I know the guy who sold it to the developer. A true gentleman and a scholar - professor in CUNY. He didn't try to make a killing, asked a reasonable price at the time and was glad to sell it. I am so happy for him and it shows that by not being greedy you sometimes end up with so much more.

Posted by: Brooklynnative at November 6, 2009 12:41 PM in response to 85 State's Roller Coaster Ride

"55% are childless"

Wow, people here must be spending too much time surfing streeteasy and not enough on streetsleezy. I mean come on, stop reading Montrose Morris and get it on people. Start breeding!

Posted by: Brooklynnative at October 29, 2009 11:19 AM in response to Brownstoner 2009 Survey Results

Spelllcheck Gabby, spellcheck. Isn't it possible to spellcheck before posting?

Posted by: Brooklynnative at October 23, 2009 11:39 AM in response to Park Slope Schoolhouse in at 5th Ave's 'Classic Modern'

It doesn't matter if you co-mingle the funds as long as you return the deposit - minus witholding funds for legitimate problems. If you return the deposit what would the tenants have to complain about? It's called standing legally. A tenant would have no standing to challenge a landlord if his deposit was returned because he will have suffered no harm. No harm, case dismissed.

Posted by: Brooklynnative at October 20, 2009 7:01 PM in response to Security Deposits

That courtroom will be worthless once AY is built.

Posted by: Brooklynnative at October 15, 2009 10:30 AM in response to Oral Arguments over Eminent Domain at Atlantic Yards

Yo Joe, how do you think so many Koreans found the money to invest in opening up delis - by borrowing the money through informal banks operated within the Korean community. Is that a conspiracy? Many ethnic groups operate such institutions, nothing conspiratorial about it.

Posted by: Brooklynnative at October 14, 2009 12:17 PM in response to Last Week's Biggest Sales

Typo in the post.

Posted by: Brooklynnative at October 9, 2009 10:48 AM in response to So Long, Slope Socksmith

New Widget - Amount of time before property gets delisted.

I think it's time Stoner creates a new widget - time on market before getting delisted. All the open house picks are not selling so what sense does it make to use a price widget when nothing sells? I predict this one goes off the market in about 4 months. No way, no how, this one sells in the present climate. There were very few people who could have afforded this when times were flush, and it's not going to be to everyone's taste. I wouldn't want to live there. Seller is obviously in denial as evidenced by their lowering the ask by $50,000. Anyhow, on the new time widget, I say 4 months and then drops off the market.

Posted by: Brooklynnative at October 5, 2009 3:28 PM in response to House of the Day: 276 Berkeley Place

Really surprised after that huge price cut on Pacific didn't do the trick.

Posted by: Brooklynnative at October 2, 2009 1:05 PM in response to Open House Picks: Six Months Later

Numbers almost make sense already if you get that a good chunk of tax break on Lefferts (don't understand how that works). I love that street and those are amongst the street's best buildings. No way it goes for less than 6 figures.

Posted by: Brooklynnative at October 2, 2009 1:02 PM in response to Open House Picks: Six Months Later

Lefferts for under a mil? That seems way too little for 5 floors of free market rentals.

Posted by: Brooklynnative at October 2, 2009 12:57 PM in response to Open House Picks: Six Months Later

Berkeley is a much better block in my opinion because a lot closer to the subway.

Posted by: Brooklynnative at September 30, 2009 2:46 PM in response to House of the Day: 233 Garfield Place

I remember this house was in the news a couple of years back. It's on a landmarked block but the owner had been painting it pink for so long it was grandfathered in. He had just painted it again, pinker than ever, the neighbors got all hysterical and it made the tv news. The owner couldn't give a rat's ass what his neighbors said, bless his soul. I love people like that. I think it's ugly, but I prefer brownstones painted white or a soft green so I don't like the landmark rules about them having to be brown. I'll be glad when the new owner puts a fresh coat of paint to cover up that ugly pink.

Posted by: Brooklynnative at September 30, 2009 1:55 PM in response to House of the Day: 233 Garfield Place

No relation whatsoever. Someone used to post that comment about AY all the time on this site. Just threw it in the mix for the benefit of long time readers.

Posted by: Brooklynnative at September 17, 2009 11:25 AM in response to $15 Million for Two Navy Yard Projects

I agree with Rob, those clouds just look totally fake to me - kind of like fake boobs. This site does post great photos but this is not one of them.

Posted by: Brooklynnative at September 17, 2009 10:19 AM in response to Wednesday Blogwrap

This development will be worthless once AY is built.

Posted by: Brooklynnative at September 17, 2009 10:16 AM in response to $15 Million for Two Navy Yard Projects

Gemini,

I think the cost should the burden of the landlord, not the city.

Posted by: Brooklynnative at September 11, 2009 10:41 AM in response to No Water for Two Months in Bed-Stuy Building

Holy F'n Sh$t that was one incredible building. I couldn't believe it when I first saw it. Wow!!!

Posted by: Brooklynnative at September 8, 2009 10:45 AM in response to Walkabout with Montrose: Master of Schools, JW Naughton

Snowbunny

"How on earth is a twenty or thirty year old person supposed to afford a place to live without either an MBA (which won't help you all that much these days anyway) or some help from their family?"

Not everyone who is 20 years old can live in London, Paris, or Brooklyn. If they could, those cities (or Boroughs) wouldn't be what they are. In the 70's when I was growing up, anyone could live in Brooklyn but few wanted to. Now that everyone wants to because it's improved so much, not everyone can. It's not a God-given right to live where you want to. Plus, from what I hear, rents in East New York are still pretty affordable. (Yes that's part of Brooklyn). Must say though, I love that name Snowbunny.

Posted by: Brooklynnative at September 8, 2009 10:39 AM in response to Renters Become Their Own Landlords

I think JScheff is taking some well deserved heat on this one, but thank God he got the job and not that inane Gabby. He's posted pretty intelligent posts all in all. She was the worst. Typos all the time, misread half the stuff she posted to, and once posted to a real estate advertisement which I remember trying to drum up business with a bogus story about the market. I guess with the downturn in the economy you can find much more intelligent people to work for you now, hey Stoner.

Posted by: Brooklynnative at September 8, 2009 10:22 AM in response to Renters Become Their Own Landlords

I once was allowing a tenant to take on a roommate. She advertised it on C's list as needing no credit check. (Why in God's name??!!) She found someone she really liked and wanted, when I told him we did run credit checks he had no problem with that but didn't expect to have to pay for it. When I told him he needed to give me the money before running it, his whole demeanor changed, he got hostile and I realized it wasn't going well. Long story short. He had recently declared bankruptcy and then got very hostile with the tenant. She forwarded me some of his emails because he scared her. On the other hand, I've also once rented to a woman who had declared bankruptcy because of medical bills. She was upfront about it, a great tenant, very quiet also paid her rent on time. You need to feel out your tenants and a credit check helps, but in the end, I also go on instinct.

Posted by: Brooklynnative at September 8, 2009 10:16 AM in response to Credit Check for Tenants?

Anyone knw what happened to that three family limestone on Stuyvesant avenue asking 1.2 million? It was diagonally across from Fulton Park and the A train. Or what happened with that building Barbara Corcoran bought on Stuy Ave? Did she get rid of the rent stabalized tenant yet?

Posted by: Brooklynnative at September 4, 2009 1:05 PM in response to Open House Picks: Six Months Later

Fire him and I guarantee the new contractor will start complaining about what a lousy job the old guy did, tell you now he'll have to do extra work at a higher price, and any problems - it's the old guy's fault. Stick with him or you'll have much bigger problems.

And, maybe consider you offered your side of the story here and most people stilll think you, not the contractor is the difficult party to deal with. Maybe there is a lesson here for you to learn?

Posted by: Brooklynnative at September 4, 2009 11:56 AM in response to Fire This Contractor?

I also think it's good example of modern construction. Obviously on the large size, but I like the design.

Posted by: Brooklynnative at September 4, 2009 10:43 AM in response to Bay Ridge McMansion

Maybe the OP has a point about the hardwood floors accumulation issue which I totally cannot understand, but I'd hate to work him.

Posted by: Brooklynnative at September 4, 2009 10:41 AM in response to Fire This Contractor?

Jee, I was expecting so much worse than this after seeing the headline. I don't really see the problem. What's wrong with the tile being cheaper than promised? I've done a lot of renovation over the years, these guys are paying their men by the hour, sometimes things go faster or slower than expected and you should try to be a bit flexible and appreciate their situation and that they are trying to make a living.

Posted by: Brooklynnative at September 4, 2009 10:07 AM in response to Fire This Contractor?

DeBlasio makes me sick.

Posted by: Brooklynnative at September 1, 2009 11:12 AM in response to Mapping Slumlords

I guess it's a very complicated question. The presence of African Americans must be remembered without forgetting their pain and suffering. The problem, in my mind, with using Revolutionary War or Civil War renactements as the occasion to remember the significant role African Americans played in this country's history is that these types of events tend to glorify, or should I say "whitewash" the history of this country. The War of Independence was one of the greatest events in human history and dramatically advanced the cause of liberty and democracy. However, it accomplished these goals by, in part, sacrificing the interests of African Americans which was an explicit bargain reached by the leaders of the war effort. It was a huge moral dilemma. For those white Americans who considered the dilemma, they largely determined that by not comprosing on the issue of slavery, they would lose the war to the British and slavery would continue anyhow. Pragmatically speaking, the War of Independence could not have been won if the Northerners had not compromised to the South on the issue of slavery. However it was a deal with the devil and I think that that issue gets lost during these re-enactments.

Posted by: Brooklynnative at September 1, 2009 11:05 AM in response to Tuesday Links

I'm a landlord and I've had tenants get bedbugs on about three difference occasions. I hate it when it happens because if a person on the third floor all of a sudden gets beg bugs and no one else has them, it's because they bought some used furniture or stayed overnight in a hotel with them and that's not my fault. Anyhow, everytime the problem was solved after a visit by the exterminator. I don't think they travel between floors. They attach themselves to your body from furniture or a mattress but I think they're fairly easily dealt with. At least in my experience.

Posted by: Brooklynnative at September 1, 2009 10:06 AM in response to Park Slope Bedbug Disaster

Montrose, from my reading of the revoluationary war, I'm not sure I would participate if I were a person of color. The Brits promised freedom to the slaves if they would fight for the British side and then after the war did not really uphold their end of the bargain. The American side considered such a policy but never refused to enact it because of the slave holding South. Some African Americans did fight for the American side but I think it was pretty few.

It was an incredibly complex situation, basically a revolutionary war and a civil war at the same time. In the end, blacks, unfortunately, gained little with the War of Independence. Perhaps the biggest victory was it started people asking why shouldn't the same principles of liberty and democracy apply to African Americans? Even after the Civil War, so little was gained for African Americans still living in the South and then segregation, which was new, got imposed in the North. This country has a terrible history of racial persecution and we should never forget that.

Posted by: Brooklynnative at September 1, 2009 9:51 AM in response to Tuesday Links

Dibs is going to be on this sh#t like aahh...white on rice so to speak.

Posted by: Brooklynnative at August 24, 2009 10:42 AM in response to Bed-Stuy: 'Experiencing a Little Bit of a Depression'?

Smudge: the prompt in the widget says "your appraisal", not "guess what it sells for". True.

Plus if you took all the bids on any property, only one would usually be the highest - the sale price. All the other bids will be below the sale price. The sale price is the highest bid so I'm not sure comparing it to this widget this is any kind of an indicator at all of the real estate market. Sure ain't Case Schiller.

Posted by: Brooklynnative at July 23, 2009 11:04 AM in response to Bearish Brownstoners Miss Mark on 2nd Street Sale

Yo Dibs, chill, you're 9:47 answer had in fact not posted before I wrote 9:49 question - they were obviously posted at almost the same time.

Posted by: Brooklynnative at July 16, 2009 10:03 AM in response to Elliman: Brooklyn Market Improved in 2nd Quarter But...

OK Dibs, but please just let me know, at what percentage decline do you throw in the bull towel? 20, 25, 30? Just name a figure, I'm curious?

Posted by: Brooklynnative at July 16, 2009 9:49 AM in response to Elliman: Brooklyn Market Improved in 2nd Quarter But...

Southbrooklyn - very good questions, someone good at math could probably figure it out using the Case-Schiller index.

Posted by: Brooklynnative at July 16, 2009 9:41 AM in response to Elliman: Brooklyn Market Improved in 2nd Quarter But...

DIBS - If prices peaked in 3Q08, or less than a year ago, 18% decline from the peak seem pretty bad to me. The market took five years to seven years to bottom after the market crash in 87 - a one day wonder. Remember folks that bottom was hit after a huge 1 day to 1 week event, and it was all up from there. It was also an event that has been largely attributed to computer trading programs - with automatic sell stop loss programs running wild. Now, we are undergoing one of the largest deleveraging cycles in history, a real economic catastrophe, we've lost Bear, Merrill and Lehman, and the financial industry job losses dwarve those of 87. If the market bottoms at 18%, yes it's not bad at all. But at what level Dibs do you agree it's bad - 20%, 25%, just give me a number where you throw in the bull towel.

Posted by: Brooklynnative at July 16, 2009 9:34 AM in response to Elliman: Brooklyn Market Improved in 2nd Quarter But...

Jeez, it's been a while since the school yard days. Ring Go Leave Yo 1,2,3.

Posted by: Brooklynnative at June 29, 2009 11:05 AM in response to Race, Class and P.S. 20's Controversial Principal

Ininite - Brooklynnative lemme get a dollar??

Huh?? People don't get my humor but what the hell is that in reference to?

Posted by: Brooklynnative at June 29, 2009 9:57 AM in response to Race, Class and P.S. 20's Controversial Principal

"Mr. Segarra (the Union Rep) said that at one point, Mr. Keaton began poking him and, when Mr. Segarra would not back down, hitting him (or kicking him) at least 20 times....The police said a stomp print on his head matched the tread of Mr. Keaton’s shoe....Mr. Keaton’s supporters remained steadfast. “He’s straightforward and he pulls no punches."

He don't pull no punches and he don't stop his foot from hitting some white cracker upside the head either. I say that's the kind of dedication we need from teachers and administrators alike. I bet some White Honkies are going to complain, they're going to claim that "stomp prints" on the face are going too far. They just don't get it, (unless whenb Keaton is stomping on their faces) and should move the hell out of Crooklyn. Right What!!??

Posted by: Brooklynnative at June 29, 2009 9:45 AM in response to Race, Class and P.S. 20's Controversial Principal

How about a weekly listing of the properties longest on the market - check out streeteasy - it offers that as an option. Some very nice brownstones are not selling. Or, how about a listing of properties taken off of the market because they couldn't sell? I think the open house picks 6 months later are at least a somewhat random sample and offer much less support for team bull.
Even that weekly listing offers more attractive properties but week after week, the properties north of a million aren't selling. There are well-known finance hurdles right now. No way team bull advances without that working itself out first. Maybe it will, I have little to base my opinion on, but it seems to me mortgages rates are heaing north and there is little reason to think banks are going to open up the spigots again. Until then, team bear will ignore "last week's biggest" sales as an unrepresentative sample.

Posted by: Brooklynnative at June 16, 2009 12:16 PM in response to Last Week's Biggest Sales

How about a weekly listing of the properties longest on the market - check out streeteasy - it offers that as an option. Some very nice brownstones are not selling. Or, how about a listing of properties taken off of the market because they couldn't sell? I think the open house picks 6 months later are at least a somewhat random sample and offer much less support for team bull.
Even that weekly listing offers more attractive properties but week after week, the properties north of a million aren't selling. There are well-known finance hurdles right now. No way team bull advances without that working itself out first. Maybe it will, I have little to base my opinion on, but it seems to me mortgages rates are heaing north and there is little reason to think banks are going to open up the spigots again. Until then, team bear will ignore "last week's biggest" sales as an unrepresentative samplee.

Posted by: Brooklynnative at June 16, 2009 12:13 PM in response to Last Week's Biggest Sales

No Nolissa, this does not "bode well for sellers," it means almost nothing. It makes no sense to extrapolate anything from the "biggest sales of the week." It's not a representative sample. It would be like highlighting which four stocks had the greatest gains of the week during the stock market dive last fall. Even then there were stocks hitting new 52 week highs and having good weeks. If you just looked at the top four or five stocks every week, (or on the other hand, the worst four or five) what would that tell you - nothing. You must look at a much larger sample and probably use the mean to even out the outliers.

Posted by: Brooklynnative at June 16, 2009 11:47 AM in response to Last Week's Biggest Sales

It looks terrible, probably smells worse, but I'm sure it's some kind of benign toxicity.

Posted by: Brooklynnative at June 15, 2009 11:37 AM in response to More Gowanus Goop

I saw the place when it was first on the market and was very disappointed with the interior. Not only has it been chopped up into SRO formation on top floors, the original design made no sense. The biggest fireplaces I have ever seen (and kind of ugly to boot) had been installed right in front of the very small windows in the back. To get any light you'd need to rip out the fireplaces and then enlarge the windows. The center stair was also a problem in terms of creating some separate units and my memory of the outdoor space was that it was non-existant (although there might have been some sort of shared driveway). It would require a ton of work, there was way too much wood for my taste, it was incredibly dark, not my cup of tea on the inside at all, but a great exterior.

Posted by: Brooklynnative at May 28, 2009 7:34 PM in response to House of the Day: 859 St. Marks Avenue

True, but all in all, I think it's "just another brick in the wall." Sorry couldn't help but say that.

On a less humorous note, I think the most interesting thing about this post is MM's statement that "Mankind’s oldest building material is brick." I never thought or realized that. But, I've always felt that a brick wall, made of handmade old brick that's not perfect and symetrical, has amazing character and just speaks to you. That's why I love exposed brick. Maybe the sight of it touches some primal part of the brain that has been hardwired to recognize it. Anyhow, thanks for the interesting posts MM.

Posted by: Brooklynnative at April 22, 2009 12:54 PM in response to Walkabout With Montrose: Build Me a House of Sturdy Brick

Jeezin' F'n Christ. The people profiled in the article have cerebal palsy, strokes, and they are in their f'n wheelchairs while Pitbull and FenFen start saying the problem is that people are peeing in the elevator??!! What the F#*# does pee'in in the elevator have to do with it? Since when would that disable an elevator??? I'd like to see what FenFen would to about taking on personal responsiblity about his/her neighbors if he/she were in a wheelchair after suffering a stroke. These are some of the most insenstive responses I've ever seen on Brownstoner and I'm not man without a sense of humor. Jesus Christ, I used to defend the What for being funny but you two are so way out of line I hope you get struck by lightening, and get confined to a wheelchair in a building in which the elevator goes out regularly. Make the city do what they always require private landlords to do: fix the freaking problem.

Posted by: Brooklynnative at April 21, 2009 11:10 AM in response to Tuesday Links

Slopefarm, thanks for the deep psychological insight into the minds of the What and DIBS. You come across as so smart and insightful, I bet you're a professional. Some kind of shrink right? (I bet you even detect my sarcasim).

Posted by: Brooklynnative at April 16, 2009 11:55 AM in response to Douglas Elliman Q1 Report: Down and Downer

DIBS just said to the What:

You've lost the ability to discuss something in a civil manner.

I haven't laughed this hard since I first read the What using the term Asshat. When did the What ever discuss anything in a "civil manner"???!!! You've got to be kidding me. And you're stupid enough to engage him??!! What the hell does that say about you, (or me, for engaging you I guess.)

Posted by: Brooklynnative at April 16, 2009 11:23 AM in response to Douglas Elliman Q1 Report: Down and Downer

You are in an incredibly strong position. The fines on the landlord for renting illegally apartments are huge, incredibly huge. The city may make you move, but fine, you are living in a terrible situation. Tell the landlord you are not paying rent and that if he wants to he can institute evicition proceedings against you and thereby alerting the city to the fact that he is in violation of the housing code and will be fined a hell of lot more than he gets in rent. He either does what you want or you stop paying and there is nothing he can do about it.

Posted by: Brooklynnative at April 16, 2009 10:55 AM in response to Effect of Not Paying Rent?

Who the heck is going to shell out over $500 a foot for something this ugly in far-from-prime Williamsburg (except for the two people who are already in contract, that is?

Ouch!!!

Posted by: Brooklynnative at April 16, 2009 10:49 AM in response to Price Cuts at 194 Meserole Street