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Affordable Burb: Peekskill

Affordable Burb: Peekskill published on 1 Comment on Affordable Burb: Peekskill

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Ok, let’s cut to the chase. If you don’t want to have a 3 unit nuclear power plant in your backyard, stop reading now. Oh, it doesn’t bother you? That’s ok, if anything happens with Indian Point, we’ll all be dead anyway.

Peekskill is one of those Westchester neighborhoods that crazy real estate prices forgot. I’m pretty certain it’s because of Indian Point. It’s a luke warm place on the verge of happening, but whether or not it will actually take off is anyone’s guess. It’s current state is good enough for me. A couple of hip coffee houses, some art galleries, a bit of life.

PROS

  • Peekskill sits right on the Hudson.
  • About an hour to Grand Central on Metro North.
  • Nice old home inventory to choose from.
  • The home prices are a bargain.
  • Artists are discovering it, creating a vibrant community.

CONS

City Of Peekskill
Hudson River Towns
Peekskill Schools
Peekskill Bid

NYC: The New Suburbs?

NYC: The New Suburbs? published on 4 Comments on NYC: The New Suburbs?

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1986 photo

AM NY did a feature on Friday called “Has NYC Lost It’s Soul”? This is something I think about alot. Well, I don’t have to think about it….I know my answer.

“It used to be a badge of honor to live in New York City, and we used to laugh at the people in the suburbs,” Jerilou Hammett, co-editor of the book “The Suburbanization of New York.”, “Urban areas were all about diversity and the struggle of the creative individuals…”Continue reading NYC: The New Suburbs?

Affordable NYC:Crown Heights

Affordable NYC:Crown Heights published on 2 Comments on Affordable NYC:Crown Heights

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The Crown Heightser describes Crown Heights as “Brooklyn’s hippest, most diverse and most architecturally beautiful nabe”. Well, it’s close. Maybe only second to my Stizzy.

Actually, the architecture here is phenomenal. Crown Heights North was recently granted landmark status. There are extraordinary mansions mixed in among the lovely brownstones and limestones.

Crown Heights is home to The Brooklyn Children’s Museum, Botanic Gardens, Brooklyn Public Library, The Brooklyn Museum and within walking distance to Prospect Park. The area is serviced by the 2, 3, 4 and 5 trains as well as the Franklin Avenue Shuttle.

You may have heard about a little incident in 1991 known as “The Crown Heights Riots”. The neighborhood does have a scarred history. Today, it’s diversity is a positive thing. In terms of food (What else is there to life?) you can pick up a falafel and then cross Eastern Parkway for your jerk tofu.

Crown Heights is on the cusp on gentrification. There aren’t tons of luxury amenities yet and the prices and cool folks living there reflect that.

Wiki Crown Heights
Crown Heights North Association
Crown Heights Info
Crown Heightser

Crown Heights House Tour

Crown Heights House Tour published on

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When: Tomorrow! October 6, 2007. 10am-5pm. Tour begins at noon.
Where: St. Gregory’s RC Church, 991 St Johns Place bet. Brooklyn & New York Aves.
Cost: $25

This is the inaugural tour of the Crown Heights North Association. 10 houses, 2 churches and 1 community garden. This tour features period detail and restoration, as well as more modern touches combined with ecologically green products and technology.

Tickets and Info

Weekender: Red Hook,NY

Weekender: Red Hook,NY published on 3 Comments on Weekender: Red Hook,NY

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Bard College

You can say that Red Hook is the poor sister of Rhinebeck, which is exactly what I like about it. It’s laid back, down to earth,vibrant and interesting. And less expensive! There are some great antique shops and restaurants, most of which don’t have websites that I can link to.

Red Hook is located just on the northern tip of Dutchess County, almost in Columbia County. The country side is beautiful and it’s within 15-30 minutes of Rhinebeck, Tivoli, Germantown, and Hyde Park for further exploration.

Amtrak services nearby Rhinecliff. Many people actually commute to the city, although it seems nuts to me. Homes range from under $200k to over $2mil.

I’ll cover Tivoli another day, but I just have to say, it’s worth the drive for lunch or dinner. Like High Falls, it’s a teeny, tiny town bursting with awesome restaurants, including my favorite vegetarian, Luna 61, formerly located in the village of Red Hook.

Red Hook
Red Hook Chamber of Commerce
JFive Homes
Rhinebeck Farmers Market
Red Hook Concerns

Recycled Home: Shipping Container

Recycled Home: Shipping Container published on 2 Comments on Recycled Home: Shipping Container

With shipping containers piling up because we import more than we export, some architects have come up  wonderful uses for them.

Adam Kalkin, who admits he has a “fascination with junk” is one artist/architect who specializes in shipping container chic. His homes start at $99,000 and are not only beautiful, but can provide extraordinary shelter for disaster relief.

Architecture and Hygiene 
CNN Interview: Adam Kalkin 

Green Demolitions Is Having A Sale!

Green Demolitions Is Having A Sale! published on 1 Comment on Green Demolitions Is Having A Sale!

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Sweet custom “Pine Wet Bar”: $2900

Green Demolitions is a second hand supplier of first class home fixtures. They sell high end commercial surplus and used donations from homes being renovated and demolished in CT and NY.

There are currently 3 locations in Bethel, NY, Blackrock, CT and Honesdale, PA. Saturday, Oct. 13th, will be the grand opening of their 4th location in Norwalk, CT.

But back to this sale….

Today through Sunday at the Bethel and Honesdale locations….50-75% off! They have cabinets, appliances, building materials, etc…

Green Demolitions


Affordable Apartments In NYC via NY Times

Affordable Apartments In NYC via NY Times published on 2 Comments on Affordable Apartments In NYC via NY Times

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That’s What We’re Talking About!

You see? Even the Times says you can buy an apartment for under $200k in NYC. This Sunday’s article features some of the more affordable neighborhoods in the boroughs, including Riverdale, Forest Hills, Jackson Heights and Flatbush. Even in Manhattan’s Inwood section, it’s possible to find affordable digs.

I’m sure we’ll be covering these neighborhoods in the weeks and months to come since that’s our schtick: Affordable NYC. One thing we do feel strongly about though, is investing in a multi family home in need of TLC rather than an apartment. Each to his/her own, some folks don’t want to be landlords and others don’t want to put in the sweat equity. But we feel the pay off is much better than an apartment. At least the Times is advocating less gentrified areas!

NYT Real Estate Article

REBNY MLS: It’s here.

REBNY MLS: It’s here. published on

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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

Affordable NYC: Ridgewood, Queens

Affordable NYC: Ridgewood, Queens published on 1 Comment on Affordable NYC: Ridgewood, Queens

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No, that’s not a photo of Sunset Park.

I must admit something. I know nothing about Queens. All I know is that I get lost whenever I go there, what with all of their roads, avenues, streets, boulevards….it’s a confusing place!

Anyhoo, in doing a search for affordable and decent architecture in the boroughs, Ridgewood kept coming up. I’m impressed. Ridgewood has more historic districts than any other Queens neighborhood.

Can’t tell you too much about Ridgewood, but I know folks whom are priced out of Williamsburg and Bushwick are moving there. It’s on the M line, not the fastest train into the city, but if you feel like switching for the L, you can do so.

Ridgewood is a diverse neighborhood. Lots of Eastern Europeans about. It retains an old timey feel with it’s many mom and pop shops (remember those?) within walking distance of most homes.

I won’t give you the pros and cons since I’m not familiar enough with the area. Any Ridgewood readers out there? Feel free to chime in!

Queens links:

OuterB
Ridgewood: About
Onderdonk House
Queens Chamber of Commerce

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