nellymikhaiel's Profile
- Nelly Mikhaiel
- 2003
- 2006
- Brooklyn
- Clinton Hill
- Condo
- Oil and gas consultant
- Female
- 33
Author's Posts
October 4, 2007
Information about home repair/maintenance classes
Four months ago, I became the proud owner of a condo in Clinton Hill. Sadly, I'm completely inept when it comes to basic home repair, renovation/restoration, and maintenance. However, I understand there are some local classes that teach these essential basics of home ownership. I've seen links on neighborhood blogs about such classes, and although I've searched long and hard through the archives of every website I can think of (including this one) for places/dates/enrollment information, I can't come up with the goods. Can anyone out there in Brownstoner-land point me in the right direction?
October 2, 2007
Unpleasant exerience with Heights Woodworking
Since I couldn't find a mantel at a salvage store that would fit my somewhat oddly-sized fireplace, I commissioned Heights Woodworking back in June to build a small stained shelf over the fireplace's ugly concrete ledge. I read mixed reviews about this firm here on Brownstoner, but I wanted to give my business to a local carpentry shop, and decided to give them the benefit of the doubt. Big mistake. Heights Woodworking is an unprofessional, extremely unpleasant firm to deal with.
Heights Woodworking took four months to make and install the piece - and only after repeated calls from me to follow up on the status of my order. I was informed that the reception staff could not communicate with the floor staff, and vice-versa. (The owner of the business, who could communicate with all his staff members, kept an extremely low profile during this whole Heights Woodworking did turn up to install the piece in late September, it wasn't stained at all(as I requested). The carpenters took it away, and after three more weeks of nagging from me, the crew turned up at my apartment (almost 5 hours later than promised - lucky I took the whole day off work) with the stained mantel. As they were packing up, I was casually informed that another small piece of the mantel would require staining, which they promised to do the next day. I couldn't take another day off work, but my friends from out of town promised to stay home in the morning and let them in. Surprise, surprise, Heights Woodworking didn't turn up, and when I called to find out why, I was curtly told that the "receptionist works upstairs, and has no idea about what goes on in the shop downstairs". When I demanded to speak to the owner, she promised she would patch me through to him when he checked in later that afternoon. That didn't happen either.
Using this company was a bad decision on my part. I'm glad other people on this forum had decent experiences, but mine was absolutely miserable.
Author's Comments
OP here. Thanks so much for the replies. hangonsloopy, you were right on the mark - it's exactly the link I was looking for!
Posted by: nellymikhaiel at October 4, 2007 3:15 PM in response to Information about home repair/maintenance classes
I'm with lesterhead! I live right next door to this place, and I've been following the building's progress (from my balcony - talk about a bird's eye view!) with the greatest interest. Yay to you for getting inside!!!
It warms my heart to know that the existing original details will be preserved - it's such a beauty of a place, and it deserves the best - but I was surprised to read that the whole project will be rental-only. I would love to know how the developer crunched his numbers, and came up with the result that rentals, rather than two-bedroom condos, would turn the best profit, especially in a gem of a building like that. I think gwbrubaker is right - the price range of those rentals is going to have to be something else to justify such a decision.
Posted by: nellymikhaiel at October 10, 2007 2:11 PM in response to A Look Inside the 447 Clinton Avenue Conversion
Oh, that explains it. I certainly don't blame the bloke: if I had several million dollars lying around, I would have affairs of the heart with half of Clinton Hill, a decent part of Fort Greene, and a not-insignificant part of Bed-Stuy!
Posted by: nellymikhaiel at October 10, 2007 4:23 PM in response to A Look Inside the 447 Clinton Avenue Conversion
Locally, Eddie's Salvage may be interested in taking it off your hands. Alternatively Demolition Depot or Olde Goode Things in Manhattan are two other potential contenders.
Posted by: nellymikhaiel at October 12, 2007 1:22 PM in response to 1930s brass and cast iron spiral stair
You are my hero! I'm in the same position as you: single girl who is also really independent, but I dream of owning and restoring my own brownstone one day. Even though achieving that goal is going to take some time, I still feel a bit dizzy about the mere prospect of actually doing the work, whether I end up doing it with a partner or not. I can only imagine how overwhelming it is to actually stand there, thinking, "Oh, hell, now what?"!
Obviously, finding a kick-ass contractor and educating yourself about home maintenance/repair are crucial. There are classes for neophyte homeowners that teach the basics of renovation and repair. . .even if a job is too big for you to do alone, and you have to hire help, having some working knowledge of how everything works will make you more confident (and deter less-savoury craftspeople from fleecing you). It's run by Neighborhood Housing Services, a not for profit profit housing organization. The class is completely hands on and meets once a week ten weeks. The classes are offered multiple times during the year, so don't worry if you check their website and see that you've just "missed out". The NHS of East Flatbush number is 718.469.4679. The NHS of Bedford Stuyvesant is 718.919.2100. www.nhsnyc.org
Good luck, and please keep everyone here in Brownstoner-land posted about your progress.
Posted by: nellymikhaiel at October 17, 2007 2:40 PM in response to Going it Alone and it's scary!
I used CityWide Movers for my move from Park Slope to Clinton Hill, and they were simply great. Check them out at http://www.citywidemovers.net/
Fred, the owner, requested an approximate inventory before the big day - big furniture items, number of boxes, and so on - and he and his staff turned up on time and moved everything quickly, safely, professionally, and with a smile (staircases and sweltering heat notwithstanding)! I would definately use them again, and have no problem recommending them to others.
Good luck!
Posted by: nellymikhaiel at October 18, 2007 11:38 PM in response to Good Moving Companies
I knew a bank was rumored to be in the works, but my heart still sank when I saw the signs confirming it. The bank's presence may be an improvement for some who actually bank at North Fork, but not for others: if this bank intends to rip off cross-users $1.50, then what's the difference between continuing to use the bodega (or continuing to make sure that you withdraw sufficient funds at their own bank to get you through the day/week/month).
No, the reason my heart sank was because I was hoping against hope that something decent would establish a presence: namely, a fresh, fresh, fresh groceries/produce shop! Something similar to Blue Apron or Garden of Eden - a store that sells a quality range of fruit, vegetables, baked goods, cheese, meats, and fish in a space that doesn't smell like someone (or something) died in there three weeks ago. If the place happened to have an ATM (yes, even a fee-charging ATM), then that would kill two birds with one stone: another option for withdrawing cash AND supplying much-needed grocery goodies. But noooo - it's yet another lousy, stinking bank. Dammit!!!
Posted by: nellymikhaiel at October 30, 2007 3:34 PM in response to Streetlevel: Northfork Bank for Clinton and Fulton
Huzzah! Just the sort of vibe that all our nabes need, to keep making them better and better each year.
I concur with some of the earlier postings that the presence of farmers who deliver to our area would be wonderful, but definately NOT at the expense of foot traffic at the Farmer's Market (where it is a joy to buy fresh produce every week). I would also welcome with open arms the presences of architectural salvage stores. Perhaps a few local funky furniture stores, too. . . for example, maybe local merchants like Little India would consider a flea market presence, and thereby attract more foot traffic to their stores?
I can't wait!!!
Posted by: nellymikhaiel at November 5, 2007 11:45 AM in response to Brownstoner to Launch Weekly Flea Market Next Spring
I commissioned Heights Woodworking for a much smaller a job - a mantel for my fireplace - and I was absolutely disgusted with their performance. It took four months of constant telephone calls, pleading, cajoling, and finally, outright threats to cancel the job to elicit a 'final' product, and when it finally did arrive, it was only 95% stained, and the stained component was the incorrect color. They never turned up to complete the staining, either. I vowed never to use them again, and to share my experiences with everyone.
That said, I know other homeowners on this site have had excellent experiences with Heights Woodworking, but as one sage commentator stated in response to my original posting about the whole experience, "Picking Heights Woodworking for a job is a crap-shoot: sometimes you get really great work, and other times, you are sorely disappointed with the lack of service".
Posted by: nellymikhaiel at December 7, 2007 8:33 PM in response to Heights Woodworking
Responses to Author's Forum Comments
no one is bashing clinton hill. They are just pointing out its silly to say park slope is not diverse and clinton hill is.
because its not correct
Posted by: guest at February 6, 2008 12:53 PM in response to clinton hill/park slope
agree, 12:53.
clinton hill is considered diverse maybe compared to inner city birmingham alabama or somalia, but if we are talking the united states of america, clinton hill is NOT diverse.
it is a lovely, mostly black neighborhood.
with some rich white people.
Posted by: guest at February 6, 2008 12:55 PM in response to clinton hill/park slope
Actually, plenty of people are bashing both Clinton Hill and Park Slope here. But we can take it.
Agreed that it would be silly to say Park Slope is not diverse and Clinton HIll is. I didn't say that. They both are, of course. Of course, there are differences (see above).
There are rich and poor blacks and whites in both hoods. So what? They're both great nabes.
Posted by: Rehab at February 6, 2008 1:45 PM in response to clinton hill/park slope
agreed
Posted by: guest at February 6, 2008 2:46 PM in response to clinton hill/park slope
can't we all just get along?
Posted by: guest at February 6, 2008 2:52 PM in response to clinton hill/park slope
They are not both great nabes! Park Slope is a horrible, horrible place and people should no this. Clinton Hill is pretty cool though.
Posted by: guest at February 6, 2008 8:31 PM in response to clinton hill/park slope
no what?
Posted by: Santa at February 6, 2008 8:38 PM in response to clinton hill/park slope
Had a bad experience with Santini. Not horrific broken stuff everywhere bad, but just slow slow slow. Our men-with-a-van the next day were literally twice as fast.
Posted by: guest at February 27, 2008 10:35 AM in response to Good Moving Companies
Ok while both CH and PS and Ft Greene are great, I have been living in PS for more than three years and I was attacked and beaten unconcious by 4 kids on my way home about 3 months ago, was in the hospital for two days and went through massive surgery to recover. I am a normal hipster guy in my 30's, single, alert and never saw it coming! I have been suffering for months now and because of my status as a freelancer all I worked for in my life has been taken from me, I am broke, couldn't work, and will most likely soon have to move to a shelter or file for bankruptcy because my savings to buy are gone and I have no family and no one to turn to. Be careful anywhere you move! Rich PS = target to get robbed! And I wasn't even taken for that much!
Posted by: guest at March 4, 2008 1:10 AM in response to clinton hill/park slope
Initially, I wasn't too enthused about 525 Clinton - it seemed incongruous relative to the other beautiful historic residential buildings that line the nearby streets. That said, if 525 Clinton stimulates business development on Fulton Street, no-one will be happier than me! Surely the good folk that buy apartments at 525 Clinton will join me in agitating for a really decent supermarket/fresh produce store?
In a similar vein, there's already signs of increased life on Fulton (despite the ongoing roadwork!), which warms my heart. Not only does work look like it's proceeding on the old Bodegas space mentioned by Brownstoner, but it looks like development plans for the long-dormant Sharon's Dance Theater space are moving ahead: a few days ago, I saw some sort of construction permit in the window. Huzzah!
Posted by: nellymikhaiel at October 3, 2007 2:30 PM in response to Development Watch: 525 Clinton Avenue Check-In