Argyle Road's Profile
- 1999
- Brooklyn
- Victorian Flatbush
- House
- Male
- 38
Author's Posts
October 27, 2009
Fireplace Advice
We are getting estimates on a putting in a wood burning fireplace for our living room and would like to see if any readers have advice on our two scenerios. We live in Ditmas Park in a 100 year old wood frame. All fireplaces were removed in the 1950's. Currently, one of the two originally flues still exists but houses our heating pipes and acts as a flue for our steam boiler. Originally the chimney had two flues only one remains. We've gotten two estimates to rebuild a fireplace and both companies suggested moving the plumbing outside the house into a stainless steel housing to free up the flue for the wood burning fireplace. My gut is telling me that I shouldn't mess with the old steam pipes for our heating. The numbers come in around 10,000 to 14,000. which includes moving the plumbing and rebuilding a fireplace. The other idea is to leave the old flue as is and poke a hole through the wall and run a new chimney, probably made of stainless steel, up the side of the house. Has anyone ever done this? The chimney guys say that it might be a red flag if we ever try and sell the house and are discouraging of the idea. I sort of don't trust their advice, since they probably would prefer the more expensive route of restoring the original chimney. I just wanted to hear the thoughts and experiences of other homeowners who aren't financially vested in our decision. Any ideas would be appreciated. Thanks!
January 30, 2008
Digging a well in Ditmas Park
I can't decide if this is a dumb idea, but I'm really excited about it. I live in Ditmas Park and I'm considering digging a garden well in the backyard to save city drinking water, but mostly because I think it would be cool to have a well. I've been quoted $1500-$3000. to drill a 2" well and then plan to put a cast iron hand pump to supply the plants and shrubs around the yard with water. The well probably wont pay for itself but at least I'll be saving drinking water. I plan to have the water tested as i don't want to pump heavy metals all over the yard. And depending on water quality, will determine if i should use it on our veggies or not. Someone told me that all these old houses at one time used well water but I have no idea where the original might be. Please feel free to comment on the sanity of this idea.
Author's Comments
please tell us who you used. We have an appointment with Carlita tomorrow that I'll cancel!
Posted by: Argyle Road at October 27, 2009 4:15 PM in response to Antique Stove Restoration
its not the only in ground pool in the nabe
Posted by: Argyle Road at June 11, 2009 1:25 PM in response to House of the Day: 1600 Dorchester Road
best photo ever!
Posted by: Argyle Road at June 3, 2009 10:44 AM in response to Wednesday Links
I don't know why I'm arguing this point but the porch was partially bricked in sometime in 2006 because I remember watching the progress on the way to work after we moved to the neighborhood.
Posted by: Argyle Road at May 20, 2009 11:52 AM in response to Foreclosure of the Week: 1316 Beverley Road
That park slope victorian looks suspicious like Flatbush
Posted by: Argyle Road at May 15, 2009 1:14 PM in response to Open House Picks
You could also then, grill on top of it at grade level.
Posted by: Argyle Road at May 15, 2009 1:13 PM in response to Backyard Reno Unveils Old Well in Fort Greene
Since its not a well, I have a new idea...Put a grate about two feet down and make it a fire pit.
Posted by: Argyle Road at May 15, 2009 1:12 PM in response to Backyard Reno Unveils Old Well in Fort Greene
I meant to say water your non edible plants from it.
Posted by: Argyle Road at May 15, 2009 10:48 AM in response to Backyard Reno Unveils Old Well in Fort Greene
Its also a great compost bin...
Posted by: Argyle Road at May 15, 2009 10:48 AM in response to Backyard Reno Unveils Old Well in Fort Greene
Congratulations on a great find. I'm a little jealous...
I would get the water tested and if there are no heavy metals, add a period manual water pump and water your edible plants from it. There is no reason to use drinking water to water plants.
If the water is somehow potable, it is a great backup water supply in case there is ever a problem with the nyc water supply.
Posted by: Argyle Road at May 15, 2009 10:46 AM in response to Backyard Reno Unveils Old Well in Fort Greene
I would definitely take action. I feel like a well placed video camera should send the message. You could suggest that to the landlord as long as he's not friends with the dealer.
Posted by: Argyle Road at May 13, 2009 10:54 AM in response to What To Do About That Pesky Drug Dealer?
Shannon's Nursery has really affordable herbs and a great selection. They are located in kensington off of greenwood cemetery.
Posted by: Argyle Road at April 30, 2009 3:23 PM in response to herbs in brooklyn
I would consider a long term rental to keep your resell value secure.
Posted by: Argyle Road at April 22, 2009 3:05 PM in response to Selling Backyard to Neighbor
That house is on the corner of Albemarle and Buckingham in Prospect Park South near the church ave stop on the Q line.
Posted by: Argyle Road at April 16, 2009 4:53 PM in response to Thursday Blogwrap
I feel like the above strategy is a good one. You have a small chance that the neighbor will take responsibility of the pruning. But more than likely you will end up with the bill. It may be worth chatting the adjacent (7) lot owners and maybe you can cut the pruning bill in half or by thirds if any of them have similar concerns. And since you asked for the tree owners input on the pruning in advance, you will keep your relationship with the neighbor cordial.
Posted by: Argyle Road at April 15, 2009 10:15 AM in response to Advice on Neighbor's Tree
I'm still amazed with the price per square foot in midwood.
Posted by: Argyle Road at April 14, 2009 11:42 AM in response to Last Week's Biggest Sales
I think we are dealing with an artist of the most genius order. Expect to pay $10,000 a print for those image at a chelsea gallery near you.
Posted by: Argyle Road at March 31, 2009 1:16 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 60 Plaza Street East
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beverly_Square_West,_Brooklyn
Posted by: Argyle Road at March 27, 2009 2:04 PM in response to Open House Picks
Its like we are all in a classroom. There are quiet people with interesting things to say but they are not going to speak unless called upon. Instead that girl in the second row who likes to hear herself talk, has a crush on the teacher, and thinks guys dig her dominates the conversation with all sorts of thoughts that haven't being formulated into ideas. Just a lot of base, knee jerk reactions that steer the conversation over a cliff. And suddenly before you know it someone is accused of being racist, classist, republican or over educated.
Posted by: Argyle Road at March 27, 2009 11:07 AM in response to Let's Talk About Commenting
I think ferns are amazing and totally under used.
Posted by: Argyle Road at March 24, 2009 3:52 PM in response to Ground cover for shady backyard
Maybe the marketers are total geniuses because they have us all talking about it?
Posted by: Argyle Road at March 9, 2009 5:37 PM in response to Development Watch: 599 4th Avenue
Bisney is a wondering place to see and visit in Chad. That's cool that that apt has views that far.
http://www.fallingrain.com/world/CD/4/Bisney.html
Posted by: Argyle Road at March 9, 2009 3:09 PM in response to Development Watch: 599 4th Avenue
North Flatbush
Posted by: Argyle Road at February 5, 2009 4:18 PM in response to Closing Bell: Best New Name for Park Slope
Prospect Park North
Posted by: Argyle Road at February 5, 2009 4:18 PM in response to Closing Bell: Best New Name for Park Slope
Double Park Slope
No Park Slope
Posted by: Argyle Road at February 5, 2009 4:09 PM in response to Closing Bell: Best New Name for Park Slope
I love the little guys. They fly all around the trees by our house. But does it make sense to legislate protecting I hate to say it but an invasive species because they are cute?I'd like to hear how they are getting legal protection. If they were a foreign plant they wouldn't get protection and would be considered invasive. Should there be a distinction? They're not to different from say a Norway rat or Japanese honeysuckle (considered invasive )
Posted by: Argyle Road at December 11, 2008 7:46 PM in response to Closing Bell: Wild Quaker Parrot Protection Bill
Argyle Road wrote a review about Picket Fence on December 9, 2008 1:49 PM
I think you would be hard pressed to find a ditmas parkian excited about Picket Fence since the new owners took over. Not with the farm, cinco de mayo, and pomme de terre in the nabe. I did enjoy their unlimited mimosa brunch however...Its really inconsistent food quality that is the big turn off.
For those of you that have never heard of Ditmas Park, please check out our local blog and judge for yourselves.
http://ditmaspark.blogspot.com/
Posted by: Argyle Road at December 2, 2008 2:43 PM in response to House of the Day: 277 Stratford Road
I think the idea of making so many group decisions sounds personally hellish. Just from a few years of meetings at a condo board, I've had all I can take for a lifetime.
Posted by: Argyle Road at December 1, 2008 10:24 AM in response to Utopia in the City
Doesn't look like the wild turkey where I'm from...
Posted by: Argyle Road at November 26, 2008 4:15 PM in response to Closing Bell: Prospect Park's Wild Turkey
The lot is pretty awkward. Most of the exterior space is wasted in the front yard. Maybe with some privet hedges you could make it into a more private space? Beverley Road and proximity to train are obvious minuses. Still, its relatively affordable for PPS.
Posted by: Argyle Road at November 19, 2008 2:19 PM in response to House of the Day: 225 Marlborough Road
Argyle Road wrote a review about Pomme de Terre on November 19, 2008 2:03 PM
What's not to like? This place really fills a need in the neighborhood...intimate space, great food, no or few kids. I'm going here on Sunday night and getting me a steak frites.
If anyone wants to overwinter their car in my 1 car garage in Ditmas Park (argyle/cortelyou) its all yours for $200 a month.
Posted by: Argyle Road at November 18, 2008 11:41 AM in response to What Price Parking?
That house is frickin' adorable...
Posted by: Argyle Road at November 17, 2008 10:44 AM in response to Park Slope Can't Measure Up to Marine Park
There are cute houses around Brooklyn College for under half a mill.
Posted by: Argyle Road at November 17, 2008 10:40 AM in response to Wanna Unload Your Property? Sell It Yourself
Here is a pbs show about affordable housing that features Rose's project in Harlem and another one in the bronx.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3o1cB1RgIY
Posted by: Argyle Road at November 14, 2008 8:58 PM in response to Next Victim in Crashing Market: Affordable Housing
This is great. Cortelyou is rounding out to be a great commercial street...Also, a new fillafil (sp?) place is opening up across from the firehouse I've heard.
Posted by: Argyle Road at November 14, 2008 4:07 PM in response to Business Boom for Ditmas Park
no way dude that hardware store was really ( in my opinion) really understocked and all around out of touch. A really bad selection of screws and a lot of poor quality tools. Crappy lightbulbs and no gardening stuff. I wish the owner good luck but also glad a valuable storefront is now available.
Posted by: Argyle Road at October 6, 2008 10:02 PM in response to Streetlevel: One Down on Cortelyou
Beverly road to Times Sq. in 32 minutes...what's not to love?
Posted by: Argyle Road at September 10, 2008 11:31 AM in response to Is the Q Train the New L?
I though I would mention that small claims court is not a big deal and I think a great option in this case. If you can spare 1.5 hours, the city will send your landlord a scary looking letter from the city. The only time I was forced to use it, the day of the trail, I had a check messengered to me. No landlord wants to appear in court. It will give you a leg up in negotiating.
Posted by: Argyle Road at September 8, 2008 4:34 PM in response to Security Deposit
The Marlborough Road house is a historical gem and I think its priced to sell. Its also mentioned on this website with some pretty awesome photos. (Note the tree size changing) http://home.att.net/~ebasics/Victorianflatbush.html
Posted by: Argyle Road at August 1, 2008 4:07 PM in response to Open House Picks
It would be fun to start from scratch and drop a sexy prefab on there...
Posted by: Argyle Road at July 28, 2008 2:30 PM in response to House of the Day: 1216 Albemarle Road (Re-Revisited)
While in one sense this house is a complete and total disaster, to live on Ablemarle Road, really one of the most beautiful streets in the 5 boroughs, has got to be worth something and carry some kind of premium. If I was looking in the area I would consider making a low ball offer knowing that after a one year+ and half a mill+ renovation, I'd be siting pretty. With energy costs what they are, I think a smaller house (for the area) makes a lot of sense.
Either way, it will be nice when someone takes over this house that has been in abandoned condition for something like 3+ years!
Posted by: Argyle Road at July 28, 2008 1:58 PM in response to House of the Day: 1216 Albemarle Road (Re-Revisited)
great solution...
Posted by: Argyle Road at July 10, 2008 12:16 PM in response to Moving Forward
I like the best deal game...This one seems seems almost too easy though. How about a ditmas victorian vs. a south slope row house between 4th and 5th aves?
Posted by: Argyle Road at June 30, 2008 1:06 PM in response to Co-ops of the Day: Head-to-Head Studio Battle
I think they can ask whatever they want for details like that.
Posted by: Argyle Road at April 15, 2008 3:10 PM in response to House of the Day: 614 2nd Street
I think the word should be reinvent. The city is constantly reinventing itself, that's what keeps New York the vital city it has always been. Sometimes its unfortunate when great monuments get destroyed like Penn Station or neighborhoods get demolished by Robert Moses but in general that is our city, like it or not. Has there been a post-Dutch time in history when that wasn't the nature of New York?
Posted by: Argyle Road at March 5, 2008 11:17 AM in response to 'The Nature of New York Is Change,' Dissected
Thanks for the comments. The rain barrel certainly seems less complicated and probably smarter. Still the well idea interests me.
I just spoke with a well guy and he told me that to get permits from the DEP would be really expensive and probably unlikely and would require monitoring every 6 months. With that said, I found a few places that would be willing to do it anyway sans permit.
I will ask around at the next neighborhood meeting if anyone has an active well and if I can take a sample. If the quality is okay, I think i will go for it. I wonder if there is anyway to figure out where the original well was on our property? No signs of 6" pipes in the basement...
Posted by: Argyle Road at January 30, 2008 2:17 PM in response to Digging a well in Ditmas Park
We bought a victorian a while back and made the offer contingent on the inspection. we found some plumbing problems and they lowered the price $5000. to make the problems go away. we tried to negotiate for asbestos abatement but the sellers said forget it and we forgot about it. These houses all have problems but in the end, we wanted the deal to go through. It felt ugly fighting for everything that was wrong with the house. At some point the seller might get annoyed with you and go with a lesser offer .
Posted by: Argyle Road at January 15, 2008 9:33 AM in response to house buying process (for older home)
Regarding T shirts: I made 'em and they are sold out at the moment...and if anyone wants one please click on the photo above (to get to flickr) and either send me a flickr mail (flatbushnelson) or leave a comment on the photo on flickr with your contact info, size, color etc and I will let you know when the new batch comes in.
Thanks!
Posted by: Argyle Road at November 5, 2009 10:21 AM in response to Thursday Links