That's absurd. Being picky and asking questions doesn't mean the client is being difficult. People pay scads of money to get their houses fixed up. It would be insane to hand over fistfuls of money without asking questions and getting specifics about the job. If I ever got the sense I was going to get charged more simply for wanting quality work and transparency then I'd pass on that contractor pronto.

Posted by: herkimer at January 1, 2008 12:05 PM in response to Renovation Question

I'm currently having my entire house rewired by WCK Electric. They're not finished yet, but so far they're doing a really good job.

Posted by: herkimer at January 7, 2008 2:35 PM in response to Electrician Recommendations

Joe Salem of Woodzone stripped some doors for me recently. He also sanded and refinished the floors -- not exactly what you're talking about but he's also slotted to strip and refinish several FP mantels in my house and I'm confident he'll do a great job. He's easy to work with, professional and his prices are good.

Posted by: herkimer at January 8, 2008 12:55 PM in response to wood restoration

you're "anti car" yet you would buy a spot that profits from and essentially promotes their use. I find that strange.

Posted by: herkimer at January 18, 2008 11:53 PM in response to Parking and Points

As a result of the above recommendation I contacted Henry to do some work at my house. We met to discuss the jobs and pricing. I scheduled him to start Monday, but he didn't show up. When I called to find out where he was he said he was changing his quote (one he set himself -- I accepted his pricing and didn't haggle or negotiate). He wasted my time and I would not recommend him. He's unreliable.

Posted by: herkimer at March 19, 2008 1:55 PM in response to Recs for a handy helping hand?

I think it looks nicely conceived and executed, good quality work, etc. Was it expensive?

Posted by: herkimer at March 21, 2008 2:27 PM in response to Great Contractors

can anyone post the cost of their fence project?

Posted by: herkimer at March 30, 2008 4:27 PM in response to Wood Fence contractor

Don't forget Gardell's Garden in Fort Green on S. Portland between Fulton and Lafayette. He does landscaping. There's also the Chelsea Garden Center that opened up last year in Red Hook. They would probably be able to offer up some references if not actual landscaping services.

Posted by: herkimer at April 8, 2008 3:12 PM in response to Gardener/Landscaper needed in Bed-Stuy

hi, I own a 2 family and a 3 family (live in the latter). The houses are identical in size so the 3 family isn't really more to manage, size-wise anyway. There is slightly more to manage with more tenants, but since I bought the 3 fam expressly because it would generate a better income, that's not an issue.

As far as the RE market goes, who the heck has any idea what's going to happen in 5-7 years? In terms of value, I think houses are harder to sell at the 4-family size and up. 3 is still manageable. There are plenty of people out there who specifically want/need the slightly higher income of a multi-family, so I personally wouldn't let that sway your decision one way or another. You'll lose some potential buyers but not that many.

IMO, the major difference has to do with code. A 3 family is MUCH stricter about it (egresses, sprinklers, self-closing doors, etc.) than a 2 family. It's something to consider if you're planning on having work done and filing with the DOB 'cause they'll give you a violation if your nose ain't clean.

Posted by: herkimer at April 9, 2008 4:19 PM in response to Two Family v. Three Family

I recommend Joe Salem of Woodzone who just refinished the floors of an apartment and the hallways of my house, and also made some repairs. The floors turned out beautifully. He gets good recommendations throughout this forum and his prices are very reasonable.

Posted by: herkimer at April 17, 2008 4:02 PM in response to looking for wood floor refinishers

I wonder where you people come from? Worrying about some one jacking your ipod???

A gentrifying interloper (White or Black) HOPES someone would not test them. A real Brooklyn representative WISHES someone would.

Trust me, there's a BIG difference.

Posted by: guest at May 1, 2008 11:05 PM in response to Clinton Hill:Lefferts Place okay to move to?

Actually 11:05, just the opposite is true. The gentrifying hipsters like to think they are cool enough to live in the "edgy" nabes. Those of us who are from several generations of brooklynites know it's idiotic not to recognize danger.

OP: check the brooklynian.com blog for actual accounts of how some break-ins and muggings went down. It's not just ipods being taken at 3am. It's people getting beaten to the ground in the afternoon.

Posted by: guest at May 2, 2008 12:34 AM in response to Clinton Hill:Lefferts Place okay to move to?

My god, what has this board become. People with vested interests in sending renters to one neighborhood over another will actually troll the message boards to influence the tides of gentrification. It's gross.

Posted by: guest at May 2, 2008 8:45 AM in response to Clinton Hill:Lefferts Place okay to move to?

I am a very middle aged woman whose son lives in that last block of Lefferts place closest to Franklin (technically bed sty I think) When he first moved it I was nervous. We live and he grew up an east coast city so it was not just total culture shock. I have just come to love his neighborhood and think it is mostly filled with a mix of people some with money and some without. I think a major fear on this site is of people without bucks. If a neighborhood is artistic poor than it seems it has many fewer negatives than a street that is working (or less) poor. The murders around Christmas were horrible but if you think living a mile away from them really makes you safer then i think you have a serious flaw in your vision of living in a city.

Posted by: guest at May 2, 2008 9:01 AM in response to Clinton Hill:Lefferts Place okay to move to?

Well, I love my neighborhood and (maybe I’m just bias) but my block is my favorite block in my favorite neighborhood. And my neighbors are terrific. Oh- and Outpost is my favorite café hang out in all of Brooklyn.

I’ve been on lefferts for 5 years. Great people. It’s beautiful. A/C is really close. (oh-it’s like an extra two blocks to the Nostrand stop… I do that sometimes because that’s express and 3 stops to the city.

It’s weird… brooklynites never really know how to get from one neighborhood to the other… but… so you know… I go to prospect Park all the time… it’s a 5 minute bike ride and a 15 minute walk… Any of the north prospect heights places on Vanderbilt or Underhill are really close…. As is all of the North slope. So North 5th ave too… that’s also walking distance.

Your also abut a 15 minute walk from Atlantic terminal which I do sometimes on nice days or if I’m going to the upper east.

And if you drive or take cabs Classon Ave is a strait shot to the bridges and Williamsburg… and way way closer then the slope.

I find the services in the immediate area very functional. The Y on Bedford is the best gym I ever joined in Brooklyn. The local 24 hour deli guys are super cool and nice. The best deli café on Atlantic will deliver you a $2 egg and cheese sandwich in about 2.5 minutes. Jesse’s is my favorite nail place… there’s a post office right on fulton which is as terrible as any other branch but not worse. And the MET Super market is really practical and useful.

So I guess it’s about finding a neighborhood that meets your immediate needs and then one that you feel good in. For me… I like the vibe here… I like the influence of pratt… the eccentrics, the diversity… I like the way I still feel like I live in NY… I find my neighbors helpful in over the top ways when needed or necessary… but also respectful of my anonymity and distinctly not petty and controlling and nosey… and that’s my vibe… so that works for me.

Posted by: guest at May 2, 2008 9:16 AM in response to Clinton Hill:Lefferts Place okay to move to?

you people who live in Clinton hill dont get it yet. it aint gonna happen in clinton Hill! you live in the ghetto

Posted by: guest at May 2, 2008 9:26 AM in response to Clinton Hill:Lefferts Place okay to move to?

5:30- will you marry me? Oh yeah… another great amenity in the neighborhood. Our residents have 78% better senses of humor. It’s a fact www.wherefunnypeoplelive.com.

Posted by: guest at May 2, 2008 9:40 AM in response to Clinton Hill:Lefferts Place okay to move to?

To me Clinton Hill feels more Brooklyn and more New York than many other places. It is both urban and suburban, hipster and hip-hop, black and white, priviledged and poor, safe and edgy, trendy and hood. Unlike Park Slope or Carrol Garden, but much like Fort Greene and Prospect Heigths, it is hard to paint the neighborhood with one stroke of the brush because it has many different looks. The common thread to Clinton Hill is its maginificent brownstones, diverse residents, and its true feeling of community.

While Clinton Hill is not Park Slope, it is definitely not the "ghetto." Ghettos rarely have trendy cafes (i.e., Pillows, Frank White, Outpost, Brown Betty Cafe), Zagat highly rated restaurants (i.e., Locanda Vini e Olli, Luz, Chez Lola), fun bars (i.e., Ropes, Mirrors on Grand, Rustik, Reign Lounge) or funky shopping options (i.e., Dope Jams, Karen's Body Beautiful, RePop, Blue Bass Vintage).

The fact that there are so many new establishments and transplants from other parts of the city and country speak volumes to the neighborhood's charm and attraction.

Posted by: guest at May 2, 2008 10:09 AM in response to Clinton Hill:Lefferts Place okay to move to?

Why are all you people insulting Clinton Hill?

With regards to crime, I was born in Brooklyn and have lived on St. James and Lefferts for the past three years. I've never been mugged, shot, harassed, etc. and I'm not the biggest white guy in the neighborhood. Then again, I think you need to use your street smarts. Crime happens all over New York and you just have to be aware of your surroundings. I've been harassed more while living in the East Village than in Brooklyn.

The only real crimes that you hear gentrifiers complaining about is some teenagers trying to steal an iPod. If you make yourself a mark then people are going to take advantage of you. This is nothing new to any neighborhood and while you could certainly argue that you should not have to live that way, as a New Yorker you should. Most likely you spend more time in other neighborhoods than your own and being cautious is always a good idea. There is some crime that happens in the day, but this is true all over the place.

With regards to drug dealers and your assorted thugs in the neighborhood, they really don't bother people unless you give them a reason to (ie making yourself an easy target, have a problem staring at them, etc.). It's pretty common sense though.

With regards to the hotel on Lefferts, it was closed by the police as they were running a prostitution ring out of there so if that does bother you, then you have your reason not to move in there.

The reason I like the neighborhood is that it's a nice reflection of New York City - people of multiple income levels living together in a mostly friendly environment. And there are people who actually live in Brooklyn and look out for trouble. But if you were looking for some safer and more vanilla options then, sure move to Carrol Gardens or Park Slope which is nicer, safer, whiter. But they also possess elements that made me eventually leave the East Village - a bunch of frat boys getting trashed watching football games, too many lame bars, and little respect for anyone who isn't trying to gentrify the neighborhood.

Posted by: guest at May 2, 2008 10:09 AM in response to Clinton Hill:Lefferts Place okay to move to?

Brownstoner, your choice of photo to represent Lefferts Place is misleading ... the shot you have taken is of probably the least attractive corner of the entire three blocks ... why this choice?

In any event, even this scruffy corner displays the great promise of the block ... most of those brownstones have great potential, and will eventually be restored, as other homes on the block have already been

Across from these brownstones between Classon and Franklin is a wonderful pre-Civil War mansion on a double-sized lot that has recently been restored ... it sits beautifully between a cherry tree and a magnolia ... someone thinks that Lefferts Place is worth investing in big time ... voting with their $

I can tell you that all three blocks have very active block associations ... there are many families that have lived in these brownstones for generations ... there is a neighborhood feeling which has been lost in most other parts

Posted by: New Guy at May 2, 2008 11:50 AM in response to Clinton Hill:Lefferts Place okay to move to?