That quote for $5500 - $7000 sounds too good to be true. I have received quotes for $20,000 plus to convert a single oil fired steam system to individual (2) gas boilers (circulating hot water system)with hot water heaters. I have a two family that I would like to have the tenants now become repsonsible for their own heat and hot water.

Posted by: wingo947 at August 14, 2008 4:59 PM in response to Replacing Oil Tank

Wow, long read of some fascinating rants, raves and whatever...permit me to say just a few things about some of the historical observations about NA's commercial history by Nostalgic on Park Avenue - you remember and describe it well, as do I - and I am committed to bringing that back. And to Montrose Morris, who astutely pointed out that much of the strip was owned by a few families - you are dead right there as well -but that too is historical. Let me tell you that there is SIGNIFICANT change afoot behind the scenes at this very moment. The strip has been the habitue of many commercial lenders of late. They have a fondness to lend to such stable properties - and have done so in meaningful amounts over the past 3 months. And will continue despite the upheaval in the credit markets. What that means is fresh capital is flowing along the commercial avenues - and that capital will seek to improve the return profile of the avenue - working with the strong local merchants, as well as bringing in sorely missing services best provided by national merchants (think banks, UPS/Mailbox Etc, cellular service providers and such)

And to all those who think that the SUN article was just a fluke of timing - you are so wrong. There are savvy players who are shaping, supporting and guiding things to transform CHN's major commercial thoroughfare.

If you cast aspersions without having been there because of the crime level - you are missing it, because it is happening in front of your very eyes. The people are there, and the change is happening.

If anyone is so interested as to move beyond the GUEST label, and wants to meet along the Avenue so I can persoanlly share with you what I know - then email me back at - wingo947@hotmail.com. That way you can join forces and be part of the group that as guest 12:26 put it so eloquently makes things happen rather than be a part of group 3. That was worth the read alone of this entire thread! Sorry for the long mmessage...but I figure if you came back to this thread after all of today's earlier trash talking, it might as well be worth your effort.

Posted by: wingo947 at November 8, 2007 11:16 PM in response to Newcomers Find Crown Heights Retail Lacking

Its more expensive to reconfigure a house into two separate systems. The entire house needs to be re plumbed with piping so the heating systems are truly separate. Just replacing the existing boiler and hot water is much less work then setting up two wholly separate systems(the pipes to the radiators need to be replaced to separate them as well as the hot water into the apartments which currently run on one common system, the difference can be more than $10,000 so the lower quote just to replace the boiler and hot water is not that out of line.

Posted by: smeyer418 at August 15, 2008 7:02 AM in response to Replacing Oil Tank

The NY State Public service commission confirms its the Utities responsibility to change the service

Your local gas utility (Con Ed?) is responsible to bring the gas all the way up to and including the gas meter at the building. Anything past the meter is the responsibility of the owner.

Posted by: smeyer418 at August 15, 2008 9:19 AM in response to Replacing Oil Tank