deanc's Profile
- Dean Collins
- 2008
- 2007
- Brooklyn
- Brooklyn Heights
- Co-op
- http://www.collins.net.pr/blog
Author's Posts
September 10, 2007
Glass Door in rear wall
Does anyone have any photos of a rear wall in a brownstone that has been totally opened up with floor to ceiling glass windows/doors?
This is a really common architectural improvent in Australian terrace homes but I'm trying to find a photo of this that has been done in New York.
Has anyone on this list done this? or have any builders/architects they would like to reccomend for this project (at least 8 months away from looking to sign a contract though).
tia,
Dean
concrete basement floors
Hi Fellow Brownstoners, well Ive just bought the garden unit of a 4 unit conversion in Harlem so I guess I'll be posting here a lot in the next few months while we work things out.
Quick question about the basement - at the moment it has just been laid in concrete (I think in Australia we call it a broom finish) so it's usable etc but no surface prepping etc.
I'd like to refloor it in Timber before we move in and will be getting quotes this week but...with closing costs etc that may not happen.
I'm wondering if anyone here has any experience with painting a concrete basement floor?
The plan is if we can get a smooth finish this will do until next year.
We intend to use the basement eventually as a masterbedroom once we have the funds to 'dig out' the rear for an external enterance so would prefer not to spend too much, until then it's just going to be used as an office/rec room.
It feels really dry/tight there at the moment but who knows in winter. The good part is I work from home and run 6 pc's in a computer rack and even in winter normally run the airconditioning in our apartment....so hoping this will take the edge off in winter, if not space heaters and area rugs.
tia,
Dean
August 27, 2007
LNO?
I know my lawyer will come back with an answer in his good time but.... figured I could get a faster answer here.
What does LNO mean?
NUMBER TYPE FILE DATE
LNO 1725 LETTER OF NO OBJECTION 06/15/2007
LNO Use: DENIED 2 FAMILY
LNO Floor: 2 FAMILY
Comments: DOF RECORDS SHOW A4 CLASSIFICATION
TIA,
Dean
Author's Comments
great thanks for your reply - not an issue to us as we only want a 1 family home but i think the broker was being shifty about what it meant (and refused to provide the letter to us as well).
Anyway we finally got to see the building last Monday - lol could have saved everyone the trouble it's a major dump. filler caulking around all the bad workmanship etc toilets and kitchens in the middle of no where etc.
If it was a true brownstone I might have made a lowball offer but it was a brick masonry add on to a row of brownstones that had been rendered so more hassle than it's worth - nice neighbourhood on Macon street though.
thanks anyway.
Dean
Posted by: deanc at August 29, 2007 7:43 AM in response to What is a Letter of No Objection??
thanks all - we decided not to purchase this house but appreciate the feedback.
Posted by: deanc at September 10, 2007 9:31 AM in response to LNO?
yep, most of the time a pair or steel i beams are used.
As we are the garden apartment for the 3 floors above I'm sure it will have to be beefy but changes the whole dynamics of the rear space.
Brownstones are nice but architecture and lifestyles have change a lot in the last 100 years.
Cheers,
Dea'at'collins'dont'net'dot'pr
Posted by: deanc at September 10, 2007 11:00 PM in response to Glass Door in rear wall
...and speaking about sidewalks....does anyone have any knowledge about requirements on matching regular concrete of your neighbours?
I was walking past a place on 127th and (5th?) in harlem and they had a really nice stamped dark grey concrete look which I thought was fantastic.
Or even better the footpath out the front of gracious homes on 3rd and 70th(?) which looks like dark gray pavers.
I would like to do something similar as I think it looks far classier but it would be a change from the neighbours so wondering if their is a 'drab' compliance so ours would have to look the same.
tia,
Dean
Posted by: deanc at September 12, 2007 8:35 AM in response to D.O.T. Expediter
lol - how about buyers who are wanting to enter the markets but think sellers have rocks in their heads and are not taking into account the prevailign slump elsewhere.
Cheers,
Dean
Posted by: deanc at September 12, 2007 8:36 AM in response to Journalist In Need of Help
lol - love how many australians are in New York :)
I thought I'd be the only person letting them know that Caroma is one of the biggest sellers in Australia.
Cheers,
Dean
P.S. for any other Aussies on the list check out www.AussieNYmeetup.net though it's offline for the next few weeks.
Posted by: deanc at September 12, 2007 2:05 PM in response to Caroma toilets?
BTW I went out and bought the magazine yesterday.....only to realise that the photos are also available online.
It wasn't exactly what we were thinking of as we only want to open up the rear wall with glass - this is move of a two sided glass box extension to the rear...but so very jealous anyway :)
http://www.architecturaldigest.com/homes/homes/2007/10/1100architect_slideshow?slide=4
Cheers,
Dean
Posted by: deanc at September 13, 2007 2:10 PM in response to Glass Door in rear wall
thanks, I think if we were going to pay for something we would do wood but we saw this amazing look in a magazine last week where the floors were painted concrete (though polished flat first) and along one wall they had this amazing wall of sandstone......I know sounds weird but with accent lighting looks amazing.
Dean
Posted by: deanc at September 14, 2007 6:43 PM in response to concrete basement floors
Have you tried a stud finder?
although I've never lived in a plaster home, they work a treat and for $10-15 means you always know wher the stud is.
Cheers,
Dean
Posted by: deanc at May 12, 2008 5:40 PM in response to Damn these plaster and lath walls!
Responses to Author's Forum Comments
I would guess denied, though it is a bit cryptic. Also note the comment - the "A" classification at DOF (Dept of Finance) refers to one-family dwellings. (A4 = "City Residences", whatever that means - I think it means its more than 2 stories.)
Posted by: WBer at August 27, 2007 2:50 PM in response to LNO?
I believe that a letter of no objection is what is issued by the dept of buildings with respect to the occupancy of a building that does not have a C of O.
In this case it looks as though the request was for a letter of no objection to the building's use as a 2-fam but that this was rejected by the dept. of buildings based on records contained within the dept. of finance showing an A4 classification. I don't know the details around an A4 classification.
I'm also not an architect, lawyer, code consultant, etc. so I may be talking out of my ass, best to consult with a professional.
Posted by: guest at August 27, 2007 8:49 PM in response to LNO?
thanks all - we decided not to purchase this house but appreciate the feedback.
Posted by: deanc at September 10, 2007 9:31 AM in response to LNO?
We did this - floor to ceiling. Love it, but it's not for everyone. Post your email, and I will send you pictures.
Posted by: guest4 at September 10, 2007 11:01 PM in response to Glass Door in rear wall
I have a friend who did this and it is totally stunning.
Posted by: guest at September 11, 2007 1:24 PM in response to Glass Door in rear wall
What is the newspaper/magazine name as I like to read about it when it comes out.
Posted by: guest at September 12, 2007 2:01 PM in response to Journalist In Need of Help
meant to say "fare", not "fair"...
Posted by: guest at September 12, 2007 3:10 PM in response to Caroma toilets?
"meant to say "fare", not "fair"..."
Advance Australia ...
Posted by: guest at September 12, 2007 4:18 PM in response to Caroma toilets?
people are still buying, Dean. There is not really a slump in NYC.
Posted by: guest at September 12, 2007 10:03 PM in response to Journalist In Need of Help
hmm sorry for being dumb I read both of the links I found and doesn't make sense - does this mean they were rejected for 2 family living or were they allowed 2 family?
I dont have the actual letter - just saw this on property shark.
Dean
Posted by: deanc at August 27, 2007 11:31 AM in response to LNO?