Sandy Waterfront in Brooklyn?

Ooo, I thought you'd tell me to lighten up. That was as light as I get.

But we should meet sometime. Over coffee and 19th century patina.

I love the word patina. It covers everything from the green stuff on copper to the worst grime. At least I like to call grime patina. Oh, that encrusted food on your "clean" plate? People pay a lot of money for that kind of patina . . . . .

Posted by: Nomi at November 21, 2009 12:16 AM in response to New Cafe for The Heights

OK all you arm chair naysayer boobs (benson). I went to this cafe today. Yep, went out of my way and spent part of my modest allowance on lunch there just so that I could report back with some actual facts instead of idle nasty speculation.

Happily, it was really nice.

For the record, the walls had no resemblance to an accumulation of farts. Of course, as that's not really a literal description, I suppose that someone very poetic in a dark twisted way, could disagree. But I don't think we normal people would ever think of an accumulation of farts when looking at the walls I saw today.

More importantly, the service was friendly and efficient. The owner, or, at least, the woman I took to be an owner, was indeed a twenty-something, or looked like one. But this is not a case of a couple of know-nothing 20-somethings opening a cafe. The food was far too good for that.

I got the Proper Egg Salad, which normally comes as a sandwich, but since I'm trying to stay away from bread right now, she made it into a salad for me. "Proper" here means that they make the egg salad to order. Yeah -- she made my egg salad from eggs that had just been hard boiled about 15 minutes earlier, placed on fresh greens with tomatoes -- RED tomatoes -- and topped it with the dijon mayo that would have been on the sandwich and added some olive oil. It was lovely. Turns out I couldn't hold out with the no bread thing and in the end asked for the bread that would have normally come with a salad. I had a good sized piece of a multi-grained baguette with butter. Yum.

And I had a cup of coffee. They serve Stumptown coffee. So, anyone who follows the coffee world, will know the coffee was good.

Yes, I know I sound like a stock holder or something. I'm not. I just want to remind people that this place is someone's dream, most likely a dream that took a lot of work, money and agita to make happen. Putting it down so cavalierly BEFORE even going there . . . that hurts.

Posted by: Nomi at November 20, 2009 9:23 PM in response to New Cafe for The Heights

Benson, why are you picking only on the point that is arguable instead of saying, "Yes, Nomi, you are right. I was an insensitive schmuck saying the wall of this place look like they've accumulated 100 years of farts on them. Please, can you find it in your heart to forgive me? I've got issues."

Posted by: Nomi at November 20, 2009 12:17 PM in response to New Cafe for The Heights

I don't really know what the "Brownstoner mindset" is. It seems fairly varied to me. But then, I don't venture into the OT depths . . .

I just wanna say: People pour their heart and soul and time and money into these places. Christ. Give them an effing chance.

Posted by: Nomi at November 20, 2009 11:40 AM in response to New Cafe for The Heights

Joe, that's super unfair. Not only did her father have NOTHING to do with nothing, but the band WAS made of known accomplished jazz musicians. Check your facts.

Posted by: Nomi at November 19, 2009 12:00 PM in response to LPC Will Not Reconsider Norah Jones Decision

Oh, look. It's time to move my CAR right now for street cleaning. What a crazy coincidence.

Posted by: Nomi at November 19, 2009 11:21 AM in response to Thursday Links

Man, it pisses me off when people complain about "yuppies" and their cars. Hardcore working class native old timers don't have cars? I risk my life saying the following with half of my real name on here: THE worst worst by far worst offender of street parking hogging on my street is not an interloper like myself, but one of the beautiful salt-of-the-earth natives. He and his family have a wonderfully oiled system for continuously monopolizing 4-5 spaces with their three vehicles.

Plus, it's no one's effing business who has a car and who does not. Last I knew, it's still legal to own a car in NY.

Um, this is in response to the comments on The News article on the Park Slope parking texting thing.

Posted by: Nomi at November 19, 2009 11:18 AM in response to Thursday Links

Yeah, really. What's wrong with the kitchen? It's homey and not dated. Much prefer it to a slick granite counter skating rink kitchen. Like this house very much.

My mom lived on Sidney Place in the early 1960s. She rented half a floor of a large brownstone for $80/month. She was making $100/week which was a bit of a milestone at the time. Wow, things were different back then! You could live in Brooklyn Heights and pay less that 25% of your income in rent. Ha.

Posted by: Nomi at November 19, 2009 12:14 AM in response to House of the Day: 22 Sidney Place

Oh, that poor maligned Garfield house. "Who wants their company traipsing thru the kitchen?!? Horrors!"

Posted by: Nomi at November 17, 2009 12:28 PM in response to Last Week's Biggest Sales

Rob has a lot of old wives tales which I think he makes up himself. Young rob tales.

Posted by: Nomi at November 17, 2009 11:18 AM in response to City Planning Targeting Curb Cuts

But in some places real estate appreciates a lot faster than inflation. Isn't brownstone Brooklyn over the past 30 or so years one of those places, even excepting recent bubble?

Posted by: Nomi at November 16, 2009 3:51 PM in response to Checking In On the Red Hook Co-ops

I don't know if the 1972 price after inflation would be half off or less. Probably less. Real estate is a commodity, right, that generally increases in value over time. I understand your formula for "reasonableness," but prices of a commodity do not increase in even incremental amounts. Some will pay more than the average increase over the past 60 years or whatever, some less.

Posted by: Nomi at November 16, 2009 12:49 PM in response to Checking In On the Red Hook Co-ops

"This same frame of thought should be employed market-wide with the proverbial 'guy down the hall' being the one who paid half off years before the boom during better economic times."

How does this make any sense? Why not compare with the price some guy down the hall paid in 1972?

Yeah, yeah, I do know what your point is; I just think it doesn't hold up. What's so legitimate about those pre-boom prices? Why aren't THEY too high?

Posted by: Nomi at November 16, 2009 12:15 PM in response to Checking In On the Red Hook Co-ops

The Albemarle house is an absolutely beautiful they-don't-make-them-like-that-anymore TWENTY room house. Yes, I realize, from the original thread on it, that it needs work that is not evident from the photos. But I agree that with the necessary work, it is well over a two million dollar house. It's a bit of a white elephant, probably, because of its size, but someone bought it in this condition; someone would have paid considerably more if it were pristine.

Posted by: Nomi at November 15, 2009 5:40 PM in response to Open House Picks: Six Months Later

"I was kind of hoping the kitchen was untouched since the 1870s." (mopar)

You make me laugh. I mean, I know you're serious, but you still make me laugh.

Posted by: Nomi at November 13, 2009 7:07 PM in response to House of the Day: 540 4th Street

"Nomi,

It is not that it is a small house. It is plenty big for a family, its just that it is not big compared to the 3600-4000 sq/ft places we have seen in this price range." (Brokerdeveloper)

Right, but someone (too lazy to scroll up) was describing it as good size for empty nesters with visitor or . . . a couple with maybe one child or something? That's what I wasn't getting. Maybe that was only that one person, and the rest were making your point. (Like I said, too lazy to scroll up, but not to write way more words than I'd need to if I did just scroll up . .. .) Anyway, there is ample room here for a family with three children with each getting their own room.

Posted by: Nomi at November 13, 2009 7:06 PM in response to House of the Day: 540 4th Street

Not understanding why people are saying the living room is way smaller than what's on the floor plan. Can someone explain this?

Posted by: Nomi at November 13, 2009 2:53 AM in response to Co-op of the Day: 40 Clarkson Avenue, #4F

Also not getting why people are saying this is a small house. It's got 4 good sized bedrooms plus that little small extra room, a large living room, a formal dinning room, a big enough kitchen, and huge storage room. Not addressing price per foot, just the idea that this is a "small" house. That doesn't make sense to me.

Posted by: Nomi at November 13, 2009 2:37 AM in response to House of the Day: 540 4th Street

MFN -- PShousehunter (3:33) was in this house.

Posted by: Nomi at November 13, 2009 2:32 AM in response to House of the Day: 540 4th Street

Wow, MM, thank you for all that and the photo. Fascinating.

Posted by: Nomi at November 11, 2009 9:50 PM in response to House of the Day: 75 New York Avenue

"She did, Nomi. Please try and keep up.

'Sounds like he got off cheap.'

And often" (Dave)

Well, that's still debatable . . .

Posted by: Nomi at November 10, 2009 5:23 PM in response to House of the Day: 615 2nd Street Revisited

"I guess a female apartment would have high maintenance." (Tara)

heehee

Posted by: Nomi at November 10, 2009 5:16 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 96 Schermerhorn Street, PH-L

She didn't say anything about him getting laid.

Posted by: Nomi at November 10, 2009 3:52 PM in response to House of the Day: 615 2nd Street Revisited

Yeah, strange dated choices for the kitchen. Could definitely be altered without huge expense. It's a turn off, though.

Posted by: Nomi at November 10, 2009 1:31 PM in response to House of the Day: 615 2nd Street Revisited

The monthlies. Does those come every month? "My apartment is having her monthlies, and man, is she a . . . " OK, so I can't write mean words about female apartments on here.

Posted by: Nomi at November 10, 2009 1:23 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 96 Schermerhorn Street, PH-L

I went to see the Nov. 3 Co-op of the Day today. Wanted to mention that the kitchen, which feels awkward in both the photos and the floor plan, and was much discussed on the thread, is actually quite comfortable in life, surprisingly unawkward despite that whole diagonal thing going on. It's nice. Only complaint is the floor which is a laminate. Apartment is lovely -- extra high ceilings, beautiful wood trim and details all over over the place. Designed as a very nice sized one-bedroom; works OK as a two with the second fairly small and directly off the living room; could function uncomfortably as a three, sacrificing the dining room.

Posted by: Nomi at November 8, 2009 5:15 PM in response to Open House Picks

That hallway pic is one I would have left out. I know narrow oppressive hallways are parts of lots of nice apts., but man, they really make me not want to live in them. I DO like grand wide second floor hallways, however, like in old spacious but not fancy 100+ year old houses, the ones that are like seven, eight feet wide. Those I have a soft spot for. But these narrow ones, brrr. They give me the brrrs.

Tybur, you gotta tone it down like 30 percent to be believable. If you want to fool anyone. Maybe you're just channeling your rage! But, you COULD channel your rage AND fake us out at the same time . ..

Posted by: Nomi at November 4, 2009 5:30 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 32 Willow Place, #9

Another question if anyone's still among the waking. The ad says northern and western exposures. But the two major window walls are parallel to each other -- therefore can't be north and west. Does anyone know what the exposures actually are?

Posted by: Nomi at November 3, 2009 10:49 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 126 Greene Avenue, #2W

There you go. ^^^

Posted by: Nomi at November 3, 2009 10:42 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 126 Greene Avenue, #2W

Nice. But I have a question. Why do two of the chamber/not chambers also have pocket doors connecting them to the living room? This wasn't originally only a one bedroom apt., was it? Was it just for flexibility from the beginning? Normally it's clear when a dining room's been converted to a bedroom, but here there are two rooms like that.

Posted by: Nomi at November 3, 2009 6:39 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 126 Greene Avenue, #2W

tybur -- I do not think they are disconnected. Rents are higher in NY, probably proportionately to purchase prices. But renting is less expensive (not considering any build up of equity) than owning. I am saying that you ARE living here; I am living here, probably on a similar income from what you've implied here and there.

Yes, we do have a philosophical difference: I do not see these high prices as "way too much money." I see them as a reflection of demand. I generally believe a house or anything else is worth what someone pays for it.

I don't like how much that has increased the price of real estate in NY; it's extremely frustrating. But I do not see it as a moral wrong that should be corrected. I feel that that kind of enforced "fairness" is more harmful than what we have now.

Posted by: Nomi at November 3, 2009 11:40 AM in response to Condo of the Day: 85 North 3rd Street, #207

"Jeez for that price couldn't Corcoran pony up for a professional photographer. The photos look like they were taken with a cell phone."

They are professional photos. Look at them full screen.

Posted by: Nomi at November 3, 2009 12:15 AM in response to House of the Day: 49 8th Avenue

tybur6 -- why begrudge people with money spending it however they want to?

This is one of the most desirable places to live in the world. And you live here too. It IS possible to live here on what is a modest income (modest here, well above average in many other states). If buying is a priority, then you'll figure out how. But many people rent in NY their whole lives. Happily. Nobody bought in my mother's generation, save the truly wealthy.

Posted by: Nomi at November 2, 2009 11:25 PM in response to Condo of the Day: 85 North 3rd Street, #207

Heather -- funny.

Posted by: Nomi at November 2, 2009 10:38 PM in response to Condo of the Day: 85 North 3rd Street, #207

"That Crown Heights house is not in need of upgrading, it has the original kitchen and baths. Snap it up!" (mopar)

I LOVE that they show the kitchen. (Is there even a stove in there?)

"Maybe they think it needs an electrical rewiring, but if it dates from the 1920s or later, it could be fine." (mopar)

Really? Wiring from the 1920s? Not a big plugger inner, are you?

My mom's house, the house I grew up in, had the original 1919 wiring when she bought it. You really couldn't do too much at-the-same-time plugging in of anything. Plus the whatever (rubber?) that was coating the wires was all dry and cracked up.

Posted by: Nomi at October 31, 2009 3:55 AM in response to Open House Picks

"Excellent work, Nomi."

So, that was . . . sarcastic?

I don't add up the footage from the floor plan unless there's no footage listed. Maybe I missed it? And I always do it generously, though not generously enough to include much common space, true.

I'm sorry to bore you with bringing up a 30-times-a-year topic. But it'd be nice if you were nicer about it. IF there's only a floor plan, how would you figure "industry" footage?

Posted by: Nomi at October 28, 2009 2:25 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 200 Congress Street, #1A

I only got about 620 square feet when I figured the footage from the floor plan. (I typed that normal speed.)

Posted by: Nomi at October 28, 2009 1:51 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 200 Congress Street, #1A

I'm not getting why people think the price is SO high. If it is 2300 sq ft, then the price per foot is $435. Is that so crazy? I don't love every choice they made, but it's carefully and thoughtfully renovated.

Posted by: Nomi at October 28, 2009 1:41 PM in response to House of the Day: 136 Hawthorne Street

The asking is around $800/ft.

Posted by: Nomi at October 28, 2009 1:03 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 200 Congress Street, #1A

Agree -- website overall is good and thorough.

Posted by: Nomi at October 28, 2009 12:58 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 200 Congress Street, #1A

A lot of care went into the photos considering they are amateur, but the apartment could show so much better with some help. The instruments don't help; they distract. Also, the lighting -- the flash and "noise" in many of the pictures -- are doing a disservice to what's probably a nice place. Even if you're doing it yourself, seems like it pays to have a professional take the photos and have someone do some staging.

Posted by: Nomi at October 28, 2009 12:56 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 200 Congress Street, #1A

That's very tall for the garden floor -- 14". How did they manage that?

Posted by: Nomi at October 26, 2009 11:56 PM in response to House of the Day: 291 8th Street

"$3500 a month would only cover about 1/3 of your monthly costs. Really? Why would anyone even entertain this price. Or really, anything over a million. Folks have thrown out any rational thought in this town. If it doesn't make business sense, don't buy it! Why is that such a hard concept?!" (tybur6)

No one's buying it . . .

Posted by: Nomi at October 26, 2009 11:52 PM in response to House of the Day: 291 8th Street

I've gone to plenty of open house for properties under a million, well under a million. I've also met many brokers who work hard and "earn" their commission.

Posted by: Nomi at October 25, 2009 1:24 AM in response to Open House Picks

oops, wasder

Posted by: Nomi at October 22, 2009 9:57 PM in response to House of the Day: 177 Rugby Road

"This is one of those houses that could benefit from some staging. It looks way fuddy-duddier than it has to and I feel like that is a sales killer. If it was photographed empty or at least massively stripped of the owners belongings (super minimalist) the space would show a lot better. Its a pretty sweet house." (wadser)

Totally agree. People right here on this thread are misreading this house. The staircase is the only detail worth saving? There's nice detail all over the place. The fireplace is ugly? Well, even if you don't like it, you can't say it's lacking in detail. And . . . I think without all the clutter and bad furniture AND with professional lighting and photography, it'd be hard to find it "ugly."

Posted by: Nomi at October 22, 2009 9:55 PM in response to House of the Day: 177 Rugby Road

"I said "surrounding areas" IE places along the F line BEFORE Bergen."

Yes, seems logical to figure that if there were more people living in Carroll Gardens, the train, on the way INTO the city, would be even more crowded by Bergen St. If new large (filled) condos were built after Bergen St., the train would remain at current levels of crowdedness at Bergen St. Barring improvement to the F line. Or a massive change in habits by riders.

Posted by: Nomi at October 22, 2009 1:03 PM in response to Carroll Gardens Rezoning Close, Boerum Hill Wants In

Um, I don't remember defending any crooks. Crooks are bad.

Posted by: Nomi at October 21, 2009 2:15 AM in response to House of the Day: 65 Prospect Park West, Reduced

It really looks lovely! So inviting.

A question about the butcher block. We have a butch block counter which a friend built us. I've only used mineral oil on it. Did you seal yours with something more permanent?

Posted by: Nomi at October 21, 2009 1:41 AM in response to Lower Level: Kitchen Recap

Rob, you never miss a parquet floor opportunity .. . .

Posted by: Nomi at October 19, 2009 1:24 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 2 Grace Court, #4T