Heather's Profile
- Heather M.
- 1990
- Brooklyn
- Fort Greene
- Rental
- stroller mom
- Female
Author's Posts
June 21, 2008
Ventless Dryer or washer/dryer?
Our apartment has a washing machine hook-up and a 220V plug but no vent for the dryer. I've been looking at LG, Thor and Bosch for options. A friend also mentioned that I should look for a warehouse sale and try to buy a "scrath and dent" machine. Does anyone have any experience with these options, and can anyone recommend a vendor that would also handle the installation?
February 20, 2008
Corco Sets Up Shop in Williamsburg
The real estate market is alive and well in Williamsburg. Or not. Sandwiched between bagels and hardware, Corcoran's latest office—their fourth in the borough, first in the Burg—opened yesterday in a L-shaped space that runs through from a storefront at 241 Bedford Avenue to an entrance on North 3rd Street (above). Under the watch of broker Eric McFarland, the office has room for 42 brokers and is currently about 2/3 full. The office launches with a couple of big projects already under its belt, 349 Metropolitan and 100 North 3rd Street. Whether this is a prescient call that will position the Big C to cash in on the thousands of units slated to come online in the area in the next few years or a case of being the last one to board a sinking ship remains to be seen. Either way, it can't be good news for the likes of Apartments & Lofts. GMAP
February 11, 2008
Development Watch: 196 South 2nd Street
This baby's been a long time coming. We took a look at the 10-unit, Scarano-designed development back in September of 2006 when it appeared to be well on its way. From what we can tell, there was some kind of DOB audit that took place last April, most likely in connection with Mezzanine-gate, which probably explains the hold-up. (The plans now reflect that three of the four floors include mezzanines.) We've seen Scarano buildings similar to this before, but those small mosaic windows are a new touch. Thumbs up or down?
Development Watch: 196 South 2nd Street [Brownstoner] GMAP DOB
February 6, 2008
Streetlevel: From T-Mobile to Comics on Metropolitan
This storefront at 540 Metropolitan Avenue (between Lorimer and Union) has had an interesting past. After years as an Italian bakery, and then a T-mobile store, it is now slated to become Williamsburg's first indie comics shop, Desert Island. What's nice is that they've kept the original signage and that curved window intact. And let's face it, getting your Fantagraphics and Drawn and Quarterly fix locally seems like a no-brainer. Desert Island will also carry zines, artist's books, and limited edition silkscreens. Owner Gabriel Fowler hopes to use the dramatic window space to showcase up-and-coming print artists. "Specific titles include Robert Crumb's 'Zap' comics and Chris Ware's 'Acme Novelty Library' (contemporary favorite), and tons of other obscure delicacies." Desert Island will open for business in about three weeks. GMAP
February 1, 2008
Development Watch: 186 Grand Street
Just down the street from Karl Fischer's controversial proposed Grand Street towers, ground has been broken on a smaller smaller project that is likely to go over better with the locals. The plans for 186 Grand Street call for a 4-story, 15,000-square-foot residential building "consistent in scale and style with existing neighborhood." A local architect, Philip Toscano, is handling the job and there's a rendering of the proposed building posted at the site. Considering that most recent construction in the 'Burg is mainly of the Scarano and Bricolage schools, this could be a welcome addition; plus, since the site itself was a former parking lot (albeit one with a very nice willow tree in the back) there's no destruction of the neighborhood's former industrial heritage to bemoan. Anyone heard any chatter about this one yet? GMAP P*Shark DOB
Author's Comments
Who's buying that stuff in Williamsburg? True, this is the question I ask myself every time I walk around my neighborhood... but I mean, seriously, $2MM to live at Schaeffer Landing? Or to live in between several construction zones right next to a low-level radioactive storage facility? Seriously, who are these people?
Posted by: Heather at April 28, 2008 2:33 PM in response to Last Week's Biggest Sales
3:43, talk to some Philadelphians.
Posted by: Heather at April 28, 2008 3:58 PM in response to House of the Day: 1860 Bedford Avenue
Ardor has a listing for a $750K house in Fort Greene -- 3 family, looks small, one can assume their definition of Fort Greene may be somewhat creative... but still. I think it's on Vanderbilt.
Posted by: Heather at May 2, 2008 2:41 PM in response to Open House Picks
7:52 sounds like she knows her stuff. The sad thing is this might sell for over a million (but not $1.2) but that Adams family mansion on Orient Ave is going to be torn down. The other sad thing, (well aside from the house I didn't buy on Powers in 1996 for $130,000), is that with all of the elderly Italians selling and all of the construction and demolition going on, the good things about this neighborhood are mostly gone. And I've heard crime is up. Good schools -- yes. Two blocks from the BQE? Also yes.
I am also amazed by the cookie cutter sameness of all of this faux mid-century design. Does no one have any original taste?
Posted by: Heather at May 8, 2008 2:26 AM in response to House of the Day: 95 Devoe Street FSBO
12:44, I'm glad I'm not the only person who noticed that. But I assumed (hoped) they took them down for the staging to showcase the view.
Posted by: Heather at May 8, 2008 2:35 AM in response to Co-op of the Day: 164 State Street FSBO
After spending two years watching the Soleil rise, I have to say I am dubious they'll get that much. From what I've seen from the exterior and from what I garnered from the website, there are two apartments per floor and the price just goes up according to the view. Admittedly, the views from the upper floors are probably great, but... I'm curious about the number of one-bedrooms coming to market in Williamsburg vs. family apartments and how that inventory glut will affect pricing going forward.
Posted by: Heather at May 8, 2008 2:45 AM in response to New Burg Condos Come to Market
I sublet an apartment in one of those apartment buildings across from the Lincoln Road house in 1990, and at least at that time, they were not scuzzy or ill-kempt. In fact it was one of the nicest places I've ever lived in New York. True, with all the time I've spent in Williamsburg my standards may not be that high, but that's a really lovely block one block from the subway, park, and stores. If I had that kind of money, I'd be interested.
Posted by: Heather at May 9, 2008 3:58 PM in response to Open House Picks
Re: "...fellow condo owners who have own clothing/accessory lines and own 2 bars and are artists. or musicians or designers or anyone involved heavily in the fashion or editorial or photography businesses. - they just never going to feel comfortable around brownstone brooklyn types. or anyone in a corporate job period. or academics or lawyers or drab overweight underachievers who shop at the PS food coop..."
headdesk, headdesk, headdesk.
It's amazing how much of a non-conformist you are! You're one of those moms who complains about the Kool Man trucks on the hui, aren't you?
Posted by: Heather at May 9, 2008 5:03 PM in response to Burg Wants Cinema and Pharmacy—Not Galleries, Clubs
Nope, 4:55.
Posted by: Heather at May 9, 2008 5:07 PM in response to Open House Picks
True, 3:57 -- but I was thinking of the smaller-scale projects around the southside. Still, very good point!
Posted by: Heather at February 1, 2008 5:52 PM in response to Development Watch: 186 Grand Street