Are there any comparably priced apartments on nicer blocks? Anyone have experience living in a recently condoized building in a similar location which can speak to the likelihood of the project itself helping change a neighborhood for the better. In my area I had hopes that the blight on Classon and Fulton would at least bring in a whole bunch of people who were investing in the neighborhood and would change the tone of the area (and mind you I am not talking skintone). Seems to me that a building of owners might bring about greater improvements than the lone gentrifier or new homeowner.

Posted by: Putnamdenizen at August 16, 2007 2:41 PM in response to Crown Heights Condos Fly Off the Shelves

My sense is that the gay bars which once were in Brooklyn Heights are no more. You are more likely to find casual conversation in friendly spots in Fort Greene/Clinton Hill or along Fifth Avenue in Park Slope. For concentrated gay specific spots, however, LES, Chelsea and Hell's Kitchen are probably still the spots for 30ish folks on the make.

Posted by: Putnamdenizen at August 16, 2007 2:46 PM in response to socializing

I make no predictions about absolute prices. My sense, however, is that a well laid out two bedroom is significantly more valuable and flexible than even a well laid out one bedroom.

That said, if you will need a roommate to cover the extra mortgage, I have to agree with above poster. This does not seem the moment for dancing on the edge. If you are insistent on buying now, why not go for something in the Clinton Hill Co-ops for about 200k less?

Posted by: Putnamdenizen at August 20, 2007 9:56 AM in response to Clinton Hill condo?

You might want to consider whether you need to allow some fresh air into your cellar.

Posted by: Putnamdenizen at August 21, 2007 2:33 PM in response to Rubber Matting to Cover Hatches

I bout my windows from them - installed them myself (with handiman help). Seemed fine. I needed new sash mechanizms on a couple (very large windows and not really quite strong enough). Replaced them without a problem (still have to intall a couple. Also had a good experience with Bill Jacobs in my previous co-op. Wow two good suppliers!

Posted by: Putnamdenizen at August 23, 2007 9:11 PM in response to Feedback on Bay Ridge Windows & Doors

I am against AY, as it is too dense, but I don't really understand the parking argument. We do live in a city. I am able to park in front of my house because many of the houses on my block are vacant, and there are many vacant lots in my neighborhood. Should I be against people moving into those houses or building on the vacant lots because I will hav a more difficult time parking? This isn't the suburbs! Guven Lefferts place is across Atlantic Avenue and (Vanderbilt to Clinton to Waverly to Washington to St James to Lefferts) five blocks away from the edge of AY, seems like you are really being silly to talk about a negative effect on this house. Quite frankly development in the area will be welcome (if not that of the size of AY) to jump start Fulton Street at this end of Clinton Hill. That said, I hope this price is far too high - as it is a barrier for most people to live over here.
BTW just finished walking completely across Bed-Stuy (dropped off my newly arrived bf's Uhaul at Malcom X and Dekalb). There are many lovely blocks outside of the well known historic district. Many houses with for sale signs by small realtors. Seems to me someone seeking to create a home would be better off wandering and looking for something there rather than buying Corcoran priced properties six blocks away.

Posted by: Putnamdenizen at August 28, 2007 7:59 PM in response to House of the Day: 59 Lefferts Place

I pulled it up, put down plywood and reinstalled it. Needed three rooms worth to cover two rooms (once I trimmed it,ect). One thing I should have done was ripped it down (i.e. trimmed off the tongue and groove and mde it more regular in that dimension). As it is it isn't very snug and Looks messy. It is very country looking. I like it, but then my house is very eclectic.

Posted by: Putnamdenizen at August 28, 2007 8:07 PM in response to Is This Wood Worth Re-Finishing?

Er, let me be clear. I believe there are many other more appropriate schemes which could be developed in the AY area - and ones which wouldn't need to be subsidized to the extent Ratner's project is. I would suggest that people familiarize themselves with the details of this taxpayer financed boondoggle before they declare themselves "very in favor of it." I just tire of the "sky is falling down" posts that appear here. In fact my current theory is that they are put up by Ratner's goons in order to dissensitive the citizenry to the tru flaws in his swindle. But hey, I am like that...

Posted by: Putnamdenizen at August 28, 2007 9:12 PM in response to House of the Day: 59 Lefferts Place

Welcome to the neighborhood. I suggest you search the web for information about AY. There have, over the years, been many detailed counter proposals, investigations of the ever-increasing public subsidies and ever decreasing public benefits of AY. That said, I am not actually suggesting that I want to convince you of anything - I was just responding to your rather odd "I don't know anything, but golly gee it sounds swell to me" comment, as well as your assumption/implication that I was a supporter of AY. And even if you are just a young mother (relevance?) new to the neighborhood, maybe you should be prepared to encounter satire and humor on the web, which is what my conspiracy theory above was a lame stab at. But then, again, maybe you arene't really a "young mother" at all, but rather the biggest Mother of them all - Ratner himself!

Anyone have any thoughts about giving up on looking at homes in the Fort Greene/Clinton Hill altogether and focusing on affordable neighborhoods?

Posted by: Putnamdenizen at August 28, 2007 10:11 PM in response to House of the Day: 59 Lefferts Place

Uh, honey, you need to get out more. I already told you I have no interest in engaging you seriously on this AY subject. It has been done a thousand times by people smarter and more informed than I. And the reason why I latched onto your "young mother" comment (which you have now repeated a third time) is because it is so weird. Many of us (including me) are parents of young children. It really does come across as an attempt to be coquettish or something. Was that your intent? Given your absolute lack of humor my current theory is that you are actually an artificial intelligence program which has been cast forth onto the net to wreak havoc. But really, take it down a notch. And clean up that potty mouth.

Posted by: Putnamdenizen at August 29, 2007 8:10 AM in response to House of the Day: 59 Lefferts Place

If you want condos go to the city, leave something scenic for the middle class of bay ridge

Posted by: guest at May 10, 2008 9:48 PM in response to Rally to save the 'Green' Church

But I thought you always insisted your neighborhood was perfectly safe and anyone who said otherwise was a racist who ought to move to the suburbs.

Posted by: guest at May 12, 2008 4:50 PM in response to Locksmith and Lockset for 3" Entrance Door

If you are going with the same configuration (knob or lever) as you have now, it is just a matter of switching the old for the new. I have found that most locksmiths are butchers when it comes to wood. If you want a Baldwin lock you can get it at 40% off list here:

http://www.precisiondoors.com/estate.htm

Posted by: southslope at May 12, 2008 4:51 PM in response to Locksmith and Lockset for 3" Entrance Door

Thanks for the tips southslope.

And 4:50 - why don't you check my posts, and you will see that I have been brutally honest about the challenges of living - most recently I described it as "the worst part of Clinton Hill." We are really doing our best to keep the forum snark-free. My concerns of doing the job myself were more as to the look than the security, but now that you mention, I would like the lock to work! I suspect we all want our front doors to work, don't we? Have a great day, 4:50.

Posted by: Putnamdenizen at May 12, 2008 8:02 PM in response to Locksmith and Lockset for 3" Entrance Door

Thanks for the tips southslope.

And 4:50 - why don't you check my posts, and you will see that I have been brutally honest about the challenges of living - most recently I described it as "the worst part of Clinton Hill." We are really doing our best to keep the forum snark-free. My concerns of doing the job myself were more as to the look than the security, but now that you mention, I would like the lock to work! I suspect we all want our front doors to work, don't we? Have a great day, 4:50.

Posted by: Putnamdenizen at May 12, 2008 8:02 PM in response to Locksmith and Lockset for 3" Entrance Door

Two schools of thought. My neighbor ordered the lockset himself, saving a lot of money in the process. But then the locksmith ran into problems putting it in, wrong sized cylinder, had to send the part back, wait for a replacement, blah, blah, blah. If you let the locksmith order the lock, you will pay a markup, but then he will have no one to blame for any slip ups. Mortise locks can be a real pain in the butt installing, there is no one set size, so unless you're doing the work yourself, I personally would have the locksmith do it and save myself the headaches.
Brian

Posted by: guest at May 12, 2008 8:22 PM in response to Locksmith and Lockset for 3" Entrance Door

I had the same issue. I went with Baldwin and it was not cheap, but, as I recall, I could not find find a reasonably priced set to handle problem. I like nice hardware, its a splurge but , in the long run its worth it.
As for installation, I did it myself, and its not working smoothly and I need to redo it. A lot of the problem is in the door and original (damaged) mortise cut out.
As for ordering, if you have figured it out this far, you can do it. Locksmiths are installers and don't want to waste their time on a custom order.

Posted by: guest at May 13, 2008 9:07 AM in response to Locksmith and Lockset for 3" Entrance Door