Yeah, the future seems kinda boring. As long as there's a clock in this one anywhere near the departure board.

Posted by: gigabutz at September 9, 2009 10:11 AM in response to A Peek Inside the Atlantic Terminal Station

Yeah, the best case scenario for the Armory is that the level of homeless traffic stabilizes. They're fighting to keep it from expanding with all of Manhattan's unwanted overflow.

As for condos in the area I'd recommend checking out Hello Living and some of the newer developments up Washington.

Posted by: gigabutz at August 21, 2009 11:04 AM in response to Crown Heights Condo

Great news!

Posted by: gigabutz at July 31, 2009 2:36 PM in response to Streetlevel: The Return of Hot Bird!

This may spell death for the aptly named Los Muertos.

Posted by: gigabutz at July 27, 2009 2:39 PM in response to StreetLevel: Pequena Aiming For Late-August Opening

Very nice people, but really tiny cupcakes.

Posted by: gigabutz at June 25, 2009 3:23 PM in response to StreetLevel: Dean Street Can Eat Cake

Probably the most horrific crimes committed during the fair were those of Dr. H.H. Holmes. There's a great book entitled, "Devil in the White City" that does an wonderful job of recounting the life and crimes of Dr. Holmes with the building of the White City and the many bumps the developers and architects weathered along the way. Also, among the other crimes, mayor Carter Harrison, Sr. was assassinated two days before the fair's closing.

Posted by: gigabutz at June 23, 2009 11:00 AM in response to Walkabout with Montrose: World's Fairs and White Cities

This is from a press release I received recently:

Free Bike Fridays, the tremendously popular free program on Governors Island, begins this Friday, June 5, the Governors Island Preservation and Education Corporation (GIPEC) announced today. Every Friday between June 5 and October 9, visitors can borrow a bike for free, for up to one hour. More than 200 bikes will be available for the program this year. Free Bike Fridays is sponsored by Bike and Roll

Posted by: gigabutz at June 5, 2009 1:58 PM in response to Ferry Service to Governor's Island Starts This Weekend!

That place is just a mess to get through. As for the LIRR component, well let's just say that it's the only train station I can think of that doesn't have a clock anywhere near the arrival/departure board. Simply amazing...

Posted by: gigabutz at May 28, 2009 5:51 PM in response to Development Watch: Atlantic Terminal Station

Sure, the market has something to do with it, but frankly the reason that this store failed is much simpler. It wasn't a very good store. I used to live a few doors down and they didn't have many customers. The clothes were kind of crappy and at some point they started selling flowers. Not fancy arrangements, but bodega-style arrangements. It was just a weird place. I'm amazed it lasted this long.

Posted by: gigabutz at February 13, 2009 11:41 AM in response to Slope's Love=? Closing

This is sad news. My wife and I love this restaurant. Everyone is so nice there. I'm just glad that nobody was hurt.

Posted by: gigabutz at December 29, 2008 1:57 PM in response to Break-In at Kush

No, I think it's 450 for a 2 bedroom. That seems pretty good if it's true.

Posted by: gigabutz at November 10, 2008 11:25 AM in response to Say Hello to More Hello Living

Oops, I mean Robin Banks.

Posted by: gigabutz at November 4, 2008 1:37 PM in response to Who Is Owen Banks?

Maybe Owen Banks is the brother of Robert Banks (AKA Banksy.) Same high contrast blank and white work. I dunno.

Posted by: gigabutz at November 4, 2008 1:36 PM in response to Who Is Owen Banks?

I'm not sure that the problem with Urban Outfitters it that it's too hip. I think it's become an indication that the hipster aesthetic has become mainstream and as a result it has become less desirable. Kind of like when you could buy clothes marketed as grunge gear at K-Mart. Even those who are still committed to the hipster look tend to seek out other less mainstream stores in an effort to feel that their look is somehow more authentic. There's nothing wrong with that, we've all done it and it usually benefits small businesses. I agree with BC that it really is out of place on Atlantic.

Posted by: gigabutz at October 17, 2008 11:49 AM in response to Commercial Klutch: October Edition

I assume this is a good time if you're looking to have some work done on your home. I wonder if the bidding process for jobs has reached a hyper-competitive level yet. Does anyone have first-hand knowledge of this?

Posted by: gigabutz at October 17, 2008 11:36 AM in response to Housing Starts Plummet

I think the stretch of Pacific Street between Grand and Classon in Prospect Heights would work well. The block is essentially chop shops and vacant industrial lots and it's on the doorstep of "Eli Karp's mini-city" Hello Living development. It's an area that was not part of the Prospect Heights landmarking initiative and it would be great to have something cool end up there instead of more condos. It might also help to promote more foot traffic on that stretch of Atlantic and help fledgling businesses like Frank White and the new fruit and vegetable store there.

Posted by: gigabutz at August 6, 2008 10:39 AM in response to Where Should the Brooklyn Brewery Set Up Shop?

It would be my pleasure, brooklyndoug.

MONTH, READING, CHANGE FROM PEAK, YOY

Jul-97 82.32 13.87% 2.94%
Aug-97 82.72 14.43% 3.00%
Sep-97 82.80 14.54% 2.92%
Oct-97 82.84 14.59% 3.10%
Nov-97 82.94 14.73% 3.65%
Dec-97 83.11 14.97% 3.85%
Jan-98 83.36 15.31% 4.10%
Feb-98 83.85 15.99% 4.71%
Mar-98 84.28 16.59% 5.39%
Apr-98 84.76 17.25% 5.91%
May-98 85.52 18.30% 6.20%
Jun-98 86.58 19.77% 6.19%
Jul-98 87.70 21.32% 6.54%
Aug-98 88.48 22.40% 6.96%
Sep-98 89.04 23.17% 7.54%
Oct-98 89.31 23.54% 7.81%
Nov-98 89.41 23.68% 7.80%
Dec-98 89.43 23.71% 7.60%
Jan-99 89.49 23.79% 7.35%
Feb-99 89.89 24.35% 7.20%
Mar-99 90.56 25.27% 7.45%
Apr-99 91.59 26.70% 8.06%
May-99 92.49 27.94% 8.15%
Jun-99 94.07 30.13% 8.65%
Jul-99 95.47 32.07% 8.86%
Aug-99 96.88 34.02% 9.49%
Sep-99 97.67 35.11% 9.69%
Oct-99 98.24 35.90% 10.00%
Nov-99 98.59 36.38% 10.27%
Dec-99 99.28 37.34% 11.01%
Jan-00 100.00 38.33% 11.74%
Feb-00 100.54 39.08% 11.85%
Mar-00 101.27 40.09% 11.83%
Apr-00 102.41 41.67% 11.81%
May-00 104.35 44.35% 12.82%
Jun-00 106.00 46.63% 12.68%
Jul-00 107.52 48.73% 12.62%
Aug-00 108.90 50.64% 12.41%
Sep-00 109.76 51.83% 12.38%
Oct-00 110.51 52.87% 12.49%
Nov-00 110.89 53.40% 12.48%
Dec-00 111.87 54.75% 12.68%
Jan-01 112.66 55.84% 12.66%
Feb-01 113.51 57.02% 12.90%
Mar-01 114.48 58.36% 13.04%
Apr-01 115.60 59.91% 12.88%
May-01 116.38 60.99% 11.53%
Jun-01 117.90 63.09% 11.23%
Jul-01 119.66 65.53% 11.29%
Aug-01 121.41 67.95% 11.49%
Sep-01 122.91 70.02% 11.98%
Oct-01 123.86 71.34% 12.08%
Nov-01 124.74 72.55% 12.49%
Dec-01 124.72 72.53% 11.49%
Jan-02 125.19 73.18% 11.12%
Feb-02 125.40 73.47% 10.47%
Mar-02 126.50 74.99% 10.50%
Apr-02 127.93 76.97% 10.67%
May-02 129.89 79.68% 11.61%
Jun-02 132.20 82.87% 12.13%
Jul-02 135.18 87.00% 12.97%
Aug-02 137.74 90.54% 13.45%
Sep-02 139.69 93.24% 13.65%
Oct-02 141.58 95.85% 14.31%
Nov-02 143.29 98.22% 14.87%
Dec-02 145.20 100.86% 16.42%
Jan-03 146.55 102.73% 17.06%
Feb-03 147.30 103.76% 17.46%
Mar-03 148.38 105.26% 17.30%
Apr-03 149.53 106.85% 16.88%
May-03 150.88 108.71% 16.16%
Jun-03 151.86 110.07% 14.87%
Jul-03 153.50 112.34% 13.55%
Aug-03 155.14 114.61% 12.63%
Sep-03 157.10 117.32% 12.46%
Oct-03 158.73 119.57% 12.11%
Nov-03 160.59 122.15% 12.07%
Dec-03 162.31 124.53% 11.78%
Jan-04 163.63 126.35% 11.65%
Feb-04 164.92 128.14% 11.96%
Mar-04 166.61 130.47% 12.29%
Apr-04 168.30 132.81% 12.55%
May-04 170.52 135.88% 13.02%
Jun-04 172.90 139.18% 13.85%
Jul-04 175.74 143.10% 14.49%
Aug-04 177.93 146.13% 14.69%
Sep-04 179.79 148.71% 14.44%
Oct-04 181.90 151.63% 14.60%
Nov-04 183.69 154.10% 14.38%
Dec-04 185.16 156.14% 14.08%
Jan-05 187.19 158.94% 14.40%
Feb-05 189.29 161.85% 14.78%
Mar-05 192.17 165.83% 15.34%
Apr-05 194.10 168.50% 15.33%
May-05 195.96 171.07% 14.92%
Jun-05 197.77 173.58% 14.38%
Jul-05 199.86 176.47% 13.72%
Aug-05 202.33 179.89% 13.71%
Sep-05 204.83 183.34% 13.93%
Oct-05 207.64 187.23% 14.15%
Nov-05 210.30 190.91% 14.49%
Dec-05 212.68 194.20% 14.86%
Jan-06 213.50 195.34% 14.06%
Feb-06 214.47 196.68% 13.30%
Mar-06 214.33 196.49% 11.53%
Apr-06 214.97 197.37% 10.75%
May-06 215.57 198.20% 10.01%
Jun-06 215.83 PEAK
Jul-06 215.25 -0.27% 7.70%
Aug-06 214.34 -0.69% 5.94%
Sep-06 214.09 -0.81% 4.52%
Oct-06 214.29 -0.71% 3.20%
Nov-06 214.24 -0.74% 1.87%
Dec-06 213.79 -0.95% 0.52%
Jan-07 212.78 -1.41% -0.34%
Feb-07 212.52 -1.53% -0.91%
Mar-07 212.40 -1.59% -0.90% [FALSE GLIMMER]
Apr-07 211.62 -1.95% -1.56%
May-07 210.51 -2.46% -2.35%
Jun-07 209.49 -2.94% -2.94%
Jul-07 208.37 -3.46% -3.20%
Aug-07 207.17 -4.01% -3.35%
Sep-07 206.38 -4.38% -3.60%
Oct-07 205.53 -4.77% -4.09%
Nov-07 204.36 -5.31% -4.61%
Dec-07 202.08 -6.37% -5.48%
Jan-08 200.44 -7.13% -5.80%
Feb-08 198.29 -8.13% -6.70%
Mar-08 196.51 -8.95% -7.48%
Apr-08 194.73 -9.78% -7.98%
May-08 194.22 -10.01% -7.74% [FALSE GLIMMER]
Jun-08 194.74 -9.77% -7.04% [FALSE GLIMMER]
Jul-08 193.70 -10.25% -7.04% [FALSE GLIMMER]
Aug-08 193.48 -10.36% -6.61% [FALSE GLIMMER]
Sep-08 191.66 -11.20% -7.13% [BACK TO REALITY]
Oct-08 189.68 -12.12% -7.71%
Nov-08 186.55 -13.57% -8.72%
Dec-08 183.54 -14.96% -9.17%
Jan-09 180.92 -16.17% -9.74%
Feb-09 177.80 -17.62% -10.33%
Mar-09 173.32 -19.70% -11.80%
Apr-09 170.48 -21.01% -12.45%
May-09 170.51 -21.00% -12.21% [FALSE GLIMMER?]

There was an upturn in YOY from Apr to May (-12.45% to -12.21%). But there have been multiple such turns previously (FALSE GLIMMER...OF HOPE]. Let's see how long this one sustains itself.

Raw data (new readings every last tuesday of the month) is available in excel format on the Standard and Poor's website under alternative indices. The last two columns were generated by myself. More details available on the website.

***Bid half off peak comps***

Posted by: Brownstones Half Off at August 24, 2009 12:44 PM in response to Crown Heights Condo

lay that chart over real wages from the same time period. I think we'll all collectivelly puke.

Posted by: Springs at August 25, 2009 10:23 AM in response to Crown Heights Condo