 PM in response to Open Thread

Here's the entry from December 14th:

Car Alarm Incident Reveals Tensions in Fort Greene?

http://www.brownstoner.com/brownstoner/archives/2009/12/car_alarm_divid.php

Posted by: BrooklynGreene at January 4, 2010 3:31 PM in response to Open Thread

Not that those posting to the open thread are the right audience, but some of you may remember the GREAT CAR ALARM DEBACLE OF 2009 a couple of weeks ago on Lafayette Avenue which was featured on Brownstoner. Well Everyone, that car is back and going off every time a bus passes on Lafayette.

I wonder if Tish and the Precinct will make any statements. If I'm not mistaken there was are article about it in the Post, Newsday or Brooklyn Paper that talked about the owner going to Tish to complain about messages people left on his windshield. Or, maybe I'm getting the whole story loused up?...

Happy New Year Everyone!

Posted by: BrooklynGreene at January 4, 2010 3:30 PM in response to Open Thread

Alphaville...Albany style.

It's kind of too bad there is a whole "lot of nothin'" going on in Albany.

Hhh...

Posted by: BrooklynGreene at December 30, 2009 4:31 PM in response to Wednesday Links

I'm glad Denton pointed out the above.

I know the "South Mall" quite well. It is a great civic space but has had and continues to have issues. The art collection was a testament to 60's abstract expressionism, op and minimalism. I view the place as a kind of time capsule of architecture, art and America's aspirations at that time.

I kind of thought the style of building was done with once the mall was completed but who knew that style would come back and be re-promoted these last bunch of years?

No one mentioned "the Egg"! I have to admit, I never have liked approaching the Egg from the plaza outdoors in the wind (hair goes in all directions!) but the interiors are kicky.

I always enjoy the trip by train up the Hudson. The river is spectacular and you can see why it was considered the most scenic North American must-see into the 1800's (of course there was Niagara Falls and many, many years later the "West" became a tourist destination)--but the Hudson really took the cake at a specific moment in American History.

I've never found the castle to be that nice. I find it to be kind of ugly. It's a cute idea but this is not the Rhineland--let's face it.

Amtrak hosts scenic tours run by the US Parks Dept. Retirees give talks in the dining/cafe car during the day. Although they're not superlative...or terribly accurate on all things, the gentlemen who do the presentations (and tend to be train buffs) do, in fact, know a lot about the trains. I found the talk interesting. They didn't know enough about many of the Hudson River mansions/estates...

BHO, should we sell our house now and buy gold for now? How long do you think gold will hold up?

Posted by: BrooklynGreene at December 30, 2009 3:35 PM in response to Wednesday Links

Okay, that settles it. Would anyone like to acquire a prime location Fort Greene rowhouse...as is? Between this COLD winter, arctic air, and the fact that sales seem to be moving along...

Happy New Year!

Posted by: BrooklynGreene at December 29, 2009 12:59 PM in response to Last Week's Biggest Sales

Congrats!!!

Posted by: BrooklynGreene at December 28, 2009 10:29 AM in response to Be Kind, Don’t Rewind!

Of course there was A LOT of infrastructure and internal station (subway and LIRR) work that was done over the years but I agreed that getting the atrium entryway finished really has seem like "forever"!

I'll miss the old-fashioned fish-scale hood over the old subway entrance on Atlantic. I like those old fish-scale entrances and some of the more elaborate ones around Manhattan. It makes me think a little of Paris (very different style, yes, I know)...or, at least a more decorative beaux art past, that though boring, had some elegant touches, or attempts at them, as part of the streetscape.

For years, since HSBC took over the WBSB Building, the glass subway sign above the entrance at that building has been smashed and cracked on one side. It's STILL, after the building has changed hands, the work almost finished and scaffolding taken down on that side--it is STILL broken...I guess that goes with them never getting the clock lights to work after the big deal renovation--very aggravating to me. Sorry.

Wouldn't have been GREAT if they could have made something like the Reading Market in Philadelphia (!!!) instead: a location for a big box retailer, a chain restaurant based on "wings", and a bunch of other chain stores. Blech.

Posted by: BrooklynGreene at December 16, 2009 1:15 PM in response to Holy Crap! Atlantic Station Scheduled to Open Next Week!

Gee. I'm ALL for community gardens! The more the better!

Most gardens are vital parts of their communities. GreenThumb under the Park Dept. does an incredible job supporting NYC's hundreds of community gardens! !

Luckily, most gardens are "safe" (under Parks, Trust for Public Land, Brooklyn-Queens Land Trust, etc.). The HPD and DOT gardens may be able to work out arrangements where the Parks Dept will take them over. Let's hope!

There is so much empty housing in NYC right now, I doubt many developers would be interested in buying the rather small HPD lots and manage to get loans to build small buildings Let's get people into the existing housing and then worry!

Posted by: BrooklynGreene at December 16, 2009 8:56 AM in response to Closing Bell: Community Gardens at Risk

These are some rude and discriminatory comments above...and I resent them.

Posted by: BrooklynGreene at December 15, 2009 3:42 PM in response to Last Week's Biggest Sales

Posted by: bxgrl at December 15, 2009 1:29 PM:
Hey, BG! When are you joining us at a PLUSA gathering (and you too, fsrg!)?

What does PLUSA stand for? :-)

Posted by: BrooklynGreene at December 15, 2009 3:05 PM in response to Open Thread

What does PLUSA stand for? :-)

Posted by: BrooklynGreene at December 15, 2009 2:46 PM in response to Junk Yard Bonds Get Trashed

Thanks Bxgrl!

Hi!

Posted by: BrooklynGreene at December 15, 2009 1:10 PM in response to Junk Yard Bonds Get Trashed

Not only they proposing to dump hundreds of millions of tax-free bonds on the market to fuel private development...but the taxpayers might very well be forced to take on the debt if the bonds don't "perform" as expected??? Am I missing something or is this a scam?

Where're "jugs" and company? Those posters seems to post only to AY stories.

Posted by: BrooklynGreene at December 15, 2009 11:58 AM in response to Junk Yard Bonds Get Trashed

I'm sorry, but in my book, these are still "Wow" sale prices.

okay...yes BHO...in euros or gold...I know, I know...

Posted by: BrooklynGreene at December 15, 2009 11:38 AM in response to Last Week's Biggest Sales

BTW, NOP, yes, school used to have a lot of humiliation going on...School was strict and abuse was rampant. Ugh. I shudder at it. I was angered at the asst. principal quote above...and God knows it's from HOW many years ago. I guess it strikes a cord and is upsetting.

Posted by: BrooklynGreene at December 14, 2009 7:57 PM in response to House of the Day: 105 St. Marks Avenue

I'm with Mr. NOP (Hi NOP!)

Shocking! Positively shocking! I think these two surreal estate agents should take a step back, take a deep breath and drop the price.

AND, I just can't believe a Corcoran listing would have such lousy photos for this kind of asking price. And that itty bitty floor plan? I can't see anything on it.

I would rather not live in this block so near to Flatbush but it certainly IS a convenient location...still, time for reality check, Guys!

Posted by: BrooklynGreene at December 14, 2009 7:54 PM in response to House of the Day: 105 St. Marks Avenue

I can't figure out the floorplan any better than the next guy/gal! Oh, well. No great loss!

Posted by: BrooklynGreene at December 14, 2009 7:48 PM in response to Condo of the Day: 335 Warren Street, #102

I have to say that a lot of the delays around this particular restaurant getting it together has had a lot to do with them having changed contractors and changed the interior design any number of times. They didn't have one plan and stick with it from the beginning.

The exterior issues could/would all have been dealt with rather swiftly.

But it seems like it has been the restaurant people's slowness, fits and starts, changes in plans that have dragged this out...which is fine, as long as no one gets hurt and they have deep pockets.

Frankly, I've been finding the interior to be kind of fun!

Posted by: BrooklynGreene at December 14, 2009 7:45 PM in response to Streetlevel: Nigerian on Lafayette Finally a Go

Okay, the Post article actually wasn't "that" bad once I got to page 2 online.

I think Carolyn and Joe were straightforward. Yes, there are issues, indeed, indeed and people like Joe can neatly and nicely scold (i.e. go off on) the kids who get out of hand or pull something. It appears the Great Fort Greene Car Alarm Incident of 2009 could have had us old-timers letting the young man "have a piece of our minds" had we only known when he'd be out there moving the car.

I'm glad the Post pointed out some of the positives of Fort Greene. I would never have expected a relatively positive and benign from them. I can relate to what Mr. George refers to. The schism in the American economy has been a rather bitter pill to swallow. It's really too bad what has happened. And, the problem is, the young people like Mr. Lacey and the 30-somethings who are moving to Fort Greene don't really know how things were. Okay...they weren't "great" in many ways, but still, incomes weren't skewed so wildly and young African-Americans employment rates were much, much, much higher. I won't break it all down tonight...it's too late!

Posted by: BrooklynGreene at December 14, 2009 7:23 PM in response to Car Alarm Incident Reveals Tensions in Fort Greene?

And PPS
This is a poorly written article and, unless I'm completely dense and it's there smack in front of me, there is no way to know HOW the Post got that quote or who Lacey spoke with? Was this off a message board? Hhh...

If the Lacey quote is legit what in heck did he mean?: "There’s nowhere to move the car to."

If he really said that...

Well, I don't want to say it, but honestly, even though parking is very tight on end of week/weekend days around dining hour, usually you can find a spot. If the quote is accurate, it sounds like he sought to be a jerk.

Again...Sweet youth...

Posted by: BrooklynGreene at December 14, 2009 7:10 PM in response to Car Alarm Incident Reveals Tensions in Fort Greene?

Yikes, am just looking at the Post article. Considering the young man's age, it appears he IS the same person arrested in Stamford a couple of times.

If anyone wants to research it, find out what the outcomes were and report back tomorrow on this thread. Inquiring Minds (kind of) Want to Know.

Posted by: BrooklynGreene at December 14, 2009 7:04 PM in response to Car Alarm Incident Reveals Tensions in Fort Greene?

I'm back! [Hold the applause!] Hi to Wasder, Bxgirl and the nice people!

Look, you might call me a Fort Greene old-timer. I and the neighbors have always detested problem car alarms since cars started getting them. They used to be a much, much worse scourge in my opinion. They were giong off all night long everywhere all the time. Horrible.

Then, over the last years, the problem has pretty much abated for some reason. I've thought for the last years that maybe the car alarms have become more sophisticated. In the 80's, kids used to jump on the fenders (remember real fenders?) or would push down on the hood just to make car alarms go off...and they would...AMPLY! The alarms were hyper sensitive. The in the 90's I guess it was, they came out with those cycling, nightmare alarms that would play all those disturbing dissonant melodies over and over again. It got to the point I would come across mockingbirds doing the sounds...cute but disturbing!

I had to laugh at this article. We were personally subjected to this near-constant car alarm for over a week. The car was not a junk heap. It looked very standard...one of those pale, gold tone nothing GM smallish sedans. The car alarm went off just about every time the very frequent bus went by...not to mention roaring motorcycles, cars, trucks, ambulances, etc., etc.

The police came around a good number of times and people left notes under the wipers and someone used duct tape to put a well-formatted, politely worded 8 1/2x11 poster on the windshield. I never bothered to call it in. It seemed like everyone had it covered.

I had an idea that the owner may have come back to the car at some point days before he eventually moved it, but changed nothing and the car didn't move...the alarm kept going off. It was never ticketed, but yes, people should understand tickets can be issued and the police can disconnect the battery to stop the alarm. Luckily, the alarm was not a "bad" one. It only had one tune and would turn off after only a short cycle. It wasn't as loud as some, and it didn't sequence through different, annoying tunes.

Still, it *was* annoying and would go off all night, even more during the busy times of day. It cut into my sleep. I was aware of it waking me up a number of times over the week.

Since we've switched to the one-day-"a"-week alternate parking scheme, the car stayed put for what seemed like ages. AND, although I'm not 100% sure of the parking schedule, I think the owner actually left the car in that spot despite the street cleaners needing to sweep that side...but I could be wrong...never saw ticket on the car.

David, I have to laugh at something you wrote. One of my more vivid memories of getting around Hong Kong on public transport was when I sat down on a lady who hadn't been in the seat a millisecond beforehand! It was a though she slipped in under me as I backed toward the seat. It was rather remarkable...actually hysterical in hindsight.

BTW, reading the above about the arrests and charges, I have to point out that if this is the same person (who knows?!) then the car was parked just around the corner from his home so you'd think he might have heard it going off non-stop. If this is the same person, considering the dates in the above-referenced articles, I'd imagine there would be updates since both cases should be over. Sounds like the young man was very busy with his girlfriend in Stamford! Ah, sweet youth!...I guess...

Posted by: BrooklynGreene at December 14, 2009 7:02 PM in response to Car Alarm Incident Reveals Tensions in Fort Greene?

Denton,

Such violence in support of C-Town...I hope you own stock!

Seems to me a lot of the coop detractors have a case of coop envy.

Rob, Dave and a number of other commenters, from what I can gather, would enjoy the coop from a number of angles.

:-)

Posted by: BrooklynGreene at December 3, 2009 8:53 PM in response to Scarlet Letter(s) For Food Co-op Members

Dave...I think you should rethink your attitude...you might "enjoy" the coop more than you now realize. I'll the rest unsaid...everything implied.

Now, I don't wear T-shirts...and I can imagine it's a bit late in the season to go around in one, but I there are a couple of other lines that could be used on the T-shirts. since the kids who put these together are probably reading this, why not try?:

We need a Co-Counter!
at the Coop...

Next Express!
at the Coop...

Next Regular!
at the Coop...

I'm here to do a make-up
at the Coop...

Ginger, pick up on line 2...
at the Coop...

If you have few items and nothing needs to be weighed, you can go directly to the cashiers
at the Coop...

I've always wanted to try that...how do you cook it?
at the Coop...

What's your number?
at the Coop...

Posted by: BrooklynGreene at December 3, 2009 3:23 PM in response to Scarlet Letter(s) For Food Co-op Members

Yes, the brownstone with the "For Rent" sign in front is in need of some repair. I agree. It could use a little investment. I think it must be rented by an absentee landlord but I could be wrong. I'm not particularly offended by the sign but wouldn't mind seeing some money spent on the building facade.

BHO,
I had a look at the map in the article about foreclosures. It appears the area mapped out as "Fort Greene/Brooklyn Heights" includes other neighborhoods, notably all of Clinton Hill, Vinegar Hill, everything all way to the water bordered on the east by Bedford Avenue. That's a huge area and there are some ramshackle, distressed properties around. If the tally broke out the FG and BH Landmarked area only, I think the number would be much, much lower if not at zero...but I could be wrong...

Posted by: BrooklynGreene at December 3, 2009 3:12 PM in response to Thursday Links

That's a nice bright, sunny photo of South Portland seen from Lafayette. Thanks! I haven't seen a decent photo of Fort Greene on here recently (at least none that I remember).

Posted by: BrooklynGreene at December 3, 2009 8:41 AM in response to Thursday Links

That row of brownstones on Adelphi is very handsome.

The sale price for a Fort Greene house seems very "strong" to me...but that's me. Maybe this sale price is actually a discount to what it would have sold for a year and a half ago.

A decade or two ago our minds would have been absolutely blown by these kind of numbers!...but I guess between inflation, the "mutant asset real estate bubble" and the improvements in Fort Greene, people are very much willing to pay good prices for our area.

Good.

Posted by: BrooklynGreene at December 1, 2009 3:08 PM in response to Last Week's Biggest Sales

Dr. Seuss, reading your comment above I have to wonder what your "on'...

Look the sewer line broke and filled the basement with sewage. By you the tenants complaining, wanting to take action and then upset (along with most of the homeowners on the block) when the landlords illegally dumped the waste...this by you constitutes tenants with a "beef" and escalating this inappropriately???

Seuss, you're an ass.

Posted by: BrooklynGreene at November 30, 2009 6:17 PM in response to Craptacular Thanksgiving on Adelphi Street

I built my simplified version of the Brooklyn Botanical Garden Japanese fence 12 years ago. You can see a pic at

http://www.schoolworksnyc.com/index.php5?module=Project&category=Residential%20and%20Furniture&id=48.

The bamboo between the vertical boards must be varnished which I didn't do and they did deteriorate over time.

Posted by: schoolworks at February 6, 2010 9:33 PM in response to Fence