Gargoyles! Web Urbanist
Paris in the Stuy. Bed Stuy Blog
How to Replace a Kitchen Sink. This Old House
How To Book. Renovation Therapy
Art Tours of Brooklyn. Brokelyn
Posts categoriezed as REAL ESTATE
Cute Brick House in Beacon, NY!
Yesterday I shot this adorable brick single family in Beacon and fell in love. The owner has some awesome artwork around, including doll art!! It’s a 3 BR, 2 Bath 1432 square foot house built in 1870. Price: $239,900! It’s on the more “rural” side of town.
Apartments and Shares: Beacon & BK
A couple of apartments for rent in Beacon, plus a Brooklyn share.
A Beacon realtor buddy is trying to post his own rentals on Craigs and some asswipe keeps flagging him. They are no fee, by owner. Owner is the realtor and he must disclose that fact by law. But really….they are no fee!
Ok, I’m cutting and pasting the descriptions, so don’t shoot the messenger.
2 bedroom, 1 bath. First Floor in Victorian home. Hardwood floors. Close to Metro North and Main Street. $1,100 + utilities. Available November 1st.
2 Bedroom with office. Centrally located 3rd Floor Main Street apartment. Updated kitchen & bath, hardwood floors throughout, exposed brick, deck off kitchen. Charm & Character. Rent includes heat & hot water. $1500.
Call Jon directly @ 845-453-8049 for either Beacon apartment.
Down in Bed Stuy, another buddy is having a hard time finding a roommate. It’s Olivia from Supervegan! Who doesn’t want to live with a super vegan?
It’s a temporary share available November 1-March 31st. You would have a choice of 2 rooms. It’s $650 per month and right around the corner from me (the super lacto ovo vegetarian).
Olivia has a page up with all the info.
Beacon Tag Sale This Weekend
Hold the press! I’m adding another event to the list. Mario, The King of Beacon Garage Sales is having a Saturday sale over at 69 Verplanck Ave.
I went over there today for first dibs because I’m special. There’s still plenty of good stuff left for y’all. Photos on the website. I wasn’t able to take anything too large because I’m giving up on the furniture.
That being said, I was salivating over this chair! Do you love it? If so, better get over there early. If you can’t make it to Beacon, here’s what I’m gonna do (because I want to be a part of this chair’s life)….I won’t tell you what Mario is asking, but make me an offer and I’ll deliver down in Brooklyn or Manhattan for free. It has to be worth my schlepping time and finder’s fee, otherwise drag your ass up here and get it yourself. : )
Crown Heights North House Tour 2009!
Crown Heights North has some of the most glorious architecture in New York. Yes, I used the word “glorious”. The 3rd annual house tour is coming up next week, so head’s up! You don’t want to miss it (like I always do because I work weekends).
Be sure to check out the Crown Heights North Association’s website for more info.
From Newburgh to Bed Stuy?
**UPDATE 4/12/10. Barbara and Edwin are still very much in business in Newburgh. Although they miss the city, they are sticking it out in the Hudson Valley. Barbara is starting cooking classes and catering both upstate and down.
Sad news for Hudson Valley residents. Newburgh’s Caffe Macchiato is up for sale. Not officially, but owners Barbara and Edwin are itching to get back to the city.
After hanging out with fellow Italian buddies over at Saraghina in Bed Stuy last week, Barbara is eyeing the neighborhood to open her new cafe.
The good news for Newburgh customers is that they’ve invested too much time and money to just shut their doors and run off. Someone needs to buy the business. Barbara is willing to train the new owners in the kitchen and go over baking tips as well as where to buy local produce, etc.
So this could be a win/win situation for me both upstaters and Brooklynites. Lemme just have a chat with my Bed Stuy peeps for a moment…Ok, we NEED this cafe in the neighborhood! We’re talking authentic Italian cafe. Real coffee, small flaky croissants (not those big ass crescent rolls they serve up in America), fresh local produce, home made pasta, imported Italian cheese. Get this woman down to Brooklyn and fast!
But we want Macchiato to stay in Newburgh as well! So, who’s buying? The new owner would have to keep up the quality or else answer to a very large, loyal customer base. They’re asking $165k, which includes a 10 year lease with low rent, all equipment, liquor license (Is that transferable? I’m assuming), and best of all: hands on training from Barbara.
Did I mention the customers?
Did I mention that Macchiato was voted Best Lunch Spot in Hudson Valley 2009?
Barbara says “Show me the money!” Come take a look, ask questions and have lunch, but if you want a tour of the kitchen, etc, she wants to know you’re seriously interested in buying a restaurant.
Come on, kids! Let’s make this happen. Italian cafes for Newburgh AND Bed Stuy. I want to have my tiramisu and eat it too.
You can reach Barbara at the cafe: (845) 565-4616
Madoff’s NYC Penthouse = Eh
Gorgeous bones
What’s that saying? Money can’t buy taste? We’ll, I’m not all that inspired by Bernie Madoff’s penthouse apartment, which will be listed for about $10 million. I don’t mean the apartment itself. It’s the extremely expensive decor that leaves me unimpressed. Ok, so perhaps I’m the one lacking in taste. I would just do something awful like paint the walls purple. But this place is just a snooze fest! What gives?
You know what this looks like to me? It looks soooo put together. So balanced. Like nobody actually lives here. Boringly perfect. Like it makes me want to vomit. Maybe because I know an asshole lived here.
Ah, and here we have more beige. Come on, if you want a boring color on the wall, at least do a shade of white. Brighten it up a bit! Beige is just depressing. And ok, I know that all of the expensive tshcotkes and artwork have been hidden, but stage the friggen joint! That table is screaming for some wax fruit. (That’s a joke. I’m not THAT tacky.)
OMG, dated!! My BFF had this decor in her bedroom during junior high. It looks like Holly Hobby puked. What’s wrong, Bernie? Too busy ripping people off to update your house?
Visualize: Scarface snorting coke off that counter top. Need I say more?
Thursday Linkorama
Julia Child’s Kitchen. Retro Renovation
Woody Allen’s Brooklyn. Huff Po
Shabby Chair DIY. Queen of DIY
Solar Shanghai CD Case Pavillion. Inhabitat
Free “No Impact Man” Tix. Treehugger
Cool But Unaffordable Real Estate Listings
You’ve probably heard by now that the skinniest house in NY is on the market. 75 1/2 Bedford Street is currently listed with Corcoran for $ 2,750,000. The 1873 Dutch row house in the West Village is only 9.5 feet wide. The interior doesn’t look extra cute from the listing, although it may be the terrible snapshot photos. You would think for a nearly 3 million dollar famous home, the agent would make an effort, but no. It is said that John Barrymore and Cary Grant lived here.
Oooh, I just love this one! It’s just soooo European, but it’s actually in New Jersey. Hoboken, to be exact. The octagonal cottage is listed with Liberty Real Estate for $849,000. Not a crazy price, but steep for a single family. Add close to 10k taxes on that and yer done fer. Plus, no parking. But it’s sooooo European!
Gotta say, I’m not really groovin to this one. Listed with Bond for $1,950,000 . It’s kind of like Westchester McMansion meets Superman’s Ice Palace. But it could be fun for a day. I’d imagine light wouldn’t be a problem. The elders in my family have a yiddish word for people who like homes like this. It’s called “galitzianer”, although I’ve always thought it was “glitzyaner”, which would make more sense. You get the picture. The definition of “galitzianer” doesn’t really match, so I’m thinking maybe my family is making it up as they go along?
Ted’s Legacy:NYC Housing Advocate
Just one story of how Ted Kennedy touched a New Yorker’s life.
Jessica Katz was born in a Moscow hospital in 1977 with a nutritional deficiency that stopped her from growing. Without proper care, she would have died, yet she was denied permission to leave the Soviet Union because her father had been exposed to government secrets.
In September of 1978, Kennedy stepped in. After learning of the “little refusenik’s” struggle, he traveled to Moscow for a meeting with Brezhnev himself to ask him to let the Katz family leave the country for Western medical attention.
Long story short (but you should read it and watch the video), the Katz family were greeted by Kennedy when they arrived in Boston and they all lived happily ever after (except TK, RIP).
Inspired by Kennedy’s life of public service, Jessica Katz now works at the Department of Housing and Development finding housing for NYC’s homeless population.
From their website: “HPD is the largest municipal developer of affordable housing in the nation. They work with governmental, community, non-profit and for-profit partners to strengthen neighborhoods, increase the availability of well-maintained, affordable housing and enable more New Yorkers to become homeowners.”
“HPD’s Supportive Housing Loan Program provides financing to not-for-profit organizations to develop supportive housing for homeless single adults, including people suffering from disabilities such as mental illness and AIDS.”
Talk about paying it forward!
Bad Listing Photos. Just for Fun!
Oh, I didn’t even know Lovely Listing existed until a friend tweeted/twittered it. Too funny! Check it out…..
Why? Was the sink really so nice that you just had to get the shot? Clear the shit away!
This makes me dizzy. Maybe I should turn all the furniture upside down on my next shoot and see if the broker notices.
This gives me an idea for my next renovation… in the “so tacky that it’s awesome” style. Pictured here is carpeting, but imagine: ASTROTURF!
Eew. Guess the water was turned off, huh? Look, it’s shaped like the boot of Italy!
Kingston Blogger Selling Home
The word that comes to mind when I look at this house is “Suh-weet”. For the past 7 years, the residence has been inhabited by former Park Slopers turned Kingstonites, Nancy and her family. She has a super cool blog called Oswegatchie about the house, the restoration and the Hudson Valley.
Open house this Sunday, August 2nd! I wish I was around to see it. I’ve always wanted to see the interiors of some of these fabulous Kingston Victorians. This home is located “Uptown” which is pretty much the business district. It’s within walking distance to restaurants, supermarkets, shops and the bus down to the city.
The single family house is listed for $409,500. It sits on 0.37 acres and has 6 bedrooms. Six bedrooms!
These are friends of Louise aka OTBKB, so they must be nice.
Williamsburg Green For Rent
Remember way back when I did that blog post on the first LEED Platinum building in Brooklyn and then interviewed architect Mark Helder in that silly smile-lard butt- but fabulous haircut video?
Well, fast forward to today. One unit has been sold and there are two spaces available for rent in Metropolitan Green. Here’s what I got from the email Mark sent…
Space 1
There’s one office available in the ground floor space. There is a storefront window and 2 floors, Mark plans to stay in the space as well with his green architecture company and rent out the other floor. The lighting is great with a skylight and big windows, cork floors, very high ceilings, outdoor area, lots of foot traffic on this street, etc. There is flexibility in the share, so go see the space and they can work something out. This space could also work well as a gallery. Depending on how the space is divided the rent would be somewhere from $1700-$2200 a month.
Space 2
The other unit is the amazing penthouse. This apartment is brand new, you would be the first tenant. The penthouse is a very large one bedroom duplex, 1054 sq ft, plus a 405 sq ft roof deck and 45 sq ft balcony. 1 block from the Lorimer L stop, 4 blocks from the Bedford L stop.
Bamboo floors, floor to ceiling windows, lots of light, super 360 views of Manhattan and Brooklyn. Also, because of the interior wooden staircase connecting the three floors you actually feel like you are more in a house than an apartment.
This one is $3300
A few of the green features include:
-Private solar panel array, watch your electricity meter run backwards!
-Filtered air, filtered to HEPA levels, some of the cleanest air in the city
-Radiant floor heating
-Temperature controlled by tenant, heating and cooling in central system
-Passive heating and cooling
Events and Real Estate via Facebook
I have to say that I’m more obsessed with Facebook than with Twitter. I can’t help it that I find my friends more interesting and talented than total strangers. (No offense, Twits!) I get my news from Facebook. I do my socializing on Facebook. And today I’m getting my blog post from Facebook.
Check it out…
This Sunday, the 21st at Public Assembly in Williamsburg.
“The United States of Consciousness” is a Multimedia Experience with live art, video projections, performance and music. My buddy Dave Barry of Toasters fame (& other great NYC ska bands) will be keyboarding it up with Andrew Zapanta. Only $5 suggested donation.
Anne Pope of Sustainable Flatbush alerted friends to a Clothing Swap with her “like” thumb icon. This takes place on June 27th from 3-6pm at the Wow Cafe in the East Village. $5 donation for trades and $10 if you don’t have stuff to give.
Nicole from Brooklyn Based has been living in London for the past year while keeping her awesomely informative blog going. She’s returning home in July but wants to know “Anyone in NYC want to do a three month (or more) swap for a fabulous North London apartment?” Tempting, but too bad Europeans get quadruple the vacation time.
Speaking of England, yet another friend is trying to move back to NY. Vintage peddler Marie asks “Anyone interested in buying a 2-bed apartment in Manchester England?” They’re asking £79,950 and it looks totally cute! Fun fact: Marie’s hubby was in a band with pre-Smiths Morrissey.
Getting Artsy With Real Estate Photos
I had four real estate shoots yesterday and all the properties were inhabited by tenants who just didn’t want me to be there. Some were still in bed at 10am. Some didn’t clear away their mess. One woman was downright rude. She later apologized. Nobody is happy that they have to move against their will.
What’s a photo gal to do when she doesn’t have much to work with? It’s a challenge. You have to see the beauty in the shit hole. Detail shots. Creative framing. Clever angles.
This super cool property is a retired railroad station. Now it houses a beauty salon and several small apartments. The tenants were around, the units weren’t clean. I got interior shots, but I like this one best.
This was a decent house with a separate cottage on a nice quiet street. One apartment was vacant and the other had meh decor. The realtor thought I wouldn’t be able to do anything with the cottage, but I thought those shots came out better than the house. When I opened the barn doors and saw that old VW, my heart skipped a beat. I’d buy that house just for the van!
What do you do with a bland new construction that’s cluttered floor to ceiling with kid’s toys and moving boxes? I got tired of moving things around by this point. It was the end of the day and I was like “Oh, so there’s a box in the shot.” This was the one piece of space with nothing but….space.
Previous real estate photos here, here and here.
All Flickr here.