Another Salvage Trip
Ah, it was only a few weeks ago that I was saying it wasn’t worth it to schlep for miles to shop for salvage. Well, then I lost a bunch of stuff due to the storm. Now that I have to shop all over again, I seem to have forgotten my own advice.
And so I was off to southern NJ and Philadelphia yesterday.
My first stop was Recycling the Past in Barnegat, NJ. The town is chock full of antique shops and when I pulled up to this particular architectural salvage oasis, it did not disappoint. It was like being a kid in a candy shop (see photos)! Only when I found out the prices I realized that mommy didn’t give me enough money to buy any candy. That’s not to say they are overpriced, but their prices are more on par with some of the larger Manhattan places rather than the salvage guys I’m used to in Brooklyn.
Light fixtures were in the $200’s-$1000’s. Some were really beautiful and well worth it, but when you’re working with a negative $15k budget, you ain’t buying thousand dollar light fixtures. Not that I do anyway because I am a bargain diva. Claw foot tubs in bad shape were $400. You can get one for half that at Vaccaro’s and even less at Eddie’s.
So why do I travel? Because those guys don’t have some of the newer crap that I need. Tiles and molding in semi decent shape. Kitchen cabinets. I have yet to luck out at Build it Green on those items. BTW, I’m not too impressed with BIG Gowanus prices, so I usually stick to Astoria.
In Philly, I went to a ReStore and the Urban Artifacts Warehouse which looked closed. I walked in and a couple of guys moving furniture said I probably shouldn’t be there. I didn’t argue since I realized it was one of the higher priced salvage shops anyway.
It was actually the Bucks County Restore where I hit the kitchen cabinet jackpot. Well, as much of a jackpot that I could fit into my Rav 4. So, all in all, I came back with 2 base cabinets for $55 and spent about $65 in gas and tolls.
You do the math. Yeah, I know.
Somewhat Habitable
After a slight hurricane setback on the Rockin’ Rockaway Rehab house, things are back on track. As you know, we were without heat and electric for a solid three weeks but it’s all good now.
The basement was gutted and cleaned up immediately. It took LIPA (LI Power Authority) ages to get people back to normal. There were rumors that nobody’s electric would be turned on until each and every home was inspected. Nah, they couldn’t do that. Folks needed to get a licensed electrician to certify the panel or it had to be okayed by LIPA for that individual home to get powered up. I was lucky enough to be around the day LIPA came by to inspect. They okayed me even though, between you and I, I knew that the panel had to be changed, which it was before I turned my power on.
I thought that once I had lights and outlets working I could get back to the renovation, but I wasn’t too happy working there in the cold. I hired the boiler replacement plumbers the same way I hire any contractor….went with the only one who showed up. Kew Forest Plumbing came, supplied an estimate and started work the day after I agreed to the price. Again, luck was on my side that I have a steam system. Hot water boilers are on back order, so there are plenty of folks still waiting for heat. Got me a new water heater too. Too bad we haven’t installed a shower yet.
Have I ever mentioned that we’ve had the gas turned off since August? Every time we turned it on, we discovered a new leak. It was at leak number five and at this point I’m totally freaked out by those old pipes. While the basement is open and while the plumbers are around, I’m having them run all new gas lines. Take that, Sandy. I meant to do it anyway!
After all this time, we finally set up a temporary sink on the first floor! There is a lone toilet sitting in a demoed bathroom on the second floor. We were running down to the basement sink to wash our hands. Or not. A sink in the living area? Only 1 flight from the toilet? How luxurious. And there’s warm water. What a concept. Living the good life!
Giving Tuesday
You’ve gotten through Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday. Wait. It’s not over yet. What about Giving Tuesday? Yeah, it’s a new thing, but it’s the next big thing.
What is Giving Tuesday? Well, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you give some money to charity, although that’s totally acceptable. You can give back to society in the form of volunteer work, raising funds for others or spreading the word about giving. The only thing you need to remember is that although it starts today on Tuesday, November 27th, it’s something you can do all year long.
Again…
Easy way out: Donate money.
Almost as easy: Spread the word via Facebook and Twitter or earn points for a blog post. (I was too lazy to sign up for points.)
Take some time: Find more ideas here. Hold a bake sale or cook a meal for others. Go through your pantries and closets and give away the items you don’t need. Teach your skill to others or volunteer it for the day.
It’s a beautiful thing, no?
Need a Job?
As devastating as Sandy was, dare I say that some good has come of it? A better sense of community is the obvious light at the end of the tunnel. Our local economy is going to thrive for awhile, despite it being a drain on the government. Think of all the cleaning supplies, building materials, cars and contractor jobs being sold.
Here’s another glass-is-half-full outcome. Jobs. Apart from the local Home Depots and such needing extra help (I’m just assuming. Don’t quote me on that.) the government is hiring. The US Department of Labor awarded the NYS Department of Labor grant funds to hire workers to assist in the cleanup of Hurricane Sandy. What does this mean for you? Well, you can register here. You must be unemployed prior to or as a direct result of Hurricane Sandy and the job is only temporary. It’s not going to get you rich but it’s probably going to be one of the more fulfilling experiences of your life.
FEMA has some interesting opportunities as well, ranging from Architect to Photographer. Check out the local FEMA jobs here.
Reasons to be Thankful. Part I
1. I’m alive.
2. I haven’t lost any loved ones recently who were too young to die.
3. I have a place to live.
4. I’m among friends and family.
5. I have food on the table.
6. I’m in good health.
7. I live in the best city in the world.
8. I have a sane, competent President.
9. We’re not at war on US soil.
10. I live in a first world country.
Do you have a job? Are you low on funds? Don’t have heat at the moment? Were your belongings trashed? Yes, it’s terrible if you’re feeling discomfort at the moment, but please see numbers 1 and 2 on the list and count your blessings this Thanksgiving. I know I am!
And pardon the turkeys! Go veg! Have a great Thanksgiving weekend!
A Stormy Video
FRANKENSTORM: From Across The East River from John Mattiuzzi on Vimeo.
Dare I say this video beautifully captures the evening the storm hit? John Mattiuzzi shot the footage from his Williamsburg apartment.
Via Gothamist
Gone for Now
With many NYC residents still living in the cold and dark, the damaged businesses are not on our minds as much. But did your realize that we have temporarily lost some solid historic establishments?
The New York Aquarium got flooded in the storm. Everyone is ok, thanks to the staff who stayed on to protect them. The aquarium is closed until further notice while they clean out and get back on track. They are asking for donations to help move things along as the animals do need to get back to normalcy.
The River Cafe sustained multiple millions worth of damage. They will remain closed until further notice.
Fairway in Red Hook put out all of their flooded food for people to take and gutted the building. They promise to be back better than ever.
The original Nathans on Surf Avenue will not reopen soon according to their Facebook page. It doesn’t mean they won’t reopen. They just have lots of work to do. The boardwalk Nathans sustained less damage.
There are so many businesses that have been around for years that will struggle to make it back in all of the boroughs. Actually, if The Bronx got hit at all, I haven’t heard anything about it.
Currently closed:
El Greco Diner in Sheepshead Bay
Sheepshead Bay Yacht Club
Cross Bay Diner, Howard Beach
South Street Seaport Museum, NYC
Rockaway Taco and Veggie Island are being used as volunteer staging grounds but they are closed for business.
Apologies to Staten Island and New Jersey for not knowing the areas well enough to report on them.
NYC Restoration Centers
Six Restoration “One Stop” Centers now open
NYC Restore helps New Yorkers in the areas most affected by Hurricane Sandy get access to important information and services to help them recover. NYC Restoration Centers provide the following types of assistance:
http://www.nyc.gov/html/misc/html/2012/dasc.html
NYC Rapid Repairs*
Food and Nutrition Assistance
Temporary Housing Information
Health and Medical Benefits
Business Restoration
Counseling Services
Financial Assistance
Personal Records and Information
*NYC Rapid Repairs is a new program to send teams of contractors and City inspectors to neighborhoods affected by Hurricane Sandy to quickly repair damaged homes.
NYC Restoration Centers are open from 8 AM – 8 PM daily
NYC Restoration Centers are located at these addresses:
Coney Island*
Our Lady of Solace
2866 W. 19th St.
Brooklyn, 11224
*Note: the Coney Island location will be closing after 5 pm on Friday.
Red Hook
Coffey Park
85 Richards Street
Brooklyn, 11231
Gravesend
SSA Building
10 Bouck Ct.
Brooklyn, 11223
Fort Tilden
321 Rockaway Point Blvd
Queens, 11697
Far Rockaway
10-01 Beach 20th St.
Queens, 11691
Staten Island
1976 Hylan Boulevard
Staten Island, 10306
Appliances at Cost
Yay, Drimmer’s! One of my favorite go-to appliance stores is offering Sandy victims washers and dryers at cost. “Drimmer’s refuses to profit from your catastrophe.” Well, good for them. This should set an example for other appliance shops, building material stores and contractors. Step up, people!!
If you know of any companies offering discounts or volunteer work due to the hurricane, please let us know!
Load Out! FabNYC: Reuse and Repurposing Riot
Fourth Arts Block NYC presents
A Reuse and Repurposing RIOT
*Plus Community Coat Drive*
Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012, 11AM-3PM
Location:
19 East 3rd Street
Between Bowery and 2nd Avenue
FREE E-Waste collection:
By Lower East Side Ecology Center and clothing/textile recycling by GrowNYC /
Wearable Collections, November 17th, 11AM-3PM.
Admission to Load OUT!:
FREE admission for artists, art students, and local residents affected by the storm;
$5 for the general public
At Load OUT!, enjoy an afternoon of repurposing and recycling activities that showcase creative thinking about sustainability and the arts!
Tweet it on: twitter.com/FourthArtsBlock
GET: Attendees are invited to take home all the donated costumes, props, and furniture they find. Artists and those affected by Hurricane Sandy are invited to participate for free. The general public will be charged a $5 entrance fee to participate. Whatever you decide to take away with you is FREE of charge.
GIVE: Load Out! also features clothing, textile and e-waste community collections—all open and free for everyone. Donate gently used coats for the homeless and those in need after the hurricane. Drop-off E-waste including electronics damaged from hurricane flooding. A full list of accepted donations and other art-related activities is available at www.fabnyc.org/loadout.php. Call 212-228-4670 ASAP to schedule an early donation for Friday, 11/16, 10AM-6PM.
Fourth Arts Block (FAB) is a non-profit organization founded in 2001 by cultural and community groups to establish and advance the East 4th Street Cultural District, between 2nd Avenue and Bowery. FAB provides a variety of services to its member organizations including leading the development and conversion of 100,000 square feet of cultural space, marketing and promotion of the district, as well as offering discount ticketing and other community events and programs.
Front Yards
One of the things that didn’t survive Sandy was the concrete in my front yard. There was a gaping hole near the house and sand in my basement. I’m pretty sure that’s where most of the water came in. Although I never liked the ugly paved look, I was just going to pretty it up rather than remove the entire thing. Hubby thinks concrete > planting because it keeps water out of the basement. I’m looking for a practical yet appealing solution.
Progress
Phyllis here. Thanks to Deb for posting all that amazing info on where to give and receive help. If you’re able bodied and have some free time on your hands, you better be doing your part! People are still without power and food.
It’s been two weeks since Ms. Sandy came tearing through. If you haven’t been visiting or living in the A Zones, it looks like everything is back to normal. Subways are mostly running. Even the gas lines seem to be fine now. Yippee!
Not so back to normal in the hardest hit areas. I can only personally report on Rockaway since that’s where I’ve been working. The good news is that it doesn’t look like the war zone it did the days after the storm. The piles of personal lives on the street have gone down. The sidewalks and roads are less cluttered with sand and trash. There are street and traffic lights working in many areas and some residences even got their power back.
But not too many. LIPA has been as awful as one can imagine. Pretty much non-existent. They finally started coming around this week and I’m happy to report that they actually came into my house to check out my electric panel. I’m ok for power if/when they ever turn it on!
The FEMA checks are rolling in. Not for me because I don’t qualify, but the neighbors are pretty happy with FEMA. Insurance agencies, well, I don’t see anyone singing their praises. Volunteers have been coming around offering food, clothing and cleaning supplies as well as helping hands.
Still, people are living in cold, dark houses. Personally, I couldn’t do it. I would get the fek out of there. But good for them. Some have generators. They barbeque outside and share beers. They all help each other. It’s what a community SHOULD be. It’s almost….pleasant. Yes, I understand I wouldn’t feel it’s so pleasant if I had to spend the night.
Looking forward, with the clean up nearly finished and power about to be restored any day now, methinks that’s when the real rebuilding gets going. Anyone can volunteer to clean but it takes skilled workers to rebuild a house and not everyone can afford that. There will be contractor rip offs and crappy work going on big time.
If you are a contractor or material supplier, I know, I know, you stand to make a killing. But please do your part for society and offer discounts or volunteer time to communities in need. If anyone wants to step up by emailing me or posting in comments, consider the free advertising you’ll get here as payback for your good deed.
Also, peeps in need, don’t forget NYC’s Rapid Response set up through FEMA. You will need a FEMA ID to register.
On the “Me” front, my own Rockaway basement is gutted and cleaned. Will need boiler, water heater, washer, dryer, walls and some kitchen cabinets, tools, yada, yada. No FEMA, no flood insurance. Still feeling like a lucky punk. Found some black mold in the basement walls that was not Sandy related so it’s probably a good thing the basement was gutted. I’m just waiting for power so I can get back to work on the house.
I’ve made the decision to rent it out instead of sell it this year, because really….who the hell is gonna buy a house in Rockaway now?
ReStore Redhook Fund for Small Businesses
100% of donations given to Restore Red Hook will be dispersed among the small businesses of the Red Hook Community.
Business are encouraged to apply here:
http://restoreredhook.org/apply-for-funding/
Folks are encouraged to donate here:
Deb here: My own t-shirt design business that started in 2003, would not have existed with out the talent and hard work of my printer, who has been based in Red Hook for many many years. Having just made the move to the downstairs of his building just 4 months ago- sadly his entire warehouse, along with the other businesses in the building was 4 feet+ high in water. Subsequently all of his equipment and thus livelihood and the work of the people he employs and has been severely set back. Hopefully Fema/SBA will fill some gaps, however a fund Restore Redhook, has been started by members of the community, working to help the community, with out a loan.
If you are looking for a place to donate funds that will go directly to assist small businesses, and a community, we recommend checking them out.
From their site
The purpose of the ReStore Red Hook fund is to help reopen the doors of our community based businesses quickly as possible and to reinvigorate and ReStore our extraordinary neighborhood. Therefore, ReStore Red Hook funds are to be used solely for the purposes of rebuilding/reassembling your business so that you can reopen, and continue to be a vital part of the community.
This fund was established by members of the community who feel that ReStoring Red Hook’s community-based businesses is not simply important to the individuals businesses, but is crucial to the neighborhoods vitality as a whole. We feel that our strength is in the synergistic relationships we enjoy as a community and that we are stronger and are all better served collectively rather than separately.
Hurricane Sandy Business Recovery
In addition to Fema/SBA Small business owners in areas affected by the hurricane are encouraged to also apply for the NYC Business Solutions Emergency Loan Fun
Details and application found here:
(http://www.nyc.gov/html/sbs/nycbiz/)
The City of New York and Goldman Sachs are providing $10 million in emergency loans to help New York City businesses damaged by Hurricane Sandy. NYC Business Solutions and the New York Business Development Corporation (NYBDC) will administer the loan program. If you are a small business in need of an emergency loan to recover from business interruption, you can now access loans up to $25,000. Loans are interest-free for the first six months and 1% interest for the following 24 months. Please see our Emergency Loan FAQs and fill out the application today. Applications must be submitted through an NYC Business Solutions Account Manager at one of the centers listed below. For more information, you can also fill out our inquiry form or call 311 and ask for “NYC Business Emergency Loan.”