Lenny --

Ratner's never had to use eminent domain, just hold the threat of it over people's heads, so they bail. That's what happened early on with a lot of properties in the area -- for instance, every other condo in Daniel Goldstein's building.

In this instance, though, the property was owned by another developer -- I believe Boymelgreen -- who happily sold it to Ratner.

Posted by: Luce at November 3, 2008 2:36 PM in response to Goodnight, Ward, Goodnight

Don't forget David Salle's house on Hanson Pl. -- the grey one. No pic, sorry.

Posted by: Luce at October 31, 2008 12:52 PM in response to Your Modern Townhouse Suggestions

Lisa, I believe you mean "whupping," vernacular for "whipping," rather than "whooping," as in crane or cough.

-- your resident pedant

Posted by: Luce at October 10, 2008 2:18 PM in response to Green on Brownstoner: Salvage on State Street

you mean, *pique* our interest

Posted by: Luce at September 9, 2008 11:10 AM in response to Now That's Luxury Real Estate

Dow:

Extremely sage advice. We're looking to trade up, and our money guy told us to sell within the next six months (we're in PS) and rent for a few, putting our dollaz elsewhere.

Posted by: Luce at August 8, 2008 6:52 PM in response to Auction Time for 306 St. James Place

Good. That's such a dismal stretch.

Posted by: Luce at August 7, 2008 4:27 PM in response to Development Watch: Pratt Starts on New Myrtle Project

Most quietest?

Posted by: Luce at August 6, 2008 1:42 PM in response to House of the Day: 19 Garden Place

Well, this is getting super-complicated (in fact -- why am I even explaining this? I must be nuts) but I was coming from the standpoint that I thought of many of us as upper-middle-class looking down on people with means but in what we consider a lower class -- the petit bourgeoisie, or straight-on middle and lower-middle class. Two-toilet Irish, as we say, where I come from, and an apt description of some of my relatives.

Class has nothing to do with means -- that's the issue. Few would accuse Donald Trump of having either taste or class. Class has traditionally been used as a way to exclude others of like means. My only, rather weather-beaten point. Anyway, who the hell cares? I'm sure the owners are decent folks, and if they aren't, it's not a reflection of their taste in home decoration but surely other things.

Taste is permeable, anyway. Have to say I was a tad disconcerted to recognize a chair I own in Carmela Soprano's living room, several years ago.

Posted by: Luce at July 30, 2008 7:17 PM in response to Dyker Heights 'Mansion': Yours for $2 Mil

I think the issue some are bringing up is that somehow it's okay to make fun of people on the basis of class, but not religion or ethnicity. This is a long-standing complaint about liberals (which I consider myself to be). Resentment about this -- and that minor issue of integration -- are what sundered the New Deal Coalition and impelled Nixon, Reagan, et alia into the White House. Depending on your view, this is either a good or a bad thing.

Those of us on the left have for years scratched our heads and said, why are all these people at a relative disadvantage voting all these rich guys into office? Why are they voting against their own self interest?

Class resentment is your answer.

So -- laugh away. It just might be a useful exercise to examine your own class biases, and how they affect other people.

Jes sayin'.

If Biff's mom was indeed this flavor of, er, petit bourgeois, then I guess he gets a pass. Somehow the name "Biff" doesn't seem like that, though.

Posted by: Luce at July 30, 2008 5:40 PM in response to Dyker Heights 'Mansion': Yours for $2 Mil