Yes, that is true. Too bad your lawyer didn't make that clear. I believe you are out of luck unless you can negotiate something with the buyer. Of course, in this market, sellers may be willing to work something out.

Posted by: southslope11215 at July 1, 2009 9:19 PM in response to If Closing Date is Postponed?

I recently got a ticket for parking in front of a similar "driveway". This one had no curb cut, no sign and hand painted but almost completely faded paint on the sidewalk. I appealed by mail with a letter and photos and the fine was dismissed.

Posted by: southslope11215 at June 30, 2009 12:28 PM in response to Neighbor's Illegal Driveway

The Greene Hill School -- a new, private progressive elementary school in Clinton Hill. I hear that they are pulling in some of the students from The Co-op School preschool. Tuition is significantly lower than other private schools. www.greenehillschool.org

Posted by: southslope11215 at June 9, 2009 3:43 PM in response to Schools in Clinton Hill

Actually, the house on 16th is further away from prospect park west than I realized. Still, the house on PPSW is very far from the major stores and restaurants in WT -- and certainly a hike to the Slope. (And if they are five blocks apart, it is a VERY long five blocks -- in reality it is more than five.) It is right on the park, however, which has advantages and disadvantages. I live in the neighborhood. The two locations feel very different to me.

Posted by: southslope11215 at June 8, 2009 6:38 PM in response to House of the Day: 540 16th Street

Stringer -- That's a nice house but a very different location. Both a re Windsor Terrace but a fairly far apart. The house you referenced is essentially another subway stop away.

Posted by: southslope11215 at June 8, 2009 5:43 PM in response to House of the Day: 540 16th Street

Very cute houses on these blocks -- and similar houses a block over on Windsor Place. Very family-oriented blocks. The houses are charming but fairly small -- and they can't be expanded much because of FAR restrictions.

Bad news for the sellers is that a similar house (though probably worse condition) just sold in the mid-800's, I believe. That may have been a different but close by block. (Believe I saw this on Brownstoner recently.)

This is right near an F train stop.

Posted by: southslope11215 at June 8, 2009 1:28 PM in response to House of the Day: 540 16th Street

Petebkln is right. you can call 311 or the DOB and register a complaint. I'm an architect, and I was recently involved in a job where the buyer had to clear a violation for parking in an illegal parking spot before he could close on the house. In this day of re-financing glory, it might prove to be an incentive if it prevents the current owners from re-financing or selling.

Posted by: JimHill at June 30, 2009 2:50 PM in response to Neighbor's Illegal Driveway

why doesn't the city ticket property owners for illegally painted curbstones and illegal driveways? Seems like a quick way to make cash from scofflaws.

Posted by: dittoburg at June 30, 2009 4:35 PM in response to Neighbor's Illegal Driveway

This is off the topic a bit but the following comment struck a nerve.

"For the record, I make it a practice to treat law enforcement with respect - if you want it, you have to give it."

If you want it, you have to demand it -- and NEVER let a police officer or anyone else who depends on your taxes for a living to intimidate you out of your rights as a resident of this city. New York cops have been acting with increasing, alarming disrespect towards NY citizens in the past few years (since 9/11, when they've gotten a way too long leash and way too little oversight). You should never hesitate to express your dissatisfaction with the behavior of a police officer when warranted. That's your right as a citizen. Always ask for a badge number, and if you don't get one (which happens more often than not, and THAT is illegal), try to remember as best you can the officer's face. Follow up with a formal complaint.

Not standing up to abuse of power is condoning and encouraging it. Bad for the police force, as much as it is bad for the safety of the people the force is supposed to protect.

Posted by: iz at June 30, 2009 5:09 PM in response to Neighbor's Illegal Driveway

You know what, that sounds good iz and then there is reality. When the Police fail to act in any given situation, people criticize. When they act, people criticize. Are there bad cops? Sure! Just as there are bad graphic artists, doctors, teachers and bloggers. And just for the record, overzealous policing did not start post 9/11. In communities of color, it has always been present. Welcome to their world.

Again do not ask a cop for his/her shield number. Do you have the right to do so, of course, but not recommended or necessary. Officers, unless they are not in a uniform detail, wear their shields with attached name plates on their outermost garments so you can just glance at it and commit it to memory for later use. If the Officer is not in uniform, but has a shield around their neck, you can again do the same. In the rare occassion that no shield is visible take note of their vehicles plate number. If the vehicle is an RMP (marked car) look at any of the identifying numbers on the vehicle and the command identifier. Sometimes you will see a precinct number or letters such as TB (Transit Bureau) followed by a number, PSA (Housing) followed by a number or just a series of letters like PBBS (Patrol Borough Brooklyn South) all on the rear quarter panel of the vehicles. If you are confrontational with a bad cop or just someone who is not going to tolerate your tirade on that day, you can be subject to a lawful arrest for OGA. This can cost you at least a DAT and at most a day or two in central booking. You don't even need to threaten the officer with your intention of "reporting" them if you feel that you have been treated unfairly. Just do it. Call the CCRB upon returning to your home. In the case of corruption call IAB. You can access either of them via 311.

"For the record, I make it a practice to treat law enforcement with respect - if you want it, you have to give it." -ENY

I don't see why you would have a problem with this. My attitude is pretty much the same and makes my life easier. Everyone whether I'm on-duty or off will get the benefit of the doubt until they prove that they should be treated otherwise. If you offered this same courtesy to cops, who like other civil servants are paid by tax dollars, your experiences would probably be more positive and just because someone is a civil servant doesn't mean that they are answerable to you personally.

This may be a broad generalization and may or may not be the case for you iz, but I have found that people who have the "I am a tax payer and I pay your salary attitude" are obnoxious and feel that they are somehow better than civil servants. Imagine walking into your doctors office or a restaurant with that attitude. I'd fear the Doctor using a bigger needle than necessary and the waitress going "Miss Celie" on me!

Posted by: Chosen at July 1, 2009 7:14 AM in response to Neighbor's Illegal Driveway

Chosen, your last statement says it all. You live in fear. Not respect. There's a big difference. I won't be intimidated by anyone's threats of arrest EVER if that is against the law. And no, I'm not their boss, but I am the reason they exist -- TO PROTECT ME, not to abuse me.

Just yesterday, this:
http://gothamist.com/2009/06/30/woman_says_misogynistic_cop_arreste.php?gallery0Pic=1#gallery

If they continue to create this kind of vibe, there will be a lot more people like me disgusted and fed up, and training will have to be completely overhauled.

Posted by: iz at July 1, 2009 9:55 AM in response to Neighbor's Illegal Driveway

" I asked for a pen to write the badge numbers down before I left and they refused to give me a pen and covered up their badges. "

In case you didn't feel like getting into the boring details.

Posted by: iz at July 1, 2009 9:59 AM in response to Neighbor's Illegal Driveway

" I asked for a pen to write the badge numbers down before I left and they refused to give me a pen and covered up their badges. "

If she had done what I advised in my post, she would not have needed the pen. The shield numbers of all three officers in the station were visible. When she was transported to the precinct there was a number and a plate number on the vehicle. If the cops acted inappropriately then they should be disciplined, if she was disorderly then she should be found guilty of the offense. You automatically assume that the cops were wrong and that she is telling the truth. I reserve passing judgement either way.

"You live in fear. Not respect"

The first part of this statement is correct. I live in fear that I will not make it home to my kids because I may get shot while protecting people like you who don't appreciate it. This fear keeps me on my toes which keeps me safe and has kept me coming home at the end of my tour for the past 18 1/2 years. Despite seeing people at their worst, most officers as is the case for myself, will show you respect if you are not disrepectful. Act otherwise and you will be treated accordingly. We are people not robots.

Posted by: Chosen at July 1, 2009 1:32 PM in response to Neighbor's Illegal Driveway

My understanding is that the seller can stay in the property past closing, however, he/she will have to pay you a daily rate for the privilege. The amount to be paid should be specified in your contract (usually a deposit against damage and then a per diem amount-- and one rate for day 1-30 and then a higher deposit and rate thereafter). This seems to be standard language, so I wouldn't let the fact it's included in your contact worry you. Hopefully the seller have been upfront with you about when they are prepared to move (before July 24th) but if they do stay past closing you will be compensated.

Posted by: fawn at July 1, 2009 10:29 PM in response to If Closing Date is Postponed?

I think southslope has a more accurate take on the problem. Your lawyer should be able to explain this better, and don't take this as legal advice, but your 7/24 specified closing date does not give rise to any leverage that would compel them to close by then. It does allow you to declare "time of the essence" then, which could lead to a seller Have your lawyer start pushing hard for a timely closing and see what happens.

Posted by: slopefarm at July 1, 2009 10:48 PM in response to If Closing Date is Postponed?

Ves, I assume that you maybe a first time homebuyer, even so, someone: your lawyer, your broker, a friend, should have told you that closings get delayed as often as they happen on time. I'm also baffled about your retorical statement "My lawyer said that the seller does have 30 days extra if he wants it to go to closing. Is this true?" It's either you know this or you don't, especially if time was of the essence to you. Do you have copy of the contract? Contracts usually state: "on or around" a specific date. If the seller can't move because of a problem on their side, you may have had a case but if there is a 30 day clause, you are probably out of luck. Ask your LL if you can stay another month or go to a hotel/storage. If there is no clause, you have to let your Lawyer earn his/her pay by sorting it out.

Posted by: Crownlfc at July 1, 2009 10:53 PM in response to If Closing Date is Postponed?