Bronx-based non-profit, The Women’s Housing and Economic Development Corporation (WHEDCo), just launched an interactive website to help furnish apartments for low-income and formerly homeless families.

The Intervale Green housing complex will open next month to 127 families – several currently living in city shelters. Reclaimed materials and water/energy saving appliances have been used in the building. And here’s where I cut and paste: “The building utilizes smart growth elements, including proximity to public transportation and tenant-accessible green roofs and courtyards for gardening and exercise; it promotes community and economic development with 4 new ground floor commercial spaces, plus free computers and low-cost internet service for tenants; it brings more than 35 new trees and a public park to a former brownfield site; and it saves energy and reduces storm water runoff, all while creating a beautiful new landmark in a formerly vacant lot.” 

Through the MovingDay.org website, people can donate to fit their budget – from a single lamp to an entire furnished apartment. Gifts can be made in honor of someone for the holidays.

The post Help A Family In Need appeared first on reclaimedhome.com.

1993

I put a bunch of old friends to work for me so I can come up with a quickie post for today. This is a completely unscientific survey of native New Yorkers from all 5 boroughs. They are all close to my age (early 40’s).

These were the questions asked:

1. Best affordable neighborhood
2. Where would you live if you could afford any nabe?
3. Favorite restaurant
4. Old NYC or Gentrified?
5. Best weekend getaway
6. Best kept NYC secret

The results varied widely, especially for restaurants, but there were a couple of things most people agreed on.

1. No two people chose the same affordable neighborhood. Some surprises were the Upper East Side and South Beach, Staten Island. There was an Inwood and a Washington Heights. At least that’s close. One person didn’t want to tell, because then it wouldn’t be affordable while another said there weren’t any affordable neighborhoods left.

2. Upper West Side wins! Only one person responded with the same answer to questions 1 & 2 and that answer was Crown Heights. The rest of us would rather be someplace else. Very telling. One smart ass said Paris.

3. Ok, so did I really expect to get 2 people to agree on a restaurant with all of the fine dining establishments NYC has to offer? Old Town Bar, Friend Of A Farmer and La Palina in Gravesend were among some of the answers. A Brooklyn restaurant, Al Di La, was one Manhattanite’s favorite. The same wise ass who gave us Paris said Papaya.

4. Overwhelmingly…..Old! One person said old, but with good restaurants.

5. Mostly upstate. It ranged from Dutchess to The Catskills to Ithaca and Oneonta. Only a couple of people said Long Island and a few were adventurous enough to get out of New York state for the weekend.

6. There are no secrets left! Nearly everyone agreed to that.

My answers?

1. Bed Stuy
2. West Village
3. Hangawi
4. Old!
5. Catskills
6. Used to be the Coney Island flea markets, but they no longer exist.

Ok, now that the natives have spoken….what are your answers? And let us know how long you’ve been in NY.

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Our whirlwind real estate tour of Riverdale concluded at the massive Briar Oaks Apartment Complex on the Henry Hudson Parkway. Unlike the small, modern Waterford building that we had seen in the morning, Briar Oaks is the old-school apartment building (circa 1950s) where Mom grew up and where you went to visit Nanny and Pop-Pop until they got sick of the New York winters and moved to Boca del Vista with the rest of The Greatest Generation.

The apartment we saw on the 11th floor was a definite “diamond-in-the-rough”. For their asking price in the mid-500s and a maintenance of around $600, you could have a view of the Hudson River, 3 giant (by today’s standards) bedrooms, 1 1/2 baths, a terrace, and ample living and dining room space in addition to a separate kitchen. The downside is that this particular unit needed to be uh, gutted. The paint and plaster walls peeled and cracked and the floor choices in some of the rooms left us puzzled (linoleum tiles in the bedrooms?) while others would clearly need to be updated.

While the Oaks has amenities like a playground, a playroom, a laundry room, storage lockers, and on-site parking, most of what they have to offer also needs refreshing. Parking is $100 a month and there was a wait list for an indoor spot, the storage lockers are also waiting-list-only and the playroom was downright depressing. Each building has a doorman, but the one we talked to didn’t seem to know that there was an open house in the building that day nor where we should park as visitors.

We took the tots downstairs to the playroom for a quick diaper change and I shuddered to think of all of the kid cooties on the ancient toys lining the shelves. I risked their contracting typhoid anyway since my son is in the middle of a motor vehicle obsession.

Ah, but the size of those rooms! And the view! The apartment was definitely in our price range and we would have money left over to really renovate. Andrew, however, was not impressed. While our weekend of apartment-hunting had been informative, he was suddenly thrust back into the realm of maintenance fees and laundry rooms, coop boards and noisy neighbors sharing walls—all of which he realized at that moment that he did not want to revisit. While I would not mind living out my life in a well-maintained apartment and I simpered at the thought of us turning down what could be a kick-ass dwelling, I had to admit that I could no longer make do with a laundry room since I currently do about 2 loads of clothes (and diapers) a day while taking care of the twins myself. There are single-family houses in Riverdale and the area is definitely beautiful, but if we were going to buy a house and fix it up, we might as well look closer to Andrew’s parents, in Brooklyn.

We decided to take a look around Marine Park the following weekend.

Brett’s search

The post Riverdale: Part II appeared first on reclaimedhome.com.

Author: Brett

After a “luxurious” Saturday of apartment-hunting in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, we loaded the wee ones into the car on Sunday and drove Northward to The Bronx.

Riverdale is a Northern Bronx neighborhood which looks suspiciously like a Westchester suburb (minus the outrageous property taxes). Wooded and green with winding streets, Riverdale’s many apartment buildings line the Henry Hudson Parkway, which, surprisingly, feels more like a Central Park cross-street near the off-ramp areas than a major thoroughfare. There are single-family homes in Riverdale, but they are mostly out of our price range (above 750k) and those in our grasp appear to need some serious fixin’. Since we are pretty desperate to move into our own place at this point and can’t safely renovate for the next couple of years, we need a place in good shape. So, for this trip, we stuck to looking at apartments.

Riverdale is a formerly sleepy area which has seen massive (mostly unwelcome) growth in the past few years. The most recent behemoth is the Solaria, with prices starting at $915k for a 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom unit. Needless to say, that was beyond our “measly” budget of low 700s.

We saw 3 apartments on our first trip. The first two were in The Waterford, one of the newer condos in Riverdale. The Waterford sits on Waldo Avenue, a quiet, hilly street lined with both single-family houses and apartment buildings, and overlooks the streets below. Down the block is a row of shops—a deli, pizzeria, and drugstore. As with many apartment buildings in the nabe, The Waterford rents its lower floor to a preschool.

At first glance, the building looked amazing. There is a part-time doorman, but at all other times, a sophisticated new security system allows residents to punch in a code and let themselves in—no fumbling with keys. A video monitor allows residents to see any arriving guests. The realtor showed us a brand-spanking new wood-paneled common room where an actual resident sat drinking coffee, laptop stretched across his legs. The building also featured a party room, indoor parking, a workout room with a flat screen and DVD player, and a basement storage closet for each unit—all at no additional charge.

The first unit of the two available in the building was on the second floor and was one of the only apartments without a balcony. This unit was offered by the building; it was the only one not to have been sold in the initial offering in 2006. Once we took a look inside, we could see why. The living room and master bedroom faced the playground for the preschool. The realtor assured us that the kids were all gone by 2pm each day, but who really wants to risk accidental indecent exposure? A look at a furnished unit on the 5th floor gave us a glimpse of the true size of the place as this apartment was being sold by the tenant. This owner barely had any furniture either and had most items lined up neatly on the floor against the wall. What was it with these new apartments anyway? Is furniture-free living the new trend? Makes one wonder whether California Closets isn’t somehow brainwashing the masses….

It was at this point that the realtor dropped the bombshell on us. Turns out that those “free” building perks were not actually free. The quoted monthly maintenance fee of $686 had recently been raised to a whopping $950 ($925 for the 2nd Fl. apartment)! As we stood there aghast, the agent hastily crossed out the printed figure and scribbled in the new one. I guess the big shots-that-be figured out why other buildings charge extra for everything. At any rate, the units were now out of our price range. Once again, we wasted our time looking at something that was incorrectly (read: falsely) represented. We could only wonder what was in store for us in the next building…

The post Over To Riverdale appeared first on reclaimedhome.com.

$ 179k: Crown Heights Studio

So this is what $179k buys you in Brooklyn these days. A 410 foot studio on Utica Avenue. Well, at least it’s renovated. Open house this weekend.

$ 189k: Kew Gardens 1 BR

Nicely done FSBO site. The descriptions sounds like agent-speak 101 though. Anyway, we’re talking about the apartment, not the site, so….. looks nice. Kew Gardens=not too shabby. This is a coop, not a condo. 100 amp service. Does that mean the whole building has to agree to upgrade? Perhaps a silly question, but I don’t know from coops.

$189,488: Parkchester 2 BR

Lemme tell you something. You really get your money’s worth in Parkchester. 2BRs right near the subway and all amenities. The buildings seem well cared for. If I was looking to buy my first place and I wasn’t so anti-condo, I’d consider Parkchester. Are those floors polished concrete?

$199k: Jersey City 1 BR

Hey, look at that! Da kid is getting out of the boros. See? I told you this is a tri-state blog! So, I heard JC is cool. This says it’s near Lincoln Park and the Path train. Looks like a lovely pre-war building that hasn’t been all modernized.

$139k: 3BR Condo Alternative

This came up under my condo search. Now, who wouldn’t want to live on a house boat? Forget what I said about Parkchester. If I was buying my first place, this would TOTALLY be it! I could’ve sworn I saw this ad awhile ago and the fact that the photos are not current probably means I’m correct. Maybe it never sold. Or it sold and the new owner couldn’t deal with it. Whatev. Who cares? I want it! I’d so be at KPD every night. And morning. Maybe lunchtime too. Not that I’d ever live in Mill Basin if I had to live on land.

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Manhattan

1BR in Inwood/Washington Heights. The ad states “Pictures are representative of typical renovations.” So does that mean this isn’t the actual apartment? Is there an actual apartment? Anyway, I chose this one because they accept dogs and cats.

Brooklyn

Midwood 2 BR. Again, maybe just a teaser. “This apartment is a must see, *however* I manage over 800 no fee apartments in Brooklyn.” The ad mentions that Joan Rivers, Chuck Schumer and Woody Allen have called Midwood home. They neglect to mention ME! Also sez Midwood neighbors Park Slope and Coney Island. Ok, I’m not sure “neighbor” is the correct word, agent Jason. It’s true, Midwood is right smack in the center of Brooklyn (Don’t bother looking at a map. In my mind it is, and that’s all that counts.) But no, it doesn’t “neighbor” PS or CI. I thought Midwood sucked when I was growing up. But now that the rest of Brooklyn is filled with the new Bourgeois Elite, Midwood is looking good to me.

Bronx

2 BR in Little Italy section. Well, it sounds like it’s a 1 BR with “office”. It’s in a private home. I’m not sure if the cleaning products shown in the Craig photos come with the apartment.

Queens

Ridgewood 2 BR. Railroad apartment near shopping. Heat and hot water included. Carpeting, new stove and cabinets. Probably a schlock renovation (yes, I AM my mother!), but I like Ridgewood. Ad lists: No section 8. No washing machine. No dryer. No pets. Love that negative advertising!

Staten Island

2 BR in a 4 room apartment. Yeah, I have NO idea where this is. Heartland Village. Sounds like a senior development. “It’s on a quiet dead end street near the golf course.” I would take it for those kitchen cabinets alone. They rock!

The post 5 Boro Rentals: What You Get For $1200 appeared first on reclaimedhome.com.

Manhattan Studio: Sutton

Hey, this is actually cute! Although it’s teeny (looks to be under 300 sq ft judging from the floor plan), it’s not a dump. And the Sutton area address has gotta be worth something.

Brooklyn: 3BR in Flatbush

I tried to find an actual house for $350k in Brooklyn, but alas, it doesn’t exist. If I had gone up to $400k, I would’ve come up with a few. So I chose to search for a 3BR and here’s what I came up with. A pre-war coop in Flatbush. A small 1 BR in Park Slope South can be had for this price as well.

Queens: St. Albans Brick

This is the first listing that came up under my search criteria for Queens. It looks too good to be true, but then again, I don’t know a thing about St. Albans. Brick single family with 4 bedrooms. No info. Just says “seller must go”. I’m too scared to call! You do it!

The Bronx: Baychester Single Family

Ok, not bad. A 2000 square foot, 3 BR home in Baychester. No maintenance fees (apart from all the repairs on the 1931 house), alittle outdoor space and you’re still in the boros.

Staten Island: Stapleton 3BR

This one is a mere $349,900! I chose this home because Stapleton is the only part of Staten Island I know anything about. It’s close to the ferry and has an urban feel to it rather than a….um….a….Staten Island feel. This 1809 square foot home is looking a bit worn, but the choice is yours…. Would you rather have your own home in Staten Island or a cramped studio in Manhattan?

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AMNY did a fun little interactive on the changing accents in the city. Click on the image above to listen to an accent from each of the boros.

The related article asks if anyone ever really spoke like those stereotypes anyway. As a third generation New Yawker old enough to remember my immigrant grandparents, I can say “Oh yes…they most certainly did!”

Grandpa Morris had the most distinct NY accent. He always asked us if we needed to use the “terlet” before a long trip. And sometimes he would come to visit us when we were “watchin’ the wrastlin” on TV. His son/my father still puts things in the “friggadaya”.

Most out of state people are surprised when I tell them I’m from NY. They say I don’t have an accent at all. But my husband, a Dublin native, likes to make fun of me. He says I “put the dawg in the drawa while having a cup of cawfee”.

My accent comes out more if I get angry, excited or drunk. Otherwise, I try to keep it in check.

The post New Yawk Accents appeared first on reclaimedhome.com.

Vinyl Toilet Graphic: $20

Hawaiian Motif Vessel Sink: $225

Slinky Light Fixture: $75

The post Etsy Finds appeared first on reclaimedhome.com.

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

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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.

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 post Abandoned Wonders appeared first on reclaimedhome.com.

$ 125k: Studio Coop

$215k: 2 BR

$ 595k: 2 BR Bungalow

$ 799k: 3 Family + Store

The post Listings: Riverdale appeared first on reclaimedhome.com.

If NYC isn’t the center of your universe, you may not know this. There’s no MLS in NYC, any of the boroughs. Well, no real MLS, it’s kind of a joke. It makes it crazy difficult for a house buyer, shopping around with various agents, looking at The NY Times and Craigslist. It’s a full time job. And “buyer’s agent”? Ha! And don’t even get me started on how unfair this is for sellers.

Anyway, REBNY, the Real Estate Board of NY, is the the closest thing we have to MLS. Yesterday, they launched a web search portal called Residential NYC. It’s powered by Trulia, making it seems like….Trulia. Two of the largest real estate firms in NYC opted out: Corcoran and Elliman. So basically, MLS in NYC….not.

Related Curbed Article

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I don’t know much about The Bronx, but I do like what I’ve seen. Last year, a friend of mine bought an investment condo in Parkchester and dragged me there to show me his acquisition and to try to entice me into splitting another unit with him. I couldn’t afford it, but if I had a few dollars to scrape together, I just might have.

1 Bedrooms in the complex start at about $115k and 2 bedrooms are as low as $165k. Rents are approximately $900-$1300 and maintenance is a bit over $600 on the 2 BR units, under $500 for 1BRs.

Parkchester is a village unto itself, kinda like Starrett City, only cooler and less smelly. You’ve got your Starbucks, Macy’s, diners, dry cleaners, etc. It’s serviced by the 6 train, which will get you into midtown in about 40 minutes.

There’s nothing overly exciting about Parkchester, but it’s convenient, safe and clean, which makes it a good bang for the buck.

Wiki Parkchester
Parkchester.com
Parkchester Info
2003 Village Voice Article

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2 BR: $195,000

3 condo package: $ 294,000

The post Parkchester Listings appeared first on reclaimedhome.com.