Why put all the blame on the developers? It is as much the responsibility of the people who spend money on these types of places to stop doing it. As long as there is money to be made, buildings like this will keep going up.

Posted by: noq at July 25, 2006 8:19 AM in response to Bedford Bums: Number 834

Less expensive, but a bad idea. The moisture needs a place to go, otherwise it will never dry out and as Master Plvmber pointed out you'll get some real nasty mold. Venting out to an air shaft, if you have one, would work though.

Posted by: noq at July 25, 2006 8:24 AM in response to Bathroom Vent - Again - No duct?

I have friends who used to live here. It was a roach-infested pit on the inside (not their fault, just the building!), with a kitchen so small that only one person could squeeze in. And the noise was deafening.
Anyway, this prototype apartment building is also mentioned in Plunz's book, A History of Housing in NYC.

Posted by: noq at August 22, 2006 1:21 PM in response to History Buff: The Riverside Apartments

This is the same house that is (or was) listed by Tanya at Location Location Location in July. In fact they have it listed in the Times for $25K less than Ms. Omolade. And this house is in fact brick, with limestone accents. Not worth either $750K or $725K, IMO.

Posted by: noq at August 31, 2006 11:20 PM in response to House of the Day: Lefferts Avenue 2-Family

230 Midwood (the one on the left) is listed at a whopping $799K by Century 21. We only saw the downstairs, but what we did see was kinda run down though not terribly muddled. While it did have some old wood detailing, some of the trim, frames and molding had been chopped up to make room for new cheesy door hardware, etc. The windows & doors were in bad shape. The pocket doors were mostly intact but the frames were a bit mangled. Kitchen & bath BAD BAD BAD and bubble-gum pink.

The one on the right we did not see, because it was listed at (gasp!) $850.

Posted by: noq at November 16, 2006 10:17 PM in response to Houses of the Day: Lefferts Doubleshot

Yes, the hipsters have hit Ocean and Lincoln Aves. Yes, a lot of the apartment buildings on Flatbush are poorly managed and in terrible disrepair. But there are also nice rental buildings in PLG on the other side of Flatbush Ave (near Bedford/Rogers Aves). The hipsters could converge.

Then again, how is this stretch of Flatbush Avenue so different from the divisive stretch that runs between Park Slope and Prospect Heights? That part of Flatbush Ave is STILL seedy despite the neighborhoods around it.

Posted by: noq at March 13, 2007 5:33 PM in response to PLG: Pump Up The Volume, Dance, Dance

We have a similar situation in our rental unit. (Actually my husband asked me this morning, "did you post on Brownstoner about the pink bathroom?")

I would advise against spray refinishing, especially in a rental. The spray only lasts about 2.5 years, and only if you treat it gently (no bleach, no ammonia, only use a soft sponge, etc.). It's unrealistic to ask your tenants to care for it that way.

We are getting ready to rent our tenant apartment, and what we did is give the walls a new coat of off-white paint (which is much better than the bubble-gum pink paint that was there before) and we regrouted with a basic white grout.

The bathroom now looks clean (remembering that cleanliness was my #1 priority back when I was looking for a rental). The tile is decidedly still pink, but the overall room is better. More "strawberries & cream" than the previous "bubblegum".

You've got to pick your battles with the rental apartment - it's not going to look perfect unless you spend big bucks, but I'd imagine that pink tiles vs. white won't significantly reduce the rent you can get for the place, as long as it's clean.

Posted by: noq at March 19, 2007 9:45 AM in response to Ugly Bathroom

Anna, get some big thorny shrubbery. It can grow higher than 6 feet, you don't need a permit, and it'll scrape a lot of hands and knees.

Or (but this is probably more long-term than you want) concrete wall with broken glass at the top like they do some places in S.A.

J

Posted by: noq at May 18, 2007 4:18 PM in response to Front Yard Fencing

Noq is absolutely right. For rentals, it is cleanliness that is most important in the bathrooms and kitchens. Not aesthetics. Peeling spray-on stuff on the tiles would be gross in your renter's bathroom.

Posted by: at March 19, 2007 9:57 AM in response to Ugly Bathroom

We had a "baby blue" tiled bath in out rental for years before we changed it. Tenants didn't seem to mind the color as long as it was clean. Benjamin Moore makes a primer to paint over tiles.

Posted by: at March 19, 2007 11:13 AM in response to Ugly Bathroom

Hello,
For bathroom tiles,I think slate mosaic or travertine mosaic is better for tub surround.they will add natural beautity in your bathroom.
Or I would like to give another suggestion:Yellow marble super tub surround is better for bathroom.
I hope I can bring good suggestion to everyone,thank you.

Http://www.chinagranite.us

Posted by: alley zheng at March 19, 2007 9:54 PM in response to Ugly Bathroom

Oh please, alley zheng, give it a rest and stop spamming with your natural beautity.

Posted by: at March 19, 2007 10:07 PM in response to Ugly Bathroom

Alley Zheng, this is not the area to advertise your products. You should buy advertising space in the commercial area of this site. To post advertising in a forum will only create a bad impression of you and your product. It is considered very bad manners.

Posted by: anon at March 20, 2007 2:20 PM in response to Ugly Bathroom

I guess you could put punji sticks on your own property. Similar to barbed wire- legal until someone gets hurt.

Hedges/ thorns seem to be the best long term solution seeing as the school will always be there.

Posted by: at May 18, 2007 4:37 PM in response to Front Yard Fencing

What about coating the chain link fence with vegetable oil imbued with a strong die and coating the top of the fence with the sticky glue used in rat traps?

That way anyone climbing the fence will ruin their clothes with the dye and will lose their shirt to the glue.

If the problem continues into winter you can get one of these http://www.comforthouse.com/scarecrows1.html But I think it would just attract kids in the summer, unless you used stinky water, you can make the water stinky by using one of those hose attached fertilizer tubs and filling it with sulfur.

Good Luck!

Posted by: danielk at May 18, 2007 4:50 PM in response to Front Yard Fencing

danielk don't you have some electrical wiring to do?? LOL LOL

Posted by: AnnaBea at May 18, 2007 4:59 PM in response to Front Yard Fencing

Bedstyliving - Actually it was kind of an ongoing problem that has been made worse by the contruction. My councilman is Bill Deblasio and their office claimed they would talk to the parks department and the school for me. They also claimed they would speak to my police precinct about coming by when it happens. As far as i can tell none of that has helped at all. The school told me that they are only responsible for their kids and they didn't think any of their kids were trespassing on my property (which honestly i can't prove). They also told me that when its not school hours that its really the park's department's responsibility and they aren't allowed to do anything.

The liability issue is actually what concerns me the most. This is why this has me so frustrated. I feel like its only a matter of time before someone hurts themselves and i get sued. I suspect that issue may prevent me from putting up barbed wires also. I feel i am damned if i do and damned if i don't if i put up something to deter people from climbing the fence i am actually increases the risk of someone getting hurt and suing but if i do nothing i may get sued anyway. I can always try danialk's suggestions though :)

Posted by: AnnaBea at May 18, 2007 5:12 PM in response to Front Yard Fencing

maybe that company that makes that wall of flame kit to deter car-jackers has something for fence hoppers

http://www.nothingtoxic.com/media/1129528800/Anti-Carjacking_Flame_Device

Posted by: at May 18, 2007 5:22 PM in response to Front Yard Fencing