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Marine Park and Madison: An Update

Marine Park and Madison: An Update published on 2 Comments on Marine Park and Madison: An Update

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Author: Brett

When last my house-hunting anecdotes graced the screen, we had been off to take a gander at homes in Marine Park. In the past, we had not been too interested in the neighborhood because it is a bit further from public transportation (think: bus to subway) but now that we have been living in Madison with Andrew’s parents for over a year, we were rethinking the area.

Row houses in Marine Park are priced in the 500s and a semi-detached might be in the mid-600k or even lower, but many need refreshing. One semi we saw was in decent shape. It was big and bright and didn’t even seem like “half a house” from the inside, but it only had one bathroom, which was a deal-breaker for Andrew who has his heart set on a detached single family. There was also a shared drive, which we were wary about. I mean, the whole point of buying a house is to have one’s own space, so why share a driveway when you don’t have to?

Still, I thought that it was worth buying this semi-detached, but then we took a look at the schools. The public schools are not rated so well. The elementary school in the heart of Marine Park is praiseworthy, but all but one of the middle schools is downright scary. When the neighborhood nannies and grannies tell you that they are afraid to bring their toddlers to the playground in the afternoon when the kids at I.S. 278 get out for the day, then you listen.

Prices in this neighborhood as well as in neighboring Madison are starting to drop, but they are still too steep for us both to buy AND to renovate. One detached single-family we looked at on East 28th St. between Avenues R and Quentin Road was asking $825K even though it had probably not been updated in 30 years. Another semi-detached with an apartment in the basement on East 23rd between Avenues R and S is currently asking 750K by owner. This home has a new kitchen, but that was probably the only update.

As for new constructions, there are many so-called luxury condos being slapped together all over Ocean Avenue and the streets surrounding the B & Q trains at the Kings Highway subway stop. None look particularly noteworthy or attractive, but I researched them anyway. One building on 17th Street between Quentin Road and Avenue R is asking $760k for a 3 bedroom; another on Ocean Avenue and Avenues R and S is $780k. Again, both are well above our budget.
Even if we could find an affordable, livable home in Marine Park or Madison in a pocket of the area that is zoned for a well-rated school, we have to admit that there is still the question of both neighborhoods having gone from communities with a varied mix of families to more insular ethnic and religious enclaves. It is obvious that this demand to stay within one’s close-knit community is what drives up the price of homes in these areas.

While we were wasting more precious time on our futile hunt in Brooklyn, a new listing came up in Port Washington, NY. It was priced higher than our budget allowed, but we made plans with our realtor extraordinaire to see it anyway….

Stranded In Florida: Days 6 & 7

Stranded In Florida: Days 6 & 7 published on 2 Comments on Stranded In Florida: Days 6 & 7

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Day 6

I am running out of clothing and my food rations are low. I’ve been surviving on Morningstar Grillers. Frozen bread is plentiful, but not edible. I nearly cracked my tooth eating a bialy. Why do they save what they cannot eat?

The heat is unbearable and I must stay indoors where it is air conditioned. The inhabitants of this state who move down here for the weather also stay indoors during the day.

I have not conversed with anyone under the age of 75 in days now. The pace of life is much slower than I am used to. My patience is wearing thin.

Day 7

Today I got to do a laundry and visited a Super Target. I now have clothing and some more frozen sustenance. I can survive a couple more days. I was brought to Target by my mother and her 80 year old friend. I believe we spent close to 2 hours looking for a few items. This task would have taken me 20 minutes on my own. The two women meant well. They were looking to save me money by having me purchase less expensive items that I had no desire for. It was a tiresome experience and I felt I needed to be relieved of the pain. I purchased 2 bottles of wine.

I’ve succumbed to eating dinner at 5pm.

Related: Gone South

Affordable NYC: Woodside, Queens

Affordable NYC: Woodside, Queens published on 6 Comments on Affordable NYC: Woodside, Queens

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Jean over at Renovation Therapy was kind enough to do this guest post for me. THANK YOU, JEAN!!!!

While Jackson Heights might have delusions that it’s the next Park Slope…Woodside/Sunnyside Gardens is trying to stay under the radar. We’re a very diverse hood and we like it that way. There are a few hipsters but we throw rocks at them and that is helping to keep their numbers down. Spaying & Neutering helps too – but rocks are more fun.

There are really 2 sections of Woodside, the 7 train section and the R train section. The 7 train section tends to be cheaper and not as well maintained as the R train section. Just sayin’.

The area around 39th Avenue and between Woodside Avenue and 48th Street is…gorgeous. Some people will argue with me and say that’s Sunnyside. It’s border-licious. The adorable brick rowhouse homes (typically) have shared back yards. I secretly harbor a desire to walk through them but since I don’t own one of those homes, not sure I’d be welcome. Still, I do love to peak into their secret garden-ness. Much to the annoyance of many local homeowners, the homes are now Landmark’d. Many of the gorgeous brick rowhouses were designed by Henry Wright and Clarence Stein who are better known for designing Temple Emanu-El and St. Bartholomews in Manhattan. Their vision was to combine urban and rural. They did a damn fine job. I’d love to own one of these rowhouses. Sigh. You can read more about the landmarking of the area here.

Many of the homes around here still have their “Say No To Landmark Status” signs in their windows.

Interesting current listing…

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4 bedroom – $429,000

There’s an apartment building on 39th Avenue called Phipps. I have never been inside the apartments but I often sneak into the buildings piazza-like interior garden. It’s heavenly. It’s dark – with lots of trees, shrubbery and white fairy lights. OK, so they are Christmas lights – whatever, it’s heaven. There are benches in there and you can drift away sucking off the wifi for hours on end.

Across the street from this apartment building is an Italian restaurant called Donato’s. I love Donato’s. Hell, I just might go there for dinner tonight. The chicken francese can’t be beat. It’s a small family joint and it gets quite crowded after 7pm. It’s one of our hoods best kept secrets.

So there’s my quick Woodside review. I left out a million things, but come check it out…if you’re a hipster beware of rocks.

Why Florida Will Go Down 1st In The Global Warming Armeggedon

Why Florida Will Go Down 1st In The Global Warming Armeggedon published on 2 Comments on Why Florida Will Go Down 1st In The Global Warming Armeggedon

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F*in Florida. The state is like a wart on the ass of America. Here are some things I’ve witnessed while being stuck down here. A few from my own parent’s home. Someone should be teaching these seniors how to live a greener lifestyle. But it ain’t gonna be me.

1. Hummers. Lots of ’em.

2. Lack of low flow shower heads. I injured myself in the shower this morning after being blasted by the force of the water. Nearly tore off a nipple. WTF?

3. They love their styrofoam!

4. LED bulbs? What’s that?

5. Air Conditioning. I couldn’t live without it in this heat either. But the thermostats can’t be programmed? So you leave it on the entire day so the house will be cool when you get home? And my personal favorite: Leave those windows wide open!

6. BJ’s, Sam’s Club = Lots of wasted food.

7. No bike lanes

8. Sneaking out to water the lawn in the middle of the night due to water restrictions.

9. Leave the car running while standing.

10. Global warming? No such thing!

Ok, Who Wants To Guest Post?

Ok, Who Wants To Guest Post? published on 3 Comments on Ok, Who Wants To Guest Post?

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Paradise Lost

Thanks for all of your wishes for my father. I kind of thought this was the case, which is why I rushed down, but I didn’t want to say it until I knew for sure. He is in the terminal stages of the disease and his body is shutting down. We’re now hoping for a quick and painless transition.

I’m living my worst nightmare. I’m not talking about the loss of a parent. That’s an inevitable fact of life, as difficult as the situation may be. I’m talking about being stuck in Florida for an undetermined amount of time. In a senior development.

Obviously, I’m not too focused on the blog right now. But since this is my baby, I don’t want it to sit stale for too long. Let’s see how tight this blogging community really is. Anyone feel like writing a post for me….be my guest! Guest poster, that is. Home, renovations, real estate, New York, weekend trips from NYC…go for it! You don’t even have to be a blogger. You just have to know what you’re talking about. Maybe not even that.

In the meantime, I’ll probably come up with something to write about just to keep myself sane.

Gone South

Gone South published on 7 Comments on Gone South

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Last year

I’m making an emergency visit down to the folks in Florida. My father, whom has been bedridden with Parkinson’s for nearly 2 years now, is back in the hospital. He’s actually recovering from the infection that put him there this time, but it’s touch and go.

I may do a post or two this week if I feel up to it. Maybe I’ll take some pictures that have nothing to do with housing, design or renovation. We’ll see.

At any rate, if you don’t hear from me, have a good Memorial weekend and I’ll be back for sure by Tuesday the 27th.

Why I Hate Park Slope: Let’s Clarify

Why I Hate Park Slope: Let’s Clarify published on 10 Comments on Why I Hate Park Slope: Let’s Clarify

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Oy. That’s the last time I give an interview. I spoke to writer Lynn Harris months ago for an article she was doing on Park Slope. “Where Is the Love” appeared in yesterday’s NY Time’s style section. Now I’m getting emails from friends asking me why I lied.

I didn’t lie so much as I was coerced into confession and creative editing was used. My whole paragraph from the article: “Many locals, and ex-locals, I talked to swore that something else has also changed. Phyllis Bobb, 42, lived here from 1990 to 2002, when she moved to Bed-Stuy because, she said, “there were too many yuppies moving in.” People on her block stopped sitting on stoops; a guy in the park kicked her dog. “It wasn’t a community anymore,” she said, and she’s still steamed. “I feel like a jilted lover.”

Still steamed? Nah, it just saddens me that a neighborhood I once loved has become unrecognizable to me. I never said I hated Park Slope. I just choose to ignore it these days. It’s no longer my cup of tea. The jilted lover comment is meant to describe the way we (Park Slope and myself) have both changed and grown apart. We’ve both moved on and we’re in different relationships now. There was a time I loved Park Slope, that was probably mid 80’s-2000. But I look at it now and I can’t believe I lived there for so long.

I did not move from Park Slope to Bed Stuy in 2002. That was some careless editing! I moved upstate and then partially returned to Brooklyn (Bed Stuy) in 2005.

Yes! Someone really did kick my dog. That happened ages ago, so I don’t know how she got that out of me when I was talking about the recent changes in the Slope. But it happened and I hope the guy read the article and knows he will go down in history as “the dog kicker of Park Slope”. The incident occured in Prospect Park one morning during off leash hours. This schmuck walks right through the “doggy circle” and gets knocked down by a running pack of dogs. Ok, gets knocked down by MY dog. I tried to help him up, apologized, etc….and then he kicks my dog! That would never happen in Bed Stuy! Because people are terrified of my dogs there.

Neighbors on my old PS block didn’t STOP sitting on their stoops. The new people moving in didn’t take part in the stoop festivities. It was getting less friendly.

And let me just squash this whole jealousy theory (elsewhere in the article). See, that’s the reason I hate….I mean choose to ignore Park Slope. Not everyone wants to live in a suburbanized, homogenized community overrun with kiddies. It’s not because we can’t afford to, it’s because we simply don’t want to!

Fact: My marriage to Park Slope from 1994 to 2002? I bought my house for under $200k. I could’ve stayed forever if I was still in love with the neighborhood. But I wanted out of the relationship. And the financial settlement was just fine, thank you.

Wallpaper, Vintage Goodies and Rain

Wallpaper, Vintage Goodies and Rain published on

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Neighbor Stacey of Amazulu was prepared for rain

We experienced sun yesterday morning for the very first time at the Brooklyn Flea. The double wide experiment was doing quite well and we were on a roll. And then the heavens opened up. And the afternoon was a wash out. At least we got rid of some big pieces so we didn’t have much to load up in the rain.

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I did get to walk around while the weather was nice. FDR to JFK (no website), booth B14 had some very cool, kitsch vintage wares. Colorful, fun little goodies. They are there every week.

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Designer Jill Malek was there with her beautiful-and-not-extremely-expensive hand screened wallpaper. Although they use virgin paper, the inks are recycled! Hey, it’s something. Looks great on the website, but wallpaper is one of those things you have to see in person to appreciate.

A Splash of Color

A Splash of Color published on 2 Comments on A Splash of Color

I no longer work on my house. All I do is refinish furniture now. Shame, that. Anyway, wanna see what I’ve been up to this week?

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This bed has been sitting in my garage since winter (obviously). It just wasn’t doing it for me. It has nice lines, but it needed some umph.

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Too much umph? Actually, I love it. But then I like bright, shiny things. Just like a little kid. The sanding was the easy part. The gods weren’t smiling on me when I was painting outdoors this week. Between the wind blowing the friggen pollen, the bugs and the rain, it took me forever to paint. I’m going to have to charge $20k for all the time I put in.

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From lemons you make lemonade. I ripped this painting when I got frustrated packing the van one day. No, I didn’t do it purposely, but I was careless. Anyway, not wanting to throw anything out, I figured I could recycle it as a table. Am I a genius or what? Ok, so I haven’t actually done anything yet, other than place the painting on top of the base and snap a picture. I’ll put a wooden back on it for support and mounting purposes. Then I’m not sure if I’m gonna go with resin or tempered glass. I’ll figure it out last minute….like everything else I do.

Weekender:Stone Ridge

Weekender:Stone Ridge published on 5 Comments on Weekender:Stone Ridge

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Stone Ridge is an Ulster County hamlet located less than 2 hours from NYC. It’s a place where stone houses line the main street and people say hello.

Pros

Easy access to Minnewaska State Park, Sullivan County and Kingston. Stone Ridge sits right on Route 209.

Climb The Gunks, Skydive the Ranch, pick your own apples or hike the rail trail nearby.

Amenities. Stone Ridge is home to an extraordinary supermarket(Emmanuel’s), specialty pet supplies, a well stocked wine shop, a local hardware store, a gym and a post office.

Restaurants. Although I prefer the High Falls “restaurant row”, you can grab a great meal in Stone Ridge too. Check out The French Corner. The French trained chef combines ingredients from his homeland with local Hudson Valley produce.

Enjoy your stay! Stay at the pricey-but-worth-every-penny Inn at Stone Ridge, an 18th century stone mansion or one of the more affordable historic B&B’s in the area.

Cons

NYC bus service only goes to nearby Rosendale or Kingston.

Although the town is walkable, it doesn’t feel very walker friendly. There are sidewalks in most, not all of town and Stone Ridge is very spread out. Some of the shopping is in a strip mall. A very nice strip mall, but a strip mall nonetheless.

The hamlet is more upscale than neighboring towns. Home prices reflect that.

Could use more restaurants! It’s only a few miles to other towns though.

Marbletown
Ulster Tourism

7 Strangers Picked To Live in Brooklyn

7 Strangers Picked To Live in Brooklyn published on 2 Comments on 7 Strangers Picked To Live in Brooklyn

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Hello. My name is Phyllis and I’m a 42 year old Real World junkie. Yeah, that’s right, I love to hate those nutty kids. They get worse as the years go on….those modely looking, self absorbed little twits. But it keeps me coming back.

So how excited was I when I heard the news that season 21 of the series will be filmed in Brooklyn? Ooh, I can’t wait! Shooting starts this summer and the one hour episodes will air in early 2009.

No decision yet as to what neighborhood. Hey Bunim-Murray, my tenants are leaving in August if you want a Bed Stuy brownstone! Better yet, would you be willing to audition a 42 year old? I can be the token native!

Via Observer

Bklyn Designs: Robert Martin

Bklyn Designs: Robert Martin published on

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Ok, so Robert Martin Designs doesn’t use reclaimed materials for their furniture, but they are damn cool anyway! Pieces are made from hardwoods and enhanced with metals and composites.

The dining room table pictured above folds up completely. Designs for the home, garden and office have an industrial yet delicate look.

Robert Martin Designs has a 6500 showroom and production facility based in the Brooklyn Navy Yard. They do custom and architectural landscape work as well.

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