Brownstones may not have been unique in the 19th century, but they're unique now. And there is a relatively small number of them whenn compared to the number of freestanding victorian homes in cities and towns throughout the country.

Posted by: Drew at August 29, 2007 6:59 PM in response to House of the Day: 500 Marlborough Road

taq482, I might be wrong, but I don't think I am. There are victorian homes in cities, towns and rural areas throughout the country. Boston, Philly and DC have very few brownstones. Where else are they?

I find it hard to believe that Ditmas Park has the largest collection of victorian homes in the country. Do you mean the highest concentration within a certain small area? I was just in Westerly, Rhode Island, and I couldn't count all the victorian houses there were so many.

Posted by: Drew at August 29, 2007 9:55 PM in response to House of the Day: 500 Marlborough Road

I love victorian houses, and in reality they are more unique than row houses since they all differ in size and shape so greatly. But since brownstones like the ones here in Brooklyn aren't as ubiquitous throughout the country, they do possess their own unique charm.

Posted by: Drew at August 30, 2007 8:52 AM in response to House of the Day: 500 Marlborough Road

This is nowhere near the AY. Clinton Ave is nice even on the other side of Myrtle. I get the price given the building is 90 feet deep. The facade is horrible, but that's a lot of square feet.

Posted by: Drew at August 30, 2007 2:53 PM in response to House of the Day: 148 Clinton Avenue

And Amy is not only a real person, but the type of person who stands in the hot sun all day selling baked goods to raise $1000 for a PTA at a predominantly black school.

Posted by: Drew at September 10, 2007 11:57 AM in response to Soaking Up Some Salvage at the Fest

what's with all the obnoxious, psuedo-intellectual posts about race and class? if you really have ideas about social change, get to it and stop wasting your time on a blog about buildings.

Posted by: Drew at September 10, 2007 6:03 PM in response to Soaking Up Some Salvage at the Fest

It's easy to say someone should tackle a guy with a gun, but unless you've personally done it, I don't think you have the right to criticize. And Clinton Hill is peaceful for the most part. Drug or gang shootings usually don't affect people who aren't part of that lifestyle. This murder is different, and scary, but random "psycho" killers could be lurking in any neighborhood. Luckily the odds of getting killed by one, in any neighborhood, are quite slim.

Posted by: Drew at September 14, 2007 8:45 AM in response to Friday Links

What are you talking about, they absolutely snitched on the guy as they should have. His real name wasn't in the article because the witnesses probably only know him by the name Psycho, but that's plenty for the police. You think someone would have tackled the guy in Brooklyn Heights? What do you want from these folks? And I'm quite certain that more people have been caught in the crossfire in poorer neighborhoods over the last twenty years, but that number in the last ten years is undoubtedly a fraction of what it was in the previous ten. Regardless, this murder seems more like an unstable person snapped and purposely murdered an innocent person, which I believe happens (or more commonly doesn't happen) across class lines.

Posted by: Drew at September 14, 2007 9:33 AM in response to Friday Links

10:14,

my tackling comment was directed at 8:29's implication that the bystanders should have physically done something to stop this guy.

about the crime rates in poor versus wealthy areas, the guest at 10:52 makes my point better than I did.

10:03,

In reference to the victim, I was only going on the info in the article which made the guy out to be an innocent dad with a legitimate, legal career.

Whatever the case, I think their is a recurring smarmy attitude in the comments on this blog about the dangerousness of Clinton Hill, Bed-Stuy, etc. Crime obviously does affect certain areas and segments of the population more than others. But making sarcastic comments about the perceived lack of safety of those who choose to live in these areas doesn't seem all that productive.

Posted by: Drew at September 14, 2007 11:26 AM in response to Friday Links

10:03, I hear you when you explain it like that. I certainly hope people are aware of dangerous areas within neighborhoods. And I hope wealthier newcomers do put pressure on the police because, as 12:27 points out, the police are often corrupt or indifferent about the crimes that occur in neighborhoods that have been or still are poorer with higher crime rates.

Posted by: Drew at September 14, 2007 1:38 PM in response to Friday Links