My wife and I own this house - along with the bank - and are thrilled to be part of this neighborhood. The house was saved against an all cash offer from a developer and has been substantially restored.

It is now a 2 family home. The top two floors plus front entrance foyer make up one home and a private rear entrance, lower level and most of the parlor floor make up the second apartment.

The lower level features exposed stone facads, brick archways and a wine cellar under the porch. Parlor and 2nd floor room layouts are unchanged, except for 1) the creation of a full bath in part of the parlor floor hallway and 2) the inclusion of an archway between the new 2nd floor kitchen and dining room. Original claw foot tub has been restored and installed in 2nd floor bath. This bathroom also has the only visible stained glass window.

The top floor features 2 lofted ceilings into the attic, 2 skylights and the employement of two fo the four attic knees into the living space for an expanded bathroom and storage.

Budget kept us from restoring a little stained glass portal window which is invisible inside but is visible on the side of the house. Hopefully in the future, it can be made visible again on the inside where it will bring outdoor light to a spot halfway up the main staircase where the stairs turn.

The whole house was retrofitted for central air, a maze-like project that greatly challenged the HVAC contractor. All woodworking was restored and refinished as best as we could.

Total rooms: 22
Bedrooms: 7
Full Baths: 4
Living rooms: 3
Kitchens: 2
Other: 6

If I can attach it, here's a picture of the back.

Finally, its time to relax and enjoy.

Posted by: aramsey at December 2, 2008 2:06 PM in response to Foreclosure of the Week: 979 Park Place

No, not Kent, His name is Ri Min Lin.

Posted by: aramsey at March 31, 2008 5:29 PM in response to Great contractor

LOL. What are you the Brownstoner police? Why can't a person re-post a genuine recommendation? I've gotten our contractor three jobs already and consider him a friend. I'd like to get him more jobs. Respond however you like, but I am pleased with the results. Whoop-di-do, you linked the 2 recommendations together. Who cares. I'm not being sneaky. I figured I'd try a less verbose approach, but I'm glad you linked them because it helps my case. If you are the founder of Brownstoner and I am breaking your policy, please refer me to the policy and I'll gladly not recommend my contractor again. Seems silly, but I'll abide. If you are not one of the founders, I hope I'm the only person you are picking on. If not then get a life.

For anyone looking for a great and well priced GC, let me add to my postings that he has added an English speaking person to his crew, so the language barrier shouldn't be a concern.

Posted by: aramsey at March 6, 2008 11:34 AM in response to Great contractor

Yes, licensed and insured.

Posted by: aramsey at January 21, 2008 12:18 PM in response to We recommend a contractor

Yes, "1:40 pm", that commentator is a nuisance, but I'm glad you see through the BS. I can't fathom that person's mentality and it is not worth my time. You are welcome to see a real project in process with real people working and judge for yourself. I will not comment on him/her again, though I have thought of plenty to say, LOL. It's an interesting world. Quite a surprise, this person bothering to stalk my good effort. I'm glad I didn't give my home address. I look forward to your call and, if you desire, a site-visit.

Posted by: aramsey at January 18, 2008 10:37 PM in response to We recommend a contractor

1) His quote for the reno was $160,000 and the other three contractors that gave quotes were between $270,000 and $320,000.

2) Gift: When it was discovered that our drains under the house had to be replaced, they jack hammered 30% of the 30' x 40' basement, hauled away the concrete, dug out the pipes, replaced them and laid new concrete for only $2000. It was a very large project.

3) Gift: He did a complex shower for us, including steam generator/nozzle/control pad assembly, 4 body jets, 2 diverter valves, to shower heads, specialty seat, concrete, tile pattern all for $1000 labor. It was a maze work of copper piping. This was an add-on.

4) Gift: Free skylight over stairs.

5) Gift: We upgraded from a tub (included in the original quote) to a whirlpool with heater. Much more work, no additional cost.

6) Gift: New locks no cost.

7) Gift: All new outlet wiring on the Parlor floor. Turned out that floor's wiring was older than my grandmother. $500.

8) Gift: Iron bars on 4 basement windows for $550, including materials.

9) Gift: Install 270' of 6' fencing during the winter for $3000 and he provides the concrete. The fence company said the price is unbelievable.

10) Gift: Repoint all the bricks and stones in the basement for $1200. Took his team a week.

The list goes on. Everything is by licensed professionals. Trust me, the bank is paying for the rehab, so they are watching everything.

I really want to hook him up with another reno beginning mid march. He deserves it. Call me at 201 819-4349 (project is in Brooklyn) and you can come meet him and see his work in progress. Andrew

Posted by: aramsey at January 18, 2008 11:38 AM in response to We recommend a contractor

Let me also encourage anyone who wants this contractor for his next large job (after mid-March) might want to come to our site to see his work in progress. Doesn't get better than that. I am trying to return the favor to this contractor and help him line up his next renovation. He has now done two in a row, though he has done every type of job over the last 25 years.

Posted by: aramsey at January 17, 2008 7:43 PM in response to We recommend a contractor

Sorry quest. I just wrote a large detail for you to read. Took too much time - working on many projects - and Brownstoner logged me out. Wasted effot. Too bad. Easier now if you call me.

Posted by: aramsey at January 17, 2008 3:10 PM in response to We recommend a contractor

Let me also encourage anyone who wants this contractor for his next large job (after mid-March) might want to come to our site to see his work in progress. Doesn't get better than that. I am trying to return the favor to this contractor and help him line up his next renovation. He has now done two in a row, though he has done every type of job over the last 25 years.

Posted by: aramsey at January 17, 2008 7:43 PM in response to We recommend a contractor

11:34 you are so right and that does make you wonder about this pair, doesn't it.

Posted by: guest at January 17, 2008 10:12 PM in response to We recommend a contractor

1) His quote for the reno was $160,000 and the other three contractors that gave quotes were between $270,000 and $320,000.

2) Gift: When it was discovered that our drains under the house had to be replaced, they jack hammered 30% of the 30' x 40' basement, hauled away the concrete, dug out the pipes, replaced them and laid new concrete for only $2000. It was a very large project.

3) Gift: He did a complex shower for us, including steam generator/nozzle/control pad assembly, 4 body jets, 2 diverter valves, to shower heads, specialty seat, concrete, tile pattern all for $1000 labor. It was a maze work of copper piping. This was an add-on.

4) Gift: Free skylight over stairs.

5) Gift: We upgraded from a tub (included in the original quote) to a whirlpool with heater. Much more work, no additional cost.

6) Gift: New locks no cost.

7) Gift: All new outlet wiring on the Parlor floor. Turned out that floor's wiring was older than my grandmother. $500.

8) Gift: Iron bars on 4 basement windows for $550, including materials.

9) Gift: Install 270' of 6' fencing during the winter for $3000 and he provides the concrete. The fence company said the price is unbelievable.

10) Gift: Repoint all the bricks and stones in the basement for $1200. Took his team a week.

The list goes on. Everything is by licensed professionals. Trust me, the bank is paying for the rehab, so they are watching everything.

I really want to hook him up with another reno beginning mid march. He deserves it. Call me at 201 819-4349 (project is in Brooklyn) and you can come meet him and see his work in progress. Andrew

Posted by: aramsey at January 18, 2008 11:38 AM in response to We recommend a contractor

This sounds like an ideal situation. I was just telling my wife that I'm hoping to find a recommendation for a contractor from someone I don't know on the internet. Ideally, the contractor doesn't speak English and I have to play charades with him on a constant basis, because boy, do I love parlor games. Maybe we can play Pictionary, too! I hope this contractor will give me many gifts, I really don't care about his work as long as he's cheap. It sounds as if (not when, but if) I have problems or concerns, he'll be right on the job and I won't have to pay the cheapest non-English speaking lawyer to track him down. Please call me at 718-WTF-MORON so I can sign a contract with him ASAP

Posted by: guest at January 18, 2008 11:38 AM in response to We recommend a contractor

Andrew--thanks for the info. I'll call this weekend...despite the nasty/nativist remarks of the others.

Posted by: guest at January 18, 2008 1:40 PM in response to We recommend a contractor

Ask your contractors if they want to install a turkish bath in Istanbul.

Posted by: Ysabelle at January 18, 2008 2:15 PM in response to We recommend a contractor

Yes, "1:40 pm", that commentator is a nuisance, but I'm glad you see through the BS. I can't fathom that person's mentality and it is not worth my time. You are welcome to see a real project in process with real people working and judge for yourself. I will not comment on him/her again, though I have thought of plenty to say, LOL. It's an interesting world. Quite a surprise, this person bothering to stalk my good effort. I'm glad I didn't give my home address. I look forward to your call and, if you desire, a site-visit.

Posted by: aramsey at January 18, 2008 10:37 PM in response to We recommend a contractor

OP, is this person licensed and insured? Was filing done? IMO, sounds like you hired a good handyman with a lot of friends. Licensed and professional tradesman don't provide gifts, especially if their original price was fair, that would be like an attorney representing you for free or a doctor fixing your left hand after you paying to fix your right. I'm not against this approach, but am concerned (now that I own a home) about lawsuits. It only takes one person tripping on your property and your in court. Or it can be that this person doesn't have the professional backing to support your project when something goes wrong. Glad to hear you had success, but sounds like you took a big gamble and there was a huge chance of something going equally wrong.

Posted by: guest at January 19, 2008 9:56 AM in response to We recommend a contractor

"OP, is this person licensed and insured? "

can you read? he said he was.

Posted by: guest at January 20, 2008 12:25 PM in response to We recommend a contractor

12:25..are you referring to the words between the lines,.. no where on this site does it state 'licensed' and 'insured'.

Posted by: guest at January 20, 2008 5:57 PM in response to We recommend a contractor