GREAT NEWS! This is a beautiful facility, public works design at its best, it deserves to be preserved. Perhaps a little worn around the edges, but the bones are awesome. I do the adult swim 7-9am (June-July, 2 months, not 2 weeks). The scale of the pool is literally gigantic. If you haven't seen it in person, check it out on LIVE search, the birdseye view tells the story. Given develop-o-mania in Red Hook, this is a very good thing.

Posted by: tamt at November 19, 2008 7:24 PM in response to Red Hook Pool Gets Landmarked

There is a"partial stop work order" on the project, per DOB this comment on 7/18/08:
"Re:CALLER STS T E ENTIRE BALCONY ON THE 8 OR 7 FLOOR HASCOLLAPSED. THIS IS A COMMERCIAL BUILDING. PLEASE INVESTIGATE ASAP"

If you look at the photo (in your piece), 2nd floor from the top, 3 units in from the right, the balcony is collapsed. I understand it has to do with poor the poor quality of cement.

Posted by: tamt at September 2, 2008 7:11 PM in response to Development Watch: 339 Greene Avenue

We use a State Farm agent in Queens, (Jennifer O'Kane, 718-429-7781). You can probably find one in Brooklyn if you want someone close-by. State Farm was pricing I've found for umbrella homeowners/auto. Had a (When we moved from Queens to Brooklyn, auto went up 50%. ouch.)

Posted by: tamt at August 6, 2008 8:57 PM in response to Can anyone recommend good insurance agent?

My neighbors ("west" Bed-Stuy) speak of great enthusiasm and participation at our block parties. However, I gather that an after-dark shooting was a very unfortunate ending a few years ago, and it's been difficult to organize support since--which is sad. Especially because the real fun is for youngsters who thrill at riding bikes, skateboards, roller blades down the middle of the street, throwing footballs, and grilling hot dogs and burgers all afternoon. An 8pm closing for block parties sounds like a good idea.

Posted by: tamt at August 6, 2008 8:22 PM in response to Closing Bell: Brooklyn Celebrates National Night Out

Nice garden! re vines: it's Boston Ivy. Some in Great Briton say that ivy-covered walls are the reason cottages survive for centuries. The leaves protect the house from sun and heat in the summer, and also repel rain water. Small birds love to congregate in them. Aesthetically, it's a bonanza--tender chartreuse buds in the spring, robust green leaves all summer, a wall on fire with color in the fall. The bare vines clinging to the wall collect bright white snowflakes in the winter before melting in the morning sun. Downsides already mentioned. But I figure, given the modest size of our gardens, yanking a few vines off the wall before they reach the roof or gutters or climb up the neighbor's wall isn't a big deal.

Posted by: tamt at August 1, 2008 8:01 PM in response to Garden of the Day: Low Maintenance in The Slope

Isn't Queen of All Saints the landlord in this situation? If so, it seems like QAS must bear the heat of its congregation's beefs regarding Brooklyn Flea. If BF, as tenant, has not honored the terms of the lease, then let it answer or remedy in a proper way. Obviously there are public concerns as well, which could certainly be handled in another type of forum with full and open participation of the community, the politicians, the press/blososphere.

Posted by: tamt at July 25, 2008 8:36 PM in response to Closing Bell: Brooklyn Flea + Urban Arts Festival

Zero filings with the DOB is meaningless. Take comparable sale prices in the neighborhood less estimated cost to renovate to get an appraisal value. This, of course would be a developer's calculation, and probably the type of buyer the sellers are looking for.

Posted by: tamt at July 22, 2008 7:41 PM in response to House of the Day: 708 President Street