Rats certainly do burrow, sometimes creating complex systems of tunnels. Did you think they only liked Subway tunnels? You should immediatly bait the tunnel.

Posted by: MOSHE at July 17, 2008 10:17 PM in response to Burrowing Rodent?!

Try National Wholsale Liquidators. One store is on 59th St. off of Bay Pkwy. Should be about $35. Check their website for ad and free printable coupon.

Posted by: MOSHE at July 18, 2008 10:42 AM in response to canopy tent for block party

As one who has stripped the wordwork in my house, I'd say painting it is a crime.

Posted by: MOSHE at July 18, 2008 12:49 PM in response to Painting the woodwork - is it a crime?

As one who has stripped the woodwork in my house, I'd say painting it is a crime.

Posted by: MOSHE at July 18, 2008 12:49 PM in response to Painting the woodwork - is it a crime?

I bought a high end Toto toilet on Ebay as well as several faucets. My toilet came from a NJ home supply and the reasonable shipping was about what tax would be. There's a great buy right now on Ebay for a Toto in Brooklyn ending around 10pm tonight. Distance matters with toilets, but with faucets you'll find a wide selection priced much better than HD or Lowes.

Posted by: MOSHE at July 21, 2008 4:54 PM in response to Where to buy toilets, sinks, faucets, etc.

The SWARM streets are in DITMAS PARK WEST. Most of us are on 40x100 lots with 2400-2600 square feet of living space. While our housing stock is predominatly one family, there are 2 and 3 family homes. Some were built as multiples and others were converted years ago. While there may be a few homeowners that have boarders and a couple of houses have illegal basement rentals, most families occupy all of the space themselves. In an effort to preserve the neighborhood we do take illegal use and construction very seriously.

Recommended brokers are Mary Kay Gallagher and Dan Shapiro, of Madison Properties who is a long time DPW resident. Corcoran and some of the others from ouside the neighborhood tend to overprice their listings.

Posted by: MOSHE at July 21, 2008 7:05 PM in response to thinking of Ditmas Park

I wonder if they have any Peking Brownstones available since they are listing on the Brownstoner Forum.

Posted by: MOSHE at July 25, 2008 12:57 PM in response to beijing olympic accommodation 2008

Residents of both of these neighborhoods are trying to get landmark status, but of course any decision is up to the Landmark Commission. It's a long slow process.

I wonder what icrwly sees as a "big risk to buy in these areas? Both have active neighborhood associations, a fine stock of houses, and are currently in the process of being downzoned. What's the risk?

Posted by: MOSHE at July 27, 2008 6:50 PM in response to Beverly Square West - Landmark Status?

If the Sterling Place house belonged to Bishop LeGrand, there's no telling what you may did up in the basement or yard. It certainly has a colorful past. For those who don't remember the Bishop had a school bus for all his children and was charged along with a son of murdering a young girl and burning the body upstate.

Posted by: MOSHE at July 29, 2008 3:05 PM in response to Foreclosures of the Week: Townhouse Doubleshot

A "hospitality suite" is the realtor's term for an illegal cellar apartment. Common in advertisinging in other neighborhoods, I have not seen the term used in Victorian Flatbush in recent years. The Flatbush neighborhood associations are pretty vigilant about such building code violations and the reputable brokers are well aware of this. Years ago, there were several fire deaths in illegal cellar apartments in the neighborhood. Under NYC building code storage and recreational space are the only permitted uses of cellars.

Posted by: MOSHE at July 29, 2008 4:18 PM in response to thinking of Ditmas Park

The West Midwood Association is pretty busy. They sponsor a bunch of annual get-togethers and put out a quarterly newsletter. There's a core group of people there who make newcomers feel very welcome. http://www.westmidwood.org/index.htm

That house at Glenwood and Argyle looks pretty sweet from the outside, but I have no idea about its interior condition. The LDS church across the street is pretty quiet as churches go - not a very raucous style of worship. And the missionaries are so cute, always walking around in pairs.

One thing I'd warn you about is that these houses are as much hobby as shelter. They're best for people who are into the whole This Old House thing.

Posted by: Flatbushwhacker at July 23, 2008 4:07 PM in response to thinking of Ditmas Park

Since we're new to the area, I don't know much about the other neighborhood associations, but I can tell you that our DPW association seems pretty active and welcoming.

Are you talking about 766 Argyle? We saw the inside and it's in good shape and pretty charming (loved the oak staircase and the fifties kitchen). I think it's looking pretty attractive at under a million and I know the sellers are anxious so you could probably make them an offer.

Posted by: westminster at July 25, 2008 12:34 PM in response to thinking of Ditmas Park

I've felt the same icrwly. I too am looking in the area and wondering if I should stick with a landmarked zone. A benefit might be the ability to change a 1 family into a 2 family if it is not yet landmarked. I think eventually they will get around to landmarking most of those areas.

Posted by: bqe1970 at July 27, 2008 7:24 PM in response to Beverly Square West - Landmark Status?

The risk is that there would be more of this:

http://home.att.net/~ebasics/hallofshame.html

Posted by: icrwly at July 27, 2008 7:30 PM in response to Beverly Square West - Landmark Status?

Yep those houses are pretty bad and should be outlawed. Have you been hitting the open houses icrwly? What do you think of the 2 family on Argyle off Cortelyou? Or the one family on ditmas avenue?

Posted by: bqe1970 at July 27, 2008 7:41 PM in response to Beverly Square West - Landmark Status?

Yep those houses are pretty bad and should be outlawed. Have you been hitting the open houses icrwly? What do you think of the 2 family on Argyle off Cortelyou? Or the one family on ditmas avenue?

Posted by: bqe1970 at July 27, 2008 7:42 PM in response to Beverly Square West - Landmark Status?

yep we had a second look today. The block seems nice as well. I wish it were closer to Cortelyou. I would personally like a little bigger kitchen. I agree its priced well, there is nothing wrong with it, we just didn't love it.

Posted by: bqe1970 at July 27, 2008 8:01 PM in response to thinking of Ditmas Park

Hey Moshe and other residents, what do you think of a listing that has a "hospitality" suite in the basement? I would think that sort of thing is common.

Posted by: bqe1970 at July 27, 2008 8:04 PM in response to thinking of Ditmas Park

My wife has seen both. She liked the one on Ditmas Ave (one family + apt) a lot more. Her report on Argyle was big, weird layout, needs a lot of work.

Posted by: icrwly at July 27, 2008 8:11 PM in response to Beverly Square West - Landmark Status?

Landmarking rarely effects internal uses - that is governed by a building's certificate of occupancy and any potential title covenants (as in PLG).

Posted by: Putnamdenizen at July 27, 2008 8:13 PM in response to Beverly Square West - Landmark Status?