LilHouseNBklyn's Profile
- Zara
- Been Visting All My Life, Moved in 2001
- Brooklyn
- Singer
- Female
Author's Posts
March 23, 2008
Bad Sidewalk & Broken Ankles
So I was on Pacific btwn Nevins and Bond walking home... Slam! I smack into the ground hurling my bags and rolling my ankle in one of the large cracks of the pangea that is this area of Brooklyn. I'm laid out with a bad leg and so it goes...
I'll heal, but in the meantime is there something I should do? Someone I should tell? Report that the sidewalk is just not safe? I hope your only answers aren't "Sue!"
March 18, 2008
Iron Door
I got a new door and have to get rid of this one. Great for extra protection, mail slot, can sell with or without decorative frame. Very heavy so be ready to bring a friend.
Will accept best offer bodebroad@gmail.com
March 13, 2008
Basement Breakdown
I'm literaly frightened of my basement. I now only go down if something is wrong (though everything is wrong.) Last week broken boiler (plumbers proceeded to drop said boiler and spill gallons of water everywhere.) Today I went down to start cleaning, and as the clouded dirt filled the air as I swept the dirt floor, I heard a toilet flush upstairs and the slight spilling of liquid just a few feet from where I stood.
I know these sound like petty issues (they are, and are natural happenings for homeowners) but again these are only the things that have affected life above the basement. Full status includes: holes, loose wires, slanted collapsing ceilings and walls, pvc pipes(?!,) other pipes, etc...
We've hired people to "fix" the basement in the past (patching/plastering/foundation work/etc) and yet somehow I cant even tell there was EVER work done down there. Sure it's partially my fault/my mothers/and my grandmother fault. Too many people hiring half ass-ed workers, but even when I went for bigger names in the industry they still left their monkies here, and what I saw the guy I hired... twice?
I know this is often the case for basements, but I'm truly horrified when I step foot inside. My heart races. It feels and looks as if the ceiling could cave in at any moment. And man I haven't even thought about CODES, VOILATIONS, HUMAN SAFETY.eeek.
I'm assuming I need an overhaul rewiring, plumbing electrical, foundation, plaster... etc. who does this kind of work and who will do it right? I feel like I'm living on thin ice.
February 23, 2008
Littlest House in Brooklyn
Well Hello Hello.
I'm so happy to make myself an official member of Brownstoner.com I jsut moved back to the area on a more permanent basis, and have been put in charge of renovating my family's house here on State Street. Hopefully I can get all I can from you guys while I'm here, because I sure as hell gonna need it!
So I live in what might be the tiniest house in Brooklyn, or at least close to it in the hood. I've attached a photo using the BAM Cultural Center pic which seems to have actually divided each lot. The House next store is similar, but I have a store front on the first floor, so living space is 1/3 smaller. But hey it's enough for me, ny byofriend and our cat... but that's about it.
I've been visiting this house all my life, and it's been so strange to watch the changes over the last 20 years, and I know it's only going to continue. Atlantic Center, Target, The weird hanson offices, boreum heights luxury condos, atlantic yards, I didn't even know about this whole BAM Cultural District thing until today while reading the blog. I'm so out of the loop!
Anyone have some good posts about my area? what is my area called? I swear I never know what to tell people. I just say "Oh I live near target" and they go "Oooohhhh okay" I've been randomly searching brownstoner for tidbits, but what I really need is a hood tutorial for dummies.
Alright well it's late, but I look forward to talking more with y'all.
FYI first on my big renovation questions are:
adding another floor (what are the legalities/steps/prices?) and refinishing basement, itty bitty, scary, dirt floor, out of a ghost story.
Author's Comments
About 12 years ago, the tenants next store made a fire in the fireplace without asking the landlord if it was safe. The fire went up the chimney and burned down 1/2 of my house. Insurance gave us close to nothing. Our only choice was to sure the tenants, but we had no time for lawyers. Besides we weren't the "sueing type." Just be careful, and be clear with your tenants it would be terrible if something went wrong.
Posted by: LilHouseNBklyn at February 25, 2008 8:36 PM in response to To Burn or Not To Burn
I'm trying to remember now how it all went down. Long story short I think they gave us $5000 (to rebuild an entire floor!) and if we wanted more we'd have to go after the tenants. My grandmother was very sick at the time, so we just left it at that. But the whole ordeal still bugs me a bit to this day.
Posted by: LilHouseNBklyn at February 26, 2008 5:26 PM in response to To Burn or Not To Burn
I cant help but be pessimistic. The last time I was living in the house and fixing it up I got royally screwed. But we'll definitely be hiring an engineer as well as an architect. The last thing I need is this baby collapsing in on itself.
Posted by: LilHouseNBklyn at February 26, 2008 5:30 PM in response to Littlest House in Brooklyn
guest:
I'm so glad I have never had water bug, or bug problems in the house... rats on the other hand are frequent visitors. yum. Ever since all the subway work started at Atlantic/Pacific we've been bombarded.
johnife:
I love my model torso, I don't know which of the previous tenants left it, but I'm glad they did. All the pieces come out, and it's like a puzzle to put back together. I admire your taste, but sorry, couldn't bare to part with it.
MrHancock
How did I know at least one person would call me a p*ssy? Oh well, one out a four ain't bad. This photo is actually a nice view, but you can come down and check it out if you want. I'll cook you a nice meal and you can eat it off the floor.
Hey if a broom, gloves, and f*ing lamp was all this thing needed I certainly wouldn't be wasting anyones time. And as far as living by code, were the last house on the block worried about that. Violate away house, I don't mind. I love old shit, and the dirt only builds character. It's when you start to not trust your house that I worry. Like the time the sidewalk vault collapsed to leave a 6x9 foot hole in front of my house for months, or the time I renovated my bathroom, and found I had been bathing on a clawfoot shower base (had been tiled into the floor, so I didn't even know it was there.) and when it was removed, it was clear that the only thing keeping me up was the wilting tile, and the cast iron tub balanced on the drain. All the support beams had rotted away.
Give a gal break would you?
Posted by: LilHouseNBklyn at March 13, 2008 2:52 PM in response to Basement Breakdown
4:56:
That's a picture of my boyfriend, but thanks for the advice. I'll save up for the implant and then I'll fix my basement.
Sans the rubble most of the things that are down there isn't crap, sadly no where to put it in the house, but cleaning will happen no worries about that.
Posted by: LilHouseNBklyn at March 13, 2008 5:09 PM in response to Basement Breakdown
Hey guys...
Spent the last 6 hours cleaning. It's great weight to have atleast made piles of all the large bulk and excess materials, boxed up the ex tenants crap, and consolidated the new guys stuff. I put up a light with a brightly colored shade and pretended I was in a "happy place" as I disposed of the dead. Though a great mental weight has been lifted, I do feel completely ill. Even with mask and gloves I feel slightly poisoned, ill. I'm gonna go eat something, but thanks for all the support guys. It was very motivating.
Posted by: LilHouseNBklyn at March 13, 2008 9:29 PM in response to Basement Breakdown
Oh and I'll tell ya once I get cracking on the "list" of what's wrong. Yes, It's definitely less overwhelming not having sh*t everywhere, but it's still very apparent that the ceiling is falling apart, and the walls crumbling... but I can see the floor and walk from one end to the other. It's the little things.
Thanks again. :)
Posted by: LilHouseNBklyn at March 13, 2008 9:33 PM in response to Basement Breakdown
damn straight. :)
Posted by: LilHouseNBklyn at March 15, 2008 9:32 AM in response to Basement Breakdown
Oh dont worry, he was VERY helpful. That pic was done while the boiler was being replaced and there was no room for anyone to do anything except stand there. :)
Posted by: LilHouseNBklyn at March 17, 2008 5:15 PM in response to Basement Breakdown
Responses to Author's Forum Comments
Is it just me or do those birds just look like stone statues?
Posted by: LilHouseNBklyn at April 20, 2008 10:23 AM in response to giant pigeons in williamsburg?
yeah there's a lot of weird pigeon stuff going on at 328 berry street.
i think its a pigeon breeder.
Posted by: guest at April 20, 2008 3:54 PM in response to giant pigeons in williamsburg?
those are so obviously sculptures. perhaps it's you who has been hanging out near radiac for too long?
Posted by: guest at April 20, 2008 4:00 PM in response to giant pigeons in williamsburg?
shoot em
Posted by: guest at April 20, 2008 4:35 PM in response to giant pigeons in williamsburg?
it's obviously a special breed-I've seen them bop their heads and move at night when they're feathering their nest.
Posted by: guest at April 20, 2008 4:43 PM in response to giant pigeons in williamsburg?
Obviously these are a special breed-i've seen them bop and twist at night when they're feathering their nest.
Posted by: guest at April 20, 2008 4:47 PM in response to giant pigeons in williamsburg?
They're Hasid pigeons.
No matter what you do, they'll just ignore you and carry on breeding.
Posted by: guest at April 20, 2008 7:35 PM in response to giant pigeons in williamsburg?
They're Hasid pigeons.
No matter what you do, they'll just ignore you and carry on breeding.
Posted by: guest at April 20, 2008 7:36 PM in response to giant pigeons in williamsburg?
They're Hasid pigeons.
No matter what you do, they'll just ignore you and carry on breeding.
Posted by: guest at April 20, 2008 7:36 PM in response to giant pigeons in williamsburg?
are the pigeons for sale?
Posted by: guest at April 21, 2008 3:50 PM in response to giant pigeons in williamsburg?
Once I posted that message I realized that it was just full of late night grammatical errors, and reflective rant. I was going to edit, but I guess the forum doesn't allow that. My apologies.
6:19
I am home. grow up.
7:53
Yes it is Fried Guitar, formally Studio Dep (Tattoo joint) Gary's a really sweet tenant, have you had work done by him?
9:07
Yeah We've been getting recommendations from friends in the area. Been working on small projects through the house before we got to the bigger tasks (stripping grandma linoleum, and cleaning the tar off the walls from a previous chain smoking caveman, etc.) I have yet to call any of them, basically I've just been worried that they might not want to take on such a small project. Adding a floor is usually a big deal, but not when the house is only 20 x 20. I'm probably just being pessimistic.
Posted by: LilHouseNBklyn at February 24, 2008 10:51 AM in response to Littlest House in Brooklyn