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Suburban Pioneers?

Suburban Pioneers? published on

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Our $385k house

Hey, don’t look at me. I didn’t say it. The NY Post did. As if this is news all of the sudden that starving artists are leaving NYC for more affordable digs upstate.

“Meet the suburban pioneers – folks who’ve migrated to edgy, diverse towns in the Hudson Valley where you can nab a house for less than $350,000.” Pioneers? People lived here before we did. I hate that word “pioneer”! Edgy? Who wrote this? Someone living in the mid west? I’ll give you this….Beacon is edgier than…umm…..Marine Park.Continue reading Suburban Pioneers?

Affordable Housing @ NYC.Gov

Affordable Housing @ NYC.Gov published on

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I was on the city’s site the other day for one reason or another. It’s a great resource that I never took advantage of. Some of these things are pretty obvious, but there just might a helpful tip or two that you never knew about.

Check it out:

Apartment Hunting Tips : Finding an apartment, securing it and protecting your rights as a tenant.

Tenant’s Rights: Guidelines and legal help

Affordable Homeownership includes information on counseling, lotteries, down payment assistance and home improvement.

Repair and Maintenance for tenants and homeowners

Seniors and People with Disabilities

Help?

Help? published on 7 Comments on Help?

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I didn’t want to bring you down with our sad news, but 3 weeks ago, we lost our wonderful 12 year old Pit, Frida. I’m so not ready to “replace” her, but our 3 year old, Lola looks like she’s in need of a companion. So I started looking. And I found this on Craigs. Oy.

I’ve been in contact with the woman who brought her to the shelter. She is pulling her out and we agreed to have her meet our Lola. Now we find out the dog has kennel cough. The woman can’t keep the dog in her house since she has one of those mean yappy little mutts, so she’s keeping her in the office.

We would still like to take this dog if she gets along with Lola and our cats. Word is she’s a sweetheart, so we don’t think it will be a problem.

Anyone out there willing to foster a pup with kennel cough?

Oh, and she might not be house trained.

UPDATE

Affordable NYC: Sheepshead Bay

Affordable NYC: Sheepshead Bay published on 1 Comment on Affordable NYC: Sheepshead Bay

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I didn’t grow up in an ultra cool brownstone neighborhood of Brooklyn. Being in Midwood, I was sort right in the center of the boro. When my friends and I weren’t running into Manhattan for our thrills, we sometimes hit Sheepshead Bay. Captain Walter’s was a decent bar, always followed by coffee at El Greco or some nasty shit at the not so fast Roll-n-Roaster. (Does anyone remember their late night commercials?)

Sheepshead Bay did kind of fall apart in the 80’s. Lundy’s closed. Then reopened just in time for my high school reunion. Then closed again. Pip’s Comedy Club is gone. But Sheepshead is being resurrected, as all NYC neighborhoods eventually are.Continue reading Affordable NYC: Sheepshead Bay

Jahn’s: Kickin’ it Old Skool

Jahn’s: Kickin’ it Old Skool published on 5 Comments on Jahn’s: Kickin’ it Old Skool

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This post is for my folks. They don’t read this blog because they have no interest in home renovation or NYC real estate for that matter. But they’ll get a kick out this.

When I was researching Sheepshead Bay, I came across this article on Gerritsen Beach. I haven’t thought about Jahn’s ice cream parlor in about 20 years, but reading it brought back some memories. Actually, it was the mention of the “Kitchen Sink Sundae” that triggered my fondest memories.

At one time, Jahn’s could be found in locations around Brooklyn, Queens, Long Island and New Jersey. The Richmond Hill shop just closed in November, leaving one remaining Jahn’s in Jackson Heights. Worth the trip.

The antique fixtures were purchased by a Mid Westerner looking to restore his/her period ice cream parlor. So, not only is NYC losing it’s history. We’re losing it to the Mid West. Great.

Weekender: Windham, NY

Weekender: Windham, NY published on 3 Comments on Weekender: Windham, NY

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Like many of the other upper Catskill towns, Windham is strikingly beautiful. It’s all about the mountains. What sets Windham apart from Phoenicia or Athens is that it’s SERIOUSLY all about the mountains. Dude.

This is ski country. And Windham Mountain is not just for serious skiers. Awkward klutzes like myself can enjoy ice skating, snow tubing or snow boarding. Not that I’m not on my ass half the time doing those things, it’s just not as torturous as skiing. Anyway, in 2006, new owners, Windham Mountain Partners, invested over $5 million for new chair lifts, trails, the ice skating center and a restaurant.Continue reading Weekender: Windham, NY

Abandoned Wonders

Abandoned Wonders published on 1 Comment on Abandoned Wonders

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Weburbanist came up with “7 More Abandoned Wonders” last month. The original 7 can be seen here.

Some local sites made the list, including North Brother Island in the Bronx and Staten Island’s Augustinian Academy.

North Brother Island has a bit of a sad history. In the late 1800’s Riverside Hospital was home to typhus, TB, cholera, yellow fever and smallpox patients. From 1915 until her death in 1938, it was also home to Typhoid Mary. By 1963, Riverside was receiving heroin addicts. It was abandoned shorty after.

On June 15, 1904 the island became the site of the worst loss of life disaster in NYC’s history when the General Slocum steamship caught fire and burned, killing 1000 people. Ninety seven years later, the site of the World Trade Center would unfortunately steal that title.

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Augustinian Academy was built as a private school for boys in the 1920’s. By 1970, the school closed down and the building was converted into a retreat house. Developers purchased the structure in 1985, but did nothing with it. It is now owned by Wagner College and they are said to be protecting the property from development.

But here’s where the story gets interesting. St. Augustine was a holding ground for priests, nuns and monks in training during the 1800’s. One monk went crazy and killed everyone around. It is said that his spirit haunts the monastery to this day. The abandoned structure also attracts Satan worshipers.

Weird US
Unsolved Mysteries

The 2007 Realtor Awards

The 2007 Realtor Awards published on 2 Comments on The 2007 Realtor Awards

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Author: Brett

As 2007 came to a close, it didn’t seem possible that nearly an entire year had gone by since the sale of our coop and the cancellation of our home sale due to a heinous home inspection. It’s hard not to think about all of the agents that we have crossed paths with since we began house hunting—most of them memorable because they were, well, so gosh darned inept. For those of you in the biz, we did not start out being haters. But there’s only so much bullshit one can take before one starts to get suspicious. Thankfully, there were a couple of professionals out there who made us beam.

So, because the end of the year is for reminiscing, here’s my Best of and Worst of Agent list:Continue reading The 2007 Realtor Awards

A Tree Grows in Bed Stuy: 2 Years Later

A Tree Grows in Bed Stuy: 2 Years Later published on 3 Comments on A Tree Grows in Bed Stuy: 2 Years Later

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We closed on our Bed Stuy home in November 2005. Shortly after that I requested a free tree from the Parks Department. I actually put in two requests because I never received confirmation on the first. As a new homeowner in the area, fixing up my property, I was eager to see some greenage out front. After months turned into a year, I soon forgot about the tree.

Last weekend I noticed a barricade in front of the house. I thought it may have been left behind from Keyspan or Con Ed, who always seem to be working on our block. Then my husband pointed out our new tree, which was behind the barricade. I didn’t even notice the damn thing! After 2 years, I had totally forgotten about it.

Got patience? Want a free tree? Better request it now and plan on waiting. Alternatively, you can plant your own. If doing so, you’ll still need to pass through the Parks Department.

But even after the 2 year wait, getting a free tree planted for you without having to lift a finger: PRICELESS!

Maintain Your Home in 2008

Maintain Your Home in 2008 published on

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Whether you’re handy or not, maintenance is important! You tune up your car and eat well and exercise, don’t you? Why wouldn’t you do the same for your home? Here’s a mini list for the start of the year.

1. Gutters, Roof and Flashing. Get your ass up that ladder and check it out! Clean the gutters and make sure they’re connected to downspouts. See that the flashing isn’t pulling away from chimneys, skylights, etc.

2. Heating. Not a good time to do it in the middle of winter, but call in a pro to have it serviced if it’s an old system. You can clean/change filters or attached humidifier if they exist.

3. Hot Water System. Drain and remove sediment.

4. Windows and Doors. Caulk is a wonderful thing. Feel for drafts. Seal them as needed.

5. Exterior. Make sure your siding, trim and doors are protected from the elements. If paint is peeling, the wood will rot.

6. Foundation. Repointing is the most boring job in the world, but it’s extremely important.

7. Outdoor Faucets. Ok, you should’ve done this already. Don’t forget to turn off water to outdoor hoses and faucets! You don’t want them to freeze and burst.

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