Ditmas place is decent bones; needs a bunch of work. Problem is that the backyard almost fronts CIA, given the angle at which the house sits. Finish the basement, put in a coupla bathrooms and new windows to seal the place from CIA odor and you've got a bargain at the edge of a good 'hood.

Posted by: linkinplace at November 20, 2009 1:34 PM in response to Open House Picks

Clearly they researched the zip codes of their shoppers from other NY locations. And Hasidim love Italian childrens' goods. Take a look at what's for sale in their other places. Italian carriages, clothing, accessories, etc. The wearing natural fiber thing, though? Where'd that come from? Jews can wear polyester.

Posted by: linkinplace at November 20, 2009 11:52 AM in response to Huh? Benetton for Bed Stuy Stretch of Bedford Avenue

We did it with ease through a refi.

Posted by: linkinplace at November 12, 2009 12:26 PM in response to PMI/ FHA Insurance

Been on the block for more than 10 years, having come up from the Slope. Get to know the stoop hangers and you're fine. It's a friendly place, much quieter than St. John's, and plenty of hipsters and strollers have moved in in recent years.

Posted by: linkinplace at November 5, 2009 11:09 AM in response to Lincoln Place Block?

Those balconies in Williamsburg and Boro Park are built for the purpose of putting up a sukkah. You'll notice that they're not directly beneath one another -- the sukkah needs to be open to the stars, so they're staggered so you can see up to the sky (through the branches) in at least part of it. It's a big selling point in Brooklyn to have space for one's own Sukkah.

Posted by: linkinplace at October 12, 2009 9:42 PM in response to Last Day of the Sukkahs

What a brilliant idea for a piece. Hope next year you get to it sooner! And fuller coverage!

Posted by: linkinplace at October 12, 2009 9:39 PM in response to Last Day of the Sukkahs

Sit & Wonder is great. But it's not close enough to Eastern Pkwy. We need something between Eastern Pkwy & Tom's. It's got great foot traffic, especially on weekends with events at the museum & gardens. Take out 2 hairdressers or the mess of who-knows-what on the CH side of Washington between either Lincoln & St. Johns or St. Johns & Sterling and you'll make a fortune.

Posted by: linkinplace at October 6, 2009 1:59 PM in response to Tea Lounge Closing and Unopening

if anyone took me there on a first date, there would be no second. ich.

if he's serious about crown heights, i hope he considers something on washington ave, up by eastern, close to the museum. we need a coffee spot up there.

Posted by: linkinplace at October 6, 2009 11:31 AM in response to Tea Lounge Closing and Unopening

I did this. We had the giftgiving parent as co-borrower on mortgage and co-owner on apartment. We then waited a perdiod of time, refinanced mortgage to eliminate his name and add mine and gifted co-op shares from him to me, getting new certificate all as part of refi process.

Posted by: linkinplace at October 1, 2009 2:08 PM in response to Downpayment as a Gift

yeah, could someone post an educated guess on the cost to paint one of these puppies?

Posted by: linkinplace at September 3, 2009 2:52 PM in response to House of the Day: 790 Rugby Road

OP here. No thanks on Bay Ridge; still not safe for queer families and not close to anything except Staten Island. Our income would safely support a mortgage of around $350k along with all of all of our other commitments, so with roughly $500 in equity we're not quite looking at $1mil houses. Not looking to do a gut reno, either, so something in decent shape is v impt. Still no consensus :-), but thanks for weighing in!

Posted by: linkinplace at August 25, 2009 9:57 AM in response to what to do with all this equity?

You say Gowanus will soon be swimming in hotel rooms. Would be nice if actual swimming were part of the plans... any news on that? New indoor pools coming to the nabe?

Posted by: linkinplace at March 31, 2008 11:17 AM in response to Plan for 3rd Ave Hotel Brings Gowanus Total to 7

Am I the only one who cares that IT HAS A POOL!?

Posted by: linkinplace at December 17, 2007 2:57 PM in response to Condo of the Day: Top of the Oro

It has a POOL!

Posted by: linkinplace at December 17, 2007 1:42 PM in response to Condo of the Day: Top of the Oro

For sure your contractor _could_ get it done in time... ours had 2 bathrooms done in 7 working days each, gutted to studs to completed project, tiles on all walls, new cabinetry, tubs, shower doors, lighting, moving outlets, etc... by day 5 or 6 the bathroom was usable and just needed finishing touches like light fixtures, doorknobs, etc.

Posted by: linkinplace at December 17, 2007 10:20 AM in response to Clinton Hill Bathroom Reno: The Race Is On

Sure will make it hard for any future prospective buyers to get a good mortgage in a place with too high a percentage of renters. Makes the current buyers look like suckers, and they'll have no power with so many sponsor-owned apartments.

$3500 for a family-sized place next appears to be acceptable these days. For god's sake, it's on top of a playground....

Posted by: linkinplace at December 6, 2007 12:18 PM in response to The Novo Going (At Least Partially) Rental?

OMG, Brooklyn Bread "bagels" are like the rolls with holes they pass off as bagels at those ubiquitous carts all around midtown office buildings. Worse, even. Blech.

And what's with all the bagel places opening up in the slope given Atkinsism?

Are(n)a bagels are too sugary.

Posted by: linkinplace at December 5, 2007 3:48 PM in response to StreetLevel: More Bread, Brawn on 5th Avenue

Why isn't anyone using dual-flush toilets?! Hello, green Brooklyn! We used 2 different models in 2 recent gut renos, one Sterling by Kohler (my preference, but only fit one of the bathrooms) and Caroma (Australian - more modern look.)

Posted by: linkinplace at December 5, 2007 12:48 PM in response to Bathroom Reno #10: From Scratch in Bay Ridge

Who is running the facility? Want to get my name on the waiting list.

Posted by: linkinplace at December 5, 2007 11:51 AM in response to Columbia Street Assisted Living Facility Comes Into Focus

Google around for DIY tips on grout and caulking. We too had this issue; the contractor used grout between tub and floor, tub and baseboard, etc, and it's starting to show small cracks just 2 months later. I read somewhere that for surfaces that move slightly (the tiles are on top of cementboard on top of wood, and the other side of the wall are hardwood floors that definitely move), it's best to use something that stretches, like silicone. I'm planning to add a thin layer at the places where the floor moves.

Posted by: linkinplace at December 5, 2007 10:17 AM in response to Caulk/Grout cracking question?

getting a name brand ob-gyn practice on board, some spiffy birthing rooms, and you might stand a chance... lich abandoned their birthing center in fave of the medical model, so there's a niche that could be filled locally, since those wanting a more natural center in a hospital setting now go to SLR all the way on the west side.

Posted by: linkinplace at November 23, 2007 11:54 AM in response to Brooklyn Hospital Banks on Gentrification

"almost anything would be a welcome addition to the food scene on washington"

WHAT FOOD SCENE?

Please, trolls looking for development opps... take a look at the value of the apartments in all the pre-war bldgs lining E Pkwy on both sides of Washington. Look at the value of the co-ops on the side streets. We're here, we're hungry, and we got money to spend.

Now how 'bout something slightly more upscale like Joyce or Cheryl's on Washington within 2 blocks of E Pkwy?

Posted by: linkinplace at November 19, 2007 3:49 PM in response to StreetLevel: New Thai Restaurant for Prospect Hts

Mr. B -- please correct the children's book event at the museum -- it's at the Brooklyn Museum, correct on the header and the link -- not at the children's museum as stated in the text. That one's closed for reno!

Posted by: linkinplace at November 16, 2007 9:38 AM in response to Weekend Events

Mice are coming in because there's food to eat. I'd recommend tracking their droppings and eliminating their food sources (yes, they can chew through the ziploc bags in which you may store some non-refridg food) before you pay someone to move the stove unnecessarily.

We had plenty of exterminators drop that poison blue candy behind the stove and we still had mice. Give the neighbors cats for Christmas and keep all your snacks in the fridge.

Posted by: linkinplace at November 9, 2007 2:00 PM in response to Moving Enormous Gas Range For Mouseproofing

BRING IT ON ALONG THE PH/CH BORDER! We have NO place to get coffee on the way up the hill on Washington Ave to the E Pkwy stop on the 2/3 in the morning. Seen all the hipsters at that station lately? I for one would not patronize, but would surely appreciate bringing in some new types of business on Washington Ave.

Posted by: linkinplace at November 8, 2007 3:30 PM in response to Streetlevel: A Starbucks on Every Corner?

Um, concrete examples of people who won't take a buy-out? Ratnerville, folks. Goldstein's still holed up.

Posted by: linkinplace at October 29, 2007 12:05 PM in response to Rent-Regulated Tenants: A Boon for Buyers?

We used Lowes this summer for 2 gut reno bathroom projects. HD never had what we needed and any trip there was a firm reminder that Lowes is the way to go. Do your research online (not on the Lowes site - anywhere else) and then go to the store to special order the things you want from their catalogs. You can get virtually anything through them (we got kohler-made dual-flush toilets that Lowes didn't even know existed) if you know what you want and who makes it. We took advantage of the credit card to get hundreds of dollars off in our initial purchase of special order cabinets, tubs, counters, sinks, etc. They even took back a special order piece without a box that turned out to be the wrong size. Reminds me I have a few hundred bucks' credit to go spend there....

Posted by: linkinplace at October 26, 2007 1:18 PM in response to Big stores for renovation

We're selling a family property in the 'burbs and once we were in contract and starting to empty the contents of the house, we asked the broker for the buyer contact info so we could offer them some furniture (for free.)

We got general info on the kind of people they were (age, marital status, location) when an offer was on the table.

Posted by: linkinplace at October 11, 2007 3:34 PM in response to Do sellers know the buyers names when offers are accepted?

Brownie, can you get some grammar check installed? It's "you're gonna have to sell cheap," not "your gonna have to sell cheap."

Thank you.

Posted by: linkinplace at October 11, 2007 3:17 PM in response to House of the Day: 109 Gates Avenue

what's going in around the corner on pacific, just off court, across from the beverage place? 4 story bldg that used to house a school?

Posted by: linkinplace at September 18, 2007 2:35 PM in response to StreetLevel: Atlantic Earns Some Bread

Thanks for the McMaster-Carr rec - found what I needed right away and ordered within seconds. Much appreciated!

Posted by: linkinplace at September 6, 2007 10:30 PM in response to Where to find forced air duct covers/grates?

Are you sellling? What block? I'd be happy to share the wall and have my kid befriend them so he too can learn without my needing to get him his own piano.

Posted by: linkinplace at August 31, 2007 1:48 PM in response to Piano Playing Noise Daily from Neighbors

THanks for the recs and the sconce offer. We'll pass on the sconces; need one piece for above mirror/vanity. Have proken fixture there now, contractor painting and finishing much today and need a light in there once the sun goes down.

Posted by: linkinplace at August 31, 2007 11:52 AM in response to Where to get bath lighting in stock immediately aside from bog box retailers?

Thanks. That's what the contractor said. But the tiles go up 4.5', above the regular sized cabinet, but we also have a "linen cabinet" at 8' right next to it -- will it look odd to have tiles going up only halfway on the tall cabinet?

Posted by: linkinplace at August 30, 2007 10:45 AM in response to bathroom gut reno - tiling behind cabinets?

We started getting estimates a few months before we wanted the job to start. We did a round, did some more research, and then did another round in May for a job we wanted to start in late June/early July. Chose the contractor we liked best, not lowest bid, and job didn't start till end of August because of his schedule, board approvals, etc.

Posted by: linkinplace at August 27, 2007 3:15 PM in response to How Far in Advance Should I Schedule Contractor Estimates?