Aw, give Koto a chance. The people are nice and the sushi is excellent. I have no idea why it is always empty. Probably too off-the-beaten path. But I do agree about the BQE noise and dirt. Okay if you have a cheap rental but I personally would not buy anything that close (IF I could buy).

Posted by: Carol Gardens at November 17, 2009 3:38 PM in response to House of the Day: 121 Rapelye Street

I saw the pumpkins being prepared the other day. Mr. Gray (I guess that is who it was) was punching holes in their bottoms. I said "YEAH! The pumpkins are coming back! They're the highlight of Halloween!"

Posted by: Carol Gardens at October 29, 2009 9:13 AM in response to Closing Bell: The Pumpkins of Cobble Hill

Where do you see that it was a teardown? I was under the impression that they worked around the old structure. I think it's a really attractive building. I also saw it on the house tour and it's totally teaked-out MCM inside. Quite a contrast!

Posted by: Carol Gardens at October 7, 2009 2:28 PM in response to Exhibit: LPC Sometimes Digs Newfangled Buildings

That stretch of Hicks is not a high-traffic alternative to the BQE. Hicks in only like that on the other side of Atlantic.

Posted by: Carol Gardens at October 7, 2009 1:04 PM in response to 280 Hicks, Many Others, Fail to Sell at Auction

Actually, I spoke to one of the guys who ran the event. He said that he would be doing some special fundraisers, like the lobster night, but that the store was not going to open with a regular schedule (like a real store!) until the spring. So nothing has really changed. PS: There was some sort of meeting going on in there Monday night.

Posted by: Carol Gardens at October 6, 2009 10:21 AM in response to Farmacy's Vague Reopening

Are you willing to pay a broker's fee?

Posted by: Carol Gardens at October 5, 2009 4:06 PM in response to Boerum Hill: In a Nutshell

Just wanted to say that Atlantic Avenue was a destination for many people from all boroughs back in the 80s due to the Middle Eastern restaurants and shops (mosly down at the western end) and the antiques row. I think these two clusters really anchored the area and attracted people throughout the tough times.

Posted by: Carol Gardens at October 5, 2009 1:13 PM in response to Boerum Hill: In a Nutshell

I so love when you feature one of those strange neglected houses that I have wondered about for years. I would not be surprised if they get 2 million. This is just the kind of building rich folks go for, and they would probably want to gut anyway.

Posted by: Carol Gardens at October 5, 2009 1:04 PM in response to 280 Hicks Up For Auction

I'm excited about this. If you want a local pharmacy that's entertaining, go to Clinton Apothecary (the one mentioned by CG ups) on Court. They're always cursing and fighting and insulting the customers. It's fun!

Posted by: Carol Gardens at September 29, 2009 7:20 PM in response to StreetLevel: Henry St Pharmacy Reopening as a 'Farmacy'

R-Way is a great family run moving company. They aren't particularly cheap, but they will stick to their estimate. They've moved everyone in my family multiple times. I one time I used someone else, I regretted it.

http://www.rwaymovingandstorage.com/about_us.htm

Posted by: Carol Gardens at September 23, 2009 2:20 PM in response to ISO Great Moving Company

The grand plans will never come to fruition. (Plus, who want to swap BQE traffic noise for BQE traffic rerouting and construction noise for a few decades?) Maybe a modest noise-reduction plan and improvement of the crossings would help--especially the weird bridge down near the church.

Posted by: Carol Gardens at September 21, 2009 1:56 PM in response to What to Do with the BQE Ditch

Until we Brooklynites learn how to spell Morton's, we have no chance of attracting a Brooks Brothers.

Posted by: Carol Gardens at September 16, 2009 4:48 PM in response to Closing Bell: Shopping for High-End Retail at 345 Adams

You have Civil, Criminal, Family, and Supreme Courts! All handily located in one neighborhood. So yes, it would be crazy if there weren't bail bondsmen around.

Posted by: Carol Gardens at September 9, 2009 10:44 AM in response to New Retail Tenant at The Smith

Hey, whoops! I didn't realize. I was responding to "Wouldn't the details about what is allowed or not regarding sublets be in the lease?"

Posted by: Carol Gardens at September 9, 2009 10:39 AM in response to Questions About Subletting

Finding this took all of three seconds:

http://www.housingnyc.com/html/resources/faq/subletting.html

Posted by: Carol Gardens at September 9, 2009 10:23 AM in response to Questions About Subletting

It had nothing to do with "bad" neighborhoods. They are located near the courts.

Posted by: Carol Gardens at September 9, 2009 10:06 AM in response to New Retail Tenant at The Smith

I admit to not being sure about this, but if the tenant writes the checks but someone else is living there, I don't think the fact that the landlord cashes the checks means that the LL can't attempt to evict. If he accepts check from the subletter then that is a different story. So much simpler if you had been straightforward...

Posted by: Carol Gardens at September 9, 2009 10:03 AM in response to Questions About Subletting

I know MANY people who have lost rent stabilized apartments due to illegal subletting without notifying the landlord. They were gone long-term and tried to sneak around. It does take a while for eviction, though. If you are only gone for a year, your landlord might be willing to give you a break. But I agree with others that you handled it poorly. Especially since you were NOT trying to do this for a long period of time.

Posted by: Carol Gardens at September 9, 2009 9:54 AM in response to Questions About Subletting

Watch "Dog The Bounty Hunter" and you will learn all about it. Albeit set in exotic Hawaii, not downtown Brooklyn.

Posted by: Carol Gardens at September 9, 2009 9:48 AM in response to New Retail Tenant at The Smith

http://www.adrian-tomine.com/

He is a Brooklynite these days, btw. (Moved here from California.)

Posted by: Carol Gardens at August 18, 2009 6:38 PM in response to Closing Bell: The New Yorker's Nod to Brooklyn

You know not of what you speak. The point of Early Birds is that they are for dinner. In Florida people start pouring in for the special at about 4:30 PM.

Posted by: Carol Gardens at August 18, 2009 2:39 PM in response to Price Cuts at One Brooklyn Bridge Park

I was at the Waterpod last weekend and happened to comment on this particular building. I was thinking how really unappealing it is CURRENTLY at this location, and trying to sell it as luxury is pretty amusing. Once there is a park, it will be a lot nicer, but I can't imagine living on the BQE side. PS: The storefronts are empty at Columbia and Joralemon, except for a laundry. I think it has something to do with the owners of the former-workers-housing complex, which have left them empty for years, now. Although they do have FOR LEASE signs in the windows. So you definitely have to walk a bit for ANY services or food at all!

Posted by: Carol Gardens at August 18, 2009 1:35 PM in response to Price Cuts at One Brooklyn Bridge Park

If you only took possession of one apartment, you would be in a good position and the law would be on your side. But if you plan on moving into a new one every few years, you are giving your tenants plenty of evidence that your "Personal Use" ploy is a scam. Expect that to come up in court when/if you get to a second apartment.

Posted by: Carol Gardens at August 11, 2009 10:33 AM in response to Taking Over Rent-Stab Unit

I've walked out of Naidre's many times when I could not find a seat at peek hours, due to oblivious laptop table hogs. But really, there shouldn't be problem when it's not the brunch/lunch rush. I think it's silly for a coffee shop to ban laptops at times when the place would otherwise be pretty empty. Teabags cost a few cents so the profit margin is pretty good on that... PS: Some people really are doing work and not just checking Facebook.

Posted by: Carol Gardens at August 6, 2009 10:09 AM in response to Thursday Links

Seems odd to me that this listing is posted, as was the apartment in Court Street Lofts, with a what-could-be-wrong-with-this query to try to stimulate discussion. Both buildings have been discussed many times on Brownstoner and Curbed so I can't imagine you don't know the answer!

Posted by: Carol Gardens at July 30, 2009 1:48 PM in response to Condo of the Day: 44 Cheever Place, #505

Coney Island is not gritty, sketchy, and dangerous in season. In the dead of winter, maybe. Why is enjoying the uniqueness of the place "slumming it"? Making it more of a year-round destination is a good idea, but completely sucking out all the character is not.

Posted by: Carol Gardens at July 30, 2009 12:30 PM in response to City's Coney Plan Approved, Deal With Sitt Near

I think there are still plenty of empty storefronts on Court and the Columbia Street area is looking mighty sad. Although people keep opening restaurants and some do quite well, especially if they are cheap and casual (Calexico) or destination dining (Buttermilk Channel).

And then are those puzzling places that never seem to open, like the one in the old OTB space. (Of course Lucali's took forever to open and it turned out more than okay!)

Posted by: Carol Gardens at July 29, 2009 5:20 PM in response to StreetLevel: New Restaurant Opening on Court Street

For endless discussion of Court Street Lofts, see about 20 threads on Curbed! PS: I went to a party there and the apartment was actually pretty nice. It faced Court Street, not the BQE, which helped.

Posted by: Carol Gardens at July 27, 2009 9:38 PM in response to Condo of the Day: 505 Court Street, #10C

They are also planning to modernize the Brooklyn Army Terminal, which is a very cool building. I used to work there.

http://www.brooklynarmyterminal.com/history.html

Posted by: Carol Gardens at July 22, 2009 12:03 PM in response to Sunset Park Waterfront Vision Plan

I see that now!

Posted by: Carol Gardens at July 17, 2009 1:23 PM in response to Conversion Planned for 201 Front Street

Are you sure that's the right picture? It does not match what is on the DUMBONyc site. Check the windows. Maybe your pic is 220 Water? Wonder what's going on with THAT building?

Posted by: Carol Gardens at July 17, 2009 12:57 PM in response to Conversion Planned for 201 Front Street

No, actually there are trees back there right now with a paved drive around the green space. The garage/new parking has not been constructed. Also, for some strange reason, they are not renting out the retail space (except for the Laundromat) which is weird, because that corner of BH could really use some stores.

Posted by: Carol Gardens at July 17, 2009 11:17 AM in response to Tenants Win Garage Fight at Riverside Apartments

Depends. It is far more complicated if they were Artists in Residence under the Loft Law. That would not be a commercial lease.

http://www.grimblelaw.com/Resources/lofttenant.html

Posted by: Carol Gardens at July 17, 2009 11:11 AM in response to Conversion Planned for 201 Front Street

It was all downhill after Siberia moved out of the subway station. That was a truly weird dive. Every venture after that was an attempt to recapture the authentic oddness of the original.

Posted by: Carol Gardens at July 13, 2009 11:47 AM in response to Manhattans: Beer Today, Gone Tomorrow?

Re: Bread: I sometimes bother to walk down to Tazza on Henry and Atlantic to pick up Balthazar bread, which is great. I shop at Espositos, Staubitz, etc. and for something special Fish Tales or Stinky Brooklyn. But I'm sure I can't afford to buy much regularly at Union Market. Still, there are lot of richies around here these days so it could work out.

Posted by: Carol Gardens at July 9, 2009 12:53 PM in response to Union Market Coming to Court Street!

The map is pretty funny. See what they think is most important to include:

http://www.90firstplace.com/neighborhood.html

Posted by: Carol Gardens at July 7, 2009 2:25 PM in response to 90 First Place Knocking Cover Off Ball

I'm wondering if Mighty Mutts might be able to help. I adopted my cats there and I know they round up strays all the time.

Posted by: Carol Gardens at July 6, 2009 11:43 AM in response to Feral Cats—Help!

Oh, and there are no tenants left, btw.

Posted by: Carol Gardens at July 6, 2009 11:39 AM in response to Half-Stake in 370 Clinton Sells—For Half the Listing Price

They were working like crazy on this for a while, putting up new walls and etc. but now there is a STOP WORK ORDER on the door. Wonder what that is about?

Posted by: Carol Gardens at July 6, 2009 11:38 AM in response to Half-Stake in 370 Clinton Sells—For Half the Listing Price

I know we always argue about neighborhood boundaries but...COBBLE HILL?

Posted by: Carol Gardens at July 1, 2009 2:55 PM in response to House of the Day: 455 Union Street?

Buyers brokers can be useful. Their fee is paid by the seller, so it does not cost you (they will split the fee with the seller's broker, in most cases.) Are you looking at coops only, or coops and condos? There can be a big difference, and not just in price. A good buyers broker will know a lot about the buildings already, so they can keep you from wasting a lot of time checking out listings that are not right for you. They may also know about the in-and-outs of the board, any problems, etc. etc. One tip: My broker went with me to read the board minutes at the management company (between offer and close). You can learn a lot from that! Remember that the physical apartment is not the only thing you will be dealing with in a coop--the neighbors, the board, the approval process, maintenance and possibly assessments, etc. are also factors.

Posted by: Carol Gardens at June 30, 2009 12:30 PM in response to How to Buy?

I hope this doc gets finished soon. There was a screening a while back at The Museum of the City of New York. Families who still live in bungalows there showed up and spoke. As mentioned above, there are some clusters of these building that are kept up.

http://www.thirteen.org/archive/historyanddocumentary/the-bungalows-of-rockaway/1537/

Posted by: Carol Gardens at June 19, 2009 1:22 PM in response to The Last of the Bungalows

Whoops! I added an extra zero. I DON'T think it will go for 14 million!!!

Posted by: Carol Gardens at June 18, 2009 1:27 PM in response to House of the Day: 78 Douglass Street