Yeah, I was being serious about the convent, not snarky. However, if it really needs 20 million in repairs...

Posted by: Heather at December 18, 2008 5:53 PM in response to Fort Greene Co-Housing Deal Falls Apart

Maybe they're going to take over the convent instead?

Posted by: Heather at December 18, 2008 11:14 AM in response to Fort Greene Co-Housing Deal Falls Apart

Emu's. They're uggs knock offs. (With real wool.) I got mine for $50 on sale on amazon. I love my amazon prime.

Although, I have to admit, my toddler's emus look nicer than mine. Not a ton of arch support. But yeah, I can wear them without socks, and because they were so cheap, I have no probs with putting them in the washing machine.

I also love my washing machine... but that is a story for another time.

Posted by: Heather at December 17, 2008 7:06 PM in response to Streetlevel: New Blood on 5th Avenue

I usually make my driver do this for me. Or one of the chambermaids.

Posted by: Heather at December 17, 2008 7:02 PM in response to Closing Bell: Visit the Nabe at Night

Not really heavy metal, morelike early goth.

Posted by: Heather at December 17, 2008 11:37 AM in response to Willoughby Avenue Convent Closing, Future Uncertain

When my friend was looking in 98, Williamsburg houses were going for more like $350K, for the 2 and 3-families. The smaller shacks were about 150K, but they were actual shacks. This was a huge uptick from a few years previous, granted. I remember at the time thinking those had to be the ceiling... because unlike most of the rest of Brooklyn, the architecture just wasn't that great.

Okay, so I was wrong.

Anyways, my friend bought a shack in Park Slope instead. Because it was cheaper.

So I guess what I am saying, Williamsburgguy, is I wish we had known you then! I would have happily bought one of your properties for $68K.

To go back to the broader issue at hand, I guess we need inflation. Maybe the traders will artificially boost commodities prices again and make that happen.

Posted by: Heather at December 17, 2008 9:51 AM in response to Quote of the Day

A lot of us actually like living near stores and conveniences. One of the more annoying facts about Park Slope life in my mind are the long blocks you have to slog up to get milk and beer in the snow... not to mention, their quiet utopias are a perfect mugger's paradise.

Posted by: Heather at December 16, 2008 6:37 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 195 Prospect Park West

I like the building and wonder how cheap it could actually go. $700K? $600K?

The interior is seriously old-school Brooklyn. What is that thing in the kitchen with the stovepipe?

Posted by: Heather at December 16, 2008 1:57 PM in response to House of the Day: 37 Wolcott Street

I predict they will try and rent the 1 bedrooms (which, btw, are amazingly small) for 2300, and the 2 bedrooms for 3K plus. I also predict they will not get those prices.

Posted by: Heather at December 16, 2008 1:52 PM in response to Viridian Goes Rental

Yeah, it's the wall arranging thing, the fact that you need to watch where you put electronics and musical instruments, not to mention furniture, they tend to accumlate dust and pet hair, are impossible to clean well and the fact that electric heat is kinda expensive and inefficient. I could go on and on. Seriously, can you retrofit and put in radiators?

It is true, Nokilissa, people always seem to accept baseboards... and will even demonize those through the wall heating/cooling units, which I have to say, also annoy me but are far preferable.

Posted by: Heather at December 16, 2008 1:48 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 195 Prospect Park West

Area isn't great, but the lower range of prices isn't bad for the space. And it's close to decent areas... close to Choice and Still Hip and all of that. I think the higher-priced units will have to come down more, but they're not bad. What are the schools like?

Posted by: Heather at December 16, 2008 1:28 PM in response to Yet Another Round of Price Cuts at Lofts on Lex

I like the layout, but question. Can you replace baseboard heating and if so, with what? Radiators? Cause I hate, hate, hate baseboard heating.

Posted by: Heather at December 16, 2008 1:16 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 195 Prospect Park West

The kitchens in 105 Lex are three-sided, with a lot of empty space in the middle, and yet annoyingly not enough space to actually put a table or something. These kitchens look better, actually. Sorry, should have explained that.

Posted by: Heather at December 16, 2008 11:46 AM in response to Yet Another Round of Price Cuts at Lofts on Lex

So the house is landmarked?

I know I have bad taste, but I really like the green house next door. I was admiring it today.

Posted by: Heather at December 16, 2008 11:17 AM in response to Help on the Way for 173 St. James Place?

I saw the neighboring building, 105 Lex, when they had that preschool open house there. (Sponsored by Corcoran, no less!)

I have to say, at least these are actually loft-sized? And at 105 Lex at least, I didn't entirely hate them. The kitchens were too large. The bathrooms had those gross acrylic tubs that are supposed to be nice but aren't. But all in all? It made me consider the block and the location. Which is not good, exactly, but also not that bad.

Compared to 105, I think these have lower ceilings and less window exposure, which is sort of a pita if you want to build out, but spacewise for the money, they're a lot better than a Bushwich conversion or something in east Williamsburg.

So... I kind of like these. Or at least I like the building next door.

Posted by: Heather at December 16, 2008 11:11 AM in response to Yet Another Round of Price Cuts at Lofts on Lex

I'd say it's our West Philly.

Posted by: Heather at December 16, 2008 10:13 AM in response to San Francisco of the East Coast

Looks like the fine work of Bricolage... but honestly, I live in a Bricolage and they're not that bad. Would I rather be in pre-war? Totally, but none of the older apartments we looked at would rent to anyone with kids... lead liability issues. Is that legal? No. Do I want to argue the point? Not really.

As an added plus, my kid doesn't have lead poisoning! And we have laundry!

In any event, my guess it'd be reasons like that as to why these are occupied.

But yeah, that middle one is -- I'd say Miami. If they'd used Scarano gray brick though, it'd just like all the other faux-modern condo buildings.

Posted by: Heather at December 16, 2008 10:10 AM in response to BK Developers on 12th Street

Winelover, I'm not sure that's sustainable, at least in the short-term. I think it was a good plan when Williamsburg condos were cheaper, but as I look at the moment they're actually becoming more expensive than their counterparts elsewhere in brownstone Brooklyn AND there's more inventory. A lot more inventory. Like, a ton more inventory.

Posted by: Heather at December 15, 2008 8:17 PM in response to SROs for Hipsters?

I'd call them fortunate, but possibly foolish, for wanting to put that money back into the still-elevated real estate market.

Posted by: Heather at December 12, 2008 4:04 PM in response to The Curious Case of 88 Lafayette Avenue

I love the wallpaper in the WT house. Especially that green.

The thing about wallpaper is, it's hard to do it yourself. Trust me. I am doing a terrible job of it and trying to make it artistic.

Posted by: Heather at December 12, 2008 3:56 PM in response to Open House Picks

Notsomuch on that easy retirement, DIBS. My father is constantly having to find renters for his place while he travels the world. It's kind of a pain, not to mention at this point his place needs a ton of work, most of which it's not getting.

Posted by: Heather at December 12, 2008 10:49 AM in response to Home Ownership Bad for Your Health

It honestly looks okay to me. Could be a lot worse. Although it might be better if they finished stuccoing the front...

However, this house is plain enough that you could pretty much finish it however you wanted.

Posted by: Heather at December 12, 2008 10:34 AM in response to Horror Show Friday

on a wolff range, presumably.

Posted by: Heather at December 11, 2008 11:45 AM in response to What the Census Says About Us

For an active thread, this is amazingly boring. I like it better when you all bitch about kitchens.

Posted by: Heather at December 11, 2008 11:31 AM in response to What the Census Says About Us

Funny, I expected a lot of whining about the rent-stabilized "parasites."

Posted by: Heather at December 11, 2008 10:20 AM in response to What the Census Says About Us

Those are Manhattan prices, which are dropping. I predict a Brooklyn rental correction. Yes, yes, I know the arguments... I'd rather be here in Brooklyn too, frankly, but there's a ton of unsold condo inventory out there and an increasingly smaller population of people with jobs that can afford those rents.

Posted by: Heather at December 10, 2008 7:16 PM in response to Rent-to-Own at 360 Baltic

Nm, I checked layout. Wow, I actually like that layout for the size of the apartment. It sort of makes sense.

Posted by: Heather at December 9, 2008 12:57 PM in response to Price Hikes at the Sydney

Are these 800 square feet two bedrooms with two bathrooms?

Posted by: Heather at December 9, 2008 12:56 PM in response to Price Hikes at the Sydney

Wasn't Whole Foods in charge of its renovation? I guess they're not anymore...

Posted by: Heather at December 9, 2008 12:34 PM in response to Missing Details at Landmarked Third and Third Building

Even with the toxicity, you could probably interest me in the location if the square footage was doubled. But that's new construction in Williamsburg: 750 square feet and two bedrooms in it!

On the other hand, I guess those prices pass for what is considered reasonable right now. And better than what was being offered at a similar price in Bushwick...

Posted by: Heather at December 8, 2008 8:14 PM in response to Across-the-Board Cuts at 271 Nassau Avenue

Well, presumably all of these contractors will lose their jobs when the project is over.

Honestly, you lost me when you imported cork floors from Capri (or was it Cyprus) but then made a big deal about not importing green drywall from China, due to the carbon footprint issue.

Okay, I admit, you lost me before that too, because there are dozens of stores like this in Williamsburg and all of their clothes look like bad 80's thrift store cast-offs.

Posted by: Heather at December 7, 2008 1:47 PM in response to Bird Blog: Week 23

Damn, those vendors are extremely brave. It is freezing out there!

Posted by: Heather at December 7, 2008 1:32 PM in response to Closing Bell: Outdoor Flea + Indoor Holiday Market

They left a bunch of windows open for the winters. Makes me so mad. This house was in livable condition two years ago, and now it's a wreck. Looked to me like the owners were deliberately sabotaging it so they could tear it down without any grief.

Of course, now they don't have the funds to tear it down, one assumes.

Posted by: Heather at December 5, 2008 10:46 AM in response to Another One Bites the Dust?

me too. I think it's a vacant lot now.

Posted by: Heather at December 5, 2008 7:49 AM in response to Movies on Metropolitan Coming Soon

To me there are three things that determine price: location, square footage, and general condition. The rest is just window dressing. This house is big, in a great location (for PLG), and everything works. Nothing wrong with their furniture, either, which, by the way, one assumes is not included.

I predict that the current obsession with kitchen and bathroom appliances is going to be one of those things in twenty years that people look back on and say, "oh yeah, the oughts. That's when everyone thought they needed a $5 thousand dollar stove. How tacky."

Posted by: Heather at December 4, 2008 8:54 PM in response to House of the Day: 177 Maple Street

Hey, but you could live in the Edge for that money!

(I am joking... I mean, yes, you could, but...)

It's beautiful. It's in what used to be the best neighborhood in Brooklyn and what will become the best neighborhood again, I suspect. It does kind of throw a bunch of the other million-plus-a-lot condos in other neighborhoods though slightly out of whack.

Posted by: Heather at December 3, 2008 2:49 PM in response to Condos of the Day: 24 Remsen Street

I actually think there's not much point in saving when you make that little vs. cost of living, Rob. The better thing to do would be to figure out how to make more money, or marry it. People act like buying is the end-all, even if what you are buying is 400 square feet in bushwick, which is still a slum.

(BTW, I like Bushwick. But I think up-and-coming is a relative term, and I actually don't really want to see Bushwick take off, because it's one of the few relatively safe and affordable places where working families CAN live in Brooklyn, these days.)

But the truth is, prices vs. salaries are completely out of whack right now. One of them has to give.

Still, seriously, dude. You are not of the class that should have a dog walker.

Posted by: Heather at December 2, 2008 8:39 PM in response to Co-op Success Story in Bushwick

I'm usually negative, but at $600K this sounds okay to me.

And not having two bathrooms in 950 square feet is a huge plus.

This zoned for ps20?

Posted by: Heather at December 2, 2008 4:45 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 141 Lafayette Avenue

Like I said, best of luck with that?

But, look... it's like we already live in a community. One of the things that makes it interesting is that it is filled with widely divergent people, with all sorts of ideas about things and we all co-exist pretty harmoniously. I feel like what you're shooting for here is the appearance of diversity, without any actual (read: economic) diversity. You want to live in a bubble in an urban environment.

Maybe that's too harsh, but I can't quite get over the whole, "invest $50K now and you may never see it again, but if you clap your heels two times and believe..." thing. Who can afford to do that? Maybe I'm just envious of the way your finances let you make these kind of pie-in-the-sky choices, while most of us toil along. Maybe that's it. I do realize that there's no other way to build something like this from scratch than to have investors. I know Brooklyn is expensive too. But it's a ton of money for an ideology in a neighborhood filled with existing co-ops, many of which that have quite nice amenities already.

And how does a shaded yes work, exactly? Do you then learn that your neighbor down the hall is grudgingly agreeing to the wine cellar, even though they hate the stuff? Do you then resent him when it doesn't go through?

And who in New York that has all this money has the time for this anyways? Weekly meetings? Where people talk about their feelings? (That's from the Times article.)

I think what this will end up being more like is a gated suburban enclave, with smaller-than-average living spaces and scary-ass rules. I'm sorry to be negative, but if this was actual middle-class housing instead of some romantic ideal of it created by people with extremely deep pockets, I'd be more enthusiastic.

Posted by: Heather at December 1, 2008 9:13 PM in response to Utopia in the City

Try Two Jakes in Williamsburg, Johnny. Or maybe Moon Chattal.

Posted by: Heather at December 1, 2008 6:55 PM in response to Brooklyn Modern #4: Green, Industrial Wonderland

I honestly think if you have an adjustable rate mortgage you should be smart enough to have an opinion about when to get out of it. Historically, interest rates don't go much below 6% on mortgages for a 30 year, like ever... but they do go up considerably. Therefore, if they're near the bottom... well, you figure it out.

Posted by: Heather at December 1, 2008 4:51 PM in response to House of the Day: 170 South Oxford Street

Not if you have to clean them, and not in anything under 1000K square feet.

Posted by: Heather at December 1, 2008 3:38 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 111 Hicks Railroad Loft

I grew up in a neighborhood full of these in the seventies, in a household where consensus decision-making was like, part of our religion and... I wouldn't go near this with a ten-foot pole.

But that is just me. More power to people that can make this work -- I am just not that into committees, or discussions about housework, or dealing with people whose feelings are hurt and need to be placated for weeks on end without any decisions actually being made.

Honestly, it's just that little word "consensus" that scares me here. If they had some kind of voting system, I think it would work out a lot better.

Posted by: Heather at December 1, 2008 12:40 PM in response to Utopia in the City

Gee, I dunno, billy. Doesn't DWR sell reproductions of some of those pieces?

Posted by: Heather at December 1, 2008 12:34 PM in response to Brooklyn Modern #4: Green, Industrial Wonderland

So we need another target 10 blocks from the other target? What am I missing?

Posted by: Heather at November 30, 2008 11:40 AM in response to Development Watch: Avalon Rising on Myrtle

The thing is, big old houses are expensive. I know this is an obvious point, but still. There is a stupid movie, "Don't Eat the Daisies" that is mostly notable for the fabulous Connecticut wreck that Doris Day and Richard Niven and their brood move into. When one of their kids remarks that "this house is so big!", Richard Niven explains, "we couldn't afford a smaller one." In a downturn, this point becomes true again. I love Victorian flatbush, but the fact that it's far from Manhattan and not cheap to heat may become a factor.

Posted by: Heather at November 26, 2008 9:26 PM in response to House of the Day: 271 Stratford Road

bah, who cares. I just want to see a bunch of locovores with guns out there hunting it.

Posted by: Heather at November 26, 2008 9:18 PM in response to Closing Bell: Prospect Park's Wild Turkey

You could build a nice replica of Brooklyn on the roofdeck of your Manhattan penthouse for $10MM. Probably.

Posted by: Heather at November 26, 2008 1:59 PM in response to Wanna Save Money? Leave Brooklyn For Manhattan

Many upscale stores also sell the exact same chain store merchandise found across the country too.

It is a shame about the upper floors. After I read that, I walked along Fulton Mall trying to figure out how one would put the staircases back in... looks like a huge project. That being said, it does seem like a more productive enterprise than another luxury condo tower.

Also, please tell me that Macy's isn't closing. I've never bought anything there, although I'm considering their couches, but I grew up with Strawbridge's and Wanamaker's and I really love old department stores.

Posted by: Heather at November 26, 2008 1:52 PM in response to Looking Up at the Fulton Mall

Okay, but you really shouldn't wear a black fedora. And it's not about the black thing.

Posted by: Heather at November 25, 2008 5:45 PM in response to Headed Back to the 1970s in Bed Stuy and Beyond?

Rob, Brooklyn would turn into Fishtown in the 80's. Which means mostly what it would cause would be a lot of explosions from bad labs. But I am not seeing that happening.

Posted by: Heather at November 25, 2008 2:15 PM in response to Headed Back to the 1970s in Bed Stuy and Beyond?

It's 2008. Every place in brownstone brooklyn is a quick walk to a fantastic wine store.

Sometimes I wonder if there's some kind of magic cheap wine at these stores that I am missing to make this actually worthwhile.

Posted by: Heather at November 25, 2008 2:12 PM in response to Fresh Rentals at 639 Fourth Avenue

Aluminum framing is luxury?

Posted by: Heather at November 25, 2008 11:15 AM in response to Fresh Rentals at 639 Fourth Avenue

I can't believe this post has gotten so far with no "Warriors" reference.

Posted by: Heather at November 25, 2008 11:14 AM in response to Headed Back to the 1970s in Bed Stuy and Beyond?

If by those people, you mean the 80-year old grandmothers who are being kicked out of their rent-controlled apartments, then by all means, continue to pontificate. I'm sure your grandmother is just fine.

Posted by: Heather at November 24, 2008 5:55 PM in response to Closing Bell: There IS Someplace Like Home

I think I used to see Bad Advice on the street walking her dog. (If she has a dog? Maybe it wasn't her.) Anyways, we always smiled at each other and it felt like, for a moment, there was someone in the neighborhood who might understand.

No offense meant to the owners of Atlas or Mamalu's, because you guys, I love.... but, uh, yeah.

Posted by: Heather at November 24, 2008 5:18 PM in response to Bburg: Not Just for [American] Hipsters Anymore

http://www.newyorkshitty.com/?p=11569

That actually pretty much sums up my disillusionment with Williamsburg pretty well. First of all, the "art" is terrible. Secondly, I remember watching them race to tear down the old movie theatre that was there last year. They ripped it apart in like a week to try and beat the downzoning... and now there's an enormous vacant lot. In the middle of one of Williamsburg's "prime" shopping strips. Across from another vacant lot. Right next to Bird, which sells $300 T-shirt dresses, but is ecologically sustainable. Whatever.

I still love the neighborhood. More than any other place in New York it feels like home to me. Not because I've bought and sold and profited from it, but because it was the place I spent my twenties in, and the place I moved back to raise a family. I was bullish on raising a family there too. I promoted PS 17 on the local listserve. I looked into preschool options. I ignored what I knew about superfund sites, lead in the soil, and rates of asthma along the BQE corridor. But what finally hit home for me was that I didn't want to spend half our take-home pay on a crappy condo across the street from another half-built crappy condo on top of an oil slick next to a former cadmium paint factory. Nor did I want to rent the same crappy condo for $3K/month. Increasingly, as I walked down the street, I wondered, "Who the hell are these people?"

I wonder that still. Perhaps the answer really is, "They are clueless European ex-pats who are willing to spend too much to live in the next soho, not having noticed that the first soho is actually not that nice at all."

And, while on the topic, since when are all of these people who work in "the arts" rich? Am I just bitter? Or has there been some kind of sea-change, in which decorators can afford to live in Schaeffer landing and buy $1MM townhouses? And if so, why do they all have the exact same taste? When did being artistic involve becoming such a conformist that you do all your shopping at DWR?

Most of the new businesses in Williamsburg have been propped up by foreign currencies and foreign investment. I know that too. Some of the new business owners are great people. And there's nothing wrong with it... I'm just not convinced those businesses are sustainable in the new economy.

Then again, one of the BEST things about Williamsburg in 1995 was that it was exactly the same as Williamsburg in 1989, pretty much, with a few more cash machines and the L-Cafe. Maybe an economic downturn will stabilize things. Growth has not been kind.

If it collapses, I might move back. But in the mean time, except for the lack of decent coffee, Fort Greene is so much nicer there's no comparison.

Posted by: Heather at November 24, 2008 4:30 PM in response to Bburg: Not Just for [American] Hipsters Anymore

Wine Lover, I have been extolling the charm of Williamsburg longer than you have had your real estate license, or, possibly, lived in Brooklyn. However, I've also seen that charm dramatically decrease recently, as much of what made it charming has been replaced with vacant lots and half-built construction projects that, even if they are ever finished, will contain crappy apartments that all look exactly the same. (If the apartments were larger and less crappy, I'd be a lot more understanding.)

I still love my old neighborhood--I always will. But I am not immune to the issues. And there are many.

Seriously, what would happen if the European money pulls out of Brooklyn and goes back to the continent? What happens to a mortgage when you can't sell and you lose your work visa? Rentals? Sublets? What happens when the dollar strengthens and your exchange rate arbitrage becomes less of a bargain?

Posted by: Heather at November 24, 2008 1:31 PM in response to Bburg: Not Just for [American] Hipsters Anymore

I guess Williamsburg has an artistic vibe, if "artistic" is narrowly defined by danish furniture, Eggio preschool, skinny jeans, and condominium ownership.

Posted by: Heather at November 24, 2008 11:19 AM in response to Bburg: Not Just for [American] Hipsters Anymore

I'm wondering if it's easier to walk away from a bad mortgage if you have residency in another country. Is it?

Posted by: Heather at November 24, 2008 10:50 AM in response to Bburg: Not Just for [American] Hipsters Anymore

This sort of looks like a good deal to me... until I remember that we almost rented the same layout much closer to Atlantic on Henry for $2500/month. That being said, it looks much more appealing than the new construction that's priced above it for same square footage.

And if you need a house to rent in Olympia, WA, um, let me know?

Posted by: Heather at November 22, 2008 7:42 PM in response to Advice for a Freaked Out Apartment Seller

There are nice cafes and restaurants, which will soon be out of business if this is built, due to the increased rents. I predict another duane rede. (There's already one coming to the "Gateway to Williasmburg!" development on Metropolitan and Union.)

Posted by: Heather at November 21, 2008 2:46 PM in response to Here's What 40 Stories in Greenpoint Looks Like

You should check out Baltic Exchange on Atlantic for fabric. Much cheaper than Moon River.

Posted by: Heather at November 21, 2008 12:44 PM in response to Bird Blog: Week 22

Hey, Rob, as long as it's tobacco, it's cool with me.

Regarding drinking on stoops, I think you have to ask yourself: are you okay with other people drinking on your stoop?

I am guessing no.

Go drink on your roof, if it's that important. Or, put it in a coffee mug, genius.

Posted by: Heather at November 21, 2008 12:37 PM in response to Stoop Drinking Still Illegal

Okay, but who is going to live there?

Posted by: Heather at November 20, 2008 10:56 AM in response to 40 Stories on the Greenpoint Waterfront?

Oooo! Me, me, me!

Finally, my investment scheme of not investing has paid off!

Posted by: Heather at November 20, 2008 10:51 AM in response to Who Says There's No Credit!

PS 17 looked good to us before we moved. I think people are sheep, for many, it's 29, 321 or nothing.

Their loss.

Posted by: Heather at November 19, 2008 6:17 PM in response to Life During Recession Time: Schools

She's a Heather.

Posted by: Heather at November 19, 2008 5:37 PM in response to Closing Bell: New Entry to Real Estate Lexicon:

Vanderbilt Avenue, I think? Is the cut-off.

Posted by: Heather at November 19, 2008 3:14 PM in response to Dolkart Down on Prospects for "Fringe Areas"

Considering some of the crap renting in Williamsburg for $4K/month, that actually looks kind of reasonable to me. Duplexes in brownstones around there can also go at about $4k/month.... this is, amenities-wise, much, much nicer.

Posted by: Heather at November 19, 2008 3:10 PM in response to Rental of the Day: 383 Carlton Avenue

WHo's ROTW? This has been bothering me for days now.

Posted by: Heather at November 19, 2008 11:01 AM in response to Wednesday Links

Private and college tuition have been outstripping income and inflation for a long time, and as far as I can see, for not very good reasons. A downturn might help reduce that.

Posted by: Heather at November 19, 2008 10:58 AM in response to Life During Recession Time: Schools

I think it's fairly heartbreaking to look at a class of 5-year olds and have the ability to decide that some are "bad apples."

Posted by: Heather at November 18, 2008 5:19 PM in response to Cheap Today, Cheaper Tomorrow?

I think the first flying cockroach would send me screaming back to Brooklyn. That's what happened in New Orleans.

Posted by: Heather at November 18, 2008 5:16 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 1 Pierrepont Street

Ooo, I've actually been interested in Merida, in the abstract way that someone who doesn't speak spanish and can't afford a vacation home can be. The tile and high ceilings in those colonial homes are amaaaazing.

Posted by: Heather at November 18, 2008 5:00 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 1 Pierrepont Street

New construction prices dropping in those blue chip areas will pull the rest down, I predict. There's too much inventory that no one can afford, and most of it isn't worth what it's priced at.

Posted by: Heather at November 18, 2008 4:57 PM in response to Quote of the Day

I like the Mill Basin house better.

Posted by: Heather at November 18, 2008 4:53 PM in response to Closing Bell: 315 Garfield Place, The Movie

Sam, you're slow. I'm just funny.

Posted by: Heather at November 18, 2008 3:41 PM in response to HOD Re-Opens for Business

Ouch, I was hoping the M was going to start running from Queens through Manhattan and into southern Brooklyn again.

Posted by: Heather at November 18, 2008 3:38 PM in response to 50% Less G Service Coming Our Way

What is a "service core" and why no pictures of the private wine cellar?

Also, I like the wallpaper.

Posted by: Heather at November 18, 2008 3:27 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 1 Pierrepont Street

They're not that bad. They're actually pretty good. But I don't want people moving in who are as "afraid" of them as she seems to be. Miss Muffet, may I suggest an easy way for you to afford your private school tuition? RENT.

Posted by: Heather at November 18, 2008 3:22 PM in response to Cheap Today, Cheaper Tomorrow?

Think of how much they will be reducing their carbon footprint by not transporting these people back and forth in busses all the time!! Geez, I thought you people were Brooklynites who cared about the environment!

Posted by: Heather at November 17, 2008 8:05 PM in response to HOD Re-Opens for Business

It positively warms the cockles of my heart to hear you all rattle on about throwing people out of the homes they've lived in for (probably) decades.

Posted by: Heather at November 17, 2008 7:49 PM in response to HOTD: 306 Washington Avenue, Two Price Cuts Later

It's naive to think that just because your dealer delivers and you're only buying pot that you're not supporting the rest of the drug trade. The organizations that distribute distribute all sorts of things, and even if you're buying your weed from a hydroponic farmer in Oregon, I'd suspect they have ties to a biker gang you may not find so hygienic.

If you want to argue legalization, do so, but as long as you're supporting the industry as it is, you're supporting all parts of it.

Posted by: Heather at November 17, 2008 4:49 PM in response to Notorious Crackhouse at 474 Greene Avenue Up In Flames

As I have learned from this blog, all you slopers smoke pot, which is conveniently delivered to your doorsteps. I think it's wrong to assume you can separate the elements of the drug trade you find convenient, while condemning the ones you do not.

Posted by: Heather at November 16, 2008 3:09 PM in response to Notorious Crackhouse at 474 Greene Avenue Up In Flames

It's really about 90% speculation. Will real estate values go up in the next ten years? Will fringe neighborhoods gentrify more? All signs don't point to this happening.

I think these houses look interesting for $1MM, I wonder what the break-even price point would be for the builder to still make a decent profit.

Posted by: Heather at November 13, 2008 6:30 PM in response to Price Cuts at Nzinga Townhouses

Eh, I like a bit of urban decay. Crumbling buildings are much more atmospheric than abandoned construction sites.

Posted by: Heather at November 13, 2008 12:52 PM in response to Chang Starts Demo at 46 Nevins

Zoned for ps 11, which I understand is good. This looks nice.

Posted by: Heather at November 13, 2008 12:49 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 360 Clinton Avenue One Bedroom

At this point in the cycle I find it hard to root for anything tearing down anything that has the possibility to become a vacant, trash-strewn lot for the forseeable future. I think we will have enough of those already.

Posted by: Heather at November 13, 2008 12:32 PM in response to Chang Starts Demo at 46 Nevins

Now it can be one literally!

In fact, I think that is the cheap and easy answer for Atlantic Yards too.

Posted by: Heather at November 12, 2008 2:10 PM in response to New Building Plan Filed for City Point

I like it, but I'm currently applying random strips of vintage wallpaper to my walls so it's possible I have no taste.

Posted by: Heather at November 12, 2008 11:38 AM in response to A Mediterranean Makover

There seems to be a lot of searching for blame going on here, which is pointless. Somehow the idea that homeownership was a god-given right became as endemic in American culture as the aesthetic that required every kitchen and bathroom more than three years old to be immediately remodeled in order to increase "value."

I'd say there's a reason why sometimes interest rates should go up... the past decade would have played out differently if they had.

Posted by: Heather at November 11, 2008 3:47 PM in response to Citigroup Puts the Kibosh on Foreclosures

That's great, parked, but it's the lugging the twenty-five pound baby and the laundry up four flights together that's the issue.

Posted by: Heather at November 11, 2008 3:34 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 45 7th Avenue

If they open at 7AM, Provisions may have a competitor for my early morning coffee run.

Posted by: Heather at November 11, 2008 11:13 AM in response to Choice Atlantic Revealed!

Those specific Mitchell Lama houses are larger and nicer than the "luxury" condo I live in. I've seen both...

More affordable housing in this area would be great. I hope this happens,ideally with a Starbucks and Barnes and Noble, but you know, they pay me to say that.

(Okay, they don't, but they should.)

What, if anything is in that telecom building now? I've been wondering for ages.

Posted by: Heather at November 10, 2008 11:13 AM in response to Big Plans for 470 Vanderbilt

The last I heard (on this blog in a comment so not sure how accurate) they had hourly rates.

I will be surprised if the Union Ave luxury strip ever gets finished, honestly -- but a Holiday Inn Express on Union AVENUE makes almost as much sense as a gas station to me -- which is to say, a lot more sense than a luxury hotel.

Posted by: Heather at November 10, 2008 7:57 AM in response to Another Hotel for The Burg

I am thrilled, because right now we have to walk to Montague or Park Slope to not pay atm fees. But, oh, right. Zomg, evul bank! WAH!~ wHY R NOT organic fruit market, wah! I dunno! Buyrz local!

Posted by: Heather at November 7, 2008 9:21 PM in response to New Chase on Myrtle Now Official

Baltic Exchange on Atlantic has vintage rolls of wallpaper for $2. You could hand-paint them. Not complicated, not expensive. I am just saying.

Posted by: Heather at November 7, 2008 9:17 PM in response to Bird Blog: Week 21

Yes, cachet. That's what that is.

Altervoice, you do know know that Union STREET is in Park Slope, right?

Posted by: Heather at November 7, 2008 9:13 PM in response to Another Hotel for The Burg

Long-term I think it's a good investment. Location is amazing -- I am still cursing the landlord across the street from these that wouldn't rent to us, although I understand his reasoning and am grateful that our child will not have lead poisoning... anyways, location, location, location. Central. This is good.

Considering the glut of luxury condos in the area, long-term, good investment. Short-term, perhaps notsomuch.

But great empandadas should also count for something.

Posted by: Heather at November 7, 2008 6:58 PM in response to Be@Schermerhorn

Yes, well, you guys over there shouldn't complain -- at least you have coffee!!

Posted by: Heather at November 7, 2008 6:55 AM in response to The Big Draw in Clinton Hill: Architecture

A good Barnes & Noble would do more for than the community than another gourmet grocer. What's more it would serve all of the community. All. of it.

Not that Choice isn't nice -- it is, even if sometimes all of the preciousness makes my teeth ache -- but seriously, Clinton Hill and Fort Greene already have a metric ton of quaint little shoppes selling organic produce and seventh generation diapers. Do they need more? By the same token I'm not sure they need more wine stores? (I can count three on Fulton within ten minutes of each other and I'm not even trying.)

I know the health food store is fairly new -- about a year, I think. Pretty sure the hardware store has been around a bit longer though.

I'm still not entirely sure where the Outpost is, except that it's far enough down on Fulton that I've never seen it. Past the Post Office, I guess?

Both bodegas on Clinton and Fulton are fine. Yaffa's coffee is even decent, and they're great.

Posted by: Heather at November 6, 2008 9:57 PM in response to The Big Draw in Clinton Hill: Architecture

The thing I really hate when Brooklynites start discussing "local" businesses and patting themselves on the back for supporting them is their definition of local excludes businesses that have been there for years. Fulton has good bodegas. A good fish and chips place. A hardware store. A health food store. The Met.

All it needs is some decent coffee.

And possibly a Barnes & Noble.

Posted by: Heather at November 6, 2008 5:38 PM in response to The Big Draw in Clinton Hill: Architecture

Looks like great middle-income housing to me!~

Posted by: Heather at November 4, 2008 8:08 PM in response to Development Watch: 267 6th Street

I recently threw out my asbestos sample that I got as a kid at a rock museum. Those really were simpler times.

Posted by: Heather at November 4, 2008 8:07 PM in response to Tuesday Blogwrap

How is the coffee and how early do they open?

Posted by: Heather at November 3, 2008 5:25 PM in response to Streetlevel: New Bakery in Clinton Hill

I love my full-size LG combo unit so much that I'm considering giving it a name. They work great. And it takes 110V. (We have a 220 plug so I actually run it off an extension cord. Don't think the full-size unit can run off the sink though.

Posted by: Heather at October 31, 2008 3:09 PM in response to Tenant Wants to Install Own W/D

Williamsburguy, many of us have small apartments, crappy jobs, and have been disenfranchised. Anyways, if you're going to make that argument, you should probably move out of Williamsburg since you're obviously part of the "problem."

Posted by: Heather at October 28, 2008 12:44 AM in response to Breaking: Shooting in Fort Greene

Williamsburgy, I think that the kids in Detroit, Butte, Merced and all the other godforsaken places in this country where there are no jobs or opportunities whatsoever may have a reason to complain. New York City? Not so much. There is affordable housing here, actually. There are decent schools. There is public transportation, there are unions. There's more than just the Walmart on the other side of the tracks to provide opportunities.

Stop being an apologist, you're not keeping it real.

Posted by: Heather at October 27, 2008 6:54 PM in response to Breaking: Shooting in Fort Greene

We were on the bus on Fulton when it happened, -- it diverted down Dekalb. Kinda scary, that's right along our normal walking route. So from what I've gathered, the shooter got into a car and drove away? And the car was found abandoned nearby? And no one knows anything?

Posted by: Heather at October 27, 2008 6:31 PM in response to Fulton Shooting, 3:30 p.m.

What would be the fun thing?

Not that I don't somewhat agree with you, but mostly what I find depressing about these developments is that for "luxury" developments, they're usually kind of small and bland. At least this one shows some vision. A tv in the master bath! Built into the mirror!! How cool is that?

Also, compared to what some things are priced, these actually sound like a good deal.

Posted by: Heather at October 21, 2008 10:22 AM in response to Checking In On 166 Montague Street

I don't understand $200 jeans.

Posted by: Heather at October 8, 2008 2:39 PM in response to Streetlevel: New Boutique in South Slope

How much does it cost to rip out a bathroom, anyways?

Posted by: Heather at October 8, 2008 2:37 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 63 Cranberry Street, Parlor Floor

Oh, and if the owners see this: are you selling that floral couch? I like it.

Posted by: Heather at October 8, 2008 2:32 PM in response to House of the Day: 414 Vanderbilt Avenue

It looks like it wouldn't give the kids lead poisoning, and it has central air. Those are not bad things. I wish the walls were a tasteful blood red like the Mill Basin home, but que sera sera.

Posted by: Heather at October 8, 2008 2:31 PM in response to House of the Day: 414 Vanderbilt Avenue

It's taken them two years to get that far with the building. I'd wonder why...

Posted by: Heather at October 8, 2008 2:25 PM in response to Development Watch: 99 Havemeyer

$800K because of the outdoor space, I think?

Also, that apartment is too small to have two bathrooms.

Posted by: Heather at October 8, 2008 2:12 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 63 Cranberry Street, Parlor Floor

The Italians are all moving out (or dying), so of course there's more crime.

My prediction is there will be some kind of environmental issue uncovered with all of the McCarren park construction... I mean there ARE environmental issues there, just when the cash was good it was easy to ignore them.

But I think at the end of the day what annoys me the most about all that new construction is how crappy and small the apartments are. I happily lived in Williamsburg with lots of crime and environmental issues when my apartment was huge and cheap -- without that, it's not such a great deal.

I'm also continually saddened by the razing of North 9th Street.

Posted by: Heather at October 7, 2008 1:12 PM in response to North Brooklyn: Condo Graveyard?

Can we talk about the firepit? On the roof? Is that even legal?

Posted by: Heather at September 29, 2008 3:38 PM in response to Sales Begin at The Steelworks Loft

Yes, I remember that, the sassiest boy in America, and subway tokens. There are lots of kids in Bushwick, winelover.

Posted by: Heather at September 25, 2008 5:46 PM in response to Bushwick Is Officially "Up and Coming"

The spot I am thinking of is beyond patching. The tree's circumference takes up half the sidewalk. Gorgeous old tree, but what do you do?

Posted by: Heather at September 19, 2008 5:11 PM in response to Whose Tree Is It, Anyway?

Speaking of trees, what is up with Lafayette Avenue? There are trees on that street -- truly beautiful ones to be sure -- that take up the entire sidewalk, buckling the concrete and everything. In the winter it must be a complete nightmare.

Posted by: Heather at September 19, 2008 1:49 PM in response to Whose Tree Is It, Anyway?

You can put laundry in those apartments. And their three-bedrooms are amazing.

Posted by: Heather at September 19, 2008 10:01 AM in response to Co-ops of the Day: Turner Towers Side-by-Side

And a Starbucks.

It's not that I don't support local businesses, or want people not to realize their dreams, but frankly, a Barnes & Noble that could afford a large retail space and could also afford to pay its employees a living wage with benefits would probably be a better asset to the neighborhood.

Also, for the cost of the benefit, couldn't they have done something wacky like, oh, I don't know... opened the bookstore?

It's a shame the Border's deal at One Hanson Place fell through.

Posted by: Heather at September 19, 2008 9:48 AM in response to Fort Greene Bookstore Has Support, Needs Space

I just admire the bold use of marble and floating staircases. Do you think those marble floors are heated?

Posted by: Heather at September 17, 2008 3:44 PM in response to House of the Day: 47 Sidney Place

Yeah, I know...

And in a sick way, if I won the lottery, it would be a toss-up between that and yesterday's HoTD. But I mean, if you have $5MM to spend on a house, why not live like a mafia princess?

Posted by: Heather at September 17, 2008 3:25 PM in response to House of the Day: 47 Sidney Place

For the same price in Mill Basin, you could get this!

http://brownharrisstevens.com/detail.aspx?id=893651

Posted by: Heather at September 17, 2008 3:04 PM in response to House of the Day: 47 Sidney Place

If I ask for a Starbucks... oh, never mind.

I liked their sandwiches too. And I always meant to buy a chicken, even if they were like, $25.00.

Posted by: Heather at September 17, 2008 2:42 PM in response to It's Official: L'Epicerie Est Morte

My cats don't kill bugs, as I learned when we lived in Washington Heights. Mice and rats, sure. But not bugs.

Posted by: Heather at September 17, 2008 2:40 PM in response to New York's Dirtiest Restaurants

I think you lack vision, broadwayron.

Posted by: Heather at September 17, 2008 2:35 PM in response to Condo of the Day: 1 Tiffany Place

If you work at Ikea, you could walk there!

Posted by: Heather at September 17, 2008 1:52 PM in response to Condo of the Day: 1 Tiffany Place

I was going to email you about this, but I couldn't find the listing on Brooklyn Properties' site last week. Glad to see you noticed it too!

Really beautiful house. I love Romanesque Victorians.

Are the other mansions surrounding this one single-family too?

Posted by: Heather at September 16, 2008 6:07 PM in response to House of the Day: 405 Clinton Avenue

We used to have fun committing crimes in Bucks County, shame the hood has gone downhill since.

Posted by: Heather at September 5, 2008 8:32 PM in response to Open House Picks

The Pacific street building had a similarly-sized 2 bedroom for 450K, I think? A few months back. That was a walk-up, and less nicely renovated... that was why I was wondering, from the outside, the buildings look pretty similar.

Posted by: Heather at September 5, 2008 7:00 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 422 State Street, #20

Is it a walk-up?

Posted by: Heather at September 5, 2008 2:59 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 422 State Street, #20

When they were building it, they couldn't be bothered to erect the fence properly. I still don't understand how someone can build multi-million dollar condos and not bother learning how to make a fence. They completely obstructed the corner of N4th and Driggs for at least six months.

Posted by: Heather at September 4, 2008 2:36 PM in response to Nforth Reports Smooth Sale-ing

These could be cool if there was wallpaper. Lots and lots of wallpaper.

Posted by: Heather at September 3, 2008 5:24 PM in response to Condos of the Day: 153 Lincoln Place

Pretty house. Also, not sure what's wrong with a park being used for barbeques, etc. Rich neighborhoods tend to be sterile and empty. Also, unlike the house on Lorimer, this area doesn't have an oil spill underneath. Unlike DUMBO, it's not bisected by highways. There is parking. How are the schools?

Posted by: Heather at August 30, 2008 12:48 PM in response to House of the Day: 1094 Park Place

It's not gonna sell but it sure is pretty.

Posted by: Heather at August 26, 2008 2:22 PM in response to House of the Day: 1252 Dean Street

Just looking around Brooklyn and seeing what kind of house you can get elsewhere for that money makes Windsor Terrace unsustainable. A similar house can be had in Ridgewood for $500K. It's the same kind of neighborhood. For $1MM you could live in Ditmas, or that great house on Lincoln Road in PLG that you all hated. You could get a real limestone in Sunset Park or Bensonhurst. You could get a mansion in St George. You could move to Hudson Heights... so many better options.

I'm not knocking Windsor Terrace, I think it's cute. But the prices are absurd.

Posted by: Heather at August 21, 2008 7:22 PM in response to House of the Day: 540 16th Street

I like co-ops. I even like member-only co-ops. I grew up with the one in Powelton Village and the one on Baltimore Avenue. Hell, I started doing our family's work shift at age fourteen or so. (There was only the one work shift, one per family.)

I do however not like thinking about my shopping enough to stand in line for an hour to get it. Nor would I like driving to get it, even if I knew how to drive. Nor would I like schelpping it all home in a cart with a toddler because I don't know how to drive. I'm preparing myself to deal with the occasional excursion to Trader Joe's... but that is as far as I'm willing to go.

So, no, Polemicist, I am not threatened by your love of the unique and special that you seem to think was just invented, but for those of us who eat out when we want something special and eat pretty simply the rest of the time, in a land where both FreshDirect and Urban Organic deliver... I think the co-op's a bit unnecessary.

If I lived in East New York where there is no Fresh Direct, I would feel differently. A co-op there sounds great. One in Bed Stuy would also rock.

By the way, I think Urban Organic is a pretty underappreciated resource. $35 gets us a box of fruits and veggies each week. Sure, some of them come from Chile, which I realize is politically incorrect (unless you need a cheap bottle of wine), but I am happy to be doing my part to promote the global economy.

Or -- whatever. I just like to not spend a lot of time and effort shopping for food. How can you all complain about the work and not complain about the four hours you spend each month standing in line for it?

Posted by: Heather at August 20, 2008 7:42 PM in response to Fort Greene Co-Op Chooses Toiling

Dave, do you prefer the white paint on those or the silver? And can you recommend a local artisan? We have a porch that cries out for some sophistication.

Also, again, recycling!

Posted by: Heather at August 20, 2008 5:00 PM in response to A Different Kind of Neighborhood Watch on E. 7th Street

They also provide jobs with a bit more security than most local restaurants... but people who spurn them never seem to factor that into the equation.

Posted by: Heather at August 20, 2008 4:56 PM in response to Wednesday Food & Drink Round-Up

Oooh, laundry lines. Good point. Must do my part to protect the environment!!

Posted by: Heather at August 20, 2008 4:36 PM in response to A Different Kind of Neighborhood Watch on E. 7th Street

Yeah, east river, I suspect you're right.

And while that sucks for contractors, it will be kind of refreshing to see some kitchens with original features left the hell alone, as well as what is acceptable taste stretch to include options that don't include stainless steel, granite, and those cutesy cabinets with glass that look like they're from ikea even though they're actually from somewhere more high end.

Not that there's anything wrong with stainless and granite... just -- I still have scars from my father's remodel of a perfectly nice custom galley 60's kitchen with built-ins into an "island".

Posted by: Heather at August 20, 2008 4:32 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 123 Henry Street

Were I a property owner who was rated thus, after receiving my rating, I would immediately paint my house an attractive shade of turquoise and orange and invest heavily in garden gnomes, flamingos and possibly blinking lights.

I'd also consider some nice cyclone fencing with razor wire at the top and a rottweiler. Seriously, geez.

Posted by: Heather at August 20, 2008 4:23 PM in response to A Different Kind of Neighborhood Watch on E. 7th Street

I hobbled by the Amy Ruth's spot today and didn't notice the marshall's notice, although there were people inside looking like they were doing some kind of work. Maybe there was a reprieve? The signs for Amy Ruth's were still up...

Posted by: Heather at August 20, 2008 4:16 PM in response to Wednesday Food & Drink Round-Up

I've seen crappier condos listing at that price in Bed Stuy... so not sure what's wrong with the price. However, the fact that the market for one-bedrooms is at an almost flat price point no matter what part of Brooklyn you're looking in... should tell a prospective buyer something. This location is prime. Because of that, this is a good deal.

And kitchen looks fine to me. I wonder sometimes how people reconcile the trendy green movement with their penchant for ripping out perfectly functional kitchens to create ones.

Posted by: Heather at August 20, 2008 4:13 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 123 Henry Street

Why is it listed before it goes on the market? Isn't that a little weird?

Posted by: Heather at August 20, 2008 4:04 PM in response to House of the Day: 152 Underhill Avenue

On the plus side, only one bathroom!

On the negative: why not just get a rent stabilized 5th floor walk-up and use the communal roof deck? This area is chock-full of prewar buildings, it's not hard to do.

Posted by: Heather at August 20, 2008 2:00 AM in response to Co-op Condo of the Day: 338 Prospect Place, #5E

I am arguing against your assertion that it was ALWAYS a dirty, charmless area. I think it used to be a dirty yet charming area. Now it seems a little creepy.

Posted by: Heather at August 18, 2008 4:08 PM in response to Checking In On Olive Park

Kuroko, that whole block was small 2 families, with a warehouse where Olive Park is now. Across the street were a few old single families that looked like farmhouses. There's a shrine at the intersection of Maspeth and Humboldt. It had plenty of charm, actually -- and around the corner Orient Avenue used to be the nicest block in Williamsburg.

And then real estate values exploded and everyone sold or died and now it looks like this.

Posted by: Heather at August 18, 2008 12:38 PM in response to Checking In On Olive Park

Yeah, I think they put those in to stabilize the building. That location used to be great, but I am not sure it is still with the scary ghetto-condo row all built down Maspeth. I'm torn about this one - I think it's more interesting than a lot of Williamsburg projects, but I also think that the condo boom around here has kind of gutted the sleepy, quiet charm of this neighborhood.

Posted by: Heather at August 18, 2008 12:28 PM in response to Checking In On Olive Park

"They are very different because gated communities and condo associations are exclusionary groups based on a circle the wagons approach to living. You have to have a certain level of assets and then they are all about protecting their stuff, and protecting their neighbors stuff- as long as it is in their self-interest."

I'm not seeing a difference between that and the co-housing model described in the Real Deal article, frankly. Although I am very amused that Mr. Polemicist Roarke thinks I'm Chairman Heather.

And, as I alluded to in my earlier posts, I do actually have some personal experience with co-housing. And I freely admit, that has given me a bias... against it. I'm just trying to tell you why, in my own experience, the communal living has some issues.

As a way to market -- ahem, transform a failed condo project? Sure, sounds great. More power to you. It's just when the rhetoric gets full of phrases about "like-minded people" and so on, that I get leery. Also, reaching decisions by consensus? I laugh. I've seen this not work. A lot. You may think you're like-minded, until you realize that your perfectly nice neighbor down the hall thinks that seventh generation cleaning products are actually just a marketing scam and the only real way to clean things is with distilled white vinegar. That you distill yourself. And why can't the association make a still for that purpose? Don't you all want to get along?

And so on.

Something interesting historically that might be worth looking at are the co-op developments on the LES -- Amalgamated and so on. They have their issues, but they're still run pretty successfully in the spirit of this model on a large scale. (I think.)

Posted by: Heather at August 16, 2008 5:23 PM in response to Brooklyn Co-Housing Moving Closer to Reality?

Where else are you going to find a suitable dwelling, Polemicist, if not a large apartment complex that will have rent-stabilized tenants? This is New York. Any building large and cheap enough is going to already have people living in it. What happens to them? What if they don't "share" your mentality?

"'Co-housing' is not a project 'by' certain people 'for' others. It is a project by specific people for themselves and no one else."

And that's the problem with it. I realize that you, Polemicist, who think half the working class population of New York city are leeches on society, aren't going to get this, but creating a separatist utopia isn't going to solve anyone's problems. It's just another way to make yourself feel special. Nor is fragmenting said society into a precious little series of islands filled with like-minded people. That is no different than gated communities and condo associations in the suburbs, the kind you probably roll your eyes at and sneer.

Something more productive to do, (were you actually delusional enough to think that any of this makes a difference), would be to find commonality with the neighbors you have now. But, oh, right. They just don't understand your specialness.

Posted by: Heather at August 16, 2008 3:18 PM in response to Brooklyn Co-Housing Moving Closer to Reality?

Maybe if the idea kicks off they will open a second co-housing building for those of us who don't want to live with the pompous 25-year olds? And then perhaps also one for people who like to pay other people to wash their dishes?

What depresses me the most about the new locovore liberalism is that it's not liberal in any sense of the word. Anyone who doesn't fit in with the model is not worthy of being included. Social change? Only for the effete few. And then there's the handy, "blame capitalism." You know, while you're looking for a building to BUY... in one of the most expensive cities in the world... and, why are you here again and what do you do for a living?

If I close my eyes I'm back in my living room and twelve again, listening to Sunshine, the man who refused to wear shoes, pontificate about how "they" just don't want the peoples to be free. As I recall, thanks to his main line family, Sunshine himself was extremely free.

Posted by: Heather at August 16, 2008 12:58 PM in response to Brooklyn Co-Housing Moving Closer to Reality?

When we used to visit Pendle Hill, one thing I noticed, even at age ten, was how none of the adults seemed to have jobs. Are there jobs in Saguerties? What do those people... do?

Okay, yeah, I am biased. At least unless we decide to enroll our little snowflake in Brooklyn Friends... in which case I will have to re-connect with my hippie roots.

One thing though: I'd be curious to see what rent-stabilized building gets gutted to realize this urbran "utopia" -- and what happens to the tenants.

I prefer my actual community, which is full of people that I have nothing in common with to some kind of idealized vision, where, presumably, we all have to be ecologically correct all the time. Unless of course, these turn out to be the real estate deals of the century... but, you know, I sincerely doubt that.

Posted by: Heather at August 15, 2008 8:09 PM in response to Brooklyn Co-Housing Moving Closer to Reality?

when did we have the 2 bathrooms discussion? I thought I was like a voice alone in the wildnerness on that topic. Everyone loves their 2 bathrooms and new kitchen...

Posted by: Heather at August 15, 2008 7:57 PM in response to Open House Picks

They had these growing up in the seventies in W. Philly. They were called "life centers," and I was very grateful not to be raised in one. From my personal observations however, there was far too much talk about "feelings" and not a ton of housework. Nothing like seeing chore charts for 40-year olds.

Posted by: Heather at August 15, 2008 11:03 AM in response to Brooklyn Co-Housing Moving Closer to Reality?

There's a distinct shortage of laundromats on Fulton, actually. That's the reason we now own a washing machine.

Posted by: Heather at August 14, 2008 7:17 PM in response to Choice Greene Coming Into Focus

Do not tell a Philadelphian you consider their city a suburb, Dave. They will cut you.

It must be fun to be a pie-in-the-sky urban theorist, but I've read some science fiction novels with more probable scenarios.

Posted by: Heather at August 14, 2008 11:29 AM in response to And the Discussion on the Future of Suburbia Continues

The layouts are so small to have two bathrooms in them. This is also the crane-falling building. On the plus side, it's really close to Oslo!

Posted by: Heather at August 12, 2008 1:23 PM in response to Checking In On 349 Metropolitan Avenue

In Williamsburg, yes, apparently, BKOne, but I agree with you.

Posted by: Heather at August 8, 2008 6:01 PM in response to Closing the Door on Ouvrez La Porte

Wow, Filmore has some cheap houses. It makes me optimistic for the future pricing of Brooklyn real estate.

http://www.fillmore.com/realestate/two-family_home_crown-heights_brooklyn_ny_11213_804086

Posted by: Heather at August 8, 2008 3:50 PM in response to Open House Picks

I hate baseboard electric too.

And I love the decor of 247 Windsor Place. It's refreshing, compared to the standard room and board crap. Looks like a real home, where someone made real choices.

East Flatbush house is interesting to compare to Windsor Place (as I assume was the intent) because it shows how much location matters. Which is something we all knew... but in this market the differences can be pretty extreme -- basically the same house, a third of the price.

Posted by: Heather at August 8, 2008 3:02 PM in response to Open House Picks

But those black window frames!

Posted by: Heather at August 7, 2008 8:34 PM in response to 243 Dean Street Sells for $2,440,000

I don't have an issue with a premium for convenience, but I had a really bad pc repair experience. Like, they just didn't. And then I had to call several times to find my pc. And then... well, anyways, I'm not arguing against their convenience for cables and stuff. Just, not a place I'd send another pc to be looked at.

Posted by: Heather at August 7, 2008 8:28 PM in response to Streetlevel: Mikey's Hooking Up Dumbo

Is it a Bosch bridge?

Posted by: Heather at August 7, 2008 5:32 PM in response to Condo of the Day: 1405 8th Avenue

Alors, mais ou est le stylo de ma tante? Et pourquoi permittez les citizens a manger les gateaux?

Posted by: Heather at August 7, 2008 5:25 PM in response to Closing Bell: Brooklyn Celebrates National Night Out

Maybe I am, but here's an article about communities uniting against crime and you and Mr. B. are pointing out the snack choices and making snarky comments about weight.

It just seems in poor taste.

That, and I am getting so sick of the locovores. It's commendable to say that everyone should have access to good food and the time and means to prepare it, but when that same sentiment gets turned against people who bothered t