dibs, I am no longer posting on brownstoner but i do occassionally look at the site and I just wanted to write that your restoration turned out beautifully. congrats.

Posted by: sam at August 14, 2009 1:01 PM in response to DIBS Refinishes His Facade

You just need to wash and bleach all your bedding. Whatever you can't wash or bleach, throw out. Wash or dry clean every bit of clothing before packing it. Throw out old suitcases and items like that. throw out all matresses, boxspings, pillows, and sofas and sofa pillows.
throw out or throughly clean your shoes. After your stuff is in place in the new apartment bomb the new place prior to you and your family moving in and prior to the delivery of the new beds.

Posted by: sam at July 24, 2009 2:08 PM in response to Bed Bugs and Rats

The market is too high. It's broken or perhaps deeply psychotic. In any case it is not responding rationally to the current reality of the country's and the region's moribund economy. But I am begining to realize that the economy has little to do with it. Every realtor and every seller is hoping to snag that 30-something who has just inherited thirty million dollars from grandma and has always wanted to relocate to NYC. And, the funny thing is, that they're out there. And they may not mind buying a house near Flatbush because they have no idea what they're doing.

Posted by: sam at July 14, 2009 2:32 PM in response to House of the Day: 14 Seventh Avenue

cute picture of the eagle eyeing the pidgeon.

Posted by: sam at July 14, 2009 2:11 PM in response to Walkabout with Montrose: The Birds and the Beasts

Biff, I agree, the interior of the house is actually very well done. Beautiful. Only an architect or interior designer who makes a living by gutting historic houses and turning them into white lofts would consider this interior "revolting".

Posted by: sam at July 14, 2009 1:56 PM in response to House of the Day: 14 Seventh Avenue

Right, when a narrow house comes up on some forsaken block near the Gowanus Canal or by the projects in Clinton Hill, you can refer to the 5th Street example and make the case that narrow houses in Brooklyn sell for about 2.2 million.

Posted by: sam at July 14, 2009 1:47 PM in response to Last Week's Biggest Sales

The 5th Street price makes sense. It is a flawless limestone house on the Park block. I know that contrarians say that the difference between one block or two blocks or three blocks from the Park doesn't make a big difference but they are incorrect. The Park block is the park block. Always has been, always will be. That's the location of choice where the houses command astronomical prices. This house is on the Flatbush block, which is not so great. I say it sells for 1.8. The interior is very nice, but as we all know, you can change the decor but you can't change the location.

Posted by: sam at July 14, 2009 1:43 PM in response to House of the Day: 14 Seventh Avenue

This looks like a great new building. If you missed out on the old days when Brooklyn was affordable, this is the only way to go now. A government or church-sponsored project. The free market is broken in Brooklyn. Look at the little hole of a 1-bedroom apt ,on South Oxford Street, that was featured yeasterday. It is a 5th floor walkup, dark, in a firetrap of a building for $400,000(!). That is just wrong. It is broken. The only chance the middle class has is through programs like these. I recommend that if you really really want to set roots in Brooklyn and you don't work at a job with million-dollar end of year bonuses or are about to inherit seveal million dollars, this is the way to go. No striving middle-class person who works hard for a living should put up with the insults of snooty realtors trying to foist off inferior product for astronomical prices. Also, as I tell my younger friends, there is a big Metropolitan Area out there beyond the over-priced and under-served Brooklyn brownstone belt.

Posted by: sam at July 14, 2009 10:24 AM in response to PACC Cuts Ribbon at 566 Gates Avenue

The Ditmas House is the pick of the litter. The Park Slope house is a mausoleum. Too deep and gloomy. Too many rooms. It actually may be too much of a good thing.

Posted by: sam at July 10, 2009 3:14 PM in response to Open House Picks

I think the wild dogs ate the squatters.

Posted by: sam at July 10, 2009 3:11 PM in response to Navy Yard Kicks Off Supermarket RFP Process

tyburg is 100% correct. In Brooklyn, the quarried sandstone used to cover the fronts of thousands of houses was so poor in quality that it started to spall and fall off in chunks almost immediately. Therefore, a hundred plus years later, most of "brownstone Brooklyn" is more accurately "stucco Brooklyn".

Posted by: sam at July 10, 2009 3:05 PM in response to Development Watch: 2 Lefferts Place Gets Windows

People who are bothered by living in relatively close proximity to other people (ie: adjacent rowhouses) should really re-examine their reasons for staying in the city.

Posted by: sam at July 10, 2009 3:00 PM in response to Open House Picks

This site has everyting any developer could dream of. proximity to low-income housing projects, vacant factories, empty lots, collapsing buildings deemed historically significant, Federal and city red tape, and lots and lots of poison ivy.

Posted by: sam at July 10, 2009 1:48 PM in response to Navy Yard Kicks Off Supermarket RFP Process

This puts the car in carbuncle.

Posted by: sam at July 10, 2009 12:58 PM in response to Red Hook Townhouse Project Not Flying Off Shelf

The admirals row parcel is definitely owned by the Federal Government. The Army National Guard has been made the agency in charge (lucky stiffs). They are very interested in unloading it, er, selling it, at market rate, to the City of NY, who will then, in turn, lease it or in someway convey it to the Navy Yard Corporation. Got that? Now, in order to "dispose" of this excess piece of Federal Property, there is a whole complicated bureaucratic process that needs to be undertaken including an environmental study. Part of that study identifies "historic resources". The historic resources part of the study has its own process called the "Section 106 Review". The whole thing is endless as is always the case with the Feds.
The City has first dibs on the property but is not sure it wants it after all if it has to pay to restore two of the buildings on the site identified by the Section 106 study as "significant". It really just wants to get someone to build a supermarkets and extra leasable manufacturing space. So........before the city commits to buying the land it is putting out an RFP to see if there are any developers out there, awash with money and financing, that would be willing to clear the jungle, restore the two houses, build the new buildings, and still make a profit.
I somehow doubt it. My guess is that five years from now, the site will look much the same with the exception that the vegetation will be just that much denser and the old buildings will be even more engulfed by vines and trees.

Posted by: sam at July 10, 2009 12:24 PM in response to Navy Yard Kicks Off Supermarket RFP Process

Hola from Espana?? tsk tsk...where's Gwyneth Paltrow with her nice Castilian accent to correctly say: Saludos de Espana.

Posted by: sam at July 9, 2009 1:54 PM in response to Open Thread

I think this looks like a terrific apartment. I would guess they will do a little better than $525. That den space is nice. I know people in the building, it has a nice staff, and great views.
Why are we down on this building? It is one of the Boro's great Art Deco skyscrapers.

Posted by: sam at July 9, 2009 1:50 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 75 Livingston Street, #7B

An unattractive property, what else to say?

Posted by: sam at July 9, 2009 1:35 PM in response to House of the Day: 180 Adelphi Street

The whole idea of coming to New York is to get away from the video screen for a few hours. 11 year olds don't know what they want to do. Once you take them to look at the dinosaurs and the giant planets they'll get into it.

Posted by: sam at July 9, 2009 1:04 PM in response to Open Thread

Oh, fogot to drop in on the CP zoo (to see the polar bears and penguins) on the way to the model boat pool.
And make that have lunch at the pool not in the pool.

Posted by: sam at July 9, 2009 12:47 PM in response to Open Thread

11 year old?

1) dinosaurs at the American Museum of Natural History
2) Hayden planatarium
3) Apple Store on 59th St.
4) Hot dog lunch in the model boat pool in CP

done!

Posted by: sam at July 9, 2009 12:43 PM in response to Open Thread

Biff: you need to snap bean out of it. Just turn a new leaf.

Posted by: sam at July 9, 2009 12:02 PM in response to Basil Thief on the Loose in Carroll Gardens

What Carroll Gardens needs is a little more razzle-basil.

Posted by: sam at July 9, 2009 11:52 AM in response to Basil Thief on the Loose in Carroll Gardens

a poorly air-brushed bra line? It is the only thing I see now in that ad.

Posted by: sam at July 9, 2009 11:48 AM in response to Open Thread

..does produce a fuller bush.

I'm just not going there.

although it does bring to mind some limericks.

Posted by: sam at July 9, 2009 11:43 AM in response to Basil Thief on the Loose in Carroll Gardens

Dibs, gadar? That would be queer.

-is that a slur?

Posted by: sam at July 9, 2009 11:41 AM in response to Open Thread

but what is really at the root of this problem?

Posted by: sam at July 9, 2009 11:39 AM in response to Basil Thief on the Loose in Carroll Gardens

sage advise from slopefarm.

Posted by: sam at July 9, 2009 11:35 AM in response to Basil Thief on the Loose in Carroll Gardens

Can someone tell me what that mark is on the woman's chest in the American Apparel ad? It looks like a scar from a liver transplant. What is that?

Posted by: sam at July 9, 2009 11:33 AM in response to Open Thread

It could be wascally wabbit!

Posted by: sam at July 9, 2009 11:25 AM in response to Basil Thief on the Loose in Carroll Gardens

was your wife with you when you were exploring Peggy's Cove??

Biff: Don't assk, don't tell.

Posted by: sam at July 9, 2009 11:20 AM in response to Open Thread

That's amazing. I don't know what they are going to do with this. They can barely repair regular stretches of the highway. Maybe we should hire the Chinese to take over this phase of the project. They would probably build some kind of amazing underwater tunel that would connect not only wih the BQE north of DUMBO but also with Governor's Island and New Jersey.

Posted by: sam at July 9, 2009 11:16 AM in response to BQE Rehab Comments Due Later This Month

ditto: really? I have not heard that. A couple of trucks falling off the cantilever would be just the ticket.

Posted by: sam at July 9, 2009 10:51 AM in response to BQE Rehab Comments Due Later This Month

Biff, you didn't have a cameo in "To Catch a Thief"? I thought I recall seeing you, wearing your white dinner jacket, at the roulette wheel near Grace Kelly.

Posted by: sam at July 9, 2009 10:47 AM in response to Open Thread

good luck with that. That stretch of the BQE is an environmental disaster. In san Francisco they have the assistance of earthquakes to help with the quick removal and redesign of antiquated, hideous, elevated highways. Here in Brooklyn we also will need some kind of disaster, like a truck collision or partial collapse, to move things along. We need an emergency. this will never be done in the normal course of business because there are too many contradictory regulations, laws, and mandates -not to mention too much politics and political grandstanding.

Posted by: sam at July 9, 2009 10:38 AM in response to BQE Rehab Comments Due Later This Month

The cost of restoring a brownstone facade, ie: chipping back all the stone and applying three layers of stucco cement, varies depending on the size and complexity of the job. It is anywhere beteen %20,000 to %60,000. or more for a mansion.
Apart from the facade, let me tell you, one roofleak that causes damage to plaster and parquet can set you back the equivalent of a years maintenance charges on a fancy co-op.
A busted pipe? six months. New windows? four years.
And you still have to cover all the other "maintenance" expenses such as taxes, insurance, water and sewer, heating fuel, gas, electric, and of course debt service. In the old days when you could pick up a decrepit house for $380,000 the money required to maintain the property was far more do-able for most of us.

Posted by: sam at July 8, 2009 2:42 PM in response to Aluminum Siding Removal

Biff-style rejoiner:

Gettysburg is pretty strange.

-but it has a good address.

Posted by: sam at July 8, 2009 2:27 PM in response to Open Thread

Gettysburg is pretty strange.

Posted by: sam at July 8, 2009 2:25 PM in response to Open Thread

Unless I'm missing something...

....no comment

Posted by: sam at July 8, 2009 2:22 PM in response to House of the Day: 448 6th Street Revisited

They also have those really charming brick sidewalks in Philly. Love those.

Posted by: sam at July 8, 2009 2:03 PM in response to Open Thread

Nomi, you either got the two mill or you don't. why all the fuss about pictures?

Posted by: sam at July 8, 2009 2:01 PM in response to House of the Day: 448 6th Street Revisited

dave if your double-entendre is that I should limit my exposure here on the OT, I think you are right. I always try.

Posted by: sam at July 8, 2009 1:57 PM in response to Open Thread

I would not worry about the 17 feet. I would worry about the two million one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. There's the problem measure.

Posted by: sam at July 8, 2009 1:54 PM in response to House of the Day: 448 6th Street Revisited

There's no cost in removing the siding. As others have mentioned, that's the least of it. What condition is the brownstone on the adjacent houses? Have they all been stuccoed over? Or is the stone in good shape? -unusual in Brooklyn as the builders generally used the worst grade of material available, the stuff rejected for railroad embankments. On the other hand, it has been protected for years by the siding so maybe it will reappear in prety good condition -but I wouldn't bet on it.
Still, what can you do? You gotta fix it sooner or later. If you can't afford to make the necessary facade repairs you should rethink the idea of buying a building type that requires so much maintenance. A historic brownstone is a high-maintenance date. I chuckle when I read the posts from folks who are appalled at the high maintenance charges of luxury co-ops and think that buying a brownstone will be cheaper. If you annualize the cost that needs to go into the typical rundown Brooklyn brownstone, it would shock many. It shocks me, and I should be used to it by now.

Posted by: sam at July 8, 2009 1:50 PM in response to Aluminum Siding Removal

I don't know about the rest of you but I base all my financial planning decisions on Dave and What's back and forth on the OT. Some days Dave seems strong, other days the What is strong. Today I sense Dave is unusually defensive. This augurs ill. I'm sellin'.

Posted by: sam at July 8, 2009 1:38 PM in response to Open Thread

lechacal, I had never seen them grouped like that with all that heavy fire power in full view. When did that sort of thing start?
They also had three not so friendly looking German Shepherds. I wanted outta there fast.

Posted by: sam at July 8, 2009 12:52 PM in response to Sky Watch Sets Up Shop on Franklin Avenue

entourage has excellent writing. you can never guess what shit will hit what fan next.
I can't get into true blood, too freaky or something, or maybe it's true that only girls like it.

Posted by: sam at July 8, 2009 12:48 PM in response to Open Thread

When is Entourage starting its new season? Those guys make me laugh out loud. They are so lucky and so stupid you gotta love 'em.

Posted by: sam at July 8, 2009 12:41 PM in response to Open Thread

Monday there were four or five storm troopers with big automatic rifles out and in full view at the Bowling Green subway station. Not to make anyone nervous but it was definitely a little freaky.

Posted by: sam at July 8, 2009 12:13 PM in response to Sky Watch Sets Up Shop on Franklin Avenue

Biff, are you in advertising? You write good copy.
..stir the pot, storm brewing, that's good stuff, OK maybe more for children's TV than advertising, but nonetheless.

Posted by: sam at July 8, 2009 12:10 PM in response to Bike Parking Woes Continue

brucef.

you're suggesting a ship's ladder, i believe.

Posted by: stoep2conquer at August 18, 2009 12:41 PM in response to Building a Roof Deck

I don't live in Brooklyn, nor do I own a brownstone, however, I have bluestone sidewalks and just got a quote to do some significant repair, so I thought I'd share the info.

I have a main (parallel to the street) sidewalk that extends about 225 feet (told you I didn't own a brownstone). The walk is made of 4 foot wide stones varying in length from 3 to nearly 6 feet, about 2.5 inches thick.

I need to have 39 linear feet pulled up and replaced due to fracturing. The contractor has old stone slabs they salvaged from sidewalks they had to pull up and replace with concrete and had the good sense to keep the stone. So, the stone cost is less than one might expect for such big slabs - $6.50 per sqft. Their charge for labor is $9.00 per sqft, which includes pulling up the old, preparing the surface, setting the stones and discarding the debris (nominal disposal fee).

$15.50 per sqft "all in" is competive with prices I've seen for setting 1x2 pavers 1 inch thick, so I've got a good deal here, but I think that's primarily due to the material costs for salvaged stones.

I live in Swarthmore PA - a suburb just west of Philly.

Posted by: CDarrell at November 6, 2009 4:03 PM in response to Cost of sidewalk repair?