Surely this house is priced by McCain's economic advisor who thinks the economy is sound. Hey, maybe it is one of the houses that senile old bastard has forgotten about?

Is there a more perfect day for this to be the house of the day?

Posted by: kuroko at September 15, 2008 2:40 PM in response to House of the Day: 315 Garfield Place

Biff...I disagree on the primary complaint...these works are failures...the salt water ate my tree/car complaint came two months after they were turned on.

Posted by: kuroko at August 28, 2008 2:16 PM in response to BHA Wants Waterfalls Shut Down

Bxgrl...PS 1 may still have some work up and Tanya Bonakdar Gallery in Chelsea represents his work.

Step away from the keyboard and get out and see the work. Failing that, here's his website: http://www.olafureliasson.net/

Posted by: kuroko at August 28, 2008 2:13 PM in response to BHA Wants Waterfalls Shut Down

With a team like this...

http://www.nycwaterfalls.org/#/waterfalls_team/Partners_and_Team

how could they miss?

The problem though is not necessarily with the execution so much as the ambition of the project.

They are competing with the context and the scale of the location. What sculpture up against the Brooklyn Bridge not to mention the wide open spaces of the East River is going to compete.

Olafur is a gifted artist but his work is more intimate than is required of a work up against the backdrop of New York City. This work would of been great installed in one of the ponds of Central Park or similar settings.

Too bad, but let's not let this prevent us from trying again.

Posted by: kuroko at August 28, 2008 12:43 PM in response to BHA Wants Waterfalls Shut Down

Sam, it was a bubble (that just popped) not go-go growth. This apartment is evidence of that. Additionally the broader economy has been anything but go-go...it has been so-so for the past eight years.

Is there anyone who does not believe that?

Posted by: kuroko at August 21, 2008 11:57 AM in response to Sales: Big Haircut Required To Get 160 Henry Street Done

"and corresponding decreases in go-go growth."

What planet have you've been living on Sam?

Posted by: kuroko at August 21, 2008 11:15 AM in response to Sales: Big Haircut Required To Get 160 Henry Street Done

Heather...I wrote "is" not "was".

Posted by: kuroko at August 18, 2008 4:24 PM in response to Checking In On Olive Park

"Well" connected moved out of that nabe years ago...dems only associates my friend. Fugeddaboutit.

Posted by: kuroko at August 18, 2008 2:38 PM in response to Checking In On Olive Park

"It had plenty of charm" - past tense.

"Orient Avenue used to be the nicest block in Williamsburg." - past tense.

"...and now it looks like this."

Heather, can't tell if you arguing for or against my assertion that this is a dirty charmless area.

Also, is this really Williamsburg or given it has a 11222 zip code isn't it more like Industrial Greenpoint?

As for real estate values in this area exploding, I think we are witnessing an opposite and equal response called implosion.

Posted by: kuroko at August 18, 2008 1:15 PM in response to Checking In On Olive Park

This is on a dirty charmless stretch of road surrounded by a dirty charmless neighborhood.

I heard the struts were glued on as an after thought when it was determined the building wouldn't stand up without them.

Finally, just west of here there are at least 12-15 condo developments that are dying on the market and going rental. Not much of an investment if you could get a loan at all.

No thanks.

Posted by: kuroko at August 18, 2008 12:31 PM in response to Checking In On Olive Park

"When you're a Jet, you're a Jet all the way!"

Posted by: kuroko at August 12, 2008 11:44 AM in response to The Next New Brooklyn

I always appreciated her distinctive aesthetic. It looked to be exceptionally well crafted and the expression of an authentic point of view about fashion. I hope she finds a more prosperous venture, personally and financially, equal to her prodigious talents.

Good Luck!

Posted by: kuroko at August 8, 2008 1:55 PM in response to Closing the Door on Ouvrez La Porte

I agree that they look nicer in person and I've never understood why people complain about being near a school. 3 months out of the year (not to mention after 3:30PM) it is empty, they maintain the building and the grounds, and when there are kids there they are supervised.

Price does seem a little steep for this market and that location but not by much.

Posted by: kuroko at August 5, 2008 4:35 PM in response to Condo of the Day: 324-328 Dean Street

Nope.

Not that price for that co-op in this market.

I'm guessing it closes just over 400K.

Posted by: kuroko at July 31, 2008 1:23 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 396 12th Street, #2R

Is this the same owners who renovated 209 Dean and got 3.25? The staged furniture looks familiar....

Posted by: kuroko at July 24, 2008 4:38 PM in response to House of the Day: 210 Prospect Place

http://milgo-bufkin.com/

ask for Joe when you call.

Posted by: kuroko at July 24, 2008 4:03 PM in response to metal worker

"Somewhere over the rainbow..."

Posted by: kuroko at July 17, 2008 10:39 AM in response to When's the Hoover Dam Going to Open?

Ignore all the advice above. I'll save you the hassle and give you $100K sight unseen just to relieve you of this terrible drudgery.

Posted by: kuroko at July 16, 2008 4:43 PM in response to Should I User a Realtor to Sell my House

I knew Chuck Keating when he was on trial in Chicago...kept two adjoining suites at the Fairmont Hotel (one for him, and one for his...ahem..."secretary". In between court dates he was filling his days protesting against pornography and/or abortion, and figuring out ways to get his lawyer to pay for dinner that included a '75 La Mission Haut Brion.

All this while pleading poverty to the judge.

Lovely, lovely man.

Posted by: kuroko at July 15, 2008 1:30 PM in response to IndyMac Fallout in Brooklyn?

BRAVO!

Posted by: kuroko at July 10, 2008 10:44 AM in response to Moving Forward

Irony : the use of words to express something other than and especially the opposite of the literal meaning

If we didn't have to provide a middle class wage than we could build more middle class housing....

Posted by: kuroko at July 10, 2008 9:53 AM in response to Do Union Demands Stymie Affordable Housing?

McCain recently admitted that he doesn't know how to use a computer...is this someone we want in charge of the largest (for now) economy in the world?

Posted by: kuroko at July 7, 2008 4:55 PM in response to Backyard Politics: Benches for Barack

11:03

"There are going to be so many disillusioned youngsters when he gets elected and nothing changes."

Yeah? That's what Nader and all his knuckleheaded supporters said in 2000 but that 2% in Florida would have meant an awful lot.

For instance:

We would of ratified the Kyoto Agreement.
We wouldn't be in Iraq which has now cost us 750 Billion, over 4000 American Soldiers, and tens of thousands of others.
We wouldn't have increased non discretionary funding by 200%.
We'd have agencies in the Federal Government like NASA, EPA, and HUD that actually function instead of being demoralized and in shambles. Katrina anyone?
We would have increased the number of people with health insurance.

Who you put in office does matter. Your vote does matter. Don't believe the cynics who say it doesn't matter. It just doesn't hold up under scrutiny.

Posted by: kuroko at July 7, 2008 4:32 PM in response to Backyard Politics: Benches for Barack

On so many levels, the storm drainage system in New York is set up for events like this.

We have enormous grates but their design is archaic and therefore inefficient at capturing hydraulic flow. Then when the water does go below street level, it lands in undersized catch basins who's effectiveness is undermined by spotty maintenance...they only get cleaned when they get clogged and only when someone bothers to call 311.

In a storm event, this is like filling a water balloon with a fire hose.

Prescription for the problem: Modern design "Vaned" grates, larger concrete catch basins, and twice yearly cleaning. After that pipe dream is fulfilled, we can tackle the issue of proper leaf disposal and the litter that clogs these catch basins!

Posted by: kuroko at June 30, 2008 9:29 AM in response to Over the Weekend, a Flood on Carroll Street

Yes, the rich are indeed cutting back by not purchasing that 20 million dollar Manhattan townhouse and buying this shack.

Sweet house, not much else like it in Brooklyn.

Posted by: kuroko at June 27, 2008 11:26 AM in response to Schloss Connelly In Contract

"They got a deal: $3,100 a month."

Really? Will anyone ever take this real estate salesman's word ever again? Wow.

Posted by: kuroko at June 24, 2008 10:28 AM in response to How Bed-Stuy Looks From L.A.

Gategate?

Posted by: kuroko at June 23, 2008 9:52 AM in response to Gate Thief Strikes Twice in Broad Daylight

"The only thing more pathetic than Indians on T.V. is Indians watching Indians on T.V."

Posted by: kuroko at June 19, 2008 1:36 PM in response to Three Brooklyn Winners on AMNY's Most-Fugly List

Brownstoner didn't comment on the recessed lighting? What's the world coming too?

Posted by: kuroko at June 18, 2008 1:14 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 35 Prospect Park West

Have any of these sold?

Posted by: kuroko at June 18, 2008 1:09 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 35 Prospect Park West

I can't help but think that the other post about folks moving in and other folks moving out isn't somehow connected to the uptick in this type of behavior. Bringing the Upper East Side and all it's trappings can cause resentments that manifest themselves in this type of behavior.

What's the solution? Keep your head up and when someone approaches you in a threatening manner, stop, face them, and scream your head off at them.

Physical violence may sound like a satisfying response but as my grandfather used to say, "Never fight with a pig, you'll both get dirty and he'll like it." Even if you are successful in beating the tar out of your assailant, you'll either end up defending yourself against the crowd of kids from across the street and/or defending yourself to the community starting with the phrase, "So I beat up the kid".

Posted by: kuroko at June 18, 2008 10:15 AM in response to Enough With the Marauding Teenagers!

Looks like Las Vegas to me.

Posted by: kuroko at June 17, 2008 10:39 AM in response to The Venetian: 16th-Century Living, Gravesend-Style

It's amazing what passes as commentary these days. I think many of them are delusional and so caught up in their delusional BS that they can't see straight. Give me a break.

Posted by: kuroko at June 17, 2008 8:42 AM in response to Closing Bell: Windows Brooklyn

That's not "The What". It's the fake "what".

Posted by: kuroko at June 16, 2008 5:03 PM in response to Quote of the Day

Besides...

Doesn't Alex Rodriguez get paid 25 million dollars a year for only being right a third of the time?

Posted by: kuroko at June 11, 2008 7:06 AM in response to Closing Bell: Brooklyn Bridge Park Demo Moving Along

Biff,

this house is in PS 38 and it sucks...PS261 has a great reputation...don't know anything outside of press articles about the Arabic Language school.

Posted by: kuroko at June 6, 2008 2:41 PM in response to Open House Picks

2:17...guessing you know exactly where the offers are coming in at because you have personally received them...curious to know why you haven't taken them in this market if indeed my guess is correct. Why not cut bait and move on?

Posted by: kuroko at June 6, 2008 2:28 PM in response to Open House Picks

Boerum Hill house has competition from two other properties on the same block and the same side of the street, one priced 200K more and one priced 200K less.

So, who's going to buy one of these? Nobody. 209 did get over 3 million but this house doesn't come close in terms of attraction, quality, and setup.

The house also is in the worst school district in that area so add 30K a year per child for private school to the cost of your mortgage.

Not feeling it at all. 1.9 million tops.

Posted by: kuroko at June 6, 2008 2:12 PM in response to Open House Picks

Francis Greenberger has a great nose for good opportunities and this is just the latest. TE will do very well over the long haul.

Getting the powers that be to pony up infrastructure improvements, especially transportation, will be the only challenge.

Posted by: kuroko at June 6, 2008 12:00 PM in response to Time Equities' Other Big Project on Sunset Park Waterfront

The street tree standards for the City of New York are the worst in the country. It goes against a host of ADA guidelines, gets worse with age, becomes a trip hazard, and collects garbage.

Me no likey.

Posted by: kuroko at June 3, 2008 4:57 PM in response to Closing Bell: Upgrade for Flushing Tree Plantings

Schwing!

Posted by: kuroko at June 3, 2008 1:33 PM in response to Condo of the Day: One Hanson Place, #21GF

I'd post the letter on a local real estate blog complete with name and contact information. The hyenas on say Curbed or Brownstoner would shame them relentlessly until they slunk away to Lodi.

Posted by: kuroko at June 2, 2008 3:46 PM in response to Dear Owner: I'm Not That Into Your Pad

I would prefer to have everyone logged in. In general, it leads to a more civilized debate, when comments can be attached to a name.

Posted by: kuroko at May 30, 2008 10:48 AM in response to Taking the Pulse on Anonymous Commenting

www.bilco.com

Posted by: kuroko at May 28, 2008 3:37 PM in response to roof hatches and ladders

I walked the Dean Street place during an open house and couldn't believe the lack of charm, the cheap fixtures, the lame finishes, and the wonky construction. But there you have it...2.4 million and only one unit left. Speaks volumes about the location and the value of off street parking.

Posted by: kuroko at May 28, 2008 12:00 PM in response to Last Week's Biggest Sales

I laughed out loud when I read the following,

"This house is too close to 5th Avenue. It can get pretty scary along that strip at night. Lots of shady characters, prostitutes, dealers, and even a few wild dogs. Not too appealing for families."

That's hilarious.

Posted by: kuroko at May 27, 2008 4:16 PM in response to House of the Day: 383 3rd Street

www.milgo-bufkin.com

Posted by: kuroko at May 23, 2008 3:28 PM in response to Tin Clad Fire doors

www.milgo-bufkin.com ask for Joe.

Posted by: kuroko at May 23, 2008 3:28 PM in response to Tin Clad Fire doors

www.milgo-bufkin.com

Posted by: kuroko at May 23, 2008 3:27 PM in response to Tin Clad Fire doors

Heather "the Hill" is my favorite new poster.

Posted by: kuroko at May 20, 2008 9:21 AM in response to Condos of the Day: 255 1st Street

If a comp in the hood sold in 2006 for 1.6 million isn't this place now worth less than that?

Posted by: kuroko at May 15, 2008 8:29 AM in response to House of the Day: 204 Clermont Avenue

Generally speaking pot smokers aren't the violent type, pretty mellow group, and generally speaking pretty reasonable if not a little unconscious. So, thought I would at least give them the option of moving on before I brought in the "War on Drugs" crowd.

They declined and we have options. No one is a victim of stupid people unless they choose to be one. This is true in Crown Heights as it is in Carrol Gardens as it is in every other place on the planet.

Posted by: kuroko at May 12, 2008 1:31 PM in response to Brooklyn Kids Could be Exposed to Porn, Pot Smoking

Last summer while hanging out with my kid at Carrol Gardens park the local kids were smoking pot right next to the drinking fountain where we were filling up our water balloons. Smelled great but was a totally inappropriate location for such leisure activities.

I asked them to move it on and got a typical 16 year old response, "Screw you old man.". So I responded calmly, that I was giving them 5 minutes to clear out. They in turn said, "Oh yeah and then what".

I immediately pulled out my phone, snapped a photo and then loud enough to hear them called 911 and started to describe the young men and their behavior.

They scattered and minutes later two cruisers pulled into the courtyard. Brief chat, promises of increased patrols, end of problem. Never saw them back again.

It is just not that complicated of a problem to solve. The cops hear, "Kids, pot, school playground" in the same sentence and they respond pretty well.

Just pick up the phone people.

Posted by: kuroko at May 12, 2008 12:37 PM in response to Brooklyn Kids Could be Exposed to Porn, Pot Smoking

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Developers Group Tool.

So sad.

Posted by: kuroko at May 7, 2008 4:18 PM in response to New Burg Condos Come to Market

I am sure the artistic community would gladly accept an equal share subsidy as long as what is given to developers (ie. Ratner) and Wall Street is a part of the pie being divided.

Without Art (and the folks who make it), this place would be just like Houston. Just a bunch of jerks making money, eating bbq, and riding around in their Ford Expeditions. Yeehah!

No thanks.

As long as it is safe, make an exception and let them stay.

Posted by: kuroko at May 6, 2008 9:51 AM in response to Some 475 Kent Tenants Allowed Back In

I don't know if they are going to get 8.5 million but this is a killer house. Flat out one of the best houses to come along in a while.

I love Brooklyn, but I'd have a hard time laying down this kind of scratch when so much of Manhattan could be had for this price.

Posted by: kuroko at May 5, 2008 4:27 PM in response to HOTD: Connelly, Bettany Dumping 17 Prospect Park West

Did you say deathstar? Here's Brownstone Brooklyn's best Deathstar...

http://johnpowers.us/installation/terminal.html

Posted by: kuroko at May 1, 2008 1:13 PM in response to Navy Yard Watch: SurroundArt Building Rising

My understanding about the piece is it was in the context of a protest against the Viet Nam War. He was pointing out that more people would be outraged by him shooting a dog than they were by the famous photo of the South Vietnamese general shooting a prisoner in the head.

He was right. We are still talking about the killing of a dog and not the daily loss of life in our current rendition of Vietnam...Iraq.

Posted by: kuroko at April 15, 2008 5:29 PM in response to Closing Bell: Otterness In Situ

The only problem with the alternative energy market is it is an alternative to a major sector of our economy. The only way to make it a net positive for our economy is to be on the leading edge of the innovation, technology, and distribution of it.

If we aren't on that leading edge the best thing it can do for our economy is improve our trade deficits and reduce our environmental clean up costs.

Did you know that if we changed every standard light bulb in America with a compact flourescent that the total reduction in green house gas would be wiped out by adding three coal burning power plants?

Posted by: kuroko at April 14, 2008 10:29 AM in response to Housing Collapse: A Global Domino Effect?

I don't think people get it yet.

I spoke with two people in banking, both on the lending side this weekend, one from Citibank and one from a regional bank called Fifth Third. Both of them said these will be grim times for banking and therefore the economy.

People fail to see how dependent we were on easy credit terms. Citibank just told Fifth Third that they would not accept any loans that were sub-prime. Fifth Third in turn told all of the loan brokers they had spent years developing relationships with, that they were done doing business- subprime and prime - everything.

Easy credit was like having a nitro button on your car dash that you could push and create performance. This masked poor fundamentals in the market. That's over.

It's as if an entire sector of our economy has dissapeared overnight (relatively). It's not that that portion of our GDP is slowing, it's gone for perhaps decades.

My prediction is that this is the advent of an extended decade long era of zero to nil growth in the US economy. I don't see anything on the horizon accept the slim possibility of the alternative energy business that will replace the credit/housing bubble.

Posted by: kuroko at April 14, 2008 10:10 AM in response to Housing Collapse: A Global Domino Effect?

jerri and Brooklynnative, forgive my ignorance, but are you guys brokers?

Posted by: kuroko at April 9, 2008 4:01 PM in response to House of the Day: 429 9th Street

exhibit #1 in defense against brownstone owner taunting of shoddy condo construction. exhibit #2 is the building on Smith that imploded recently.

Hope nobody but the contractor got hurt on this one.

Posted by: kuroko at April 9, 2008 2:06 PM in response to Wall Collapse in Bed-Stuy

3:32

Yes genius, they will sell. Just not at these "and unicorns fly out of my butt" prices. Not these and not now.

If you want a tasteful, welll executed, new/old hybrid here is the standard: http://nymag.com/guides/brooklyn/style/16787/

Biff, 110 Livingston is right up there too, but this is a lazy awful design job.

Posted by: kuroko at April 8, 2008 3:54 PM in response to Condos of the Day: Sneek Peak at 66 North 1st

"Warehouses in Williamsburg sell better than new construction," he said. "It's one of the last rehaps out there; there's not many left."

Yes and for his next trick a unicorn is going to fly out of his butt and shower us all with magic dust to make all the bad, bad, bad men turn into good generous people with high six figure job offers complete with expense accounts, cadillac health insurance, and company cars, and and and...

I'd love someone to put together a spreadsheet of all the Scarano designed developments to see how they are doing collectively. This thing looks hideous.

Posted by: kuroko at April 8, 2008 1:24 PM in response to Condos of the Day: Sneek Peak at 66 North 1st

Wow, a developer responding to what makes sense in Redhook...commercial / light industrial. Bravo to their common sense and good luck.

Posted by: kuroko at April 3, 2008 12:12 PM in response to 14 (Commercial) Townhouses Planned in Red Hook

oh..and Mrs. Limestone...

In all things real estate (and Freudian Slips) size matters.

Posted by: kuroko at April 2, 2008 4:23 PM in response to House of the Day: 386 State Street

Why is it asinine?

I'm not saying that because they are declining in Ohio that this house should. I'm saying that recently published data, from industry sources, say that BROOKLYN TOWNHOUSES, have taken a dive.

State Street isn't prime anything (Boerum Hill or Downtown), and this house is tiny and has lots of interior exterior issues. It's not a piece of prime real estate. Period. Full Stop.

So, in my mind, MSM bought at the peek of it's value. I think it's more asinine to expect that it has risen in value than to think it has fallen.

Posted by: kuroko at April 2, 2008 4:06 PM in response to House of the Day: 386 State Street

Well, if recent published data is true regarding the decline in "values", anything bought in 2007 should be priced lower, right? 15% lower than the purchase price in 2007 would be $1,083,000.

Given where the market is headed, she might be advised to take a loss and move on.

Posted by: kuroko at April 2, 2008 3:48 PM in response to House of the Day: 386 State Street

Bravo and good luck. Can't wait to come by.

Posted by: kuroko at March 31, 2008 2:47 PM in response to StreetLevel: Gowanus Gallery Opens

I think Vegas has the over/under at 240 posts.

Posted by: kuroko at March 28, 2008 9:32 AM in response to Park Slope: The Canary in the Coalmine

And just think, all those landlords can count on competition from the Prison Industrial Complex (nothing screams luxury like a sign advertising "Cheap, Fast Bail Bonds Here!) to drive up the rent on those cupcake shops.

Posted by: kuroko at March 27, 2008 2:49 PM in response to Atlantic's Successful Antics

And just think, all those landlords can count on competition from the Prison Industrial Complex (nothing screams luxury like a sign advertising "Cheap, Fast Bail Bonds Here!) to drive up the rent on those cupcake shops.

Posted by: kuroko at March 27, 2008 2:48 PM in response to Atlantic's Successful Antics

9:12

You sound lonely and sad. Best of luck though.

Posted by: kuroko at March 27, 2008 10:15 AM in response to Wednesday Links

7:21 Would love to see you speak that out loud at a dinner party. It's the most depressing, sad, disconnected paragraph I've read in quite some time. Philip Roth has made a career of that brand of depravity, so perhaps there is something in it for you.

But if I had to make a bet, it would be that you are one of the loneliest people in all of brownstonerdom.

Love manifests itself in the actions we take. Turning to others for sex instead of finding new, creative, intimate ways of keeping your sex life alive is an act against your Love for your spouse. It's an amazing feat of moral flexibility to seperate Love and sex and to characterize any partner, spouse or mistress, as a "void" solely present for your masturbatory pleasure. Again sounds very lonely.

Posted by: kuroko at March 27, 2008 8:19 AM in response to Wednesday Links

3:57 You do know that privacy and anonymity are a thing of the past don't you? Somebody, somewhere knows who you are. Also, Love ain't some idea, it's action. Alfred Adler said , "Trust movement", and you have made your brand of "Love" crystal clear by your movement (ie. typing creepy things into a blog).

3:45 Anytime, anywhere.

Posted by: kuroko at March 26, 2008 4:12 PM in response to Wednesday Links

I've been married 15 years and love my sex life with my wife. She looks different but guess what, so do I. The changes in both of us are not marks against us but badges of a well lived life.

It doesn't mean that my imagination doesn't wander but the last thing a twenty something is thinking to themselves is "Yeah baby, you know what really turns me on, fortyish, graying, with a couple of kids!, Yeah! That Volvo makes me SO hot."

Grow up with your spouse, it ain't so bad. Powerful women are hot and what's more powerful than popping some crotch fruit out of your vajayjay a couple of times and living?

Posted by: kuroko at March 26, 2008 3:33 PM in response to Wednesday Links

Don't we get to ignore The What now because we now know he lives in Lodi, New Jersey?

I'd never even heard of the place so I looked it up. Here's a hilarious link to the "Events" page for the month of April.

http://www.lodi-nj.org/calendar/april.html

Posted by: kuroko at March 26, 2008 11:00 AM in response to Wednesday Links

Does Brooklyn need a Park Avenue? It seems to me that there is plenty of expensive real estate around.

Don't we need more affordable housing? Is there really a market for more apartments that rent for 5K or sell for 1.4 million?

Posted by: kuroko at March 20, 2008 3:00 PM in response to Slopers Sweet on 4th Avenue?

Yeah...there's a magic wall surrounding New York that's going to protect it from all the bad people 4:03...

Posted by: kuroko at March 13, 2008 4:08 PM in response to House of the Day: 145 Bergen Street

I made an absurd amount of money and didn't see that trend continuing in real estate. I'm betting that those who buy over the next three years will do better than those who bought during the past three years.

Buy high, sell low is ass backwards.

Posted by: kuroko at March 13, 2008 4:03 PM in response to House of the Day: 145 Bergen Street

uh...85k is chicken scratch...but thanks.

Posted by: kuroko at March 13, 2008 3:55 PM in response to House of the Day: 145 Bergen Street

I bought in 2000 and sold in 2006. Looking at the real estate landscape right now I feel pretty happy about the timing.

I'll gladly rent for another couple of years because we haven't hit bottom yet.

Back to the house, they'll get close if not ask . It's a prime spot and enough building to work with.

Posted by: kuroko at March 13, 2008 3:45 PM in response to House of the Day: 145 Bergen Street

If you look at my earlier posts you'll see that I thought they would get their price and that it was in the ballpark as a single residence.

My beef is with the poster at 2:09 who suggested that the new owner would be subsidizing his/her tenants.

Get it?

It's madness to have that expectation. Recent prices have grossly outstripped inflation. The huddled masses ain't keeping up. Something has got to give.

Posted by: kuroko at March 13, 2008 3:30 PM in response to House of the Day: 145 Bergen Street

It doesn't Hal but my righteous indignation felt good for a moment. As I said in my next posting, I'll stop and furthermore, I'm sorry.

Posted by: kuroko at March 13, 2008 3:05 PM in response to House of the Day: 145 Bergen Street

Okay, I'll stop the name calling.

Real estate values follow inflation over time. That's not an opinion, that's a fact. We've just experienced a couple of decades worth of growth in "values" over the past 4 years and there will be a correction. Hopefully it by way of stagnant pricing for a longer period rather than falling off a cliff.

Again, if you are buying at these prices, you can argue that you just love the nabe, and the luxury of owning your own brownstone. The expectation that BECAUSE you have paid this premium you can expect that there are enough renters out there to pay a proportionate amount of your mortgage is absurd. Inflation didn't keep up with the rise in these prices...those people don't exist.

Top of this market rent is 3K per floor with excellent finishes...so if you don't want to be "subsidizing your rentals." then don't pay more than 1 million plus your rehab.

Posted by: kuroko at March 13, 2008 3:00 PM in response to House of the Day: 145 Bergen Street

"Otherwise, all you are doing is subsidizing your rentals."

Idiot.

Real estate prices (not values) have outpaced inflation and therefore the expectation that there is a pool of individuals out there that can pay rent proportional to the prices paid is absurd. You'd have to charge 5K a month rent for these apartments for that calculation to work out.

Owners are not subsidizing their tenants in cases like this only facing up to the fact that they have overpaid.

No real estate investor in their right mind would buy this house at this price. This is a price that only makes sense in comparison to other single residency offerings in this area.

Posted by: kuroko at March 13, 2008 2:32 PM in response to House of the Day: 145 Bergen Street

It's is a solid location too in terms of train service.

Posted by: kuroko at March 13, 2008 2:22 PM in response to House of the Day: 145 Bergen Street

You pay a premium for being that close to the Brooklyn Inn.

I think they might get it or very close to it.

Posted by: kuroko at March 13, 2008 2:21 PM in response to House of the Day: 145 Bergen Street

Rental rhymes with Schmental and these two bedrooms will fetch $2,500 a month from a revolving door of young turks who think it is sweet/cool/badass to be living that close to sketch city. They'll tell themselves "It's got the best access to trains!" until they get their heads kicked in one night stumbling home from Boat.

Posted by: kuroko at March 4, 2008 4:26 PM in response to Condos of the Day: Price Cuts at 433 Warren Street

In comparison to yesterdays HOTD in Boerum Hill this kicks ass...two more floors, fronting the park, and no gut renovation to complete.

Having said that, that price is so 2006.

Posted by: kuroko at March 4, 2008 1:40 PM in response to House of the Day: Third Shot at 204 Washington Park

Anyone who wants a two bedroom in this hood can rent one for 3K a month (sometimes less) and that is for best location, best finishes, and they don't have to tie up cash in an investment that doesn't have the rosiest of near term outlooks.

This location is terrible and just won't get better until they blow up the projects, which they won't ever do...so...what happens next? Rhymes with Schmental.

Posted by: kuroko at March 4, 2008 1:32 PM in response to Condos of the Day: Price Cuts at 433 Warren Street

Ifs and buts were candy and nuts....

Posted by: kuroko at March 3, 2008 2:49 PM in response to House of the Day: 150 Bond Street

Hilarious! This ain't no Heath and Michelle pad by any stretch...even with the parking.

Bergen is a noisy bus route, Bond is a noisy pedestrian route. The bodega across the street is great as far as bodegas go and you are only one block from the Brooklyn Inn...but so what.

If this guy can walk away without owing any debt on it they should take it and count their blessings.

Posted by: kuroko at March 3, 2008 2:47 PM in response to House of the Day: 150 Bond Street

got desperation?

Posted by: kuroko at February 25, 2008 3:58 PM in response to Steelwork Lofts Coming Down the Pipe

A curb cut would be consistent with what's across both Dean and Bond from here and that's the only viable spot for it.

The coach house across Bond has one...and the building directly across Dean on the corner has two on Bond for their garage...and then across Bond from that there is at least one if not two....so not so unprecedented.

Btw I don't own this house or live there.

Posted by: kuroko at February 21, 2008 9:54 AM in response to Closing Bell: A Curb Cut for Boerum Hill Historic District?

A "prewar victorian"? Huh?

What war? The one the What is talking about, WWI, Spanish American, or maybe the Civil War perhaps.

Posted by: kuroko at February 15, 2008 3:29 PM in response to Residential Sales in Brooklyn

10 AM...Penthouse just doesn't scream family to me. I have one child with one on the way and when I think about a home I want outdoor space, even if it is just a patch.

10:01...Of course not. In fact weren't there a series of articles (NYTimes?) about the new trend amongst the wealthy is having 3 or more children?

Posted by: kuroko at February 12, 2008 10:25 AM in response to One Hanson’s Penthouses Tower Units Hit the Market

I'll bet my last dollar that the buyer of these apartments either doesn't have kids or they have flown the coop. I see a couple with perhaps a home office...don't they call those DINKS?

Posted by: kuroko at February 12, 2008 9:59 AM in response to One Hanson’s Penthouses Tower Units Hit the Market

This is a gorgeous building and I have been sniffing at some of the apartments for some time. I want to like these...I came ready to be in support of this price but I'm not feeling it.

Always a red flag when most of the photos are not of the apartment. At this price point you are competing with Manhattan and while the views can't be beat, Atlantic Center ain't Chelsea. And while I am not a devotee of DDDB, anyone plunking down that kind of dough has to be aware of what they face for the near future. Madison Square Garden ain't a neighborhood amenity that high end real estate is going to tout in their sales pitch.

Posted by: kuroko at February 12, 2008 9:52 AM in response to One Hanson’s Penthouses Tower Units Hit the Market

I say move to Bed-Stuy and if the school in your nabe isn't up to your standards here's Brooklyn's secret weapon...

http://hccs-nys.org/

http://www.insideschools.org/fs/school_profile.php?id=1492

Ms. Tatonis the new principal (formerly of PS 170) is a rock star.

Posted by: kuroko at January 31, 2008 10:23 AM in response to Stuyvesant Heights Brownstone VS Clinton Hills Condo

Gross wants everyone to know that he makes money off of his BFA and his MFA and can afford to pay his rent like good little tool.

Everyone else in the art community wants you all to know that we hate smarmy, bitter, failures (at making his own art) like Gross and are thrilled that he's not one of us. In fact we all laugh at him when we are enjoying ourselves in our studios.

Posted by: kuroko at January 29, 2008 1:43 PM in response to 475 Kent Avenue: How It All Began

Religion aside, these folks were way ahead of the curve as real estate investors. Kudos to the Watchtower Gang for buying into these hoods long before it was cool to do so.

What I want to know is where are headed with their real estate investments now.

This building will sell very quickly.

Posted by: kuroko at January 29, 2008 9:53 AM in response to Watchtower Divestment Continues: The Bossert on the Block

I say make it artist live/work space... a neo-loft. Raw, undeveloped space, with that edgy cache of having been a bad, bad, bad place...I see the performance work already.

Posted by: kuroko at January 18, 2008 11:48 AM in response to Brooklyn House of Detention Plans Falter

So-so on the finishes...like the central air...but the location is a little scrappy because of it's proximity to the BQE...second bedroom is really only useful for office and or entertainment room.

In this market, this goes out the door at 700K tops.

Posted by: kuroko at January 16, 2008 1:34 PM in response to Condos of the Day: 536 Henry Street

Yummo.

Posted by: kuroko at January 14, 2008 2:15 PM in response to House of the Day: 118 Willow Street

2:26...now that's funny.

Location, location, location is the first thing that comes to mind when I look at these and it does seem a little on the high side. Would I move my family here for any price?

Contrary to that, I always smirk when someone says how they prefer the solid construction of a brownstone over any new construction. I live in a brownstone complete with wonky electric, sloping floors, gremlins in my radiators, and not a square angle in sight . Some call it "character", some call it "funky chic" but no one can say with a straight face that it is "solid".

Posted by: kuroko at January 10, 2008 2:47 PM in response to Condos of the Day: 424 Lafayette Avenue

This looks great. I was a sommelier in Chicago in the early nineties and converted the old coal bin in my house in similar fashion. Did great during the summer. Don't expect you'll have much trouble.

Best of luck.

Posted by: kuroko at January 10, 2008 9:50 AM in response to Weekend Warrior: DIY Wine Cellar

Anderson Cooper said it best the night before last, "All waves eventually come to shore."

Clinton will roll from here.

Posted by: kuroko at January 9, 2008 9:36 AM in response to Brownstoner Democratic Primary Results

Thanks Brownstoner. These are the same kind of creeps that don't carry plastic bags when they walk their dogs.

Now how about the mountain of slimy garbage outside of PS 261 on Dean Street? The sidewalk there is disgusting.

Posted by: kuroko at January 8, 2008 4:23 PM in response to Closing Bell: Tips for Littering

Clinton!

Posted by: kuroko at January 8, 2008 12:00 PM in response to Which Way Are Readers Leaning in the Presidential Race?

3/4 the price because it's 1/3 the neighborhood. I know because I work here every day. The stench from the sewage plant can be caustic at times.

I am also slightly amused to here two comments on how safe the neighborhood is because there are no "projects" and it is and "totally not ghetto".

This is code word for there are a bunch of polish honkies living here and you would be safe among your people.

1.2 milliion ain't going to fly, no way no how.

Posted by: kuroko at January 8, 2008 9:10 AM in response to House of the Day: Greenpoint's Guernsey Inn For Sale

I'd say $750-850 grand tops.

It's an ugly neighborhood (I know because I walk through it to and fro work everyday), it's a few blocks from the largest oil spill in history (on land), and during the summer the sewage treatment plant can't stank up the joint.

The rent roll won't carry 1.2 million either unless you have a serious chunk of change to plunk down on it.

Posted by: kuroko at January 7, 2008 3:16 PM in response to House of the Day: Greenpoint's Guernsey Inn For Sale

I think the most interesting thing about the statistics I posted are these two lines:

* Amount $1 invested in stocks in 1963 would have compounded to today: $12.36

* Amount $1 invested in real estate in 1963 would have compounded to today: $1.79

Considering your own home an "investment" is a concept that is fairly new. Statistically, housing prices over time rise only as much as inflation, otherwise no one would be able to afford them. There are local-short term exceptions to this-anyone living in New York City over the last few years has experienced this- but as pure investments go over the long term you are better off elsewhere.

For the record, I am not talking about investment properties where the rent roll is paying the expenses plus. These opportunities however require that you have found a great deal or found tennants who overpay for a variety of reasons.

One last statistic.

50% of bankruptcies in the US are the result of uninsured medical costs.

Posted by: kuroko at January 3, 2008 4:13 PM in response to Corcoran ’07 Market Report: Brooklyn’s Still Up

The True Cost of Debt in America

In Debt We Trust Facts Sheet

* Total number of Americans: 300,000,000

* Total consumer debt of Americans: $3,000,000,000,000

* Average debt per U.S. household: $30,000

* Number of households not paying off their credit card balances each month: 6 in 10

* Average length of time, in months, spent paying off credit card debt: 43

* Consumer bankruptcies in 1980: 287,463

* Consumer bankruptcies in 2004: 1,500,000

* Percent increase in bankruptcies: 422

* Amount the average college student owes in loans by graduation: $30,000

* Amount that same student owes in additional consumer debt: $20,000

* Amount $1 invested in stocks in 1963 would have compounded to today: $12.36

* Amount $1 invested in real estate in 1963 would have compounded to today: $1.79

* Total in 2005 and 2006 lenders wrote in new home mortgages: $3,200,000,000,000

* Net profit percentage annually by the major credit card companies: 54

Posted by: kuroko at January 3, 2008 3:27 PM in response to Corcoran ’07 Market Report: Brooklyn’s Still Up

So I know I am a little late to the discussion but I always love it when someone compares a commute from Westchester to anything from the five the city. They always say, "It is only 40 minutes to Grand Central!"

Yeah accept that you have to drive to the station early, find parking, wait for the train, and then you are at Grand Central...where you have to transfer to the subway to get to where you really work.

Anyone who tells you their total commute from Stamford is less than an hour and a half is lying.

Door to door from Brooklyn I am at work in less than 30 minutes.

Posted by: kuroko at December 28, 2007 9:36 AM in response to Home Prices Continue to Slide, and NY’s No Exception

Brownstoner profiled a roof deck garden recently that was pretty dreamy...do a search here or ask if they can send you the link.

Posted by: kuroko at December 21, 2007 2:00 PM in response to Suggestions for Roofdeck addition

Yeah that's high...it ain't the greatest location...rents immediately at 1800 per month.

Posted by: kuroko at December 18, 2007 2:17 PM in response to Rental of the Day: 477 Bergen Street

I think the owners have done a nice job but I can't help but compare and contrast to an earlier post here on Brownstoner...

http://www.brownstoner.com/brownstoner/archives/2007/12/rentals_of_the_2.php

Posted by: kuroko at December 11, 2007 4:40 PM in response to Condos of the Day: 145 Halsey Street

This is a great addition to the neighborhood and they have done a wonderful job of updating the interior while maintaining the traditional exterior. Jane Jacobs would of been proud of the entire package...btw there is a little cafe around the corner (Nevins and Bergen) and someone recently mentioned a rumor about the corner place at Bond and Pacific turning into a cafe. Bravo!

Any word on what types of insurance that practice takes?

Posted by: kuroko at December 11, 2007 9:13 AM in response to Streetlevel: Tribeca Pediatrics Expands to Boerum Hill

Okay 1:18...

What does two people earning salaries of 70K each add up to? Hey look at that It is a combined $140K!

Let's take the bottom estimate of 50K each. This gives them about $6500 take home a month combined. Minus the monthly nut of 3500 in rent, they are down to 750 dollars a week before they have bought a metrocard and toothpaste.

If I am the landlord, I am wary of those numbers. If I am a renter, not feeling it either. This is an absurd listing.

Posted by: kuroko at December 6, 2007 1:56 PM in response to The Novo Going (At Least Partially) Rental?

The rule of thumb for determining whether or not someone can afford to rent your space, is that their annual income should be 40 times the monthly rent. So, that means a family should earn $140K to rent these two bedrooms. How many people earning that kind of dough are going to settle for that building on that stretch of road?

I wouldn't bet on filling up that building anytime soon. I walked through one neighborhood in Williamsburg/Greenpoint the other day to look at properties and saw 6 new condo developments with for sale signs on them. It is only going to get worse.

My bet is not only will real estate prices come down, but so will rents. This offering is only slightly less absurd than the "luxury rental" profiled recently adjacent to the BQE. Slightly.

Posted by: kuroko at December 6, 2007 12:52 PM in response to The Novo Going (At Least Partially) Rental?

Hi Peg!

Posted by: kuroko at December 3, 2007 1:11 PM in response to Condo of the Day: 515 5th Avenue

They could rebrand this hood as "Greenslope" or "North Sunset" or "Prospect Slope" or "NorthGreenwoodsunnyslope" or "HolycrapImbetweenanexpresswayandacemetarybuthopefullyIcanshuckandjivemywayto700persquarefoot"

Posted by: kuroko at December 3, 2007 12:19 PM in response to Desperation Leads to Sealed Bids at Shangri-La

I'll take five percent of the subsidy we give to real estate developers (AY anyone?) and/or Wall Street and/or corporations instead of the pittance we give to artists. Sound like a fair trade?

Posted by: kuroko at December 3, 2007 11:34 AM in response to Report: NYC Artists an Endangered Breed

Okay...so add 15% brokers fee and you have rents amortizing out at $3,680-$4025...you could have your choice of Dumbo, Park Slope, Boerem Hill, Downtown, Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Williamsburg....hell you could move into a small Manhattan (not prime) 2 bedroom for that.

Don't take my word for it. Here's the link on Craigslist: http://newyork.craigslist.org/search/aap?query=&minAsk=3200&maxAsk=3500&bedrooms=2&hasPic=1

That's an owner so far under water they can't think straight. If that's the nonsense that broker is pumping they won't be in the business a year from now.

Posted by: kuroko at November 30, 2007 2:01 PM in response to Rental of the Day: 562 Court Street

12:56...

That's hilarious. Well done.

Posted by: kuroko at November 20, 2007 1:36 PM in response to Condos of the Day: Still an Uphill Battle at The Dewitt

I can't think of a more charmless place, in prime Brooklyn, than Dumbo. When we first moved here, we went to see what all the fuss was about. "Really, that's it?", was our response. I know there are ghosts of the artists that used to live/work in the hood but....oy!

Posted by: kuroko at November 20, 2007 10:34 AM in response to Theater Director: Dumbo’s the New Tribeca

That squirrel will be worthless when AY is built.

Posted by: kuroko at November 2, 2007 10:39 AM in response to Dead (Murdered?) Squirrel Raises Questions

It does look better than the condos just on the market up the street between smith and court. I appreciate its restraint and simplicity.

Posted by: kuroko at October 22, 2007 1:23 PM in response to Development Watch: 322-328 Dean Street

In Copenhagen you can't help but notice the swarm of bicycles/mopeds chained to every stationary object available.

Quite simply, it's worth the clutter.

While not the scale of NYC, much less Brooklyn, it's a profoundly more enjoyable given the noise and pollution reduction.

I say pass a law that allows parking of anything on two wheels on the sidewalk.

Posted by: kuroko at October 16, 2007 10:49 AM in response to Scooter Sweep in the Slope

My own experience is that the only way to make going green financially viable is to take advantage of the increased efficiency/lower operating cost over time. Given that you are selling these, that means you are giving the purchaser a gift (marketing angle?) of lower operating costs or asking them to pay a premium in order to recover your higher costs.

Posted by: kuroko at October 11, 2007 3:16 PM in response to Inside Third & Bond: Week 9

Bravo to all involved for bringing some diversity to the local bar scene. I am a habitual visitor to Brooklyn Inn as that suits me but that's not everyone's cup of beer. The emphasis on art and custom made work also gets my big thumbs up.
I'll cheerfully stop in and plunk down $16 for a chocolatini just to cheer them on. Good luck!

Posted by: kuroko at October 5, 2007 4:15 PM in response to StreetLevel: Heaven or Hell at New Atlantic Ave. Bar?

Bravo to all involved for bringing some diversity to the local bar scene. I am a habitual visitor to Brooklyn Inn as that suits me but that's not everyone's cup of beer. The emphasis on art and custom made work also gets my big thumbs up.
I'll cheerfully stop in and plunk down $16 for a chocolatini just to cheer them on. Good luck!

Posted by: kuroko at October 5, 2007 3:59 PM in response to StreetLevel: Heaven or Hell at New Atlantic Ave. Bar?

Just playing devil's advocate...if they are that uptight about shoes in the house they condition of the house in general would be pretty good, no?

Brownstoner, thanks for dumping the What. He distracted far too many strings from their purpose.

Posted by: kuroko at October 5, 2007 2:55 PM in response to Open House Picks

I believe there is a company called Victorian Hardware in Port Townsend that does mail order business and has quite a selection.

Posted by: kuroko at October 2, 2007 3:55 PM in response to Place that rewires lamps?

Try a company called Bilco or if you need something more industrial Neenah Foundry Co.

Posted by: kuroko at September 25, 2007 9:49 AM in response to cellar trapdoor cover question

http://www.nycgovparks.org/sub_permits_and_applications/images_and_pdfs/NYC-Parks-Dept.-Street-Tree-Planting-Permit-and-Guidelines.pdf

Posted by: kuroko at September 25, 2007 9:46 AM in response to street tree question

http://propertyshark.com/mason/nyc/Reports2/showsection.html?propkey=121716

This house (not mine) was bought for around a $100K in 1983...

in '98 he pulled 300k in equity...

in 2002 he pulled 700k...

and sold it in 05 for 1.84 million plus a downpayment...

there are hundreds of examples like this in BH...and by the way, we are proud of our racial distribution.

Racial Distribution:

White 47.90%
Black 31.60%
Native 0.60%
American
or Alaskan Native
Islander0.10%
Asian11.10%
Hispanic24.70%

and we are rest assured that it has no sway on our property values.

Posted by: kuroko at September 20, 2007 2:03 PM in response to House of the Day: 158A Nevins Street

Oh great. A cracker grows in Brooklyn of all places. The over/under on this thread just went from 45 to 145.

Posted by: kuroko at September 20, 2007 11:38 AM in response to House of the Day: 158A Nevins Street

"BABY JOHN: Who wouldn't wanna belong to the Jets!"

I am amused by the back and forth about the qualities of different neighborhoods in Brownstone Brooklyn. What is this, West Side Story? Let's all rumble. Instead of knives and clubs we can whack each other with copies of our jumbo mortgages and slice each other up with our metro card.

Posted by: kuroko at September 20, 2007 9:42 AM in response to House of the Day: 158A Nevins Street

We could debate for years about whether or not places like Darien breed racism or not. Our experience is that for lack of diversity of backgrounds and circumstances, you inherently are more prejudice. Fear of the unknown.

Comparing apples to apples, I know that a community comprised of an equivalent demographic taken from New York City would compare to the achievement levels in Darien which are admittedly quite impressive (94% HS graduation rate). Perhaps the population that sends their children to Dalton (www.dalton.org).

Cities are inherently more safe DESPITE increased crime levels for one reason: We don't drive. This fact significantly lowers mortality rates. That's why it is a safer place to raise your boys.

Yes, NYC has more guns, but they have more swimming pools and cars.

I would also argue that by raising your children in a more complex and challenging social environment you will make them safer going forward by preparing them for anything/everything.

As a sage-crooner once sang it, "If I can make it there, I can make it anywhere."

Posted by: kuroko at September 18, 2007 3:03 PM in response to Condo of the Day: 11 Terrace Place

Darien, CT Demographic breakdown

Race/Ethnicity 2000 Population 1990 Population
White 18,816 17,678
Black 89 75
Native American 8 9
Asian/Pacific Islander 479 371
Hispanic 429 340

Good for you if you are raising your children in this wealthy and white bubble. I left a community just like this to raise my son in a place with a much broader social experience.

When you want to compare apples to apples I'll respond further. I am assuming that you know it well because perhaps this is where your were raised. If so, is it a wonder that you have deep prejudices?

Curious to know if you actually live in the city. Have children?

Posted by: kuroko at September 18, 2007 8:09 AM in response to Condo of the Day: 11 Terrace Place

Identify a school district in the burbs and lets do a statistical study. I'll provide the links to data.

Your child is statistically more likely to die living in the suburbs. That's what I mean by safer. What do you mean?

"Children are rarely murdered in the suburbs. Children and young adults account for the bulk of murder victims in NY City and other urban areas."

That's not factually true and I can back it up with statistics.

As for average and below average kids being in better hands in the suburban schools, I have to assume that you know more than I do, as rarely does the apple fall far from the tree.

Posted by: kuroko at September 17, 2007 8:54 AM in response to Condo of the Day: 11 Terrace Place

Guest 3:23 and 8:13...read the book Freakanomics and then come back to your statements.

Did you know your children are safer in the city than they are in suburbs?

I'll put the best schools in the suburbs up against the best schools in New York City ANY DAY OF WEEK!

Posted by: kuroko at September 16, 2007 9:51 PM in response to Condo of the Day: 11 Terrace Place

If I am not mistaken I was brought through that building almost a year ago by the owner's representative. We were looking for an industrial work space and decided it was too far to go in terms of renovations needed.

I commented at the time that it would be fine broken up into live/work spaces for artists, but that the neighborhood was scary. This is not the place you want to be coming home to late at night unless you could drive in through an automatic gate.

I love Property Shark...it's the best of the internet in terms of gathering and presenting a broad matrix of information.

That photo was what I saw this past year. Would be suspicious of the renderings in terms of accuracy...could be the hopes and dreams of the seller.

Posted by: kuroko at September 11, 2007 1:24 PM in response to Condo of the Day: 249 Varet Street

G train is great during rush hour. I take it every day to work and back from Bergen or Hoyt Schemerhorn to Nassau. Always a seat, runs a train every few minutes.

Off hours the wait can be long.

Posted by: kuroko at September 6, 2007 2:14 PM in response to Kodachrome Building Open For Business

My vote is that it goes this fall and for close to asking. It's small but there will definately be a premium for the private outdoor space.

Posted by: kuroko at September 6, 2007 8:39 AM in response to Co-op of the Day: FSBO at 488 Third Street

12:23 Now that's funny.

Posted by: kuroko at August 31, 2007 2:18 PM in response to Where's the Late-August Market Slowdown?

This thread started out with the question:

"Do big-time real estate offices beget gentrification, or is it the other way ’round?"

What's the answer? I think it is the other way 'round. Young people colonize on the fringes where they can afford to live. A funny thing happens along the way to adulthood though. It's start becoming more important to have amenities around you and you become more able to afford them. That's where capitalism is great; recognizing and taking advantage of new opportunities. PLG and LG and every other funky neighborhood will get their Corcoran offices the minute the market demands it.

As for the trolls...I'd make them register but it's not my blog.

Posted by: kuroko at August 31, 2007 1:37 PM in response to Hey Corcoran, Won’t You Be Our Neighbor?

Which only reinforces my position that there should be no more "guest" posters. Guest posters are much more likely to make comments like the following:

"What a joke. These PLG crybabies always want what they can't have. Pathetic."

or

"Besides, there probably aren't many brokers who're prepared to take a bullet in order to sell some shoddy condo in PLG."

or

"No two ways about it. PLG sucks ass."

or

"The only thing that'll make PLG a better place is a crack team of police snipers."

Make people sign up if they want to post Brownstoner. It will lead to a much more constructive and civil discourse.

Posted by: kuroko at August 31, 2007 1:18 PM in response to Hey Corcoran, Won’t You Be Our Neighbor?

When you register you have to provide a valid email, which means that your comments can be traced to you directly. Posting with the knowledge that Brownstoner or webmaster can attribute the comments directly to you tends to make people behave in a more civil manner.

Do an informal reading of any thread on this blog that discuss issues of race for instance. See how many of the more incendiary racist comments come from guests vs. logged in members.

I'll sweep your sidewalk for a week if there are more logged in crackers than guest crackers.

Posted by: kuroko at August 30, 2007 10:49 AM in response to House of the Day: 500 Marlborough Road

My favorite place for Victorian era architecture is Port Townsend, Washington (NE corner of the Olympic Peninsula). In 1880 they had an equivalent population to NYC as they were the port of entry for the entire West Coast. Intuitively, I would guess that they have a far larger stock of authentic Victorian era homes.

Posted by: kuroko at August 30, 2007 8:15 AM in response to House of the Day: 500 Marlborough Road

I think folks who don't sign in are more likely to express opinions they would never express in the light of day.

If I were Brownstoner, I wouldn't let anyone post without signing in. It would cut down on those who have an agenda (ie. brokers, sellers, buyers, etc) from posting.

Posted by: kuroko at August 29, 2007 4:43 PM in response to House of the Day: 500 Marlborough Road

Those are primo prices though. Nice wide street straddled by Smith and Court. They may have waited just a bit too long to put these on the market. Who hasn't walked by these and thought to themselves "If I could only get my hands on those buildings".

Posted by: kuroko at August 27, 2007 9:29 AM in response to Change Coming for Old Bergen St. Buildings?

Any appraisal company has an incentive in broadcasting higher valuations on homes. When getting a loan or trying to justify the price you are asking for your home who wouldn't want a company that is telling everyone that prices are continuing to sky rocket.

HMS states, "The report includes data on single- and multi-family homes as well as condominiums in neighborhoods that show both increases and decreases. The selected neighborhoods are deemed a fair reflection of Brooklyn sales, according to Sam Heskel, executive vice president of HMS Associates."

Deemed fair by who? HMS, that's who.

This means they are picking and choosing their data and MAY mean that they are purposely skewing their results to reflect higher numbers.

Having said that, even if the high number of 13% is legit, that means the price should be around the 2 million dollar mark.

Posted by: kuroko at August 21, 2007 5:21 PM in response to House of the Day: 86 Garfield Place

Try Classical Hellenic Charter School on 5th avenue. They aren't bound by any particular district currently. Expanding enrollment, daily language instruction, continues through 8th grade, not crowded, and they just got a hot shot new principal from Bay Ridge. It's a great school.

Posted by: kuroko at August 14, 2007 9:42 AM in response to ps 321

Marc Appelbaum : RADIUS Construction Group, LLC

radiusoffice : 377 Pacific Street Brooklyn NY 11217-2219

radiusstudio : 204 Van Dyke Street Pier 41 Red Hook Brooklyn

tel. 718.243.0280 fax. 718.243.0004

www.radiusconstruction.com

Posted by: kuroko at August 10, 2007 1:41 PM in response to Recommendations: Design-Build Firms

Try Rikki Gunz (phone# 917-217-9584). He is great, cost effective, good quality, friendly, straight shooter and has a shop on St. Johns just above 5th Avenue. He helped build my sons bed and our book shelves and we are very happy.

Posted by: kuroko at August 10, 2007 1:38 PM in response to custom walk-in closets, bookshelves

http://nfco.com/c/pdf/downspoutsguards.pdf

Scroll down to the R-4950 series. If this is what you are looking for call them at 920-725-7000 and ask for Milena Bauer. She is the best and can help you out.

Posted by: kuroko at August 10, 2007 1:31 PM in response to Coal Chute Door

http://nfco.com/c/pdf/downspoutsguards.pdf

Scroll down to the R-4950 series. If this is what you are looking for call them at 920-725-7000 and ask for Milena Bauer. She is the best and can help you out.

Posted by: kuroko at August 10, 2007 1:30 PM in response to Coal Chute Door

Try installing a R-2560-A casting from Neenah Foundry (http://www.nfco.com/). This is built for this very reason and is very durable. If you do call them ask for Milena Bauer. She'll hook you up.

Posted by: kuroko at August 10, 2007 1:21 PM in response to I need a cover for my drain right outside my basement level back door....

Try installing a R-2560-A casting from Neenah Foundry (http://www.nfco.com/). This is built for this very reason and is very durable. If you do call them ask for Milena Bauer. She'll hook you up.

Posted by: kuroko at August 10, 2007 1:19 PM in response to I need a cover for my drain right outside my basement level back door....

St. John's woodworking located at 68 34th st. Owner Jack Gavin, who is on vacation for the next week, is the guy to ask for. Phone # 718-499-0584.

Posted by: kuroko at August 10, 2007 1:15 PM in response to Bannister repairperson?