ssloper's Profile
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August 26, 2009
Dry Sewer?
I haven't heard anything on my post from this morning about my garden floor, rain pooling on the step, seeping in and causing damage cuz no drain. Any thoughts on whether a "dry sewer" is necessary? About $1400 for the whole job, installing "sewer" and cosmetic work, new drywall, etc. Thanks.
Garden Floor Flooding Issue
We own a 3-story 2-family frame house. The steps leading into the garden level of the house(the access for our tenant) tend to collect water during heavy rainfall. Rain pools on the bottom step, which has a flat metal lip all around, and then leaks around the doorframe on both sides. There is no drain on the inside so, this summer, with heavy rains and then high temps, mold arrived, sheetrock on interior wall is damaged, etc. We want to repair the cosmetics but also solve this draining issue. One contractor suggested a "dry sewer" where he would install a drain that would carry water into the soil under the street, rather than hooking up with the main sewer line, which is a much bigger job. Another contractor suggested adding a taller lip on the bottom step to prevent water from leaking into the house before we vacumn it out (we need to buy a dry-vac). But a lip might cause our tenant to trip and fall! Any suggestions? Thanks!
April 10, 2009
Slumlord advertising hotel
There's a slumlord on my block with a very unsightly building. I found out he's advertising this building as a hotel on the web! A friend suggested I tell my local councilperson because this is clearly illegal--it's a residential neighborhood. This guy is bad news...any suggestions?
Author's Comments
I love Cafe Regular on 11th Street and Martin, the owner! Great addition to the North Slope--great coffee and frankly a more interesting vibe than Ozzie's.
Posted by: ssloper at July 10, 2009 10:50 AM in response to Streetlevel: Coffee Shop Coming to Berkeley Place
Thanks for the comments, OP here. Park loper, you are correct--it's the "Little Princess." I don't want to share more details here but let me know if you want to email me directly--I would love some backup to do something about this problem. I will call 311 and follow up with community board.
Posted by: ssloper at April 14, 2009 10:02 AM in response to Slumlord advertising hotel
What do you think the deal is on that 14th St. house, Ms. M? Did the $1.995 deal fall thru?
Posted by: ssloper at December 8, 2008 3:49 PM in response to Condos of the Day: 502 1st Street
FWIW, I think this couple does have money to burn. However, I don't begrudge them creating their dream house, which as Mr. B points out, is not a McMansion, but is about 3,400 sq ft, the size of a 4 story-brownstone (which some people inhabit as a 1-family). Yes, it's luxurious but so what? They bought this house years ago, on a so-so block, probably for a pittance, and have slowly fixed it up--sounds smart to me.
Posted by: ssloper at December 2, 2008 6:20 PM in response to Interiors: Modernizing a Row House in the Slope
Re: why are the kitchen and the dining room so at odds with one another?! From what I understand, the kitchen reno was done several years ago (first phase of the reno)--the dining room was done later when the attached building/garage/master BR were built. The DR is more formal than the eat-in K, so I don't see a prob. I agree with Leffertslodger--why all the negativity? I am quite sure I know these people. They are very decent people, I'm sure I would not decorate my house in EXACTLY the same way because yes, we all have our own style, quirks, money to spend, etc. but overall I think they did an amazing job. Believe me, these people have family photos, kids, a dog, etc., but the photos were probably taken by the architecture firm who weeded out all but the carelessly tossed shoe...
Posted by: ssloper at December 2, 2008 2:33 PM in response to Interiors: Modernizing a Row House in the Slope
My guess on the 11th St. house is it needs a LOT of work--still, it is an interesting comp. However, we still have comps of just a month or 2 ago of $1.995 on 14th btw. 4th/5th so comps are all over the place!
Posted by: ssloper at November 19, 2008 12:25 PM in response to Last Week's Biggest Sales
This house is on a very nice block btw. 4th & 5th. I have friends across the street who live in a house like this as a one-family, which would be ideal. We do need to see a floorplan, but I think a house on this block that was in really good shape was recently on the market (or sold?) for $1.795...
Posted by: ssloper at November 6, 2008 4:07 PM in response to House of the Day: 399 Bergen Street
TO the person who wrote about 11th St.: "Mr Joist, what you say is true but I would argue that one really does not want to have by far the most expensive house on the block, or in this case, blocks." Actually I know of at least one house on that block that was bought at around $1.3 THEN renovated. Also, there are nearby houses (like Charrette Properties houses on 13th St.) that sold this spring for record prices, around $1.7-$1.8. If someone gets this house for $1M that is truly a bargain! This is the best block btw. 4th & 5th Ave. that I know of, on one of the prettiest streets. Great neighbors!
Posted by: ssloper at October 4, 2008 9:49 AM in response to Open House Picks
Well, as I said, I liked the kitchen at 208 better than the one sold earlier this year down the block--perhaps it does appeal to a "younger age group"--I like it because it's a very clean, modern look. But I still think this reno otherwise is lacking compared to the one down the block, which I doubt has anything to do with my 40-plus years.......
Posted by: ssloper at September 30, 2008 8:29 PM in response to House of the Day: 208 Midwood Street
I saw this house at OH and like it a lot. However, I don't see how it can sell for as much as the one down the block that went a few months ago for $1.06 (exact same asking price). That one had painted woodwork--true--but it also had very high end renovation of the basement (this one is nice but not fancy), and everything else--like original upstairs pass-thru closet--was renovated beautifully. This house needs a bit more work after move in--the other didn't. I like this kitchen but are they really Ikea cabinets? I predict this will go at just under a million, but in this market, who knows?
Posted by: ssloper at September 30, 2008 6:21 PM in response to House of the Day: 208 Midwood Street
Yassky (who I like by the way) has 2 kids at St. Ann's.
Posted by: ssloper at July 24, 2008 11:27 AM in response to Yassky Weighs in on Saint Ann's Probation Office Affair
Well, guess what? This S. Slope house was owned by the same people who owned 303 13th St., Charrette Properties. So they've recently sold 2 13th St. houses, the frame just below $1.8 and the brick over $1.9! Now I know why their 14th St. house is priced close to $2 mill........ They do good work, people like it, and they're making money hand over fist. Does this mean the S. Slope rules, or what?
Posted by: ssloper at July 22, 2008 3:13 PM in response to Last Week's Biggest Sales
I have a house in the S Slope (closer to N Slope than 14th st, btw. 4th & 5th but a prettier block than most) that I'm thinking of putting on market in the fall. Are you interested, Ms. Muffet? Are you looking for something finished or fixer-upper?
Posted by: ssloper at July 21, 2008 9:49 AM in response to Open House Picks
I have seen 2 Charrette houses and talked to their owners and, overall, from what I've seen, I think they do a great (NOT shoddy) job. Good people with good taste, and a real investment in the nabe.
Posted by: ssloper at July 20, 2008 5:44 PM in response to Open House Picks
Given that 13th St. house renovated by the same people went for about $1.76, I'm predicting the lowest 14th St. house would go for is $1.75 but probably will get more like $1.8. ALthough the block may be worse, it is BIGGER and someone will love that carriage house! No one will pay $2 mil but they're not expecting that--they obviously expect somewhere in the $1.8 range given what they got on 13th St. (all cash, as I heard it). Also, the sale price in 2004 is irrelevant--Charrette Properties does beautiful work, greatly increasing the value of old houses!
Posted by: ssloper at July 19, 2008 10:32 PM in response to Open House Picks
Actually the 13th St. house was priced about $1.89 and sold for about $1.76, as I recall. It is a narrower house, tho still a very nice size, but no carriage house. Same people restored both houses, I'm sure. I think this 14th St. house is below 5th Ave, which makes it less desirable. If the block is nice, however, I bet it goes for $1.8 or possibly even $1.85......
Posted by: ssloper at July 18, 2008 2:05 PM in response to Open House Picks
I lived in this building briefly while I was in college in the early '80s. The reference to Grey Gardens is not off; the woman who owns the building was eccentric even then. I remember her fixing the pipe under my kitchen sink with duct tape...and we had no legal lease. Sad situation; I'm surprised someone hasn't helped her to sell the building so she can actually profit off of it.
Posted by: ssloper at November 16, 2009 12:13 PM in response to Doings at the Dilapidated 7th Ave & 2nd St Building?