This has to rank up there as one of the most ridiculous threads that doesn't include the What ever to appear on Brownstoner.

It seems that several of the angry posters didn't bother to read the article. To *rob*, benson, etson, etc: try doing a little bit of research before deciding that your tax dollars got abused, or that "they
" should have given the housing to someone more deserving. May I suggest going to commonground.org, and actorsfund.org to learn a bit about what the philosophies of these two groups are, how they get their money, and how they spend it. A particularly enlightening bit is the part where the maximum incomes of people applying for apartments is listed (this was also in the Times) and how rents are tied to that income. Also check the part that lists what state subsidized housing costs per bed per year, vs. what housing provided by tghe Actors Fund costs. After seeing these numbers and reading about the "artists" this project is meant to include, the snarky comments about hipters with iPods and Macs will seem a bit ebarrassing.

Posted by: roberto at April 27, 2009 2:48 PM in response to Lots of Love for the Schermerhorn House

Actually Brownstoner, your post WAS "a controversial or rancor-baiting sentiment." Claiming now that you were just wondering if some detail may have been lost is not at all what you posted. Here it is: "on the other, the intact interior of a brownstone on the definitive brownstone block in the city was lost in the process." You don't know what was lost, if anything. That's rancor-baiting inn my book.

Personal revisionist history is hard to pull of when there's a written record posted on your own website.

Posted by: roberto at January 22, 2009 11:52 AM in response to Ultra Modern Reno on South Portland Avenue

A broker ought to know that there is no guarantee when you are dealing with lot-line windows and the potential for neighboring structures. This is an example of someone not doing their homework.

Posted by: roberto at December 8, 2008 10:54 AM in response to Dark Times for Some Toy Factory Loft Dwellers

Hi 11233,

I'm not really so concerned about ROTW to complain to the Public School he attended on his behalf. However, it's clear that he has a good case for malpractice against PS 56. I'd recommend he pursue it, except for the catch-22 implied by his inability to communicate clearly in English.

I've now come to the conclusion that his near bull's-eye on the market collapse was nothing more than the rare occurrence of the statistically possible but nearly inconceivable monkey at the typewriter producing a Shakespeare sonnet.

Posted by: roberto at November 18, 2008 11:51 AM in response to Tuesday Links

Hey What:

What's a "streaming turd?" Did you mean "steaming turd?" Also, would it be too much to ask for you to work a bit harder on your verb agreements? "I so sorry if you was misled" demonstrates either that you received an incomplete education or a conscious choice to sound that way.

Posted by: roberto at November 18, 2008 11:11 AM in response to Tuesday Links

Thanks again, bxgrl. Interesting piece of history: where the entry lobby is now was when new a balconied theater/lecture hall. The idea of a performance space right at the entry was something we wanted to reassert in the design, but in this scheme as a outdoor space that could be integrated ain a new way with the stair-form of the new entry.

If you can get your e-mail to me, I can send you some pics of what the Museum looked like when it first opened, when the stirs were removed, and a couple of nice pics of the bit of "archaeology" that happened when we pulled Lescaze's black marble off the piers...you can reach me by e-mailing me at Polshek.com. First initial (r) plus last name (young).

Posted by: roberto at June 30, 2008 4:04 PM in response to Monday Links

Thanks all for the many kind words! That project means so much me, as it was an opportunity to bring back public accessibility and life to one of our city's greatest treasures, and near a neighborhood to which my wife and I hope to move. For too long the Museum's remarkable collection went relatively unnoticed, and the significant role of a major cultural institution in a neighborhood went unfulfilled. Seeing so much life there, and so many people enjoying the place (and not just on First Saturdays!) is wonderful.

bxgrl, thanks for your interpretation! I love it! I won't tell you whether you are onto our big idea (not that that matters, though), but just to reinforce your position: the arcs, whether in the landscape, on the theater steps (the fountain can be shut down and used as a stage for the inverted amphitheater), or in the structure, all share the the same center, as marked by the axis passing through the dome. The radial lines in the building all spring from this point as well. Even the subway entry was reoriented to face the dome... There is a nice metaphor about the ripples expanding out into the neighborhood...Concerning the original stair: it was 28' tall, quite a big larger than the Met, and people just wouldn't go up it. Think of it this way: that's about 2 1/2 brownstone stories, just to get to the door!

Thanks again. Always nice to hear good things...;)

Posted by: roberto at June 30, 2008 12:33 PM in response to Monday Links

Just a comment about the photo by Jan van Raay: It's a beautiful image, so I clicked on the name, and got an amazing caption: "What was the architect thinking? What do you think of this new entance to the Brooklyn Museum? I think it looks like you're going into a sports stadium, and the new lobby is even worse."

Well, I am the architect for that project. I could explain what I was thinking to Jan, but I'm not sure it would matter. One would of course be thrilled if everyone liked one's work, but given the tremendous support the project has received generally, Jan's dislike isn't going to change my approach... About that comment about sports stadia: haven't seen any that look or feel like the BMA entry, but I'd love to do one! So Jan, if you're reading...thanks for the nice photo!

Posted by: roberto at June 30, 2008 9:44 AM in response to Monday Links

I support registered usernames. The key is to not allow multiple username abuses ("sockpuppets").

I think that at least as many people are turned off by what transpires in anonymity as you might lose through required registration. The difference is that I think the quality of the interchange will go way up.

And with required registration, you could determine from an IP search whether the What really lives in the "ghetto" or in Lodi, NJ....;)

Posted by: roberto at May 30, 2008 10:38 AM in response to Taking the Pulse on Anonymous Commenting

Biff, I'm with you. Most blog sites that have had problems with trolling have instituted a registration requirement, and have more aggressive moderation. (Is that an oxymoron??) Registration protocols can easily be set to exclude spaces and other tricks...

I do find it interesting that on one hand, we all say that kids grow up too fast these days, and on the other hand it's obvious that fewer and fewer people grow up at all.

Posted by: roberto at May 27, 2008 10:56 AM in response to Analyze This: New York Puts Brownstoner on the Couch

Biff, I'm with you. Most blog sites that have had problems with trolling have instituted a registration requirement, and have more aggressive moderation. (Is that an oxymoron??)

I do find it interesting that on one hand, we all say that kids grow up too fast these days, and on the other hand it's obvious that fewer and fewer people grow up at all.

Posted by: roberto at May 27, 2008 10:52 AM in response to Analyze This: New York Puts Brownstoner on the Couch

To Bob Marvin,

Is your e-mail address at earthlink still valid? I'm trying to send you a message, but it keeps bouncing back....

Posted by: roberto at May 20, 2008 5:09 PM in response to House of the Day: 168 Midwood Street

Glad to see this thread has petered out. What an embarrassment.

Posted by: roberto at May 17, 2008 9:04 AM in response to Another Shooting on Grand and Putnam

5:59:

You are quite wrong. I post as Roberto, and as no one else. I'm still not sure how childish commentary about a neighborhood has anything at all to do with a critique of someone's garden.

Posted by: roberto at May 8, 2008 12:25 PM in response to Garden of the Day: PLG Make-Over

4:39 and 4:47:

Your pathology is showing.

Posted by: roberto at May 7, 2008 4:58 PM in response to Garden of the Day: PLG Make-Over

Can anyone explain to me why someone would post about a neighborhood being "craptacular," or "lousy???" This kind of posting behavior is borderline pathological. The number of mental illnesses displayed here every day is astonishing.

Darn nice garden, by the way. Congratulations.

Posted by: roberto at May 7, 2008 4:13 PM in response to Garden of the Day: PLG Make-Over

No, the horizontal glazing is called "channel glass," and the translucent elements are meant to be translucent. The horizontals that appear clear are meant to be clear.

Does a nice job of providing a lot of diffuse natural light without sacrificing privacy, and creates a subtle and beautiful facade pattern...

Posted by: roberto at March 17, 2008 4:18 PM in response to Development Watch: Schermerhorn House Gets Its Skin

I'm not sure a lot of you are getting this: it appears from the photos (and backed up by a search on the previous discussions of this project) that the owner plans on converting the front half (at least) of the lower level into a garage. The Hummer mentioned above will be parked IN the building...

Though it will probably add value (to some - and that's what matters in selling) I'm sad to see this building defiled like this. I'm fairly certain the reduction in depth of the Bay window (to get the clearance) combined with the addition of a garage door will end up being less than sympathetic to the original design, which does appear to be quite good. Proportion and taste, anyone? Anyone?? Oh well.

Posted by: roberto at January 23, 2008 5:08 PM in response to Closing Bell: There Goes the Front Yard

2:06:

You seem to be quite involved with this situation. Explain this: why would non-approved and non-permitted facade work have anything at all to do with emergency repairs to the "main central beam???"

For projects that require Landmarks review, you MUST get their approval before you can get a Building Permit. This is not rocket science, and if the project has a competent architect, the process is rather straightforward. Why so many property owners continue to ignore the very basics of permitting escapes me. In the end, it'll cost you time and money if you don't follow the rules.

Posted by: roberto at December 31, 2007 3:04 PM in response to Streetlevel: Nigerian No Time Soon in Fort Greene

Great post. Thanks for not caving to the "fucktards..." ;)

Posted by: roberto at December 15, 2007 6:01 PM in response to Reality Check

Why are you assuming they're doing something bad? It actually sounds like they are miles ahead of the typical, as they are at least trying to find homes for the stuff, rather than adding it to landfill.

What do you say we wait to see how it turns out before passing judgement? Oops, I forgot: this is a blog...sorry.

Posted by: roberto at December 10, 2007 10:14 AM in response to 303 Park Pl: If You Don't Like Old Houses, Don't Buy One!

Wow, 3:48 and 5:44,

You folks must really have some fine design sense. Guess you need some color on the walls to camouflage the lack of color in your lives.

Looks great, Bedstuy!

Posted by: roberto at November 22, 2007 11:59 AM in response to Lower Level - The Second Coat (and the return of EPH2000)

I'm sorry, 3:24, but I thought this was a privately owned and operated site, not a public forum. "Freedom of speech" would be at the discretion of the site's owner, and clearly this site's owner doesn't have a problem with the ever-expanding percentage of crap filling up the "comments." But I see your point. I do think it is sad that the topic(s) appear to be nothing more than an excuse for some juveniles to act naughty. One can almost hear the twerps giggling after posting their racist rants.

Do you think the sea of slop that gets posted is good for business? I seriously doubt that there is any business at all generated from someone who posts such gems of literacy as, "Put down the crack pipe homeboy. Come to Jesus!"

Then again, what should one expect from the internet?

Posted by: roberto at November 8, 2007 3:36 PM in response to House of the Day: 49 Rutland Road

I'm with you Brenda. I've been "lurking" here for a while, and getting more and more disappointed with the poor netiquette. Too bad B can't put a block on The What's IP address, and keep him (her?) away: nothing is added by the "participation" of that troll. Maybe one ought to have to register to be allowed to post. At least then there would be a way to monitor the bile being spewed...

And just to get back on topic a bit: the house is lovely, and PLG is really a great option for those priced out of PS, PH and Manhattan. Like me...;)

Posted by: roberto at November 8, 2007 3:16 PM in response to House of the Day: 49 Rutland Road