Monday Blogwrap

2nd Street Cafe did good business, whether the food was tops or not. We were in there on a weekday for lunch and it was packed full. And not full of just moms and strollers either. They attracted a business work crowd. If they’ve gone out of business then it must be for other reasons, something to do with financial choices or the landlord raised the rent.

If Park Slope landlords keep on going crazy raising rents 4 or 5 times current rent like my hair salon had happen to them, the only business that will afford Park Slope are more banks (2 more bigass banks arrived on 5th Ave in the last year) or big chain stores and restaurants. Yawn. What a boring commercial area that will become.

I finally saw one of those orange-vested dudes the other day. I did a double take as he was strolling groceries in a neon-vest, then I remembered that he’s from the co-op. I was so excited! I’m a New Yorker but new to Brooklyn, and I’d never seen one of the co-op people that are so often mentioned on this blog. It was my celeb sighting…

WTF r u talking about 7:55?

Seeing those great houses facing FG Park in the photo thought it worthwhile posting this here:

Can someone estimate what we should expect to offer for a 4-floor “regular” townhouse in prime Fort Greene that needs a real reno? Basically, by “prime” I mean “prime commuting walking distance and decent shopping”–anything south of DeKalb and west of, say, Clermont. By “real reno” I mean, new everything like windows, electric, heat/hot water systems, bathrooms and kitchens but the bones are decent with some details still intact…maybe new interior woodwork around windows and doors.

We have looked at a couple of places and don’t want (can’t afford) the really big houses like on South Portland and the park. And we don’t like the smaller ones on Carlton between Greene and Layette…saw one and its “garden” floor was really only a cellar with windows. We’re more in the market for an in-between sized brick rowhouse like on Lafayette or something.

The backyards in most of FG are not that deep like they are in Prospect Heights but really, it is more the convenience to all the trains in FG and the feel of the neighborhood we like. Truth is, we live here now and don’t want to leave.

Are all prices in prime FG near the trains well north of 1.6 even for places that, frankly, need a real reno?

Also, what’s the opinion out there (aside from “After AY…”). Is it worth dropping 1.75 to 2m on a basic double-duplex or owner-duplex-plus-two-rentals in prime FG? Is the nabe going to remain “golden” or at least stable through this downturn?

Feedback please. Thanks!