WillyWanna's Profile
Author's Posts
July 3, 2009
Creating Curb Cuts
I'm looking into building a 1 family residence on a vacant lot and creating a curb cut for a driveway in a non-historic/landmarked nabe. It is NOT a corner lot and is over 100 ft from the corner.
The Dept of City Planning & Zoning has told me I can create a curb cut as long as I build a garage that exits within the building footprint (ala a carriage house). The curb cut would be new as the previous house on this lot did not have one.
Has anyone done this before successfully without hassles from the city? The DCP&Z doesn't provide written guarantees for any info given ... only verbal replies and I want to make sure the info I was provided is accurate.
I've spoken with several architects in beginning my construction process and a few were quite surprised that I was given the ok by the city. Thanks.
June 27, 2009
Modern Modular?
Has anyone had any experience with a modular construction company called Modern Modular?
I am considering building a modular home and found them online. I have heard good things about modular construction but don't know anything about this firm.
I do know my lot is in a fire zone so I cannot build with a wood frame construction.
Any info, suggestions etc anyone might have to share would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Author's Comments
I agree. I think it's bad business all around.
Posted by: WillyWanna at July 3, 2009 7:17 PM in response to Clinton Hill Carriage Houses
The lot width is 25 feet and it's R6A zoning.
Posted by: WillyWanna at July 3, 2009 1:40 PM in response to Creating Curb Cuts
Thx Gemini ... I appreciate the tip about the DOT website. I'll check it out.
Posted by: WillyWanna at July 3, 2009 11:38 AM in response to Creating Curb Cuts
Believe me, it's not a beautiful block! It's a mixed use nabe with one old tenement and several unattractive wood frame vinyl-clad houses and a large school-like building. It's off the beaten path.
I'll be building a much smaller than allowed, single-family home for myself ... a 2-3 story home (depends on the minimum height reqs of the zoning). I'm looking to create a green building, simple in design and designed in a way so as to fit in with the mixed-use area.
Next door to my lot is an old commercial one and half story garage that's used as a residence. There are already 2 curb cuts on the block.
Posted by: WillyWanna at July 3, 2009 9:21 AM in response to Creating Curb Cuts
Not to mention the wonderful noise from idling trucks that sit for hours!
Posted by: WillyWanna at July 1, 2009 9:49 AM in response to Fresh Direct In My Part Of Stuy!
What's wrong with an eco-friendly Brooklyn, eman???? You're against energy efficiency; specially in this day and age?
Posted by: WillyWanna at July 1, 2009 9:46 AM in response to Film crew for Passive House Reno
to "CMU" -- have you ever been hit by a bike? It can be almost as bad as being hit by a car.
I came to the city a few years back and my second week working in midtown, was crossing a one-way street with the light and was hit by a cyclist coming the wrong way. My suit was ruined and I needed stitches on my arm and leg. Trust me, I now look all ways when crossing cause I do not trust cars or cyclists!
Your calling other replies rants shows how short-sighted your view is. There's nothing wrong with the city's efforts to help ease traffic; but the way they have gone about it is dangerous and also short-sighted. Everyone on the streets must be subject to the same traffic laws. Accepting what the city has said in implementing these reduced lanes is ignoring what is the reality.
Why don't you spend an afternoon on any busy corner and watch the reality of reduced traffic and see how much better traffic actually is! Go to the corner of Greenwich and 8th Ave and watch the nightmare of traffic ... motorists, cyclists and pedestrians trying to cross streets and tell everyone here you still applaud what Bloomberg has done.
Posted by: WillyWanna at June 30, 2009 9:14 AM in response to Empire Blvd now has just 1 lane
Responses to Author's Forum Comments
BTW, I think the City has copped out by restricting the changes on Empire to the blocks east of Bedford Ave. Empire between Bedford and Flatbush needs the same and the intersection of Flatbush Ave., Empire Blvd., and Ocean Ave. has been a nightmare as long as I can remember.
Posted by: Bob Marvin at June 30, 2009 9:45 AM in response to Empire Blvd now has just 1 lane
ugh!
totally agreed with Tlocane - this is a traffic nightmare.Enough with bike lanes all over the city! not EVERY avenue and street can be made to accomadate a small transo minority.
CMU - you might be a responsible cyclist, but for the most part many aren't and they ride the wrong way, don't stop for traffic lights, run stop signs when they should slow down and allow pedestrians who are at the corner ready to cross first go.
Posted by: gemini10 at June 30, 2009 11:14 AM in response to Empire Blvd now has just 1 lane
Is there someone keeping stats on the car/bike/ped accident rate?
Posted by: pig three at June 30, 2009 10:31 PM in response to Empire Blvd now has just 1 lane
I have called the police dept on a few occasions asking this exact question. I was told they have very few stats. I asked if there were plans to implement collecting these stats and he basically said he had no idea. I got the distinct feeling he wasn't at all interested.
My building has experienced a lot of cyclist and pedestrian accidents on our south corner ... ped/motorist, ped/cyclist and cyclist/motorist. When we lobbied to get a stop sign on the north corner of our building to help slow down traffic, we had several board members and city politicians study the traffic and increased number of accidents. It took quite a few years to get the additional stop sign; but we continued to experience a lot of accidents.
Cops would sit in patrol cars and ticket cars that ran the stop sign, but never ticketed cyclists that ran the stop sign or ride the wrong way on our one-way streets. I saw a cyclist run the stop sign and turn the wrong way on the one-way street right in front of a parked patrol car and the cops didn't even try to stop the cyclist. I and another neighbor asked the cops why and they said it wasn't an important enough issue for them. The very next week I witnessed an elderly woman hit by a cyclist and sent flying.
I guess until someone gets killed, it will never be important enough!
Posted by: tlocane at July 1, 2009 9:29 AM in response to Empire Blvd now has just 1 lane
With the right planning, there is room on the road for cyclists, motorists and pedestrians. Pedestrians are notorious for jaywalking and cyclists do not often obey the traffic signals but if hit by either, the victim will more than likely survive. Although most motor vehicle drivers do obey the traffic rules, an accidental encounter with one can be lethal which is why enforcement is a priority.
Pedestrians clearly always have the right of way. Both cyclists and motor vehicles have to yield to them and of course should be considerate of each other. It is true that in the past, enforcement of the traffic rules for cyclists was lacking but you will see more of it in the near future.
I have found the one lane situation on Vanderbilt to be quite pleasant and it is my professional opinion that it slows drivers down. I think the same will happen on Empire. The drawback which was mentioned by a previous poster is that emergency service vehicles may be slowed down slightly when responding to an incident.
Posted by: Chosen at July 1, 2009 5:36 PM in response to Empire Blvd now has just 1 lane
Chosen,
What is your profession? Curious because you are providing us with your "professional opinion".
Posted by: pig three at July 1, 2009 10:22 PM in response to Empire Blvd now has just 1 lane
tlocane,
You might have the answer to this one... any idea how many tax dollars were spent creating all these bike lanes?
Posted by: pig three at July 1, 2009 10:26 PM in response to Empire Blvd now has just 1 lane
Chosen,
Never mind... just figured it out.
Posted by: pig three at July 1, 2009 10:33 PM in response to Empire Blvd now has just 1 lane
p 3 ... no I don't know how much the city has spent; but that's a great question.
I read something about the cost and if I recall correctly, it was a high number. I will try and research it and report back if I find the answer.
Posted by: tlocane at July 1, 2009 11:02 PM in response to Empire Blvd now has just 1 lane
I live near Empire and I am very pleased about these changes. Empire is a fairly wide road which sees little traffic, which encourages drivers to speed. That makes it more dangerous for everyone. I am hoping they will do something similar on Rogers Avenue - the speeding is completely out of control, and there have been many dramatic (and in some cases fatal) accidents as a result.
Posted by: geekspice at July 2, 2009 1:43 PM in response to Empire Blvd now has just 1 lane
Actually, the photoshopped photo is what they plan on doing. They are going to change the position of the door on the larger right with the window and replace the window on the left with a door for the smaller unit.
Originally, there was only one door entrance to the entire carriage house.
Posted by: WillyWanna at July 3, 2009 8:11 PM in response to Clinton Hill Carriage Houses