I have to say, while I think this is great idea, I think that the execution would be better served by using sub-irrigated planters instead. Notwithstanding the amount of rain we've had recently, when it gets hot and dry (and it will) the amount of water needed to water that roof garden is way more than what you would need with sub-irrigated planters. Not only do they use much less water (and use the water they have much more efficiently), are less maintenance, but sub-irrigated planters are much easier to control in terms of what does into your soil (so you don't have to worry about your toxic Brooklyn soil) and are a much more realistic example for the rest of us who want to have a small patch of urban crops.

And no, I don't work for earthbox or anything like that (but have had excellent results on my roof deck). For more info than you'll ever want (I've spent way too much time there), I highly recommend insideurbangreen.org. Lots of links and tutorials on DIY urban gardens.

Posted by: Grendel at June 24, 2009 12:05 PM in response to Try This Green(point) Roof on for Size

We recently negotiated a rent reduction with our current landlord after going and looking at several places. You have to actually go and see places or you'll never know exactly what the comparables out there are (listings will never give you the full picture). We took a couple of weekends to look at several places, and ended up deciding that we would first ask our landlord for a rent reduction on our lease renewal. If he declined, we were confident that we could find a place. Our landlord agreed to a reduction that made sense for us, given the cost (both monetary and psychological) of moving.

Do your homework and figure out if the comparable apartments out there warrant you asking for no increase or a reduction. It's really the only way to be sure.

Good luck.

Posted by: Grendel at March 20, 2009 3:52 PM in response to lease renewal in cobble hill

I had the opposite experience at Saul, thought the portions were too generous, and felt too full by the end of the meal. I can't imagine wanting more food than that!

I had the same experience at Grocery, though, so maybe it's just me!

Posted by: Grendel at December 5, 2008 2:44 PM in response to Streetlevel: Bye-Bye Boerum Hill Food Company

One day swings (up or down) in the market are meaningless people. The market closed today at 8,900 after that 900 point gain. One year ago closed at approx 13,000. That's more than 4000 from the 52 week high. I wouldn't start popping the champagne just yet.

Posted by: Grendel at October 28, 2008 4:58 PM in response to DOW UP 800 POINTS. THE WHAT LEAVES TOWN.

The standard NY form contract has options for including a financing contingency or not including it, so it's obviously something that is on the table for negotiation. In NYC before the credit meltdown, it was standard for the seller to ask the buyer to waive the financing contingency, and if buyer didn't waive it, the next person would. Since this is new construction, it's entirely likely that the OP signed the contract when banks were handing out mortgages to children on street corners, so there was no need to be concerned about a financing contingency so long as the appraisal came in (which the appraisal contingency covers). Not to say it was ever a good idea to agree to waive the financing contingency, but it was done all the time, and you often could not get seller to sign a contract with that contingency included.

All that said, I agree with a prior poster: crunch the numbers and see what the differnce in costs are based on several different time periods.

Good luck.

Posted by: Grendel at September 3, 2008 12:21 PM in response to Mortgage Help!

The wine bar is not on Smith, it's on Court, and given how dead that block at night, it's a welcome addition in my book.

Posted by: Grendel at August 20, 2008 2:00 PM in response to Wednesday Food & Drink Round-Up

Yeah, it's not closed until the 28th, per the sign in the photo that Brownstoner posted. This should not be a big deal for commuters, but I can see it being a bit of a hassle for moms with strollers and the elderly, as getting to the booth and the gate requires some additional stairs to go up. It will be interesting to see what this looks like when completed (and who knows when that will be).

Posted by: Grendel at July 22, 2008 11:45 AM in response to Closing Bell: Carroll St. Subway Entrance Closed