I love how the plants in the border are arranged - looks like there's always something blooming throughout the growing season, which can be hard to manage in these small urban spaces.
I'm curious - what kind of viburnums do you have? And were you able to harvest any of your blueberries before the birds got them? thanks for sharing!

Posted by: petunia at August 15, 2008 4:28 PM in response to Garden of the Day: A Decade in Coming

Actually 12:14, all the breeds you just mentioned are notoriously lazy indoors, and as long as they get sufficient outdoor exercise, are much better suited for apartment life than many smaller, more active breeds. Taking a dog for a long morning walk or run in the park can do wonders for the state of mind of both dog and owner.
I just brought my big dog to the country for the weekend and on our walks encountered dogs in big yards that went berserk when we passed by, though my dog barely looked in their direction. People think a big yard means they don't need to walk or socialize their dog, when in fact it's much better for the dog to be out and about with its owner and taught to behave appropriately in a variety of circumstances.
If the owner is up to the responsibility, almost any dog can be happy in the city. Like a lot of the arguments about kids, it comes down to basic responsibility and consideration.

Posted by: petunia at April 28, 2008 10:41 AM in response to Dirty Dog Run Making Pooches Sick

11:05 am does have a point. I actually like the building a lot, and I am one of those people who tends to like old stuff much better than the new, building-wise. But, if you're in the long meadow (esp. south of 9th st.) of Prospect Park looking up, OPP is the only building you can see; beforehand you had a temporal illusion of the park being much vaster than it actually is.

So, I like the building, but I just wish the 6mil. penthouse was two stories lower.

Posted by: petunia at April 16, 2008 4:36 PM in response to On Prospect Park: Ready For its Close-Up

I wonder how the authentic Mexican will go over with what may be a big part of their lunch rush - the restaurant is in the "zone" within which the 4th and 5th graders at PS 321 are allowed to go for lunch.
Even though Barrio sounds more on the fancy side, I do hope they find a way to take advantage - I grew up on Mexican food and I think it would be a much healthier alternative for the kids than the usual pizza/starbucks options.

Posted by: petunia at April 15, 2008 4:27 PM in response to StreetLevel: Park Slope, Welcome to el Barrio

The house on 5th St. isn't really a good comp to the neighboring 6th St. one. The 5th St. is an estate sale and previously had a lot of rental units, so it needs lots of fixing up, and I think there may be something wonky about its basic layout/outdoor space. Also, while 5th btw. 6th and 7th is a great block, that house is a little too close to 7th ave. and the hubbub from John Jay & etc.

The 6th st. house is nicely renovated w/ lots of detail, has a great yard and is farther down the block, so it feels relatively more serene.
I don't know if it's overpriced or not, but if you've seen both houses, there's a big difference.

Did anyone else notice that the little frame house on 13th btw. 5th and 6th that was going for 1.895 m. wasn't in the brokers' real estate listings this week, after two weeks on the market? Warren Lewis and one other firm had it, and neither had it in their NY Times Real Estate ad. ??

Posted by: petunia at April 14, 2008 11:06 AM in response to Open House Picks

The signs that the Park Slope Civil Council gave out are similar, though mostly in red and therefore (I think) a touch less garish. They seem to work somewhat, and they pose enough of a threat that apparently someone has been removing the signs - 14th St. has been having this problem, according to a block meeting announcement taped to a tree.

Posted by: petunia at March 27, 2008 8:17 PM in response to Closing Bell: Carroll Gardens Combats Circular Dumpings

Sandy is right - it's very common. Sellers often have to close on the old place before their new place is ready, and they will cover your mortgage payments and other expenses until a set time agreed upon by both parties. Typically, if a seller has to remain in your new place past the deadline agreed to, his "rent" goes up by a very hefty margin for every day past the move-out date. We've been in this arrangement as both buyer and seller, and as long as the other party hasn't been especially difficult to deal with in regards to other aspects of the sale, I'd say go ahead, making sure your lawyer draws up an agreement with adequate compensation for you.

Posted by: petunia at January 11, 2008 9:35 AM in response to How common is post-closing possession?

We're in a two-family, and last year our insurance company sent us a letter saying that the city had inspected our sidewalk and had found defects that needed fixing. The letter stated that if we didn't send notice that repairs had been made, the company would drop our coverage. Now, we had had a few hazardous-looking spots filled in a couple years ago, so I had the ins. co. send over a scan of the city's photo, to be sure we knew what to repair - the defect turned out to be something I'd never even noticed before, a little divot where the sidewalk squares meet. Meanwhile, I see people stumble every day on the big gaps in my next-door neighbor's sidewalk, and I know he didn't get any letter, so I'm not sure what the rhyme or reason is here.

Posted by: petunia at December 11, 2007 10:32 AM in response to Closing Bell: Sidewalk Liability Only For Multifamilies?

I meant that that block of 5th St. is one of the nicer blocks below 6th ave., not 5th.

And: "Honey, let's "stretch" to buy a big 'ol townhouse and then send the kids to public school to save a few bucks." ??

Cost is not the only consideration when debating public vs. private. I don't feel I'm cheating my kids by sending them to public school - if you think that's so, then yes, your priorities are quite different than mine.

Posted by: petunia at October 26, 2007 5:29 PM in response to Open House Picks: Houses

I know I shouldn't take the bait but... I know the family selling the 5th St. house, and I also know that they didn't set the price, their broker did. Presumably the broker has at least a rough idea of what she's talking about, as she's worked in the Slope for many many years. Whether they get this price or close to it is another matter, but this isn't a case of greedy sellers oblivious to the current market. As for the house, it's well renovated, top to bottom, and it is on one of the better blocks below 5th ave.

Posted by: petunia at October 26, 2007 5:00 PM in response to Open House Picks: Houses