Hoboken, you are the reason I read these forum threads. I appreciate the glimmer of insight into what is going on out there.

Posted by: kingston at November 20, 2008 6:17 PM in response to Oh No...

Will these people be sharing common space (kitchen, bath)? What will you do when one resident (or his/her visitor) harms or steals from another? Way more liability than I'd want to take on.

Posted by: kingston at October 8, 2008 10:37 PM in response to Turning Home to Room Rentals

So where are all the comments about the debate?

IMO, Palin was not as bad as expected (except for that bizarre winking), but Biden was better.

Now I am just praying for Barack Obama's physical safety until election day and after.

Posted by: kingston at October 3, 2008 12:34 PM in response to Decisions, decisions...

HOBOKEN & others: Safest place for cash right now?

Posted by: kingston at September 29, 2008 4:26 PM in response to The end of the America's Banking system.

I live in Ulster County (2 hours north of NYC). There is a 10-year-old cohousing community (16 households) in Saugerties, and one in the planning stages in Rosendale. I have been the listing real estate agent for resales of two of the Saugerties cohousing houses, so I can tell you how the system works.

Use of the common facilities is completely optional. There are meals (in this case, not vegetarian) offered a few times a week, which members can avail themselves of or not. The kitchen is cleaned very well after each meal by teams of neighbors who sign up for that duty. Otherwise, the common house has laundry facilities (for those who prefer not to have laundry in their own houses -- but again, not required), a fun rec area where the kids hang out on rainy days, or where adults have fitness classes or other meetings. It's also available for birthday parties and other gatherings. There's a "library" room with books and a piano available, as well.

Gardens on the property are available for members to use to grow flowers or food. Garden equipment is stored in a common shed. If you need a wheelbarrow or a shovel, for instance, you just take it and return it when you're done.

One drawback (in my opinion) is meetings -- there are a lot of them, as decisions about finances, maintenance, expansion, new members, etc., are made by consensus. However, I know at least a couple of members who get sick of the meetings and opt out for many of the less crucial ones. They aren't penalized, and they try to do their share of community work in other ways.

Interestingly, a few people in the Saugerties cohousing community came upstate from Brooklyn. I've observed that there also seems to be something of a Quaker orientation to the members of the community (though the community includes Jewish members and those of other religious persuasions as well).

Finally, both the transactions I was involved in, which took place late this spring, were multiple offer situations, which was surprising to me. The rest of the market was moribund, but cohousing was holding up very, very well. I guess the people who want this lifestyle really want it, even if they have to pay a premium for it.

Posted by: kingston at August 15, 2008 2:09 PM in response to Brooklyn Co-Housing Moving Closer to Reality?

Is there any advantage to the building's being a legal 3-family, if it's legal to use the store area as a living space anyway? My building in Greenpoint is a 2-family plus store, with store used for studio/living. Former owner (an architect) said he never changed it from commercial because once changed, it couldn't ever be changed back. I never thought we would want to use the space as commercial again, but to my surprise the street we're on is reviving nicely, with restaurants, stores, yoga studios, etc., and I'm starting to think the building actually may be more valuable with commercial space a possibility. Could that happen where you are?

Posted by: kingston at January 28, 2008 8:47 PM in response to Converting 2-family + store to a 3-family

The Eagles only real bad moment was that asshole T.O. Andy Reid's a stand-up guy and I always liked Ditka for the same reason.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at September 29, 2008 5:13 PM in response to The end of the America's Banking system.

What, our baseball comments are bumping up your post count so don't complain. Its more fun than talking about preparation h anyway.

Dave, the mid 80's 76ers were my favorite Philly sports teams.

Posted by: wasder at September 29, 2008 5:15 PM in response to The end of the America's Banking system.

What...you are here for our entertainmant. We will do as we please on this thread.

wasder....I've had many people tell me I look like Larry Brown. Not as popular up here as he was down there with the 76ers!!!!

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at September 29, 2008 5:21 PM in response to The end of the America's Banking system.

Having seen you from afar the other day at the street fair I would agree with that assessment. Its a shame Larry Brown didn't work out up here as he is a Brooklyn boy through and through. Would have been a great story.

For me though, the Charles Barkley era in Philly basketball will always hold a special place in my heart.

Posted by: wasder at September 29, 2008 5:24 PM in response to The end of the America's Banking system.

Hoboken said: "Remember if you love your home and your mortgage is fixed than you guys are ok."

I guess the variable there is people holding on to their jobs...

Posted by: wasder at September 29, 2008 5:26 PM in response to The end of the America's Banking system.

Yeah...I lived in Chicago through the Michael Jordan era and was working on LaSalle street when da Bears won the Superbowl

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at September 29, 2008 5:26 PM in response to The end of the America's Banking system.

Uhm, yeah, wasder, that would be me praying to keep my freelance job at an iBank. Did I fail to mention that I work freelance at an iBank. RIght. Ok. I'm screwed.

Posted by: cobblehiller at September 29, 2008 5:54 PM in response to The end of the America's Banking system.

Hijacking a thread is not cool.

Posted by: supergirl at September 30, 2008 1:05 AM in response to The end of the America's Banking system.

posting on brownstoner at 1:05 AM is not cool

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at September 30, 2008 8:08 AM in response to The end of the America's Banking system.

Gosh darn, we hafta comment on that fella?

Okay, lemme get my index cards here...

Posted by: Steve at October 3, 2008 2:03 PM in response to Decisions, decisions...