Lol,

"And the #1 indication of gentrification - some b--- from corcoran invents a new name to market your neighborhood..."

I'm behinning to hear I moved to EAST Prospect Heights not Crown Heights! Lol!

But they said UNCOMMON INDICATORS, all the indicators mentioned seem to be common from reading the thread. Perhaps it was meant as uncommon the what the previous residents or that community were used to?

I must admit, by the time I have moved anywhere in New York City, there has ALWAYS been a newly opened Sushi restaurant there.

Now that I'm lactose intolerant, I could careless about fresh goats milk.

Posted by: snowboardqueen at November 4, 2009 11:07 AM in response to Closing Bell: Gentrification Indicators

Sometimes a sister must clarify.

In all honesty it comes down to G-R-E-E-N. Historically, people of color may have been/be disproportionately displached when it comes to gentrification.., but it must sting like hell when it happens to you no matter the race.

Some white friends of mine who moved to Boston, Cambridge, and those who lived in working class white neighborhoods in Philadelphia, S. Phila - Kensington - Fishtown, are blogging about being priced out of those communities.

Maybe DaveinBedStuy when you retire you can buy my families place in Lancaster, Pa..., but wait it's already gone from Rural to Suburban.

By the time you retire Lncaster, PA may have transformed into an inner city with a "charming" but dilapidated Amish Barn that could be a real fix'er upper.

Posted by: snowboardqueen at November 4, 2009 10:27 AM in response to Closing Bell: Gentrification Indicators

First, go to DHCR at 55 Hanson Place behind Pathmark to see if it is really Rent Stabilized or Rent Controlled. You must bring a utility bill and id since you have no copy of the lease.

Or better yet, check their link to see if the building is rent Stabilized, http://www1.dhcr.state.ny.us/BuildingSearch/

If the building is Rent Stabilized, then he can not by Rent Stabilization law charge you more than an equal split. If he is over charging you, the best you can do is file a rent Overcharge complaint and will more than likely receive triple damages for the amount you are being over charged, but it will not entitle your name on the lease.

Good luck and consider all you options.

Posted by: snowboardqueen at November 4, 2009 9:12 AM in response to Sublet/Share Legal Issue

gen⋅tri⋅fi⋅ca⋅tion – noun

1. the buying and renovation of houses and stores in deteriorated urban neighborhoods by upper- or middle-income families or individuals, thus improving property values but often displacing low-income families and small businesses.

This being the "supposed" true definition of gentrification, how many gentrifiers are just passing through, renters with deeper pockets than the previous residents before them, before we are uprooted our self by people with even deeper pockets?

Boring Pennsylvania suburb to East Village to Park Slope to Crown Heights.., to hopefully a cabin in Vermont!!!

PS I am Black.., very, very Black.

Posted by: snowboardqueen at November 4, 2009 8:20 AM in response to Closing Bell: Gentrification Indicators

What about the elderly woman who sold the current owner the house?

Is she being forced out, or is it a friendly move?

Posted by: snowboardqueen at September 23, 2009 11:40 AM in response to A Curb Cut on Landmarked St. Marks Avenue? Really?

Umm,

ALL of he rentals seem to lie in the boundaries of Crown Heights to me.

Face it, Eat of Washington Ave, begins Crown Heights.

Realtors can try to push the bounders for their financial gain if they wish, but Washington Ave is East border of Prospect Heights.

Posted by: snowboardqueen at August 24, 2009 11:48 AM in response to Rental Picks: Prospect Heights

Can someone buy *rob* a life and board?

Posted by: snowboardqueen at May 4, 2009 6:39 PM in response to Streetlevel: Skateboards, Flowers and Dry Goods

Hope they really do sell sk8 supplies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: snowboardqueen at May 4, 2009 2:49 PM in response to Streetlevel: Skateboards, Flowers and Dry Goods

Nostalgic on Park Avenue

Do you have any pictures of Crown Heights when you lived there?

And do you remember the apartment at 770 St. Marks Ave.? Do you have any photos or memories of that building? I would love to hear or see them.

Thanks!

Posted by: snowboardqueen at May 4, 2009 5:07 AM in response to Co-op of the Day: 175 Eastern Parkway, #6N

But NANA on 5th AVE.., does not accept credit cards!!!!!

It's a great idea though!

Posted by: snowboardqueen at October 3, 2008 11:05 AM in response to Details on the Brooklyn Take-Out Taxi

Cool.

Posted by: snowboardqueen at October 2, 2008 1:21 PM in response to Morris Manor Opens Today

Wow, it seems as though living in Crown Heights, can be at times like living in two parallel worlds from reading some of the experiences of others on Brownstoner compared to my own.

I'm one of the new tenants, in a newly renovated apartment, paying higher rents than my "old timer" neighbors. But please note, I am Afro-American and though some may consider me a "blipster", I personally feel I am not.

I am just a young professionally working in film who wanted a bigger apartment, was bored by Williamsburg scene, no offense to any one living there it just was not for me.., and fell in love with the architecture and vibe of C. Heights.

I've passed Bedford, Franklin and Nostrand. I live on New York Ave. Call me naive, but never in a million yrs would I have thought there was thriving drug trade on Franklin. Granted, Franklin Ave. is not the prettiest of streets, but much better looking than Nosrtrand Ave, in my humble opinion.

Personally, I find all three Avenues lacking in variety of stores and products. It would be great if all three Ave. could embrace/absord/inter twine a little more variety with what is already there.

I love the Carribian stores, the fruit stands, the Afro-centric stores etc. Then, I'm starting to miss a larger variety of restaurant, I moved from Park slope, organic foods, book stores etc.

I just hope the wonderful flavor of the some of the great stores already existing on Franklin and Nostrand are not pushed out with the slowly emerging new.

I have no idea what Bedford Ave. was like before, but it seems a little thin in variety of offers still. But if it is a positive improvement, I'm all for it!

Posted by: snowboardqueen at September 15, 2008 10:31 AM in response to Williamsburg Comes to Crown Heights?

A particular subway can be that little, small, seemingly minute factor that pushes one to choose one neighborhood over the other.., given both places are almost equal in other aspects.

I choose Crown heights over Bed - Stu because of the 2/3 and 4/5 versus the A/C. There were a few more factors.., but the train was a major one for me.

When i lived in Park Slope by the 2/3 at Bergen or 4 5 2 3 Q B N and/or R at Atlantic.., I was in heaven. Though I mainly jumped on the 2/3.

So, for some, that "particular" train can do a lot for a particular neighborhood.

Posted by: snowboardqueen at September 10, 2008 11:03 AM in response to Is the Q Train the New L?

it doesnt matter he OVERcharged. it was agreed to that youd pay 700 dollars a month, doesnt MATTER that he was paying less. at ALL. and maly your scenario is completely ridiculous and doesnt relate to this issue at all.

*rob*

Posted by: Butterfly at November 4, 2009 3:11 PM in response to Sublet/Share Legal Issue

if the 4 of you are paying $2800/month to him, why does he have $5000 in security deposit? did he make you all pay more than 1 month's security?

Posted by: CG_ups at November 4, 2009 3:25 PM in response to Sublet/Share Legal Issue

*rob* sounds like you would do the same to your friends?

Posted by: joe_the_bummer at November 4, 2009 3:30 PM in response to Sublet/Share Legal Issue

That was my guess, CG_ups. First and last month's, plus $400 for something.

Posted by: CarrollGardened at November 4, 2009 3:30 PM in response to Sublet/Share Legal Issue

$400 is for chips and margarita mix, but, sadly, not the tequila.

Posted by: antidope at November 4, 2009 3:35 PM in response to Sublet/Share Legal Issue

he made us pay "1 month rent + $500" as a security deposit. so he has actually $4800 of our money if you want me to be specific.

last year he said i could have a copy of the lease if i wanted, and so i said ok i would like one. then anytime i'd ask him to pony it up, he would say he didn't know where it was. (we have a lot of shelves/common space in our loft and much of it is cluttered with his shit, so he would just motion toward the shared office area and say "it's in there somewhere".) i finally just rifled through some of the shelves one day, and found it in an envelope marked "lease."

the day that i saw the rent check, he had left it on the kitchen table and ran out to get stamps or something (to mail it to the LL). since we all have office jobs, and he quit his (since he has like no expenses) i assume he didn't realize i was home sick that day and that i saw it when i woke up.

this has become insane. i was just wondering if we had recourse to take over the lease since he pretty much moved out so long ago. guess not. thanks to those of you who are understanding of how stressful it is to live with a greedy sociopath.

Posted by: mightierthanswords at November 4, 2009 3:49 PM in response to Sublet/Share Legal Issue

main reason that we don't all pack up and leave is that he has $5000 in security deposit money from us that i know he will try and find any way not to return.

You were never getting that money back from John. You think a guy who's done this to you won't find some pretext to keep more of your money?

If I've got this right, when you moved in he told you the rent was $3500 per month and it would be split equally? Or he told you you paid 1/5 of the rent, which was $700 (same difference).

Well, then, since the rent was only $3000, that means you were overpaying your agreed-upon share by $175 per month before the new roommate moved in. And since the new roommate moved in, you've been overpaying by $200.

So, stop paying him.

I'd tell him that since there is a new roommate, you will be paying 1/6 of the $3,000 rent from this point forward ($500 a month), and that he should take the first however many months out of your security deposit, and the next however many months out of your overpayments to date. If he comes back at you, don't negotiate, don't explain, don't discuss, this is just how it is. Give him a lot of "I'm so sorry you feel that way. I felt pretty terrible when I found out I'd been overpaying for so many months." And then just say nothing.

He mis-represented the terms of a contract that is probably unenforceable anyway. It doesn't matter how you found out he was lying. Blah blah blah, don't get sucked into his drama. Just, these are your terms. And if he gets all "and if I don't accept your terms," just say "I'm sorry." And hang up. It's not your job to solve his problem of not liking the fact you'll be paying him less, and only start paying him again after your overpayments/security have brought you back to an even balance.

Tell your roommates you are doing this, as an FYI. If they want to do it, too, be supportive of them. But do this with or without them. But be clear that this is between you and John, it's John's name on the lease, it's HIS problem (not theirs) to find the money to pay.

He will undoubtedly try to get you out of there. But odds are, he would have tried to get you out of there anyway since you're the pesky troublemaker who exposed his scam.

Remove all your valuables from the apartment NOW. Put some clothes at a friend's house where you could crash for awhile if he changes the locks. Make sure none of the utilities, etc are in your name. Have a plan for what to do if you come home to find the locks changed. Get all illegal substances out of your place (pot, whatever) in case he calls the cops. Change the password of all your accounts to something that's hard to hack.

And start looking for a new place. If this works out and he doesn't give you a hard time, once you've lived there long enough that all the overpayments are even, ask yourself if you want to live in this place for $500 a month, given the trust situation with John. If the answer is no, start looking for a new place.

But under no circumstances does John get any more of your money until the balance comes even.

Posted by: bkrules at November 4, 2009 3:50 PM in response to Sublet/Share Legal Issue

I think the issue is black and white. You all agreed to pay what he was asking. It doesn't matter what he is/was paying.

If I felt an item is worth $100 and I buy it for $100, do I have the right to to get my money back if I found out someone else bought it for $20? No.

I still agree that "John" is a douche... AND he is the one who has his credit at risk here. If you want to stick it to him, you have the option.

Posted by: mrkknox at November 4, 2009 3:55 PM in response to Sublet/Share Legal Issue

oh whatever. John gave you and your broke a$$ friends a place to live, for cheap i might add, and he threw in chips and salsa. you sound like a whiney brat. you have no recourse. Judge Judy would rip you a new one if you were in her court.

*rob*

Posted by: Butterfly at November 4, 2009 4:06 PM in response to Sublet/Share Legal Issue

If he made you pay more than a month for security then that is most certainly "business" and not "friendship". That should have been a big tip-off as to the kind of relationship you were getting into when dealing with him.

I was friendly with a former landlord before renting from her. When I agreed to take her apartment she suddenly asked me for 2 months security deposit. I was a little taken aback by the request but still gave it to her. I also quickly downgraded our relationship from friend to business- a very good call. Particularly over a year later when she casually mentioned that it was "cheeky and resourceful" of her to ask for 2 months security because she really needed the cashflow at the time. Now a friend might have been rather annoyed by such a statement. However, somebody who did "business" with her chalked one up for experience and moved on.

And please do not take bkrule's advice unless you are looking for a shit ton of drama. If you are so unhappy with the arrangement and civilized behavior and dialogue isn't creating a satisfying resolution for you then you really should just move on. It's not worth the negativity, especially when you have to live in it.

I will add that I do think John is a douche, too, but that has nothing to do with the arrangement you made with him.

Posted by: Snarkypants at November 4, 2009 4:07 PM in response to Sublet/Share Legal Issue