It seems like the cause of the damage is the owner's (or, possibly, the previous owner's) not installing a simple D-ring shower curtain rod to hold three curtains, one against the wall. That, plus a simple add-on "telephone'" shower attachment might have cost as much as $100. It's the cheap man who ends up spending the most money.

Posted by: Bob Marvin at November 21, 2009 8:35 AM in response to severe dammage by tenants

I had them replace a collapsed portion of my sewer line about 15 years ago and my water main a couple of years before that. They were vedry fast to respond and did a good job.

Posted by: Bob Marvin at November 19, 2009 10:51 AM in response to Broken Sewer Main

I had cellulose insulation blown into my roof over 30 years ago so, while I can't recommend an installer, I can tell you that it makes a big difference in warmth and lowers heating costs considerably. You definitely need vents to reduce condensation problems. I have two aluminum mushroom vents on a 20' X 45' roof. You should not have insulation blown into walls since, AFAIK, they can't be vented and serious condensation problems are likely.

BTW, I was concerned that the chemical fireproofing of the cellulose might wear off over time. A year or so ago I had a vent fan installed in my top floor bathroom. I tested the small amount of cellulose insulation that fell out by trying to light it and was pleased to find that it's still fireproof.

Posted by: Bob Marvin at November 18, 2009 9:41 AM in response to Blown-in Insulation

Dave,

I think that kind of parody is considered to be fair use; no copyright violation.

Posted by: Bob Marvin at November 16, 2009 8:42 AM in response to Monday Links

There was a thread about the Flatbush Ave. dollar vans on Hawthorne Street last week:

http://www.hawthornestreet.com/2009/11/attack-of-the-illegal-dollar-vans.html

Posted by: Bob Marvin at November 16, 2009 8:40 AM in response to Flatbush Ave Dollar Vans

IMO this is one of the easiest DIY projects--just shut off the circuit breaker to the light; don't rely on the wall switch.

Posted by: Bob Marvin at November 14, 2009 2:28 PM in response to Changing Light Fixture

I'm a big fan of DIY repairs and have replaced a few bathroom faucets (using my trusty basin wrench), but when I had to replace my single lever kitchen faucet several years ago I was unable to get the old one off. The plumber tried for a long time and finally cut the thing off. There's no harm in trying, but sometimes you have to call a pro.

Posted by: Bob Marvin at November 13, 2009 1:29 PM in response to Installing Faucet - No Brainer?

AFAIK if the building was legally built before the current FAR, it's grandfathered in.

Posted by: Bob Marvin at November 12, 2009 9:39 PM in response to Remedies for violation of FAR

Babs,

The south side of Clarkson IS in PLG. A 4 story limestone on that side was on the house tour in 2007 or 8.

Posted by: Bob Marvin at November 12, 2009 7:51 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 40 Clarkson Avenue, #4F

The current plates are also "highly reflective" so the new ones are hardly a necessity. That being said, I like the simple design, which reminds me of NY plates when I was a child (IIRC they alternated annually between black letters on an orange background and orange letters on a black background--although both designs were totally non-reflective).

Posted by: Bob Marvin at November 11, 2009 8:57 AM in response to Wednesday Links

I'm very happy with the '03 certified used Honda CRV I bought from Bay Ridge Honda in 2006. I think it was worth the extra cost to get something with a warranty from the manufacturer.

Of course that doesn't mean I'd suggest getting anything other than warranty service from this, or ANY other dealer.

Posted by: Bob Marvin at November 10, 2009 5:10 PM in response to used car dealers

RE: your old Manhattan neighborhood, I always liked the historic "St. John's Park" name and am sorry it didn't catch on. Of course there is the minor detail that there's no remnant of that former Grammercy Park-like neighborhood and the park itself is under the Holland Tunnel toll plaza.

Posted by: Bob Marvin at November 9, 2009 9:40 AM in response to Creative (Desperate?) Neighborhood Rebranding

There's one big omission I noticed in PLG: The site of the Lincoln Road "glass tower," not listed, that I can see, under either its Lincoln Road or Flatbush Avenue addresses. There are two benefits to this stalled project though. The murals that PLG Arts painted on its construction fence are likely to stay up for a while AND, from what I saw from the Prospect Park Q train station yesterday, the site is well on its way towards becoming re-forested.

Posted by: Bob Marvin at November 6, 2009 12:47 PM in response to DOB's Stalled Site List Passes 500 Mark; BK Still on Top

I'm certainly not an expert, but I've lived with a furnace since the mid-70s. The thermostat is basically a switch. The furnace will not run if the switch is off--there'd be no power to the fan, among other things. Therefore the switch (thermostat) must not be working. It shouldn't be that big of a repair job. If all else fails National Grid has a (fairly expensive) repair service.

Posted by: Bob Marvin at November 6, 2009 9:53 AM in response to Furnace or Thermostat Issues

My first cat also was good at catching mice but apparently never got mouse killing and eating lessons from her mother. She'd run around excitedly with the live mouse in her mouth and we'd do the same thing as Brenda.

Our next cat, and Max, our present guy, were more attentive to their lessons in kittenhood and know that mice are scrumptious.

Hunting prey is instinctive for cats, but killing and eating it has to be tought.

Posted by: Bob Marvin at November 5, 2009 1:24 PM in response to Mouse Infestation - Help!

I didn't sample the food at the Ft. Greene flea on Saturday because my wife and I went for brunch before going there. I did quite well though. I bought a teens or 20's goose neck lamp which, after re-wiring, goes great on one of the Hooser cabinets in our kitchen. I also got a nice oriental area rug for my dressing roomwhich was quite cheap mainly, I think, because although it was in fairly good shape, it was FILTHY. That was actually an advantage, because I really wanted to try washing an oriental rug at home (and this one was cheap enough to take a chance on). I shampooed it on top of a folding aluminum table in my back yard and rinsed it with a hose. It came out great; I won't hesitate to wash other small area rugs in the future, although a room-size one might be too much of a challange.

Posted by: Bob Marvin at November 5, 2009 1:13 PM in response to Food Finishes Strong

don't know about problems with this firehouse (although I once lived a couple of blocks away) but I DO live on Midwood II, in PLG, around the corner from a firehouse. They use their siren when they're near my house. You get used to it very quickly--it's NOT a big deal at all.

Posted by: Bob Marvin at November 4, 2009 4:00 PM in response to 11th Street Firehouses

If you read that earliern thread bklner referred to, you'll see that "I told you so"

Posted by: Bob Marvin at November 4, 2009 3:50 PM in response to Easement Audit Nightmare

Do you have a CO detector?

Posted by: Bob Marvin at November 4, 2009 10:37 AM in response to Furnace Malfunction?

"There are very few, if any, in...Prospect Lefferts Gardens"

The only Italianate building I czn think of in PLG is a frame Italianate villa on Empire Blvd., next to Toomey's Diner. It was remarkably well preserved when I moved here in the '70s and still stands, but, for the past 20 some odd years, has been surrounded, and almost subsumed, by an ugly commercial incrustation that makes it nearly unrecognisable.

Posted by: Bob Marvin at November 3, 2009 12:13 PM in response to Walkabout : The Italianate Style, part 1

If this is a cellar--all, or mostly, below ground, isn't radon gas another consideration?

Posted by: Bob Marvin at November 3, 2009 8:30 AM in response to Air Quality Assessment

Don't be too disappointed if your initial Request for Evaluation gets turned down. That's what happened with the Ocean on the Park HD I helped with. The original response from LPC was very negative, but the designation was made last Tuesday. Perseverance pays.

Posted by: Bob Marvin at November 2, 2009 3:26 PM in response to Landmarking Efforts In Bed-Stuy

That fraud watch article in the Times seemed interesting, but when I went to the ePropertyWatch website I got suspicious. Does anyone know if this is really a legitimate service, or a scam to facilitate property theft. Am I being paranoid? Given the state of the internet, is it POSSIBLE to be paranoid?

Posted by: Bob Marvin at November 2, 2009 9:10 AM in response to Monday Links

dandel,

It was only my relatives, friends, and co-workers who thought I was crazy back in the day; I knew better :-)

Posted by: Bob Marvin at October 30, 2009 11:38 PM in response to Open House Picks

Pigeon,

After your walk on Carroll Street walk down the one block of Montgomery Place, from PPW to 8th Avenue--it's even grander.

Posted by: Bob Marvin at October 30, 2009 7:35 PM in response to Open House Picks

Funny, when I lived in Park Slope, looooong ago [actually 1970--74], the North Slope meant the dangerous high crime blocks north of Berkeley Place. There was also a distinction between "upper" and "lower" Park Slope, going west from Prospect Park. Of course no middle class person would venture below 7th Avenue.

I didn't care--I was proud enough to live there that I had address labels printed reading "Park Slope, Brooklyn, NY 111215".

I hear it's changed a bit :-)

Posted by: Bob Marvin at October 30, 2009 5:37 PM in response to Open House Picks

mshook,

Of course it's World's Best; my Max deserves nothing less! However dogs are usually attracted to cat litter because there's lots of undigested protein there. As pure predators, cats have very short, and relatively inefficient, guts.

tybur6, Max definitely has a "Max" personality. We wanted an outgoing cat and picked one who we observed bossing around his litter-mates. He's also the smartest cat I've ever had.

Posted by: Bob Marvin at October 30, 2009 4:08 PM in response to Mice in Bed-Stuy

I just spoke to Max and he's willing to share his used cat litter if anyone wants it. He's a very generous cat.

Posted by: Bob Marvin at October 30, 2009 3:50 PM in response to Mice in Bed-Stuy

tybur6,

I just read your post to my cat, Max. He says you deserve mice :-)

Posted by: Bob Marvin at October 30, 2009 2:19 PM in response to Mice in Bed-Stuy

Poison OR a cat. You wouldn't want your cat to eat a poisoned mouse.

Posted by: Bob Marvin at October 30, 2009 1:47 PM in response to Mice in Bed-Stuy

What bohuma said!

I've only seen mice when we've been temporarily between cats {our first two cats having died in mid-Winter, when kittens are scarce at the shelters]. Even a tiny kitten is enough to keep them away for the 15+ years of its lifespan. Unless the OP is very allergic, or hopelessly alurophobic, a cat is the way to go.

Posted by: Bob Marvin at October 30, 2009 1:34 PM in response to Mice in Bed-Stuy

You have a good point Archterrorist. I'm not one of the Ocean Avenue homeowners, but I did help with this designation (and, for that matter with the 1979 PLGHD designation). For now, let us bask in the glory of a big win, as you rightly put it. Speaking just for myself, I'll think about that tomorrow :-)

Posted by: Bob Marvin at October 28, 2009 6:25 PM in response to Ocean on the Park Landmarking: The Details

Whatever landmarks might eventually approve for 185 (if it's actually landmarked) is likely to be better than the condo planned for that lot a couple of years ago. We're getting a bit ahead of ourselves though since there doesn't seem to actually be anyone with the wherewithal to build on that lot. It's been for sale for some time with no takers.

Posted by: Bob Marvin at October 28, 2009 4:26 PM in response to Ocean on the Park Landmarking: The Details

I was very happy to hear the testimony at the LPC hearing yesterday--I was really impressed that there was NO opposition voiced to landmarking. Congratulations CHNA (and M.M.).

Posted by: Bob Marvin at October 28, 2009 2:40 PM in response to LPC Tees Up Phase 2 of Crown Heights Landmarking

traditionalmod,

IF the lot at # 185 is eventually landmarked, the owners would not have to build a reproduction brick or limestone one or two family house? To give an example, when a house in the Greenwich Village HD was destroyed in a Weatherman bomb-making accident in the late '60s (early '70s?) the replacement building was quite modern, with some touches that tied it to the other buildings in the row. It's even conceivable that an apartment building could be built, but there'd be some level of aesthetic review which, IMO, would be a big plus for the neighborhood.

Posted by: Bob Marvin at October 28, 2009 1:49 PM in response to Ocean on the Park Landmarking: The Details

BTW Tybur6, the NYC Landmark Law allows for individual landmarks or historic districts, which comprise more than one building(as well as other categories like scenic landmarks and interior landmarks, but that's besides the point). It is what it is. The Ocean on the Park HD is no more a "lie" than the Filmore Place HD, or the Stone Street DD, the Manhattan Ave. HD, or the Stockholm St. HD (or, for that matter the Park Slope, or Greenwich Village HDs) There are large and small Historic Districts; why be so hung up on terminology?

Posted by: Bob Marvin at October 28, 2009 1:37 PM in response to Ocean on the Park Landmarking: The Details

My friend Brooklynista says that I might be able to explain the relevance of the owners of 189's liability concerns to landmarking. She gives me too much credit; it's beyond me and, from hearing the Landmark Commissioners discussion yesterday, I think it's also beyond them.

Posted by: Bob Marvin at October 28, 2009 1:25 PM in response to Ocean on the Park Landmarking: The Details

Tybur6,

The homeowners requested that their houses either be landmarked as an extension of the existing Prospect-Lefferts Gardens Historic District OR, if that was not feasible, as an independent HD. The LPC, not liking non-contiguous districts, chose the latter. IMO either would have been satisfactory, although I'm kind of pleased to be able to say that PLG (like Ft. Greene) now has TWO Historic Districts.

Posted by: Bob Marvin at October 28, 2009 1:19 PM in response to Ocean on the Park Landmarking: The Details

Who needs Benson?

Posted by: Bob Marvin at October 27, 2009 2:46 PM in response to BREAKING: Ocean on the Park Houses Landmarked

RE: "let's move on to Parkside and Chester"

I sure hope we can.

Virtually all the work towards our new historic district was done by the residents of these houses (with a little help from me and rather more help from Ben Edwards, the LMA President).

People from other blocks were invited to the Ocean Avenue homeowners initial meetings with no response. FWIW I've been beating the bushes to drum up interest in landmarking additional PLG blocks here, on our local Lefferts Yahoo list, in the pages of the "Echo" and anywhere else I can think of. If people aren't interested in getting involved nothing is likely to happen

Posted by: Bob Marvin at October 27, 2009 2:27 PM in response to BREAKING: Ocean on the Park Houses Landmarked

FlatbushMan23,

# 185 is NOT in the Historic District that was just designated, although it probably would have been had the designation been calendared before that house was torn down [BUT SEE MORE BELOW].

Babs,

This row was actually not in the original historic district proposed by the LPC in the mid-70s. Many other parts of PLG, including Parkside Ave. and Chester Court, were in that original proposal and were left out because they weren't contiguous with the HD that was designated in 1979. IMO they SHOULD be landmarked, but that's a battle for another day

There was one really dramatic development at the LPC vote this morning. The owner of #189 demanded that her objections (already expressed at the hearing several months ago) be heard. The Commission listened and, although they voted to designate the whole row, they promised staff help with problems that might develop due to the construction site next door. The dramatic part is that the commissioners held a separate vote to calendar the adjacent lot (#185) as a possible addition to the Ocean on the Park HD. This might be part of an LPC effort to address the problem of constructionj adjacent to historic districts.

Posted by: Bob Marvin at October 27, 2009 1:25 PM in response to BREAKING: Ocean on the Park Houses Landmarked

Instead of nailing them into the brick, I'd suggest screwing them into lead anchors drilled into the mortar joints.

Posted by: Bob Marvin at October 26, 2009 10:33 PM in response to Permit Needed for Street #s ?

NorthHeights,

"Drop a dime" is an idiom for "inform on" that was already delightfully old fashioned when I started using it while in college. in the early '60s (even though pay phone calls WERE still 10¢ then). "Drop 50¢" just doesn't make it IMO--besides, who uses pay phones?

My father (born in 1896) was fond of the term "It's not worth a Continental". Now that's REALLY old-fashioned, referring to US Revolutionary War-era paper money. It's remarkable how long obsolete idioms persist (with a little help from old farts like me).

Posted by: Bob Marvin at October 26, 2009 3:01 PM in response to Permit Needed for Street #s ?

I agree with Dave. If you do something restrained and tasteful you PROBABLY won't have any trouble (unless one of your neighbors decides to drop a dime on you).

Posted by: Bob Marvin at October 26, 2009 9:36 AM in response to Permit Needed for Street #s ?

hazenyc,

The City of Brooklyn gradually annexed the other towns of Kings County and expanded to include all of Kings by 1894. Brooklyn merged with New York in 1898.

Posted by: Bob Marvin at October 23, 2009 6:54 PM in response to Mailing Addresses: BK vs QNS

BrooklynCouch,

Nassau County was actually the eastern part of Queens County; it seceded rather than become part of Greater New York in 1898.

Posted by: Bob Marvin at October 23, 2009 6:50 PM in response to Mailing Addresses: BK vs QNS

While I much prefer the 1956b photo, the new building ain't half bad (not that I'd want to live in it, mind you).

Posted by: Bob Marvin at October 23, 2009 1:00 PM in response to From Flicks to Fischer on 15th Street

"if one minority family moved in to a neighborhood all the whites would have a panic attack and flee in terror"

Minard,

I think you know what neighborhood was an exception to this (at least in the sense that, while many whites fled, encouraged, among other factors, by unscrupulous blockbusters, a sizable number stayed).

Posted by: Bob Marvin at October 23, 2009 12:59 PM in response to From Flicks to Fischer on 15th Street

I use (and recommend) Stanley Lewis Plumbing

Posted by: Bob Marvin at October 22, 2009 10:36 AM in response to Plumber for Old Brownstone

Happened to me about 7 or 8 years ago. They had to dig up front garden, remove railing and dig part of sidewalk. It just took them the day. I used Harris Plumbing on Atlantic Ave and paid them $8,000. harriswatermainandsewers.com
K

Posted by: HurricaneKate at November 19, 2009 3:50 PM in response to Broken Sewer Main

I just used Figliolia for a new water main and they were quick and very professional. They coordinated with the City and took care of all the paperwork. It cost $4500 which was one days work for three guys. This seems exceedingly expensive but they were highly recommended by my regular plumber and they did exactly what they promised.

Sometimes its worth paying top dollar to get something done quickly and with minimal headaches.

Posted by: JoeBushwick at November 19, 2009 4:23 PM in response to Broken Sewer Main

OMG, Brenda, you have my sympathies. Thank goodness we have no trees on our street.

Posted by: mopar at November 19, 2009 4:58 PM in response to Broken Sewer Main

End of story here: We called two more places and got quotes that were more like $10 or $11 a square foot installed. We are going with Marmoleum in the kitchen, vinyl sheet flooring in the baths.

Posted by: mopar at November 19, 2009 5:16 PM in response to Best floor for 1890s bath?

Yes, Figliolia lives large as he was busted a few years back for extorting the city. That said, we used him on our water main replacement and they did a great job. Sewer main, I can't say.

However, a house on our block had a serious sewer problem last summer and Main Man was on the scene for days with little progress ( It was also one of those situations where city utilities were affected and it was probably more problematic than most sewer line upgrades). Main Man mostly had a bunch of guys standing around doing very little. After about ten days Figliolia took over and it was done very quickly.

Posted by: tinarina at November 19, 2009 8:55 PM in response to Broken Sewer Main

i prefer harris water main
2600 Atlantic Ave # 1
Brooklyn, NY 11207-2415
(718) 495-3600

Posted by: eman1234 at November 19, 2009 9:28 PM in response to Broken Sewer Main

Alex Figilioa Water and Sewer did my father-in-law's sewer main about 30 years ago, and they did ours last year. Very professional, I can recommend them.

Posted by: elizabethJane at November 20, 2009 12:28 AM in response to Broken Sewer Main

Despite what I said earlier, I have to agree with the later posts after we discovered the "bathroom situation." It's your fault for not having spent a little money renovating the bathroom into a decent one with a normal shower.

Penny wise & pound foolish.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at November 21, 2009 12:12 PM in response to severe dammage by tenants

BOD: Defective equipment can be replaced at owner’s expense; replaced with used or reconditioned equipment for which there is no entitlement to increase; or replaced with new, for which owner *may* be entitled to increase, subject to a number of variables. Because rent adjustment terms are complex and often hard to sort out (for both landlord and tenant); because approved increases apply on a permanent basis; and because many landlords and tenants are invested in an adversarial relationship, many LL’s AND rent-regulated tenants resist repairs and upgrades. None of that excuses the LL’s obligation to maintain existing equipment, services and premises in good repair. Some of these issues are addressed in this DHCR fact sheet: http://www.housingnyc.com/html/resources/dhcr/dhcr26.html

Posted by: vinca at November 21, 2009 12:27 PM in response to severe dammage by tenants

Hi, I do not live there (I am in New Mexico) but did come across this post because I have mysterious bread thing going on.
I moved into a small community recently.
On to the point, 2 times there has been bread left at my gate. The only times I have actually gotten the bread was when I have been away for the night, which has been 2 times. Not just white bread, but Pueblo Indian white bread. They are pretty large loves, baked in outdoor ovens. They have not been wrapped, but are left laying on the soil, in front of the gate.
I was hoping to shed some light on this, but the most information was from this post. I doubt it was a squirrel. I really did get a kick out of all your responces.

Posted by: kai at November 21, 2009 2:53 PM in response to Mysterious bread on windows