Wood Pest Prevention

Eight weekends over 3 1/2 years is hardly a major disruption of Manhattan Bridge service. Lower Manhattan weekend service seems to be "disrupted" about half the weekends.

Posted by: ProfRobert at October 30, 2009 11:32 AM in response to Friday Links

Great write-up. I love New York history, and this told me things I never knew. Thanks!

Posted by: ProfRobert at October 13, 2009 12:28 PM in response to Walkabout with Montrose: Historic Bedford, Brooklyn

I paid $625/sq. ft. across 11th St. in 2006, for a four-story with four bedrooms (make it $677 if you count what I have and will put into the house to restore it). Assuming the house needs nothing done to it, that would be about $1.46M in a 2006 market. In this market, I'd agree with Miss Muffett -- anything north of $1.2 should make the owners happy.

Posted by: ProfRobert at October 10, 2009 2:25 PM in response to Open House Picks

Denton, yes, it does look much better from that angle. I didn't get that the original photo was a side view (if you took the side view of my house, it wouldn't look like much, either). It's still not my style, and those door-windows strike me as a disaster waiting to happen, but I'll retract the "criminally ugly" characterization.

Posted by: ProfRobert at July 31, 2009 7:10 PM in response to 614 7th Avenue: Five Weeks Later

I usually don't get worked up on this site and engage in invective and hyperbole, but this building is criminally ugly. The only reason to live in such a place is so that you don't have to look at it. And where are those doors next to the teensy windows going? Are they planning on putting in balconies, or is it one small step for man, one giant leap to your death?

Posted by: ProfRobert at July 31, 2009 12:46 PM in response to 614 7th Avenue: Five Weeks Later

Sixyears, that's what I meant about not knowing what the administrators of the new school have planned -- "seminar" to me means a small class size. But I also don't know that the Socratic method wouldn't work with 34 middle schoolers in a room. It does with law students, obviously. The teacher would have to make a point of making sure each student regularly was put on the "hot seat" for a Socratic dialogue, and you would need students who would respond and not be bored. My overall reaction is that options are good, but I don't live in that district, and my son is a decade away from middle school, so in true Socratic fashion, I have a bunch of questions, but no answers to provide.

Posted by: ProfRobert at July 16, 2009 5:07 PM in response to New Middle School Coming to Fort Greene

I don't know what the educators are planning for their Socratic seminars, but if they mean teaching Socratically -- that is, by asking questions that lead the students to find their own conclusions -- middle school is certainly not too young. I tutor elementary and middle school students, and I take the same approach with them as I do my law students (at a different level of sophistication, of course). I ask them questions to get them thinking about a problem and how to solve it for themselves.

Posted by: ProfRobert at July 16, 2009 3:54 PM in response to New Middle School Coming to Fort Greene

That's too bad. My wife and I stopped in a couple of weeks ago for lunch, and thought the sandwiches were very good and reasonably priced (and the staff were friendly to us). They did seem to have a lot of employees, and while there were a number of customers, it was nothing like Checkers, which seemed to have a line almost out the door. I suspect that mrkknox is right -- nothing but fast food will survive there.

Posted by: ProfRobert at July 15, 2009 11:12 AM in response to F. Martinella Closes After Less Than Nine Months

Chacun a son gout, Biff! Obviously, I can't argue with your tastes or experiences (I'm horrified by the racist comments -- our service was great, but then each time I've gone, my dining companions and I were lily white). But really, you found the smoked meat juicier? I found it drier and less flavorful than Carnegie, Katz's, Stage, etc.

I've never had the pleasure of visiting Vancouver, and I've only had Chinese in Toronto and couldn't find good Szechuan there. In Montreal, I had excellent Indian and Thai -- though given our taste perceptions, probably neither of us should be making restaurant recommendations for the other!

Posted by: ProfRobert at July 13, 2009 1:57 PM in response to Streetlevel: A Taste of Montreal for Hoyt Street

Have to agree with Babs re. poutine. As for smoked meat -- it's pastrami with all the flavor taken out of it (and, yeah, I tried it at the famous delis). As much as I love visiting Montreal, it's not for the local food (though the Asian cuisines there are excellent, and there's a steakhouse, La Queue de Cheval, that's as good as anything in NYC).

Posted by: ProfRobert at July 12, 2009 1:54 PM in response to Streetlevel: A Taste of Montreal for Hoyt Street

Nomi, mine would -- it makes getting the childseat in and out of the back easier.

Posted by: ProfRobert at July 11, 2009 9:50 AM in response to Open House Picks

OK, my serious comment: The PS house is beautiful. I live in semi-detached land, and it's great to have the alley. But it's a 10-minute walk almost to any subway. That'd be the dealbreaker for me (my pet peeve is walking >5 min. in rain, snow or broiling heat.). Although if I could afford it, maybe I'd also be able to afford having a sedan chair and bearers carry me to the subway on days I didn't feel like walking.

Posted by: ProfRobert at July 10, 2009 6:59 PM in response to Open House Picks

Tybur6: If you have a big-enough pot, you can wash undies and boil sphagetti together any time!

Posted by: ProfRobert at July 10, 2009 1:56 PM in response to Open House Picks

Laugh all you like, but 10 or more years ago, this would have been called "Central Park West." Park Slope is the new Upper West Side. We should all hope this TV show is a big success because it'll pull in tourists who'll spend money and home buyers who want the cache of living in a hot neighborhood. Move over Beverly Hills 90210; it's Brooklyn 11217.

Posted by: ProfRobert at July 7, 2009 9:59 AM in response to SJP Bringing Park Slope to the TV Masses

Bxgrl, "buff" is probably too strong -- I don't collect things, for example -- but I do love New York history, and the subways are a huge part of that. I took the City Hall station tour a few years back, which wasn't as much fun as the Nostalgia Train, but I'm glad I did it anyway. I do get a kick out of knowing about the Money Train gate at Jay St., the abandoned stations (such as Worth St. on the 6 and 91st St. on the 1), and the old track beds that lead from the 4-5-6 tracks to where the Shuttle stops now.

Crap. I'm not a subway buff; I'm a subway nerd, aren't I?

Posted by: ProfRobert at July 1, 2009 6:33 PM in response to Closing Bell: Signs of the G Train Extension

When my wife and I stopped by, the menu looked generic, and we didn't feel like waiting in line (we had the baby in a carrier). We went a few doors down to the sandwich place (blanking on the name -- it features all kinds of Boar's Head products), and it was terrific. Really good sandwiches, and with sodas it came to $10 a person. Yet, it was relatively empty. We couldn't figure out why.

I'm willing to try Checkers (if I don't have to wait in a long line carrying a baby), but just looking at the photos on the menu, I can't imagine how it could be as good as Five Guys.

Posted by: ProfRobert at July 1, 2009 6:26 PM in response to No Shortage of Demand for Checkers

Rob, the Hudson Tubes are the old name for what's now called the PATH Tubes. The original train (which started service 100 years ago) was operated by the Hudson & Manhattan Railroad.

Posted by: ProfRobert at June 30, 2009 9:34 PM in response to Closing Bell: Signs of the G Train Extension

Transit Museum is one of my favorites, Bxgrl. A couple of years ago, my now-wife and I took the Nostalgia Train ride they run each month during the summer. The looks we got from the platforms as we rolled by were priceless.

Posted by: ProfRobert at June 30, 2009 6:20 PM in response to Closing Bell: Signs of the G Train Extension

I'd also like to know why they don't start running an F express in Brooklyn. Heck, I'd run it express in Manhattan, too, and turn the B back into a local between West 4th and 34th St. Hey, is anyone here old enough to remember when the locals had double letters (AA, CC, etc.)? I used to love the way those old rattan seats felt.

Posted by: ProfRobert at June 30, 2009 5:44 PM in response to Closing Bell: Signs of the G Train Extension

"Yes, We Have Cans!!!"

I'm working from memory, but you can't use the president's image to sell things. MotoGP recalls correctly about the beer issue. There will be ca call from the Secret Service.

You can't copyright a face, only an image (or words, of course). I suppose one could trademark his or her face. But in New York, there's also a right to one's own publicity. So I can't take someone else's face or name, and use it to sell something.

Posted by: ProfRobert at June 30, 2009 10:30 AM in response to Closing Bell: Obama Pitching Myrtle Deli

MFN: Thanks for the heads up. You saved me a wasted trip on Sunday (not really looking to move, but always interested in what's out there). I was on the verge of not checking out the open house anyway after I walked Vanderbilt the other evening from Lafayette to Fulton, and found it deserted. The house itself looked fine on the outside, but the teen rehab place down the block across the street gave me the willies. I really don't want my son growing up in a place where he could be a target for junkie thugs. Ft. Greene is a nice neighborhood, and Clinton Hill has its good spots, but Vanderbilt is just a dead zone.

Posted by: ProfRobert at June 27, 2009 2:54 PM in response to Open House Picks

I'm sorry, but you have to be a fool to close when the seller hasn't put the property in move-in condition (unless you were planning to do your own renovation, of course). Your leverage goes out the window, and you are at the mercy of the developer. I hope this is a cautionary tale for anyone else in contract at the Argyle (and generally, too).

Posted by: ProfRobert at June 18, 2009 10:51 AM in response to Argyle Closings Happening, But Watch That Punch List

DIBS: Did you think the heating cost is too high or too low? I have a four-story brownstone, and the gas bill in the winter runs $700-$900/month (and coming from an apartment in Manhattan, stunned the hell out of me).

Posted by: ProfRobert at June 12, 2009 6:14 PM in response to Open House Picks

According to the Governors Island website, this Saturday's schedule from Brooklyn is on the hour and every 20 minutes thereafter, while the return is on the half hour and every 20 minutes thereafter. http://www.govisland.com/Visit_the_Island/directions.asp

Posted by: ProfRobert at June 5, 2009 11:42 AM in response to Ferry Service to Governor's Island Starts This Weekend!

I saw them trying to surrender to the Staten Island Ferry.

Posted by: ProfRobert at April 25, 2009 1:02 PM in response to Aux Armes, Citoyens!

I think it's almost impossible to value this house given the lack of information. Is it going to be delivered empty? If not, how long is the lease, and what is it bringing in? This feels like an investor owner taking a flyer on finding someone who falls in love with the place and will pay anything to get it, combined with a broker who doesn't believe such a person exists and will do diddly to present the house in an attractive fashion or with information that the hypothetical buyer might actually want, such as a floor plan (hell, we don't even know how many bedrooms this place has). My prediction is this place won't sell because the owner won't come down far enough, and the broker is right that no one is going to fall in love with it at a price north of $2.5 million.

Posted by: ProfRobert at April 21, 2009 3:52 PM in response to House of the Day: 524 3rd Street

God, I miss Cocotte. I may give Belleville another chance based on the comments here. I went there, once, about two years ago. Food was mediocre, and the service was abominable -- it left me wondering if they imported French waitstaff, too.

Posted by: ProfRobert at April 16, 2009 6:44 PM in response to Brooklyn Food & Drink Round-Up

Wasder, thanks, good to know. I was looking at the B69 route also, which seems better. Now all the kid needs to do is test in. :-)

Posted by: ProfRobert at March 20, 2009 2:22 PM in response to New Gifted School for Fort Greene

This is great news -- the one thing that might have gotten me to move back to Manhattan is if my son eventually tested into the citywide G&T program. It's great that there are now Brooklyn options.

It is annoying, however, that, like the existing NEST school on the LES, neither Ft. Greene nor Bensonhurst is anywhere near a subway stop. With a five-year-old, the Ft. Greene one looks to be a 10- or 15-minute walk from the G train.

Posted by: ProfRobert at March 20, 2009 12:02 PM in response to New Gifted School for Fort Greene

Um, if Gowanus is to the *east* of this thing, and Park Slope is to the *west*, I'm having a hard time imagining where it's supposed to be built. Last time I checked, Park Slope was east of Gowanus. Maybe they're planning to build it in an inter-dimensional void; if so, the design is perfect for that location.

Posted by: ProfRobert at March 20, 2009 11:38 AM in response to Enrique Norten-Designed Project in Park Slope Revealed

Thanks for this item. It was a great excuse to do a daytrip up to Beacon, and my wife and I found some cool stuff at the sale (and the prices were excellent).

Posted by: ProfRobert at March 15, 2009 1:44 PM in response to Closing Bell: Tag Sale in Beacon, NY

PShark has my square footage right (excluding the basement, which is below garden level), though apparently it doesn't count the garden floor as a story. Weird.

Posted by: ProfRobert at March 13, 2009 4:17 PM in response to Open House Picks: Six Months Later

Serpentor: If rents are sufficiently depressed, then the company can't service its debt, even if the building is fully occupied.

Utilities will not be cut off. The bankruptcy filing (which Bloomberg reports is a Chapter 11 reorganiztion, not a Chapter 7 liquidation) freezes the obligation to perform on prepetition obligations (most relevantly the bank debt). There may be a month or two of previous utility bills that haven't been paid, but the utilities would violate the automatic stay provisions of the Bankruptcy Code if they cut off service because of those unpaid bills. On a go-forward basis, the debtor should be able to pay utility bills out of the rent roll now that the obligation to service the bank debt is frozen.

Posted by: ProfRobert at February 26, 2009 3:33 PM in response to Owners of 133 Water Street Go Belly Up

This is why I shop at C-Town.

Posted by: ProfRobert at February 20, 2009 10:19 AM in response to Proposed Ban Roiling Park Slope Co-op

This house is at the head of the T-intersection with College Place, which is a total mess with all the garage-to-condo construction. If the owners can rent this for a while, I suspect they'll do better than a firesale now while the street is a dump. My big fear as a buyer (or this seller) is that the construction comes to a halt because the Wilpons decide it's not worth it anymore.

Posted by: ProfRobert at February 17, 2009 9:03 PM in response to Another Price Cut for 43 Love Lane

Brooklyn Chicken, I know that Detroit and Cincinnati have income taxes (or at least they did 20 years ago when I lived in the Midwest). I suspect some other cities do, too.

Posted by: ProfRobert at February 3, 2009 6:41 PM in response to S#!t Outta Luck: Values Down, Taxes Up

David Lewis and Slopefarm, thanks for the insights!

Posted by: ProfRobert at February 3, 2009 11:31 AM in response to S#!t Outta Luck: Values Down, Taxes Up

I read David Lewis's 10:53 post after my 10:54 post. I went back to check, and the assessed value went up by 5.995%, so I guess it's pointless to complain.

But let me ask another question: My C of O makes my house a legal three-family (and DoF thinks there are three units here). In fact, it's just me and my family, and I have no plans to reconvert the space into multiple units. Does it make sense for me to change the C of O? Would I get a better tax break? I assume this being a legal three-family would be more valuable for resale purposes, of course, should I decide to move somewhere down the line. Thanks again!

Posted by: ProfRobert at February 3, 2009 11:04 AM in response to S#!t Outta Luck: Values Down, Taxes Up

Strangely, my market value went up this year by 26%. The value assigned is still (and always has been) well below my purchase price.

I'd welcome anyone's thoughts on whether to appeal the market value: On the one hand, I can't believe property values in South Park Slope have gone up 26%, but on the other, I don't want to look a gift horse in the mouth and have DoF tax me based on what I paid for the house in 2007. Thanks for any guidance!

Posted by: ProfRobert at February 3, 2009 10:54 AM in response to S#!t Outta Luck: Values Down, Taxes Up

Somebody in this scenario was running a red light if it happened in a crosswalk without a turn involved. Whoever that was is the one at fault. (If the car was turning, then it's the driver's fault.) I've seen cars run lights, and I've seen pedestrians step off against a light without even bothering to look whether any cars are coming.

Posted by: ProfRobert at February 2, 2009 12:35 PM in response to Developing: Pedestrian Struck at 8th and Carroll

Perhaps the people who live in these buildings do so on the theory that if you live in it, you don't have to look at it. I feel most for the poor folks who live across the street from these monstrosities.

Posted by: ProfRobert at December 16, 2008 7:57 PM in response to BK Developers on 12th Street

The name is a nod to actor Philip Glenister, who originated the role of Gene Hunt in the UK version.

Posted by: ProfRobert at December 1, 2008 6:23 PM in response to Reverse Streetlevel: No Pub on Prospect

The 663 Rugby Road realtor link says the house is at 663 Argyle Road (admittedly not much of a difference, but which is correct?).

Posted by: ProfRobert at November 21, 2008 1:23 PM in response to Open House Picks

Under Obama's plan the marginal tax rate on amounts earned above $250,000 would go from 36 percent to 39 percent. So if you're making $300,000, the extra amount you pay in taxes is %1500, or an overall increase of one half of one percent of your gross income. If you make %500,000, the extra amount you pay is $7500 or one and one half percent of your gross income. Is that really going to be a material burden for you? What are you *not* going to be able to do under an Obama tax regime that you can't do now? If I make more than $250k next year, I'll just count my blessings. (Now, if you want to complain about capital gains on primary residences, that's something I'll bitch with you about!)

Posted by: ProfRobert at October 22, 2008 10:39 AM in response to A McCain Outpost in Blue Park Slope

MacD: I am so bitter (though not a renter) that you beat me to posting re. Carl Pickens bio (he was for several years a mainstay of my fantasy football team).

Posted by: ProfRobert at September 8, 2008 6:21 PM in response to Government Rescues Fannie and Freddie