I remember passing this site when they were just putting in the foundation. Unfortunately they undermined the old building to the west. This caused the facade to crack right up to the third floor where some bricks were dislodged. A crew was erecting scaffolding in front of the damaged property. The supports extended onto the blue stone in front of the next property. The boss was on his cell. I mentioned to his crew he was probably asking the lawyers for quick advice. Don't need TWO lawsuits in one day.

Posted by: tommurphy at February 14, 2007 2:24 PM in response to New Development: The Atlantic State Condos

If you have the requisite depth from house to curb you can do it. Minimum of 20', I believe. You must pay NYC for permission to cut the curb; assuming there is no tree or hydrant in the way.
You can always break into the front wall of your house if you lack the requisite open area. There are contractors who specialize in this. You will need DOB approved plans.
However, as you can see above, you really don't want to be the first on your block to do this.
Something to think about and talk over with the neighbors first.

Posted by: tommurphy at May 23, 2007 3:59 PM in response to Making a driveway

SPer, I'm reminded of a defense Pete Hamill advanced some time ago to counter a similar situation: Would you want to clean up all the horse shit?
Cars in great numbers have a downside; however, it's how we got here, right?
Brooklyn, where we live, is also a great workplace and a great marketplace. Convenient transportation is essential for this to function.
When I see home-owner spending big bucks to create off-street parking, I see someone who is extremely frustrated. I don't see this person as selfish but as someone who wants to survive given the current predicament.
Sunset Park lacks sufficient on-street parking. That fact doesn't deter DoT from eliminating even more legal spots year after year and making a bad situation worse.
By the way, we don't have the 'excellent' mass
transportation as you might presume. I would give a good grade only to a service running when it's needed. The MTA has been gradually eliminating service to this locale. Five of our seven bus lines don't run at night. The 'R' and the 'N' lines are also curtailed during non-rush hours. During weekends service is eliminated south of 36th Street at night. I guess they think we all have cars.

Posted by: tommurphy at May 24, 2007 12:07 PM in response to Making a driveway

The Ubell's, of course. Al & Larry are at Accurate Building, Inc.

Posted by: tommurphy at May 26, 2007 3:02 PM in response to House Inspector

Try Rockport, Maine.

Posted by: tommurphy at June 21, 2007 3:21 PM in response to Shade Sail Installer Needed

It was a chilly April, remember?
Ask Keyspan on-line for your billing history for the last two years(free overnight response). Check the heating-free summer months. That will give you good numbers.

Posted by: tommurphy at June 21, 2007 3:29 PM in response to Summer Gas Bills

Buy the through-the-wall unit with the sleeve (I have three Friedrich's) and prop it on the window sill with the back-end outside. You have to construct wings to seal the window(I use insulation batts trimmed to size).
Of course, this unit, plus a sleeve, is more $$$ but works fine.

Posted by: tommurphy at June 28, 2007 10:18 PM in response to Help, we're melting!

A terrier. That's what they're bred for.

Posted by: tommurphy at July 3, 2007 7:20 PM in response to rats in the garden

You might want to restrict air infiltration on humid days and nights, increasing it when the humidity is forecast to be low, if that is possible.

Posted by: tommurphy at July 5, 2007 12:14 PM in response to Sweaty Pipes

You might want to use a welder's hammer (HD)to knock off built up paint and rust. Even a tack hammer would do around tight spots. I used these to clean off an iron gate with a century of paint. Be patient too. It's a labor intensive and annoying job.

Posted by: tommurphy at July 5, 2007 12:25 PM in response to Stripping paint from iron bars

Ron dont be cheap a bottle of cider or wine or maybe a few bucks at Chrisems would loosen up the mailman to make the extra flights up the rest of the year long, otherwise you doing a diservice to that man or womans pride in working for you especially at the Xmas Holidays. Shoe leather cost money, or in your case maybe some wine.

Posted by: Rupes at August 5, 2007 8:18 PM in response to second floor entrance

I have excellent credit but I am worried because all the indicators are pointing up. I can not close yet because we are waiting for the CFO. Can you really get numbers at 6.75 / 6.5 even though the NYTIMES states Jumbo's are at 7+?

Posted by: scared at August 7, 2007 4:00 PM in response to A must read for those in the process of buying

The source of the quote about Wells Fargo’s rates was *not* Wells Fargo, but Manhattan Mortgage Co (a broker). Wells Fargo Private Mortgage Banking sent me a rate sheet today quoting 6.875% for a jumbo coop, condo or 1-4 family loan.

Posted by: Sandy Mattingly at August 7, 2007 4:25 PM in response to A must read for those in the process of buying

The hedge funds are trying to break everything.

Posted by: anonymous at August 7, 2007 6:10 PM in response to A must read for those in the process of buying

I came back from citibank today, and the mortgage guy there had raised his eyebrows at the new spread between jumbos and conforming that showed on his screen (i asked him explicitly what the savings were if I stayed below jumbo).

If you go over $417k you can expect a jump in rate of at least 0.50%, normally it is a few points or slightly stricter docs.

Posted by: at August 7, 2007 6:42 PM in response to A must read for those in the process of buying

and what are people going to do, run extension cords to their house? iron their clothes in your front yard? charge their ipods? seriously, what are people going to do to "steal" your electricity?

like the first person said, get a cover that locks.

Posted by: at August 8, 2007 2:18 PM in response to Crazy Electrical Code question

I don't know why it is required, but it is. And yes, I have administered jobs where we put one in.

Posted by: an_architect_in_Brooklyn at August 8, 2007 2:55 PM in response to Crazy Electrical Code question

Re: "black box for reading the meter", these are NOT required in NYC Historic Districts, although you may have to fight Con Ed to avoid one. OTOH, a front outlet, if it could be unobstrusively placed, would be great IMO--I wish I had one. I had an outlet installed on my rear wall several years ago and it sure beats running an extension cord out the window.

Posted by: Bob Marvin at August 8, 2007 2:55 PM in response to Crazy Electrical Code question

The covers that lock are ugly. And at least the water meters can be low. I'm guessing that code will make it a min. height from the ground for the outlet cover as well. Double ugly.

Posted by: at August 8, 2007 2:58 PM in response to Crazy Electrical Code question

I just applied for a 30 year jumbo loan. I was quoted 6.625 last Friday, and on Monday it was up to 6.825. I stuck with this new rate cos I think it's going to get worse.

Posted by: PL at August 9, 2007 2:42 PM in response to A must read for those in the process of buying