CG, no problem. I'm kind of interested so I probably shouldn't be publicizing it too much, LOL! I've just been so frustrated trying to get more information I had to vent.

Posted by: Park_loper at October 20, 2009 2:59 PM in response to House of the Day: 65 Prospect Park West, Reduced

Dandel, I walked by it the other day. It's with Century 21 and it's being handled in a typically incompetent manner - no web site, no info, no promotion, etc. There's just a little sign on the house. I finally got a call back from the broker, it's 20 feet wide, 3-story, been in same family for 50 years, needs TLC, etc. asking $1.1M. I assume it must be a wreck inside and of course there are no photos to check!

Posted by: Park_loper at October 20, 2009 2:32 PM in response to House of the Day: 65 Prospect Park West, Reduced

Just found out the house on 2nd Street between 5th & 6th is asking $1.1M - that's a 3-story that needs TLC on a nice block in PS. So yeah, $1.4M seems high...

Posted by: Park_loper at October 20, 2009 1:53 PM in response to House of the Day: 65 Prospect Park West, Reduced

If ever there was an example of penny wise, pound foolish... So you save 1-2% on the broker commission, but you sell your house for 10-20% less than you might otherwise! This house would easily attract much more attention in the hands of a competent broker (and I'm no fan of brokers). Still back to my original question, does anyone know ANYTHING about this property? I still haven't gotten a call back from the broker.

Posted by: Park_loper at October 20, 2009 11:56 AM in response to House on 2nd St (5th & 6th Ave)

I think it is 407 2nd Street. The Century 21 office in Park Slope says they don't have a house for sale on 2nd Street, and they don't know what office this is being sold from! The number on the sign just goes to voicemail. I can't find anything on the NYT or Google... who would hire a realtor like this to sell their house??!

Posted by: Park_loper at October 19, 2009 9:51 AM in response to House on 2nd St (5th & 6th Ave)

God, what a bunch of cranky haters on this board. Can't you all take a break from scowling and being bitter?

Posted by: Park_loper at September 28, 2009 2:23 PM in response to Invasion of the Invisible Dogs

OK, that gets my vote for the most grim building ever.

Posted by: Park_loper at September 11, 2009 10:13 AM in response to No Water for Two Months in Bed-Stuy Building

Ugh, those bedrooms! 25% overpriced. Easy.

Posted by: Park_loper at September 8, 2009 3:16 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 99 State Street, #3E

This place has always seemed like a little time capsule to me. And I love it just the way it is. The reno that is described doesn't sound as if it'll alter the character much - thankfully.

Posted by: Park_loper at September 4, 2009 10:41 AM in response to Park Slope Library to Close in Fall

Absolutely you can negotiate the fee! Don't even think about NOT trying. They'll almost always tell you that the fee isn't negotiable. That's BS! I recently hammered the bastards at BHS until they came down from 12% to a one-months fee, plus I got $200 knocked off the rental. It takes a bit of bluff and bluster but you shouldn't be shy about having a go of it. Use whatever leverage you can scrape up. Is the apartment an exclusive? Have you signed anything? Do you have possible backups that you'd be happy with? Be aware that most realtors are lazy sacks of slime that will do and say anything to get you to pay the full fee - but don't let them fool you. They need YOU more than you need THEM, and don't forget that. Be firm and steady. Best of luck.

Posted by: Park_loper at August 31, 2009 4:43 PM in response to Negotiating Rental Fees

Don't fear, as you can see self-knowledge comes slower to some than others... And hey, enjoy the summer while you can. Maybe even take a walk outside?

Posted by: Park_loper at August 6, 2009 10:58 AM in response to An End to the Real Estate Recession in Brooklyn?

Didn't you hear? All the sad trolls who spend every day on Brownstoner finally realized they'd been wasting their lives arguing unprovable real estate minutia with the other sad trolls. It was an unprecedented dawning of self-awareness on all sides.

Posted by: Park_loper at August 6, 2009 10:48 AM in response to An End to the Real Estate Recession in Brooklyn?

You're looking at the wrong house - the Pepto house is further up the block. And it's still in full pink glory.

Posted by: Park_loper at July 31, 2009 1:34 PM in response to Open House Picks

I admit to being intrigued by this whole co-housing project, but the one glaring problem for me is the site location - right on the Prospect Expressway! Who wants to live with the constant drone of traffic, not to mention pollution?

Posted by: Park_loper at May 29, 2009 9:51 AM in response to Co-Housing Building May Be 'Most Energy Efficient' in NYC

The photos I have of my block of Carroll Street were taken in the 30's and they show very few trees at all. Most of the houses were built around 1900 so you'd think that with 30 years there should be some nice mature trees. I guess my question is are blocks much "greener" now than they were back then? It certainly appears that way to me, but I don't really know the history of it.

Posted by: Park_loper at May 19, 2009 11:51 AM in response to Maple Street, Then and Now

It's amazing how relatively treeless some blocks were back then. I've got old photos of my block and it's virtually empty of greenery. Of course now it resembles a small forest. I don't know if people just didn't care about having trees in those days, or maybe they cost too much to plant/maintain, or if it's more of a modern day affection - but I can't imagine not having them.

Posted by: Park_loper at May 19, 2009 10:49 AM in response to Maple Street, Then and Now

Damn, whoever is responsible for those photos ought to be tarred and feathered. OK if it's a rental or some cheap apartment, but these jokers are asking $1M and put up shots like that?? Worse than amateur really...

Posted by: Park_loper at April 15, 2009 3:33 PM in response to House of the Day: 445 Warren Street

I'm not sure I can help you very much. I only know about the place because I was interested in the house next door when it was on the market last year. The fact that the two buildings were attached to each other was a huge concern for me and my wife - and ultimately why we didn't pursue the deal further. From the back it's even more frightening, with exposed insulation falling out of holes around the windows, tangles of wires, etc. My gut feeling was I just couldn't take the risk of living next to a building like that.

Posted by: Park_loper at April 15, 2009 11:57 AM in response to Slumlord advertising hotel

I lived next door to that building at 672 President for several years in the mid 90's - I can tell you back then 670 President was all about the tenement lifestyle. There were some particularly bad families in that building, and it seemed almost every weekend would bring drunken screaming/fighting matches and cops being called, kids being taken away, wailing and crying all night. Not to mention the constant rain of garbage and chicken bones the fine residents of 670 would throw down into our yard... Oh man, what a building. I can only hope (and assume) it's been cleaned up since then.

Posted by: Park_loper at April 14, 2009 2:20 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 670 Park Slope

Are you talking about the place on 12th St between 4th & 5th that calls itself the "Little Princess Hotel"? It looks like a complete fire trap to me, and I've also been wondering if it was legal.

Posted by: Park_loper at April 13, 2009 2:58 PM in response to Slumlord advertising hotel

Anywhere above 4th Ave and I'd be into that 8th St. house - sorry to say, below 4th Ave. is a deal-breaker (not to mention NOT Park Slope).

Posted by: Park_loper at March 6, 2009 2:30 PM in response to Open House Picks

I have a memory of hearing that the Ansonia complex has some massive underlying balloon mortgage situation that will hit in a few years - thus causing all the maintenance fees to increase dramatically. Does anyone know if that's true? It's possible I'm confusing it with something else.

Posted by: Park_loper at January 27, 2009 2:46 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 420 12th Street 2BR

The trailer looks good filmmer, let us know when it'll be screening.

Posted by: Park_loper at January 7, 2009 11:35 AM in response to Broken Angel Up For Sale

The Montauk Club would be an amazing coup but somehow I don't see that happening. I think Brian Lehrer at first said they were considering a spot in Park Slope but then later changed it to "near Prospect Park", so maybe they are actually looking in the Slope area.

Posted by: Park_loper at December 23, 2008 12:59 PM in response to Co-Housing Site Likely "Near Prospect Park"

Yes, it's very quite.

Note to broker: proofreading always makes it more professionalish

Posted by: Park_loper at November 10, 2008 2:21 PM in response to House of the Day: 591 Union Street

The reason you never see anyone in Star of India is because the interior has all the charm and ambience of a car service waiting room. I almost feel badly for them, but they could put a little effort into that place. Certainly they must be aware that people aren't attracted to restaurants that look like they were torn from a strip mall in Secaucus. They are nice people though, so I hope they figure it out. I have a feeling they'll need to make some hard decisions once Baluchi's opens.

Posted by: Park_loper at November 7, 2008 10:51 AM in response to New Restaurant for 230 Fifth Avenue

The little white notice taped to the window says "Deliveries for Playa Cabana Bar please use side door" (or something very similar). I'm no Sherlock Holmes but it seems like damning evidence to me. We shall see!

Posted by: Park_loper at October 9, 2008 7:35 PM in response to BBQ Extinguished at Lookout Hill

It's turning into something called "Playa Cabana Bar" real soon... Maybe the Bourbon selection will be replaced with Tequila.

Posted by: Park_loper at October 8, 2008 10:55 PM in response to BBQ Extinguished at Lookout Hill

Jesus H Christ I almost spit out my latte when I saw the 4th Street price! What a cruel little joke, Brownstoner!

Posted by: Park_loper at August 1, 2008 2:00 PM in response to Open House Picks

Thanks for the replies. I guess the consensus is that it's merely a cosmetic issue, which is some relief. I still think it makes the building look scrungy but at least it's not damaging anything.

Posted by: Park_loper at March 25, 2008 10:13 AM in response to Moss on facade

I don't think we have any of those issues. All drainage is to the back of the building and runoff is a non-issue on the front. There are a couple of ACs but the moss pattern is not specific to those locations. In fact, it seems to be mostly random patches of it all over the front. Obviously the front doesn't get much direct sun which would mean after a good rain the facade doesn't dry quickly, and I'm sure this doesn't help the situation. So aside from being a cosmetic annoyance, you don't think this damages the bricks?

Posted by: Park_loper at March 24, 2008 1:10 PM in response to Moss on facade