Actually I believe you're incorrect. It was like that before you got there. Brownstoner please remove this evidence to the contrary.

Posted by: funstraw at September 28, 2009 3:15 PM in response to Permit Needed for Door?

It's not awesome, but I do like it much better than Gehrys plan. I always thought Gehry's plan was too claustrophobic. This is a small improvement.

Posted by: funstraw at September 10, 2009 9:27 AM in response to New Barclay's Center Design Revealed

Courtney cocks,

Please keep your billboard out of my yard

Thank you

Posted by: funstraw at September 4, 2009 1:01 PM in response to Adventures in Advertising

NO NO NO!
Your lawyer was working for you that is why they were helpful. You already paid them a lot more money than they deserved. The only gifting that should be in the process is the real estate agent should buy you a housewarming gift. I wish people would stop feeling the need to gift every single person that they deal with. Generally you do not tip people who make more money than you. You tip bellmen, postal workers, letter carriers, etc. etc.. Would you give $5 to your nephew for their birthday? Would they give you $5 for your birthday?

Posted by: funstraw at September 4, 2009 12:58 PM in response to Gift for Great Attorneys?

mine expired, chase was at fault so they extended it and we closed at the deadline of the extension, four months total

Posted by: funstraw at September 1, 2009 4:32 PM in response to How Long to Refinance?

I said it before.
FAKE
FAKE
FAKE
FAKE.
Brooklyn Heights Blog has your number brown.
This is almost as big as that SJP in PS rumor last month. HA.
I will get my celeb gossip news from Brownstoner when I get my Real Estate from People magazine. This is why brownstoner should not post this stuff.

Posted by: funstraw at August 19, 2009 12:15 PM in response to Björk Moving to Brooklyn Heights

Fake:
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/12420

Posted by: funstraw at August 19, 2009 11:07 AM in response to Björk Moving to Brooklyn Heights

Or it's like a mini wheat, frosted on the top

Posted by: funstraw at August 13, 2009 10:37 AM in response to Powerwashus Interruptus at 312 Dean Street

or they are waiting for a scaffolding permit or something like that, i'm guessing

Posted by: funstraw at August 13, 2009 10:36 AM in response to Powerwashus Interruptus at 312 Dean Street

to keep it short:
yes to PC richards and J&R in the slope, BIG NO to SEARS, they will not install gas.

Sears told me they will, but than when they got here they said no, They refunded my install and delivery money and I had to go out and pay someone else to do it, which was hard to find. When I had to replace the washer, PC richard came out and had to uninstall the gas dryer and reinstall it, a lot of extra work, but did not gripe. I heard other good stories and j&R

Posted by: funstraw at August 6, 2009 9:55 AM in response to Washer/Dryer Installation

my brownstoner handle at gmail

Posted by: funstraw at July 17, 2009 11:23 AM in response to Vestibule Tile Repair?

How would I do that? just post it here or....

Posted by: funstraw at July 17, 2009 10:59 AM in response to Vestibule Tile Repair?

How would one get Dylan fans email address?

Posted by: funstraw at July 16, 2009 2:36 PM in response to Vestibule Tile Repair?

I read that speed bumps on narrow streets are actually a hazard and not a help. Some one doesn't see it and if they are doing 40+ they will lose control of their car. Would you want to park on that street? Now put it in front of a school where their are no cars buffering the sidewalks and you have a bunch of kids waiting for a bus, maybe it's covered by snow and someone like daveinBedStuy has already cut down your signs. It's a list of scenarios but you don't even need all of that to fall into place for disaster. You just need one person speeding in front of a school.

Posted by: funstraw at June 3, 2009 11:29 AM in response to Berkeley Bump Bungle?

blast free advertisements for their competitor back at them.

Posted by: funstraw at May 31, 2009 9:52 AM in response to Noisy business

Sorry, I've been busy, I have about 20 in really good condition that you can have. If they are too good you can beat them up. I'm in Park Slope.

email me at my gmail account, screen name same as on brownstoner

Posted by: funstraw at December 12, 2008 5:05 PM in response to I need old bricks

in what condition do you need them? and by when?

Posted by: funstraw at December 10, 2008 10:49 AM in response to I need old bricks

They now have 18 offices. I'm sorry that just really bugged me for some reason.

Posted by: funstraw at December 10, 2008 9:48 AM in response to Fillmore Shutters Two Offices

Ask your carrier, ours was very helpful.

Posted by: funstraw at December 5, 2008 3:32 PM in response to USPS policy on interior mailbox installation

between 6 and 7th it is a wide street, 5th and sixth have slightly deeper yards and much wider sidewalks.

before the depression they were going to make 3rd Street 2 way but then they ran out of money after only doing one block. Since then, 80 years now, there seems to be no need to progress, and considering two years ago they took some driving lanes out of ninth street, I doubt any time in the near future they would revisit that idea.

Posted by: funstraw at December 4, 2008 10:34 AM in response to 392 3rd Street Goes Condo

If you have no fear of ordering produce from freshdirect and clothes online without trying them on first then you might be brave enough to order a tree online.

here is a list of few
http://forestry.about.com/library/reviews/aatp-xtreeonline.htm

We've ordered from the fifth one, Frederick twice before and were very happy. However they are no longer in business

Pros:
more variety of species
generally cheaper
generally free shipping
having it delivered to your door
Fresher tree, generally they are cut and at your house within 3 to 4 days not on a lot for over a week

Cons:
You don't pick it out yourself
you have to cut the stump yourself when you get it, not really that hard but you'd rather not.

Posted by: funstraw at December 3, 2008 8:41 PM in response to Christmas Trees!

"I hate people like this. You know, with foresight, a little money and vast amounts of creativity."

Yeah this is a great line, Could be brownstoner quote of the day!

Posted by: funstraw at December 1, 2008 12:35 PM in response to Brooklyn Modern #4: Green, Industrial Wonderland

Thank you all

I think in my situation DIBS and PHripley are probably targeting the problem best. Shayla, we thought of that but it happens while water is running and the boiler kicks on for hot water. Now I just need to figure out who the best person is to hire for this. Any Recomendations

Posted by: funstraw at November 25, 2008 12:11 PM in response to Hot water out of our cold faucet

Thank you all

I think in my situation DIBS and PHripley are probably targeting the problem best. Shayla, we thought of that but it happens while water is running and the boiler kicks on for hot water. Now I just need to figure out who the best person is to hire for this. Any Recomendations

Posted by: funstraw at November 25, 2008 12:11 PM in response to Hot water out of our cold faucet

It's occurring in the 3 apartments closet to the boiler

Posted by: funstraw at November 25, 2008 9:58 AM in response to Hot water out of our cold faucet

video camera youtube. title Park Slope teens. Sooner or later their parents will find out. otherwise, water hose.

Posted by: funstraw at November 18, 2008 12:41 PM in response to how to deal with noisy tweens!?

I would never trust Sears, their repair or buy anything there ever again. Besides my run in with their incompetence, It is well documented about their loss of quality online in blogs and message boards. Please check http://www.applianceblog.com/mainforums

Posted by: funstraw at November 14, 2008 3:19 PM in response to Appliance repair person

I second that

Posted by: funstraw at November 12, 2008 4:15 PM in response to The Edge Tops Out

I was looking 10 years ago at an open house in a similar building on this block and they wanted $800K and it was 5 separate floor through with a rent roll that was just a bit below the mortgage. I should of hustled for that one. Now you can buy one apartment, albeit in better shape, for $100K less

Posted by: funstraw at November 11, 2008 12:58 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 45 7th Avenue

$5 peak times. If I need to drive into the city once a year to shop at container store and in chelsea $10 is going to hurt for a shopping trip. But honestly trying to build o toll collecting system with a cash lane at any river crossing is going to be a hazard, disaster and nightmare.

Posted by: funstraw at November 10, 2008 11:09 AM in response to East River Bridges May Not Be Free For Long

So no one knows what happened.

The irony.

what's more out of place this article or the discussion that has followed it. Crap I just became as guilty as most of you. Thanks for sucking me in guys.

Posted by: funstraw at November 7, 2008 12:49 PM in response to Borough Hall Attack

I always benefited from those checks and I never liked them. Every time I received them I would say to myself why don't they take all this money and put it into the poorest schools. This is a bonus check for being rich.

I am also for the commuter tax. You want to use our sewage system, our roads and our police force when the sh*t hits the fan then how about paying for it? I'm fine with tourism but people who spend more than 1/3 of their day here over 250 days a year should pay up.

Posted by: funstraw at November 6, 2008 9:53 AM in response to End of the $400 Property Tax Rebate

Breaking: Shooting in Fort Greene

Bad Link

Posted by: funstraw at October 27, 2008 10:23 PM in response to Fulton Shooting, 3:30 p.m.

I agree that Brownstoner should be on the list, Maybe not top ten, but the site, if not Mr B. himself, does help us put it all together.

Posted by: funstraw at October 27, 2008 3:33 PM in response to Top 50: The Final Wrap

on the corner of hoyt.

Brooklyn fare? any connection to anything?

I know Union market was looking in the area. The font looks a little like union market or actually more like urban outfitters.

Posted by: funstraw at October 22, 2008 10:53 AM in response to Supermarket After All for 200 Schermerhorn

Really? because Google maps, Probably might be a little inaccurate only mentions the basin between 6th and 7th Avenue, strangely says only "11th street" between 5th and 6th, unlike other streets which only mention street names between 4th and 5th, and 6th and seventh.

Posted by: funstraw at October 6, 2008 3:29 PM in response to 11th Street Basin

I can't believe I am correcting a billy joel factoid, Bed Sty was not the child hood home Billy Joel

Posted by: funstraw at September 24, 2008 9:36 AM in response to New Bed-Stuy More Like Old Bed-Stuy?

Yes, on tuesdays and thursdays it is alternate side watering regulations so they start a little late.

Posted by: funstraw at July 31, 2008 4:42 PM in response to Closing Bell: Where's The Water?

It'll be in Red Hook and Ikea will have an ad tie in. ad whores.

Posted by: funstraw at July 16, 2008 12:25 PM in response to 'Real World' to Red Hook; No Tears Shed at Belltel?

So go into Ikea and buy something for a dollar, like a desk or a cabinet and then at least you get a cheap ride. Once you're on board just through said purchased item overboard.

Posted by: funstraw at July 16, 2008 9:49 AM in response to No More Free Rides From Ikea?

Yes welcome, to Brooklyn with 2 Boutique hotels. One across the street from a prison and the other in the oil stained parking lot of Pep Boys.

Posted by: funstraw at July 15, 2008 12:36 PM in response to Inside the Nu Hotel

Wasn't hotel Le Blue, or whatever the name, on fourth Avenue, in the pepboys parking lot the first boutique hotel?

Posted by: funstraw at July 14, 2008 11:10 AM in response to Inside the Nu Hotel

They create demand by redefining a crappy product, cellphone/portable music player/beige PC, into something that works intelligently and intuitively for the user and they deliver it well...

...except they are having major activation problems, the mobileme webapps are on and off again and crashing servers and they are frustrating their customers today. It will all be fine by next week(let's hope) but people are childish and can not wait.

Posted by: funstraw at July 11, 2008 10:55 AM in response to Streetlevel: iPhone Mania Not Just for Manhattanites

They create demand by redefining a crappy product, cellphone/portable music player/beige PC, into something that works intelligently and intuitively for the user and they deliver it well...

...except they are having major activation problems, the mobileme webapps are on and off again and crashing servers and they are frustrating their customers today. It will all be fine by next week(let's hope) but people are childish and can not wait.

Posted by: funstraw at July 11, 2008 10:55 AM in response to Streetlevel: iPhone Mania Not Just for Manhattanites

any references?

Posted by: funstraw at May 29, 2008 4:01 PM in response to I need someone to tell me if I can rip down a brick wall

hi ben levin. ironically, i tried to refi directly through Wells at the end of 2008. i called the bank and was told they'd call me back in a couple of days. a couple of days later, a sales manager in queens contacted me. this was one of the least intelligent, least competent people i have ever dealt with. she couldn't even get my name right, calling me "Lisa" on my good faith estimate. she also couldn't explain the closing costs/good faith estimate to me. she didn't seem to have any idea how the most basic numbers/concepts work in a refi (payoff amount, interest charges, timing for last payment under the existing mortgage, etc.), or any idea what was happening with rates in the market. i was also told i would have to pay points for a lock, which didn't happen when i used a mortgage broker. everything was so much more difficult and the process seemed so unnecessarily convoluted that i eventually just gave up (until March when i used a mortgage broker). i think it's funny you're on brownstoner doing damage control for Wells.

Posted by: panamac at September 2, 2009 1:06 PM in response to How Long to Refinance?

We recently refinanced two properties: our primary residence and an investment property. We originally tried to refinance the primary through Chase, the current lender, but they were PAINFULLY SLOW. We simultaneously worked with a broker on the investment, since that's a little tricky. That investment deal closed in 6 weeks!! Chase was still trying to gather paperwork.

Alas, we went with the same broker for the primary residence--he got us a better deal, closed in 4 weeks.

Of course, you may have guessed by now that the investment loan was SOLD BACK TO BofA, and the primary residence loan was SOLD BACK TO CHASE.

Love it... sometimes I think these big banks couldn't find their asses with both hands.

Bottom line, it pays to use a mortgage broker.

Good luck!

Posted by: curiositykilledthecat at September 2, 2009 2:26 PM in response to How Long to Refinance?

funstraw, giving a gift is an emotional decision, not some sort of obligation. OP sounds emotionally grateful. You make me thing of dear old dad, who was fond of buying gifts at the thrift store and wrapping them in used supermarket bags. I would have preferred a heartfelt hug, if he ever could have mustered one up. Joy is for enjoying!

Posted by: altervoce at September 4, 2009 1:41 PM in response to Gift for Great Attorneys?

funstraw - When I moved from the co-op that i was living in, one of the doormen gave me a book of drawings by Rembrandt.

Another idea: make a charitable donation in his/her name. It sort of skirts the eithics issues.

Posted by: quig at September 4, 2009 1:46 PM in response to Gift for Great Attorneys?

why assume they make more than you do?

Posted by: Ringo at September 4, 2009 2:48 PM in response to Gift for Great Attorneys?

funstraw - how is earning an honest living providing a valuable service getting "a lot more money than [the lawyer] deserved"?

A good real estate attorney can save clients time, money and certainly a lot of headaches.

Try closing on your own the next time buy a property. Good luck.

What do you do for work?

I am certain whatever you make, you will still be aksing for a raise at the next opportunity.

Posted by: Lo Kee at September 4, 2009 4:58 PM in response to Gift for Great Attorneys?

Somebody already suggested referrals, so let me second that opinion. I really liked my lawyer (Christine Bell, from Rheem & Bell), so when it came time to write my check, I bumped it up a little so that she got more than the sponsor's attorney. The ~$100 wasn't making or breaking anyone (you know how closings are - the 0s just go flying by), but knowing that I purposely paid her more than the harpy she'd been wrangling with all afternoon made her day.

Posted by: ari at September 4, 2009 6:24 PM in response to Gift for Great Attorneys?

P. S. I just read the part where you said the sponsor's attorney was great too. That's hysterical (especially given my comment about my sponsor's attorney) - shows how much times have changed in the 2+ years since I closed. So, what I did may not work for you. The general guideline for gifts is, I think, the personal touch.

Posted by: ari at September 4, 2009 6:28 PM in response to Gift for Great Attorneys?

"More money than he deserved" Classic nonsense by funstraw. Sometimes I wonder if half of these posters actually have real jobs, or are they just wannabe hipsters posing as; out of work graphic designers. For the record, you shouldn't feel obligated to give your lawyer anything. A nice bottle of wine or a couple of broadway tickets if you're sentimental. As the others have said: Referrals are the best gift.

Posted by: Crownlfc at September 4, 2009 11:46 PM in response to Gift for Great Attorneys?

Hi everyone - OP here. Thanks for the responses. Referrals, of course!

Here is my attorney's name and number. He was fantastic and really made this process go smoothly. I won't go into all the nonsense that transpired waiting for this thing to close, but he stayed on top of this process for 7 months with professionalism, responsiveness and a patience (with my questions as a first-time buyer):

Lawrence Gerson [lgersonesq at aol.com]. I recommend him 100%.

Posted by: intersloper at September 5, 2009 7:54 AM in response to Gift for Great Attorneys?