Tankless Water Heaters...Thoughts?

I think there is real reason to careful when registering complaints, as I do believe that there could be access to the database, probably through the DOB or other City / state agency.

Just based on what I've heard and read about here in brooklyn over the last few years, I'd say there's a very good chance that a well-connected developer/contractor/business owner could gain access to the "confidential" anonymous information that a caller gives. There is still corruption within the DOB, so...

Make the complaints from a pay phone, just in case...Also, write a letter and call Bloomberg's office when this type of retaliation occurs. I would not file a complaint with just the brooklyn borough officials, because they may be part of the problem.

go to the top as I think Bloomberg wants to clean up the bad behavior, and probably doesn't know the half of what's going on here...

Posted by: appoggiatura at May 4, 2009 1:30 PM in response to Retaliation for DEP Complaint

450 lbs. is a LOT of weight to place on a fire escape, especially ones that are old, rusty, and attached to 100 year old masonry. If the metal should collapse and damage the building or injure people below, you'll be liable.

also, i think slopenick is right - fire escapes are supposed to be left clear at all times, so the fire department would likely fine you or the owner.

it's a huge risk to take, whether you are the owner or a renter. i wouldn't do it...

Posted by: appoggiatura at May 1, 2009 11:17 AM in response to Water Collection

I thought that heat was only required to be provided until May 1 of each year. Is it actually June 1?

Posted by: appoggiatura at April 28, 2009 1:30 PM in response to Oil Tank Removal

EuroTrip - 5th avenue between 19th and 20th streets. Incredible food, bar, and pricing!

Posted by: appoggiatura at April 13, 2009 2:15 PM in response to Nominate Your Favorite Restaurants

I can't believe anyone would even complain about this new building. It looks good, its not a fedders, and it will replace a trash-filled empty lot sandwiched between two low-income cinderella buildings that look like crap anyway, even though they were gutted only four years ago. (why did they install cheap crappy vinyl siding on those?)

anyway, this is good development, even if it "pushes" code it's not like the building is threatening or abusive in any way.

pick your battles - like maybe the nine storey illegally built "community facility" on 22nd st- THAT is something to get pissed off at, not this.

plus, lots of these houses on 6th ave have the original brick or clapboard siding, plus the original cornices, hidden underneath these ghastly vinyl siding jobs from the 70's and 80's. maybe the owners will start to see the value in removing that stuff and repointing/repainting.

Posted by: appoggiatura at April 10, 2009 4:42 PM in response to Breaking the Rules in Greenwood Heights?

document the noise inside your apartment with a videocam that has a time/date stamp. the judge/jury will need to experience the situation as you do for them to sympathize with you.

when you go upstairs to speak with your neighbor, document that too with the video camera. the judge will not be too impressed with your neighbors screaming things like "fu%k" and "bit@h" through the door, and that will also help your case.

the co-op could probably force the owners to sell their shares if it could be proved that they were a complete nuisance to the quality of life in the building. you should hire an experienced attorney and have them investigate this possibility.

Posted by: appoggiatura at April 2, 2009 4:05 PM in response to Noisy Neigbors

If you are simply replacing a partition wall that was already there, and if that now-missing wall appears on the original stamped plans filed with the DOB, then I think it is ridiculous for your board to ask you to hire an architect to "resubmit" this work.

It would be reasonable for the Board to require that you use licensed contractors, but I don't see the need for the architect unless the wall doesn't appear on the original plans.

Posted by: appoggiatura at April 1, 2009 6:43 AM in response to Do I Need an Architect?

hey bowl of dicks, people like you (insurance fraudsters) are the reason everyone else has to pay higher car insurance premiums here in nyc.

if your car is involved in an accident, and especially if someone else comes after you for injury damages or medical bills caused by your vehicle, don't be surprised if your insurance company finds out that you've been lying about where the car is normally kept.

nothing personal and sorry to be judgmental but i despise people like you because everyone else has to pay more to cover the costs of doing business - thanks to a big percentage of the population that lies and cheats.

Posted by: appoggiatura at March 27, 2009 5:06 PM in response to Ticketed for Double Parking

hmmm, buyer and seller both beware.

If you buy with seller financing, expect a higher interest rate from the seller, and be very careful to ensure you get a clear title. You won't have the expertise of the bank attorneys and title people that they employ. I also don't know how this works in co-op or condo situations, or if it is even allowed for the co-op/condo seller.

The seller needs make sure that the buyer will actually make the payments, and if not, that the buyer will return the home undamaged. Sometimes buyers walk away because they don't care about losing low down payments or refuse to leave, or damage or steal appliances or fixtures - and the foreclosure process can take a long time and cost big bucks...

Posted by: appoggiatura at March 5, 2009 1:35 PM in response to Seller financing

MR,

that's why i used quotes for the word "wrong" - i'm drawing inferences from at least three or four posters who think it should be priced lower because it's south of the prospect expy. whatever...

Posted by: appoggiatura at March 4, 2009 5:26 PM in response to House of the Day: 216 17th Street

the actual park in sunset park is at 40th street and this place is on 17th! they are totally different neighborhoods, but call it whatever you will - the name greenwood heights has been in use since the late 90's...does it really matter?

but what i find amusing is that a bunch of posters are saying it's on the "wrong" side of the expressway, meaning it's inferior to south slope. well, i live in this area and personally find the area south of the expressway (say 17th st. to 23rd street) to be much more desirable than the area between 9th st. and 16th street. crime is almost nonexistent, and people are friendly.

there are some great bars/restaurants on 5th ave. between 17th and 23rd, and many other small businesses - just a great neighborhood overall.

the house is priced ok, although i agree the layouts are bizarro. i'll bet it sells for no less than 1.2 if the structure and mechanicals are ok.

Posted by: appoggiatura at March 4, 2009 4:54 PM in response to House of the Day: 216 17th Street

I'd get out if I could get all my money back, and maybe even if I couldn't get it all back - I hope that isn't too hard to do and sincerely wish you luck doing so.

This brings up something that I hope other posters can chime in on, because I've never understood how this might work: What if a buyer received a mortgage to purchase an apartment in a new development, signed the deal, moved in, and then realized that they were the only purchaser and the developer was going to rent the rest. Is the developer forced to cancel the deal and return the mortgage money to the bank if the buyer wants to get out??? Is there a minimum percentage of units to be sold that needs to be met for the building to be called a condo rather than a rental building?

I'm also wondering how many deals like this will be canceled because of falling appraisals from banks, lost jobs, and people choosing to walk away from security deposits...Definitely not a good time to be buying into new developments, IMO.

Posted by: appoggiatura at March 4, 2009 11:14 AM in response to 20% Sold Condo: In or Out?

Pricing is not only absurd, but offensive...$1,000+ per sf for a new SS condo in this market?

Good luck with that.

Posted by: appoggiatura at March 2, 2009 1:00 PM in response to Checking In On The Iroquois

Pricing is not only absurd, but offensive...$1,000+ per sf for a new SS condo in this market?

Good luck with that.

Posted by: appoggiatura at March 2, 2009 1:00 PM in response to Checking In On The Iroquois

Serpentor,

Without knowing details and all of the factors at play, it's hard to accurately speculate how they got in trouble, but it's likely that, like many recent companies, they were speculating - and overpaid for the building and were hoping for continued real estate price appreciation. Perhaps they financed with a short-term mortgage at a lower rate, and perhaps that loan is now coming due - and maybe they couldn't get a refi loan in this climate.

Just a guess, but according to Bloomberg their debt is 10 million higher than their assets. Not good. I think we'll be seeing more of this, unfortunately.

Posted by: appoggiatura at February 26, 2009 4:10 PM in response to Owners of 133 Water Street Go Belly Up

Serpentor,

Without knowing details and all of the factors at play, it's hard to accurately speculate how they got in trouble, but it's likely that, like many recent companies, they were speculating - and overpaid for the building and were hoping for continued real estate price appreciation. Perhaps they financed with a short-term mortgage at a lower rate, and perhaps that loan is now coming due - and maybe they couldn't get a refi loan in this climate.

Just a guess, but according to Bloomberg their debt is 10 million higher than their assets. Not good. I think we'll be seeing more of this, unfortunately.

Posted by: appoggiatura at February 26, 2009 4:10 PM in response to Owners of 133 Water Street Go Belly Up

Serpentor,

Without knowing details and all of the factors at play, it's hard to accurately speculate how they got in trouble, but it's likely that, like many recent companies, they were speculating - and overpaid for the building and were hoping for continued real estate price appreciation. Perhaps they financed with a short-term mortgage at a lower rate, and perhaps that loan is now coming due - and maybe they couldn't get a refi loan in this climate.

Just a guess, but according to Bloomberg their debt is 10 million higher than their assets. Not good. I think we'll be seeing more of this, unfortunately.

Posted by: appoggiatura at February 26, 2009 4:10 PM in response to Owners of 133 Water Street Go Belly Up

incredible piece of real estate. super sexy and very impressive...but seems way overpriced for what it is, especially with annual taxes of $14,000+

how many other apartments are in this building? anyone know what floor this is on? i would hope it's at the top.

Posted by: appoggiatura at February 25, 2009 1:04 PM in response to Condo of the Day: Montauk Club Mega-Spread

order of priority:

1. Fix all leaks, fix roof if needed, get basement dry, remove any mold if present

2. Fix electrical and plumbing, hvac if necessary

3. Replace facade

4. interior Cosmetics last

Posted by: appoggiatura at February 25, 2009 11:06 AM in response to Renovation Priority?

order of priority:

1. Fix all leaks, fix roof if needed, get basement dry, remove any mold if present

2. Fix electrical and plumbing, hvac if necessary

3. Replace facade

4. interior Cosmetics last

Posted by: appoggiatura at February 25, 2009 11:06 AM in response to Renovation Priority?

Think of it this way:

You're eventually going to buy a house. If you make a good choice when you purchase, you will live there happily for some time and hopefully, when it's time to sell (maybe 7 years or more down the line) you will make a profit on the sale.

Now, let's say you find another place three months from now, pay another $850 for an inspection and it turns out that only minor corrections/maintenance are needed, so you buy it. You've now spent $1700 on inspections but you got a place that's mostly trouble-free and surprise-free, and you'll almost certainly have to spend less on that house than the one above. Or at least you know what you are up against, so that you can budget accordingly. That $1700 will be way less than what you'd likely pay to fix a place you didn't bother to get inspected. And when you sell, you'll likely get that $1700 back and then some.

So my advice is, no matter what, don't skip the inspection for any potential purchase! Think of it as a necessary nuisance and part of the overall cost of buying a house or a building. Also, learn more about what to look for yourself - there are scores of books available and sites online that will help you eliminate houses with obvious major problems that don't require an expert to steer you away. Good luck!

Posted by: appoggiatura at February 23, 2009 2:52 PM in response to Real Estate Agents Ethics

Think of it this way:

You're eventually going to buy a house. If you make a good choice when you purchase, you will live there happily for some time and hopefully, when it's time to sell (maybe 7 years or more down the line) you will make a profit on the sale.

Now, let's say you find another place three months from now, pay another $850 for an inspection and it turns out that only minor corrections/maintenance are needed, so you buy it. You've now spent $1700 on inspections but you got a place that's mostly trouble-free and surprise-free, and you'll almost certainly have to spend less on that house than the one above. Or at least you know what you are up against, so that you can budget accordingly. That $1700 will be way less than what you'd likely pay to fix a place you didn't bother to get inspected. And when you sell, you'll likely get that $1700 back and then some.

So my advice is, no matter what, don't skip the inspection for any potential purchase! Think of it as a necessary nuisance and part of the overall cost of buying a house or a building. Also, learn more about what to look for yourself - there are scores of books available and sites online that will help you eliminate houses with obvious major problems that don't require an expert to steer you away. Good luck!

Posted by: appoggiatura at February 23, 2009 2:52 PM in response to Real Estate Agents Ethics

Think of it this way:

You're eventually going to buy a house. If you make a good choice when you purchase, you will live there happily for some time and hopefully, when it's time to sell (maybe 7 years or more down the line) you will make a profit on the sale.

Now, let's say you find another place three months from now, pay another $850 for an inspection and it turns out that only minor corrections/maintenance are needed, so you buy it. You've now spent $1700 on inspections but you got a place that's mostly trouble-free and surprise-free, and you'll almost certainly have to spend less on that house than the one above. Or at least you know what you are up against, so that you can budget accordingly. That $1700 will be way less than what you'd likely pay to fix a place you didn't bother to get inspected. And when you sell, you'll likely get that $1700 back and then some.

So my advice is, no matter what, don't skip the inspection for any potential purchase! Think of it as a necessary nuisance and part of the overall cost of buying a house or a building. Also, learn more about what to look for yourself - there are scores of books available and sites online that will help you eliminate houses with obvious major problems that don't require an expert to steer you away. Good luck!

Posted by: appoggiatura at February 23, 2009 2:52 PM in response to Real Estate Agents Ethics

Think of it this way:

You're eventually going to buy a house. If you make a good choice when you purchase, you will live there happily for some time and hopefully, when it's time to sell (maybe 7 years or more down the line) you will make a profit on the sale.

Now, let's say you find another place three months from now, pay another $850 for an inspection and it turns out that only minor corrections/maintenance are needed, so you buy it. You've now spent $1700 on inspections but you got a place that's mostly trouble-free and surprise-free, and you'll almost certainly have to spend less on that house than the one above. Or at least you know what you are up against, so that you can budget accordingly. That $1700 will be way less than what you'd likely pay to fix a place you didn't bother to get inspected. And when you sell, you'll likely get that $1700 back and then some.

So my advice is, no matter what, don't skip the inspection for any potential purchase! Think of it as a necessary nuisance and part of the overall cost of buying a house or a building. Also, learn more about what to look for yourself - there are scores of books available and sites online that will help you eliminate houses with obvious major problems that don't require an expert to steer you away. Good luck!

Posted by: appoggiatura at February 23, 2009 2:52 PM in response to Real Estate Agents Ethics

If there is only one agent involved (1. he represents the seller and 2. you have been dealing with him without using an agent of your own) then yes, he is acting as a dual agent, despite what slopefarm says. Sounds like he disclosed this to you, which I think is required by law.

But the funny thing is that even when there are two agents involved, they BOTH work in the interest of the seller as well, neither of them for the buyer. The exception is if you as a potential homebuyer have retained a buyer's agent, in which you case you usually pay a flat fee for the work involved until a deal gets done. Very few 1st time buyers understand this, it seems.

Anyway, I would have burned rubber by now, and I would have laughed at the request to turn over the inspection report to another potential buyer. That's incredibly unprofessional and was likely done to get you "worried" about another buyer getting your place. Why are you in a hurry now anyway? Prices are only going in one direction these days...It might just be the best $850 you ever spent...

Posted by: appoggiatura at February 23, 2009 1:42 PM in response to Real Estate Agents Ethics

Please have a lawyer of your choosing review the plan and paperwork. Do not use a lawyer suggested by the agent, or one who might be associated with the sponsor of the co-op, as that would be a conflict of interest.

btw, most offering plans are lengthy, and it is your responsibility to read it carefully, cover to cover. Ultimately, you as the purchaser are responsible for the due diligence, not the attorney. You should ask lots of questions and try to meet other owners to get a sense of the building, the management, the Board and the other residents.

Posted by: appoggiatura at February 17, 2009 9:57 AM in response to First Co-op Purchase. 300 pages?

Please have a lawyer of your choosing review the plan and paperwork. Do not use a lawyer suggested by the agent, or one who might be associated with the sponsor of the co-op, as that would be a conflict of interest.

btw, most offering plans are lengthy, and it is your responsibility to read it carefully, cover to cover. Ultimately, you as the purchaser are responsible for the due diligence, not the attorney. You should ask lots of questions and try to meet other owners to get a sense of the building, the management, the Board and the other residents.

Posted by: appoggiatura at February 17, 2009 9:57 AM in response to First Co-op Purchase. 300 pages?

The way I'm interpreting what you are stating is this: That you may offer some potential purchasers a mortgage contingency but not others. If this is what you are thinking of doing I think it's unfair and maybe even an unethical kind of thing to do, because I think all purchaser's transactions should be handled in a consistent way when it comes to financing options. I have also always had an aversion to working with "preferred" mortgage brokers or banks. Why? Because I want an independent, 3rd party opinion as to the real value of the property. That's why I always tell friends that they should never pay all cash for a property, even if they can. Obtaining a mortgage is like getting a second opinion from another doctor.

The market in 2004 was pretty damn hot in Brooklyn but I didn't see any "no contingency" offerings then...

Posted by: appoggiatura at February 12, 2009 5:10 PM in response to Inside Third & Bond: Week 71

Just rename it

SWEET LEGAL ACTION

or

SWEET HOPE ALE-ABAMA

You guys do really brew the best beer in the world!

Posted by: appoggiatura at February 12, 2009 4:33 PM in response to The Feds Ordered Sixpoint to Shut Down 'Hop Obama'

Sounds like you don't have enough branch circuits.

A house wired correctly will have dedicated 20amp circuits for the fridge, dishwasher, and garbage disposer (if you have one). Then there are usually 2 separate 20amp circuits just for the kitchen counter appliances you plug in. So right there, for the kitchen alone, you should have 4-5 separate, dedicated 20amp branch circuits. If you have an electric stove that would require its own 240v circuit...

A bathroom should have its own circuit as well.

And one other thing, all receptacles near water - in your kitchen, bathrooms, garage, and outdoors should always be outfitted with GFCI outlets. (Ground fault circuit interrupters) These devices detect minute changes in voltage and shut down quickly. An example would be if you dropped your hair dryer in the toilet. A GFCI will trip the breaker immediately which means you are less likely to be seriously electrocuted.

You can find out which circuit breakers control the branch circuits by plugging a radio into every outlet in your house, turn it up loud, and start flipping breakers til its stops. Make a chart and post it inside the service panel. Repeat for every outlet and light receptacle in your house.

Posted by: appoggiatura at February 12, 2009 7:27 AM in response to Electrical Conundrum

I think it's terrible advice to tell this homeowner he/she can do this work themselves.

First of all, how can anyone venture a guess to how much this will cost when we have no idea what it is you plan to do with the new circuits? How far away from the box are they going? How many devices, i.e.switches, fixtures, outlets, will be installed on the new circuits and what are they for? What are the conditions for routing that the electrician will encounter? No one can know anything without a personal inspection.

The point of the breakers is to cut the juice if loads exceed capacity, which otherwise can melt wires and start fires. The breakers also cut the juice if there is a ground fault or a short circuit, which can happen at any point in the downstream electrical path, due to an infinite number of circumstances.

That means you will have the main panel cover off, and you will be routing the individual wire strands from the BX cable [You will use BX and not Romex, I certainly hope.] to the termination posts inside the breaker box. Even if you kill the main breakers there is high voltage and extremely high amperage present where the electrical service comes in to the box. Have you ever done this before? It's nothing to be casual about - even for a pro electrician, when routing wires inside the panel.

It's almost a surefire guarantee that a homeowner/handyman will not do the installation to code, if they don't first electrocute themselves in the process.

Posted by: appoggiatura at February 11, 2009 2:11 PM in response to Electrical Conundrum

Romex is not allowed under nyc electrical code, so even if it's not a hazard, the fact that its there means someone other than a pro did the work. Even an unlicensed electrician would have used BX.

I'd hire a licensed electrician to inspect the whole system. That way you can be assured that there is no safety/fire hazard issue.

Posted by: appoggiatura at February 3, 2009 5:43 PM in response to NEC, Right or Wrong

Romex is not allowed under nyc electrical code, so even if it's not a hazard, the fact that its there means someone other than a pro did the work. Even an unlicensed electrician would have used BX.

I'd hire a licensed electrician to inspect the whole system. That way you can be assured that there is no safety/fire hazard issue.

Posted by: appoggiatura at February 3, 2009 5:43 PM in response to NEC, Right or Wrong

Benson,

So what's the big deal? If you like this place and can make a great deal but it turns out you can't get a mortgage you move on to something else.

What I like about these are the location - Sunset Park is beautiful and will likely become a very desirable neighborhood. They're right on the park, the value is good, the subways are close. And those N and D trains are only 2 stops from manhattan. I would consider these ahead of the new stuff on 4th avenue in the slope, but that's just me.

What I don't like is that this conversion will probably remain under the control of the sponsor for a long time...(and there will also be more renters than owners for a long time.)

Posted by: appoggiatura at February 2, 2009 4:24 PM in response to Checking In On One Sunset Park

Benson,

So what's the big deal? If you like this place and can make a great deal but it turns out you can't get a mortgage you move on to something else.

What I like about these are the location - Sunset Park is beautiful and will likely become a very desirable neighborhood. They're right on the park, the value is good, the subways are close. And those N and D trains are only 2 stops from manhattan. I would consider these ahead of the new stuff on 4th avenue in the slope, but that's just me.

What I don't like is that this conversion will probably remain under the control of the sponsor for a long time...(and there will also be more renters than owners for a long time.)

Posted by: appoggiatura at February 2, 2009 4:24 PM in response to Checking In On One Sunset Park

Benson,

So what's the big deal? If you like this place and can make a great deal but it turns out you can't get a mortgage you move on to something else.

What I like about these are the location - Sunset Park is beautiful and will likely become a very desirable neighborhood. They're right on the park, the value is good, the subways are close. And those N and D trains are only 2 stops from manhattan. I would consider these ahead of the new stuff on 4th avenue in the slope, but that's just me.

What I don't like is that this conversion will probably remain under the control of the sponsor for a long time...(and there will also be more renters than owners for a long time.)

Posted by: appoggiatura at February 2, 2009 4:24 PM in response to Checking In On One Sunset Park

For the novice, a good comparison to understanding how a whole house sewer trap works is to look at the toilet. They both work the same way, by using water in the "trap" to prevent gases from rising through the toilet or waste lines. If your toilet didn't always have water sitting in the bowl your bathroom and house would soon be uninhabitable, and you might get methane poisoning as well. So just think about what would happen if you removed the water from the trap for the main sewer line of the house.

Anyone who recommends removing the whole house sewer trap is a complete moron - Don't do it.

Posted by: appoggiatura at February 2, 2009 1:17 PM in response to Eliminate whole house trap?

For the novice, a good comparison to understanding how a whole house sewer trap works is to look at the toilet. They both work the same way, by using water in the "trap" to prevent gases from rising through the toilet or waste lines. If your toilet didn't always have water sitting in the bowl your bathroom and house would soon be uninhabitable, and you might get methane poisoning as well. So just think about what would happen if you removed the water from the trap for the main sewer line of the house.

Anyone who recommends removing the whole house sewer trap is a complete moron - Don't do it.

Posted by: appoggiatura at February 2, 2009 1:17 PM in response to Eliminate whole house trap?

Location can't be beat on this one. But I agree the price and especially the maintenance are high.

Posted by: appoggiatura at February 2, 2009 12:54 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 135 Prospect Park West, #44B

I just looked at the One Sunset Park website. You can finance these with either 10 or 20% down.

Posted by: appoggiatura at February 2, 2009 12:40 PM in response to Checking In On One Sunset Park

Definitely some misinformation being spread around this thread...the apartments featured yesterday in the Times are on 41st street. Those require an all-cash purchase, and are priced so low as to make me wonder what's going on with the building...

But the listings for these units on 44th say there are "intelligent financing options" available, and they are much more expensive. I wouldn't make assumptions just because an online mortgage calculator doesn't work.

Posted by: appoggiatura at February 2, 2009 12:35 PM in response to Checking In On One Sunset Park

Definitely some misinformation being spread around this thread...the apartments featured yesterday in the Times are on 41st street. Those require an all-cash purchase, and are priced so low as to make me wonder what's going on with the building...

But the listings for these units on 44th say there are "intelligent financing options" available, and they are much more expensive. I wouldn't make assumptions just because an online mortgage calculator doesn't work.

Posted by: appoggiatura at February 2, 2009 12:35 PM in response to Checking In On One Sunset Park

I wouldn't worry - looks like seasonal humidity changes, contracting the wood in the winter (removing moisture due to heat in the apartment, which really drys out wood.)

I'll bet the wood cracks disappear, probably by late june when the brooklyn weather gets humid again.

the floors look great, by the way. i wouldn't do anything.

Posted by: appoggiatura at January 27, 2009 8:27 PM in response to Floor wood splitting

I wouldn't worry - looks like seasonal humidity changes, contracting the wood in the winter (removing moisture due to heat in the apartment, which really drys out wood.)

I'll bet the wood cracks disappear, probably by late june when the brooklyn weather gets humid again.

the floors look great, by the way. i wouldn't do anything.

Posted by: appoggiatura at January 27, 2009 8:27 PM in response to Floor wood splitting

Sounds like June 30 would be a good date to wait for; january/february is absolutely the worst time of year to try and sell a home, even in boom years, and no one wants to inherit tenants.

hold off if you can, and if you plan to sell on July 1, then notify the tenants at least two months in advance (3 would be even more appreciated.)

marketing a home that has a rental is always better when empty, freshly painted, repaired, etc.

Posted by: appoggiatura at January 13, 2009 11:56 AM in response to Telling Tenants We're Selling?

I don't know why you don't build a small level platform on the roof of the shed and put the barrel there. You just have to divert the drain pipe over to that area. Spread the weight out a bit if you're worried about it.
P.S. That much weight is not an issue on the fire escape. Any fire escape is capable of supporting more than that by a long shot. Furthermore a fire escape that is properly maintained will suffer no loss of strength no matter how old it is.
Also, no fines are levied for crap on fire escapes. A violation would be issued that the crap be removed "forthwith". Meaning in 24 hours.

Posted by: modsquad at May 2, 2009 7:24 PM in response to Water Collection

Don't put it on the fire escape. Waste of time. The city takes fire safety very seriously. You'll have to dismantle it eventually, either when the city finds out or when your insurance finds out. Or when someone is trying to escape a fire and it turns out that the fire escape can't take the weight of a person and a full tank and the whole thing collapses. Or when someone tries to go have a smoke on the fire escape, same scenario. I could go on and on with scenarios, but the point is, you'll be forced to take it down so it is a big waste of time.

In our garden, we have our tank on a ~3ft high platform, which is plenty of water pressure:
http://www.cenyc.org/openspace/rainwater/system/greene

We wanted to put ours higher (it *does* make a difference) but couldn't do it structurally on our budget. It turns out that a full tank (ours is obviously a lot bigger than yours would be) provides great water pressure.

Posted by: serpentor at May 3, 2009 4:54 PM in response to Water Collection

There are a lot of central air units in backyards near me & the noise isn't obtrusive. I'd suggest to your neighbor that he have his unit checked before something burns out.

Posted by: Arkady at May 4, 2009 1:32 PM in response to Retaliation for DEP Complaint

@Turtlejam19: What you want is a "sound level meter". You can buy one for less than $50 at Radio Shack. Make sure you set the meter to measure A-weighted decibels or dBA.

Measure the noise with the HVAC unit running, from a point 3' interior of your wide-open window. Also take the same reading when the HVAC unit is off. If the unit is louder than 42 dBA, and is also at least 2-3 dBA louder than the sound level when the HVAC unit is off, the unit is likely in violation and the DEP (if called) would issue a citation on the spot.

For reference, the code section regulating noise from HVAC equipment is NYC Noise Control Code §24-227, "Circulation Devices".

Posted by: tekniskakustik at May 4, 2009 1:45 PM in response to Retaliation for DEP Complaint

Appoqqiatura you are a paraniod, mis-informed person. This story clearly is about the DEP, not the DOB. Regardless, Inspectors are not supposed to reveal the source of a complaint. Most of the time they don't know themselves. If they are divulging the complaintants information, they should be reported.

Posted by: Low_Talker338 at May 4, 2009 5:48 PM in response to Retaliation for DEP Complaint

I have dealt with DEP several times. They are mostly a bunch of wimps/lazies who will try to avoid issuing summons/fines etc unless the noise exceeds the limit consistently with several dbs (at least 5). Keep bugging them.

Posted by: MaplewoodGuy at May 5, 2009 2:45 AM in response to Retaliation for DEP Complaint

Keep bugging the DEP. The complaints are anonymous. They will come measure at your place. The problem with approaching the owner directly is then that they'll know for sure it was you who complained. Get your neighbors involved, too, if you can. I agree that the business should be more careful from the outset about compliance with noise code, rather than putting the burden on residents to complain. If you don't want the DEP to come, you can hire an independent co. to come measure the noise, but I hear it's $$$. Whoever services the unit should have a way to measure the noise to see if the system is in compliance, I would think -- ?? Good luck.

Posted by: meerkatz at May 5, 2009 1:18 PM in response to Retaliation for DEP Complaint

I like being direct and adult and everything, but I don't think it's unsociable to call 311 at all. I think it's often savvy. It's often a good idea to minimize person-to-person conflict near your home. Allowing the police or the DEP to handle your conflicts for you is often an effective de-personalizing tool.

Posted by: vanburenproud at May 5, 2009 5:44 PM in response to Retaliation for DEP Complaint

Just got a double parking ticket myself. Usually cops in the neighborhood are lax about it since it's brooklyn and hard to find parking, but this particular traffic enforcement cop is known to be a d!*k. I'm afraid there's not much we can do. But this site may help cheer you up:
http://jimmyjustice4753.blogspot.com/

Posted by: zero at July 9, 2009 3:33 PM in response to Ticketed for Double Parking

People who say romex is absolutely illegal in NYC are simply unfamiliar with code and are repeating "urban legend code." In very limited applications (some small residential, not just temporary) it is legal. Not that I would use it personally. If you want I will point you to appropriate section of NYC Amendments to NEC (2005)

Posted by: kvolt at November 4, 2009 9:16 AM in response to NEC, Right or Wrong