They had an open house last Sunday. Huge sign on the side of the building that is literally 3 stories high. I passed by twice during the afternoon, and never saw a soul.

It really is a pretty building, on a very nice block, close to the trains, etc, etc. Maybe if they hadn't stripped every inch of charm from the interior, they may have had a better chance of justifying a higher price, but not that high. The building is nice and wide and has an airy feel, even from the outside.

If they have another open house this weekend, I will try to drop by.

Posted by: Brower Park at August 22, 2007 1:46 PM in response to Condos of the Day: 1296 Dean Street Revisited

I like this new system. A reader has only to click on the registered name, and all of the posts that person has made appear.

If you click on my name, you see all of my many posts on various topics, all in my usual avuncular and verbiaged manner. ;)

If you click on (space)Brower(space)Park's name, you see all of his denials that my genuine posts are, well, "mine".

Hmmmmm, who would I believe?

'Nuf said.

Posted by: Brower Park at August 21, 2007 12:00 PM in response to HPD OK’s Seizure of Duffield St. Homes

It would be of vital interest for historians and preservationists if a credible study of the use of the house(s)revealed WHY this location as a stop on the Underground Railroad. Was it the actual location, via a vis local roads, escape routes, etc, or was it because of the convictions of the owners(s)? This is important because if the actual location had a great deal to do with the house's use, then moving the house defeats the purpose - although thanks for thinking of an alternative solution, 9:28. Would, for example, the Tenement Museum on Orchard St. be a viable representation of immigrant life on the Lower East Side, if the house had been moved to another part of town?

I am disappointed, though not surprised, that it turned out this way. Someday our history will only be visible on brass placques.

The use of eminent domain is both inappropriate and frightening. This is another clear signal that whenever a private developer can't get their way, they will be able to pull out ED, and the problem is solved. No private property owner is safe. It may only be downtown and commercial areas that are being developed now, but these precidents will make it much harder to fight ED in the courts when developers turn a beady eye to more residential areas.

Posted by: Brower Park at August 21, 2007 11:31 AM in response to HPD OK’s Seizure of Duffield St. Homes

Ah, but guest, this is not the world of the 50's through 70's. One of the major factors in the flight to the suburbs was racism and fear of black people. While the crap spewed both overtly and covertly on this board by some of our less enlightened Neanderthals to the contrary, the world is a different place. Accomplished, educated, middle class as well as wealthy black people (while always existant, even back then) are no longer an anomoly in today's society. Our mere presence does not engender mass white flight any longer.

Secondly, this is the twilight of the age of petroleum. People are no longer willing to spend a fortune on gas to commute, and are looking to stay close to jobs, as well as to enjoy the cultural amenities that exist in cities. More and more people also want to raise their families in areas of cultural diversion. This is a much more global society than 50 years ago, or even 30 years ago. Communism is practically dead, and enlightened people want to be able to sample the cultures of the world, not isolate ourselves from the differences of the "other".

These may seem to be minor causal effects in the rise of cities, but they are in the whole picture, part of the reason that cities are again in vogue. Of course, all things are cyclical, but I don't think those cycles will be turning rapidly anytime in our lifetimes.

Posted by: Brower Park at August 20, 2007 6:24 PM in response to House of the Day: 1087 Prospect Place

I bought my home because I wanted to be a homeowner for over 20 years before it became a reality. I wanted an old house, dripping with period details, as I love old walls, old sinks, woodwork, tiles, high ceilings, and the works. I wanted to walk in my house every day and appreciate the craftsmanship that went into it, the legacy of anonymous craftspeople long dead, but still appreciated. My house has some of that detail, and for now, I am content.

I grew up in an older house than this, so I know they need constant upkeep, and that anything that can go wrong will, and that the house can suck up money like a sponge. While I am appreciative that my property has tripled in value, I really don't think about it that often. I wanted a home in a part of Brooklyn that I love, and that is what is most important to me. It is my home first, an investment second.

Because it is my home, I will work to improve it and the neighborhood it sits in. I am proud of the history and beauty of my neighborhood, and proud of the people who kept it together when the city gave up. Why is it so difficult for some people to give those people, and myself and other satisfied homeowners and neighbors, our due for making wise choices that we are happy with?

People will always need a place to live. People who want to live in an historic home will continue to come here. The neighborhood will evolve and make room, and hopefully what is good will stay and what is not will leave. Real estate trends will come and go, and prices may go up and down a little bit, but I do not think that this neighborhood will fall back into the pits of 40 years ago, and I don't think prices will fall significantly anytime in our lifetimes, unless something truly horrific happens, God forbid. The doomsayers can downgrade Crown Heights all they want. It will be nothing but sound and fury, signifying nothing (but regret and jealousy.)

Posted by: Brower Park at August 20, 2007 5:14 PM in response to House of the Day: 1087 Prospect Place

Yeah, a couple of people who love their neighborhood are going to turn the world on its axis, and cause the fortunes of real estate to rise and fall. My God, the POWER!

If they decide to give away Crown Heights properties for a dollar each, I'll be first on line, will take everything I can get, and be as happy as Donald Trump at a beauty pagent. Are you nuts? This is one of the most beautiful areas of Brooklyn, bar none, and I will take it, warts and all. The city is not going to bother to landmark a slum with no hope of redemption. Why would they?

Don't strain yourselves, if it's so awful, please just leave us alone to enjoy our properties, which will continue to rise in value. Mine is already worth 3 times what I paid, despite having barely renovated yet. I have no worries that my property will devalue, nor would any purchase in Crown Heights North.

Posted by: Brower Park at August 20, 2007 4:35 PM in response to House of the Day: 1087 Prospect Place

3:43, that's the side of a tree making the building look chopped off. There are so many trees on the block, I would imagine it's hard to get a good shot of the house without having part of a tree getting in the way.

Posted by: Brower Park at August 20, 2007 3:55 PM in response to House of the Day: 1087 Prospect Place

I love it. Someone who actually LIVES on the block writes in and says despite some problems that have nothing to do with either the projects or the park, they love their home. Everyone else, who has no clue even as to where it is, let alone it's worth, has a rollicking discussion about how dangerous it is, and how it will be worth half its worth. Give me a break.

This block is like a one block hidden enclave. Almost all of the houses have flower boxes and front gardens, both sides of the street have mature trees shading the block, and it is QUIET. The section of Brower Park where the block intersects is not noisy, as it is not near where the ball courts or picnic areas are. The other side of the block, where the Albany Houses are is practically a park itself, as the housing is set halfway into the block. People do not drift to this block. The cement seating areas in the center of the block break up the parking, limit how many cars can be on the block, and the limited access creates a haven. These are facts, not opinion based on fear and contempt for living in the hood.

The shooting in the park is an aberration, not the norm. Do people not live near Central Park because of shootings or muggings? I walk here often, sit and read, and have never seen pit bulls running lose, and have never felt afraid. Neither have the Orthodox Jewish kids and their teachers who use the playground every day, and who often play pick up basketball with local black kids. Didn't know that could happen in the hood, eh?

For someone looking for an old house with old house charm on a pretty block, with a ready made income property attached that doesn't have to be subdivided, you could certainly do worse. Not everyone is turned off by old walls and old sinks, they seek it out, and prefer it. (I love the sink, and have one similar to it.) This house will only increase in value, and living on this block will be an envied position, which it should be now, it really is lovely. This won't be far down the road, either.

Posted by: Brower Park at August 20, 2007 3:51 PM in response to House of the Day: 1087 Prospect Place

Nostrand Ave is now the border of Clinton Hill?! Amazing. Before long it will be Throop Ave. Clinton Hill will go from being one of the smallest neighborhoods in Brownstone Brooklyn into the monster that ate Bed Stuy.

More importantly, I've never understood why they planned a seemingly high end condo/now rental building, on this corner. Did they honestly think hipsters/upscale buyers would move in across the street from an enormous housing project? I personally think some, but not all, of the howling about the projects is just code for the usual biases, but there is a far cry from buying a gorgeous historic building in Bed Stuy/Clinton Hill/Boroeum Hill near the projects, and living in this soulless doctor's office. As the saying goes, there is no there, there. Why would anyone pay that amount of money to live there at this time? I think because of the location at a major intersection of two commercially important streets, this will be a viable, happening location eventually, but that's not true now.

I'm a huge Bed Stuy booster, but this one is a mystery.

Posted by: Brower Park at August 20, 2007 1:35 PM in response to Condos Rentals of the Day: MYNT at 756 Myrtle

I took the class too, way back when. It was truly valuable, and fun, too. The instructors were great, and the people in the class worked well together, and we all learned so much. I highly recommend it to everyone.

Posted by: Brower Park at August 18, 2007 12:55 PM in response to Do it Yourself Class

No, 11:59, time to do a proper job and really find out the truth.

I said "IF Duffield Street was a hotbed of Abolitionist activity....worthy of some kind of preservation." If it's not, then fine.

But from everything I read, this EDS study had about as much credibility as a study by the tobacco industry on the effects of smoking. We destroy way too much in the name of Progress, and then regret it later.

Is it going to hurt to spare at least one 20' wide building until all the facts are revealed, preferably by a study made by neutral, and credible, parties? Why such a rush to reduce everything to a brass placque on the side of a bland boring new building?

Posted by: Brower Park at August 14, 2007 12:39 PM in response to Abolition Panel a Salve for Duffield Street Concerns?

Guest at 10:53, where were you a couple of weeks ago when Brownstoner announced he was hiring Gabby as a staff writer? She is an editorial "we", in this case, not just another poster. You've commented on this before. Please get over it.

Posted by: Brower Park at August 14, 2007 12:12 PM in response to Is the Times Sugarcoating Local Sales Statistics?

Feeble attempts to humorously tie anything that has to do with African American history and/or black people together, such as the vast leap hooking the Underground Railroad to Sonny Carson, are what's pathetic.

This is about American history - all of us. It is not that politicians, et al, take the path of least resistance, but that they finally are shamed/bullied/persuaded to take a look around, and perhaps right a wrong.

This issue is more to say that perhaps those in positions of power and influence need to be more cogniscent of history and its place in everyone's lives. If Duffield St. was indeed a hotbed of abolitionist activity, then that is important, and worthy of some kind of preservation. Not because it was about black people, but because it is about people, black and white, who took risks, defied wrongful laws, and acted upon their beliefs. In doing so, they were clever, ingenious and innovative, and eventually, immoral and evil laws were abolished. That deserves to be shown, preserved and touted.

The rebuilding of downtown Bklyn can spare some square footage to celebrate and preserve a part of American history at its finest. A museum celebrating the Underground Railroad and the Abolitionist Movement, which was a powerhouse movement in Brooklyn, due in great part to the efforts of Ward Beecher, only blocks away, at the Plymouth Church in Brooklyn Heights, could be a tourist attraction, and an asset to the area and the city at large.

Posted by: Brower Park at August 14, 2007 11:35 AM in response to Abolition Panel a Salve for Duffield Street Concerns?

this class sounds great. does anyone know of a class more specifically for cabinetmaking or carpentry/ woodwork. i have scoured the internet and not found anything. there used to be one at the 92nd st Y, but they don't offer it anymore.

Posted by: guest at September 30, 2007 12:20 PM in response to Do it Yourself Class