I am totally surprised by the generally negative response of the homeowners on this site. These machines are well designed for a brownstone lifestyle. We've had one for seven years with two kids and tho it has limitations, IT BEATS THE CRAP OUT OF WALKING TO THE LAUNDROMAT. Additionally it's uses FAR LESS WATER and FAR LESS DETERGENT than top loaders --it's clearly more environmentally friendly. And it takes up less than half the space of full sized washer dryer units. Since most homeowners are paying between $650-$900 per sq foot these days, having a combo washer dryer unit saves at least 4 sq ft or $3,600 of precious floor space. On the other hand we can all drive our SUV's to our McMansions and clean our laundry in large capacity side by side washer dryers.

Posted by: lifeofreilly at October 31, 2008 4:26 PM in response to Tenant Wants to Install Own W/D

Dozens of bikers and pedestrians are killed in the city every year. But pedestrians (with Ipods or cellphones) regularly step off the curb without looking and bikers consistently run red lights and ride without helmets. You'd think they'd learn and act more defensively on the streets. I guess pedestrian/biker fatalities are relatively small and people don't take notice of the facts.

It's also a fact that cars are responsible for nearly 40,000 deaths per year nationally. You'd think drivers would learn and drive more responsibly. I guess 40,000 traffic deaths are relatively small and people don't take notice of the facts.

Come to think of it, voters elected George W. Bush to a second term -- I guess people don't take notice of the facts.

We get the streets and the government we deserve.

Posted by: lifeofreilly at October 20, 2008 9:17 PM in response to Park Slope Wants to Go Both Ways (Traffic-wise)

FYI -- IDT reps were cruising the streets of Park Slope today 10/20. BEWARE!

Posted by: lifeofreilly at October 20, 2008 8:29 PM in response to Update on IDT Energy Scam

As the happy parent of two PS107 kids I can report two hard earned facts --

1) The teachers, staff and PTA of 107 have worked hard to earn a good grade. For example, last year the school finally got a library built (the first one for the school in 105 years!).

2) Even in "A" schools the quality of education for your child depends almost entirely on the quality of the teacher in your classroom. It doesn't matter what grade the school gets if your teacher sucks the school sucks.

As far as grades are concerned I think Architerrorist has it pretty much right.

Posted by: lifeofreilly at September 17, 2008 1:56 PM in response to Schools Report Cards Released

OMIGOD! Let's try thanking Celebrate Brooklyn for years of great FREE concerts instead of complaining that they put up fences around the BENEFIT concerts.

Posted by: lifeofreilly at August 13, 2008 10:42 AM in response to Fencing In Bob Dylan

The kitchen is clearly the nicest element. But 715sqft is small and the streets around the Armor/shelter can be creepy at night for a ground floor apartment. I can see why another unit in that building (not on the ground floor) went for $699k. Funny they didn't mention the school across the street -- it's a good one. I guess they figure no one would raise school age children in such a small space. Also, I'm flabbergasted that owners who are inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright would not notice how awful the web photos are. $575k is a more reasonable price for the space.

Posted by: lifeofreilly at August 7, 2008 3:10 PM in response to Condo of the Day: 1405 8th Avenue

It appears you are living in a multi-unit dwelling. If so, then there needs to be 2 means of egress to the roof. A fire escape on the outside (front or rear) AND a common roof access like a steel ladder inside. That ladder must be accessible to all tenants. It sounds like the pull down stairs you mentioned at are not up to code at present. To have private roof access your roof stairs will have to be from inside your unit. Alternate tread stairs do not meet code they are too steep. The only real option in a multi-unit situation is a spiral stair (straight stairs take up a very large footprint in your unit). Installation of a spiral stair means essentially hanging them from the roof joists which requires reinforcing the joists which means ripping open the entire width of the ceiling on the joists that are in question. Plan on living elsewhere for the duration of that work. Seems like you might want to consider having the pull down stairs replaced with a simple steel ladder with nice treads and handrails. That'll run a grand. All the other stair options will run at $50k-$75k depending on how big a bulkhead you build on the roof.

Posted by: lifeofreilly at July 28, 2008 9:57 PM in response to Stairs to Roof Deck

There's construction everywhere (see todays post about road repaving), so the construction issue is pretty much guaranteed to be a hassle no matter where you buy. The Armory is a much more interesting question. Historically it has been a trouble spot -- crack vials, homeless shanties, broken car windows, makeshift sidewalk bathroom. The renovation of the Armory to be used as a recreation center is definitely a move in a positive direction considering its past. And I don't think traffic associated with the building should be an issue, unless school busses idle on the block while picking up and discharging students. The bigger issue in my opinion is the reasonable expectation that large groups of teens will gather for events like track meets and basketball games, and it is unfortunately likely that there will be altercations, some of which will turn violent. It seems like the 14th Street side of the Armory has a good chance of hosting a slashing or stabbing. I would also think that as the economy turns down there might a be a rise in thefts and assaults. It's not a far stretch to imagine a teen being knocked off his bike and having it by stolen by three or four older boys. I can also imagine a few girls slashing another girl because of some perceived insult. Teens are stupid and dangerous. Look at a different block.

Posted by: lifeofreilly at July 24, 2008 9:15 PM in response to 14th Street Btw 7th/8th

we have one in our house but we got a model that vents, yes they do make these that vent as well. the key is the spin at the end which should be a high rpm (and should also be switchable to lower rpms). the high spin speed does a very effective job of wringing most of the water out of clothes and decresing the load on drying. i also find myself air drying certain of our more delicate clothes. one thing to note, spin speeds over 1200 rpm will make lots noise as the machine often shakes.

Posted by: werner at November 2, 2008 10:50 PM in response to Tenant Wants to Install Own W/D