For information and assistance contact your local Community Board, and also call the Landmarks Preservation Commission Public Information Officer - 212-669-7817

Posted by: hakonechloa at July 14, 2008 10:51 PM in response to How Do I Get A Public Hearing ?

This geranium is native to South Africa, and not to the U.S. It is worthwhile to be cautious about planting non-native species which are often destructive to the local ecosystem. There is a good chance that you will find a seasonal specimen in the Brooklyn Botanic Garden's Fragrance Garden. For more information, try the BBG Gardener's Help Line: 718-623-7270. Staff will answer questions by phone from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Tuesday through Friday. Also see the BBG's Gardener's Resource Center: http://www.bbg.org/lib/grc.html

Posted by: hakonechloa at July 16, 2008 12:18 AM in response to mosquito repellent plants (Pelargonium quercefolia?)

I always keep cold bottled water and tea, coffee, sweets and fruits available for work crews, regardless of whether small or large job. I have been blessed with the most amazing, hard working crews who show up on time and work tirelessly even when weather is miserable or adverse. Depending on the crew, the nature of the work, and the duration of the project, I sometimes cook a family-style lunch or, if clear ethnic food preferences, try to stock items the workers will like or buy lunch they'll enjoy--especially if I notice that otherwise lunch is local junk food or skipped entirely. Tips might or might not be given at end of project, depending on duration and difficulty. My appreciation for work well done is clearly communicated to project manager and bosses, who appreciate that I acknowledge the hard work and craftsmanship.

Posted by: hakonechloa at July 16, 2008 12:56 PM in response to Tipping Contractors?

Parks Street Tree request: Street trees planted free-of-charge on sidewalks in front of homes, apartment buildings, and businesses in all five boroughs. To receive a free street tree, fill out and submit form at: http://www.nyc.gov/portal/site/nycgov/menuitem.a57f189830ce7553e333cd5701c789a0/index.jsp?subView=request_street_tree
Also contact the Council on the Environment of New York City, 51 Chambers Street, #228, New York, NY 10007. Tel: 212-788-7900

Posted by: hakonechloa at July 16, 2008 1:06 PM in response to Brooklyn tree nursery

I suggest you contact the Surrogate's Office. They have appraisers they use regarding estate matters. I am not sure whether someone there will give you an appraiser's name, but perhaps that name can be obtained through your attorney.

Posted by: hakonechloa at July 18, 2008 1:37 PM in response to Appraiser

It's important for you as a landlord to understand your obligations. Even so, as a property manager I will tell you that landlords, tenants and yes, property managers too, all bring their issues to the table. For example, you noted the tenant's comment on "lower socio-econonomic status" but seem unaware of your parallel comment about "furniture for a bargain basement price." Those nuances could be irrelevant, except for the reality of how they play out in small building landlord-tenant relationships. By law, vermin control is the absolute responsibility of the landlord, regardless of origin (as if origin could be definitively traced, and as if vacant buildings are not attractive to insects and rodents). For more on this subject, please refer to: http://www.housingnyc.com/html/resources/hmc/hmc.html
Housing Maintenance Code, especially:
ARTICLE 1 -- Obligations of Owner and Tenant: Duty to Repair
ARTICLE 4 -- Extermination and Rodent Eradication

Also see Attorney General's Tenant's Rights Guide (you will find a link on the website above), including:
LANDLORDS' DUTY OF REPAIR
Landlords of buildings with three or more apartments must keep the apartments and the buildings' public areas in "good repair" and clean and free of vermin, garbage or other offensive material. Landlords are required to maintain electrical, plumbing, sanitary, heating, ventilating systems and appliances landlords install, such as refrigerators and stoves in good and safe working order....

Posted by: hakonechloa at August 10, 2008 10:55 PM in response to Extermination Advise

Ridiculous to dismiss firms that are licensed and bonded and with established performance records. Dineen not expert? And which careful expert do you recommend, Mr. Transcend?...er, Sevethavenue...

Posted by: hakonechloa at September 5, 2008 10:05 AM in response to I REALLY need a contractor specializing in FACADE REPAIR

A word of caution on asbestos abatement: The contractor may be licensed, but that doesn't mean they're going to perform the job to spec. Ask them whether their bid guarantees an isolation unit for the job site and proper uniforms and protection for workers, or whether they're hiring inexperienced and unprotected workers from the welfare-to-work rolls, and just vouching a certificate of completion along with their bill.

Posted by: hakonechloa at September 10, 2008 12:44 PM in response to Cost to Remove Asbestos

The NYS Division of Solid & Hazardous Materials regulates transportation and disposal of asbestos. It is NOT okay to expose sanitation workers to asbestos waste, nor to dispose of asbestos-contaminated waste or workclothes in the same manner, or in the same landfill, as household trash.

Department of Environmental Conservation info @: dec.ny.gov/chemical/8791.html

Oldie but goodie NY Times article on household asbestos @: http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950deed91e3ef931a25750c0a96f948260

Asbestos rules and regulations PDF @: nyc.gov/html/dep/html/air_and_noise/asbestos.shtml

Posted by: hakonechloa at September 11, 2008 12:15 AM in response to Cost to Remove Asbestos

Chocolate cake in Bed Stuy...but, why? Try a sublime banana pudding or red velvet cake.

Posted by: hakonechloa at September 12, 2008 5:38 PM in response to Crown Height & Bed Sty - Walking Around

newinhestuy, get a grip. Bringing in a mouse in a handbag? How often does that happen? Once in a millennium? I know several people, including myself who've "trekked in used furniture" sans problems. I mean, you could buy stuff in an antique shop and it may have bugs.

btw, I'm a landlord and in 7 years here we've not had to have exterminators, touch wood. Your experience will vary.

Your tenants may or may not have brought in the critters, but that's both unprovable and irrelevant, and expecting a mea culpa from them (even if they know they did it, doubtful in itself) is too much.

Posted by: cmu at August 11, 2008 3:18 PM in response to Extermination Advise

I've used & liked Park Slope Brownstone - owned by VinRoy Barronette (646 554 4513) - fully licensed. He's done a variety of projects for me & his work is excellent & his crews are careful. Recently he worked on a friend's building & a neighbor wrote to the owner of the building to comment on how good a job he'd done & how careful he was about cleaning up debris. His rates are reasonable too.

Posted by: Arkady at September 5, 2008 11:02 AM in response to I REALLY need a contractor specializing in FACADE REPAIR

You can use H & J Restoration. I am ussing them for my houe @ park place. They are very good and they have all the licenses and insurance. His name is Hossain 917-567-2606. They also certified form the lendmarks. Good luck.

Posted by: devross at September 6, 2008 12:35 AM in response to I REALLY need a contractor specializing in FACADE REPAIR

I'll second @hakonechloa point about worker protection: you have to make your own decision, but you should think really hard about letting some day laborer tear out asbestos in a little dust mask. Asbestoses is a serious condition and while you can justify anything if you really put your mind to it, figure you're giving anyone without a proper mask one "go straight to lung cancer" card with a fine glaze of "no workman's comp; no health insurance" to sweeten the deal.

And no, I wouldn't assume that mister $3000 is going to provide adequate protection or that the $600 contractor won't. I wouldn't assume anything. But I would ask.

Posted by: serpentor at September 10, 2008 1:45 PM in response to Cost to Remove Asbestos

justinm, please do post when you feel comfortable. I have ~2 square feet of asbestos blanket on one heating duct that I would like to be rid of, but would also like to avoid spending a fortune for such a little bit of removal.

Posted by: SoSlope at September 10, 2008 2:34 PM in response to Cost to Remove Asbestos

Assuming the job is done to code per H's posts, plus air monitoring before and after, sealing properly, and so on, and the contractor is a licensed asbestos remover, that doesn't seem like a lot of money. That makes your statement incorrect btw, disposal is the least expensive part of the job. It's setting up the tents, the monitoring, and so on that's really expensive.

SS, I have to say tho, 2sft is a job I would handle myself. You could take adequate precautions to handle that, altho you still have a problem legally disposing of it.

Posted by: denton at September 10, 2008 4:40 PM in response to Cost to Remove Asbestos

I used a guy named Joe Bova who really knows the code & is quite reasonable. 917 697 1853. He has a beeper so that he doesn't have to respond to calls if he's in the middle of something too - 917 457 2291.

Posted by: Arkady at September 10, 2008 5:18 PM in response to Cost to Remove Asbestos

I would consider doing a tiny job like that myself.

Get a good P99 or P100 respirator that fits your face perfectly, a shop vac with a hepa filter and a spray bottle. Keep the asbestos damp, and double-bag it.

When you're done, wet down your area and take up any debris with the shop vac.

Double-bag what's in your shop vac. Throw away your clothes. No sharps in the bags--nothing but the lining.

This should take an afternoon. You shouldn't wind up posing a health problem to anyone. Asbestos is *not* good for you, especially when you repeatedly expose yourself, but it's certainly not kryptonite.

Posted by: vanburenproud at September 10, 2008 10:35 PM in response to Cost to Remove Asbestos

The NYS Division of Solid & Hazardous Materials regulates transportation and disposal of asbestos. It is NOT okay to expose sanitation workers to asbestos waste, nor to dispose of asbestos-contaminated waste or workclothes in the same manner, or in the same landfill, as household trash.

Department of Environmental Conservation info @: dec.ny.gov/chemical/8791.html

Oldie but goodie NY Times article on household asbestos @: http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950deed91e3ef931a25750c0a96f948260

Asbestos rules and regulations PDF @: nyc.gov/html/dep/html/air_and_noise/asbestos.shtml

Posted by: hakonechloa at September 11, 2008 12:15 AM in response to Cost to Remove Asbestos

VBP, were you commenting on the OP's job of 250 feet or SoSlopes? 250 feet, that's a lot to take out without some experience, imo. 2 sft, sounds like a good beginning :-)

I agree with what you say and would add a couple of things. You can get inexpensive Tyvek suits including hats from McMaster that you can wear over your clothes so they don't have to be discarded. Discard the suit instead and get the clothes right into the washer. Also get yourself into the shower immediately to get anything out of your hair.

I'd run an air cleaner with a Hepa filter in the area for 24 hours, then either wash the filter (if washable) or change it.

H, you're right, there's no longer a legal way to dispose of asbestos in the City of New York altho if SOSlope had a way to dispose of it he's legally allowed to remove it. I believe you can remove up to 25 feet on your own.

Posted by: denton at September 11, 2008 6:41 AM in response to Cost to Remove Asbestos