Horror Show Friday
These two charmers hail from Bed Stuy and Canarsie, respectively, and can be yours for the low, low prices of $439,000 and $550,000. Any takers? BEAUTIFUL 2 FAMILY IN THE HEART OF BED STUY [Craigslist] Huge 2 Family Brand New [Craigslist]
These two charmers hail from Bed Stuy and Canarsie, respectively, and can be yours for the low, low prices of $439,000 and $550,000. Any takers?
BEAUTIFUL 2 FAMILY IN THE HEART OF BED STUY [Craigslist]
Huge 2 Family Brand New [Craigslist]
Benson…I keep Fedder Digest next to my toilet. Just in case I run out to toilet paper.
Surprisingly, I agree with some of your points.
Benson, BENSON! Get up off the floor. Breath.
I’m not going to comment because I’m bored with this….I’d rather just make snide remarks.
I’m interested in what would be a good kind of snobbery.
Get over your sanctimonious selves, this pile of crap desrves a drudging, it is probably the only one it’ll get.
“It’s just snobbery, and the worst kind.”
Hubris was the word that came to my mind. I’m sure one could walk all over Brooklyn and photograph homes that are “inferior” to classic Victorian brownstones and brick homes. What exactly does it prove?
Cobblehiller;
I hear what you’re saying, and I’ve said the same thing on past Horror Show threads. If Mr. B. just continues this feature in its present form, then I think it is just plain snobbery, akin to “Look how the peasants live”. That is why I’m posing the challenge to him.
CW;
Agreed. That is my point: the consumer expectations must be raised.
Benson, ignore cobblehiller. Great post, and great food for thought!
Benson, you give this too much thought. It’s just snobbery, and the worst kind.
benson –
I think part of the problem is exactly what you mention: many people don’t really care about what the outside of their homes looks like. This is especially true, I’m sure, in areas where these homes may well be the newest, nicest-looking thing on the block, compared to crumbling and dilapidated buildings around them.
Many people also have trouble understanding that “new” and “nice” are not exactly equal. The interiors of these homes are brand new and may therefor strike many people as being very nice, even if they are in fact cheaply constructed. People may not realize that what looks nice to them now, because it’s new, may look terrible after a year or two of wear, when the poor quality begins to show through in the form of peeling linoleum, cracking plastic, and similar.
Mr. B and all;
I have to agree with Rob’s comments regarding the purpose of continuing this series in its present form. Yes, we all are aware that these homes will not win an award in “Architectural Digest” or whatever other design magazine Bay Ridge Girl keeps next to her toilet.
I’d like to propose a new idea concerning this feature, picking up on some comments of last week. I believe, as I said last week, that there must be some reality that the 100’s of small contractors that build these homes face. It cannot be that all these myriad builders have malice in their heart, and so collude to produce this stuff. There is some factor in the marketplace that results in these homes, either on the supply or demand side. I think it would be worthwhile to investigate these factors, both on the demand and supply side.
Why not have a feature in which the builders of these homes talk about the supply constraints they face? Someone last week mentioned that you are already doing this with the “3rd and Bond” feature. The builders of Fedder homes are in a COMPLETELY different league, however from Hudson, the developer of 3rd and Bond. These guys operate on much smaller margines, and don’t have time for such niceties as thinking up a clever marketing slogan for each development,the proper veneer for the kitchen cabinets, etc..
At the same time,I think you should interview folks who have purchased these homes,and explore their feelings about them. It just may be that they like these homes for reasons that have nothing to do with their aesthetics (shocking as that may be to the Brownstoner community).
How about it Mr. B? If you really want to eliminate this scourge of Brooklyn, let’s investigate the market, and see what can be done about it.
Absent any market research, allow me to posit the reason for these homes: some folks actually like them!! My sister lives in Staten Island, in a newish development of homes that are a few steps up from a Fedders home. My sister has a flair for design, so she has followed through on the observations of Montrose **4QOTD** Morris. She has placed a flower box in front of the meters, and undertaken other aesthetic improvements to the home. She is, however, a distinct minority in her development. Most folks could not give a damn. My sister is so fed up that she is selling her place.
In my opinion, also expressed by Bob Marvin last week, the driver behind these homes are folks’ values and expectations. I believe that if you want to eliminate these homes, the key lies in changing folks’ tastes and values, which is a big topic for another day.
want it more saccharine CH?