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Load Out! FabNYC: Reuse and Repurposing Riot

Load Out! FabNYC: Reuse and Repurposing Riot published on

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.

Gowanus Housing: Volunteers Needed Today

Gowanus Housing: Volunteers Needed Today published on

via: Occupy Sandy Relief NYC
Volunteers are needed at the Gowanus housing projects today at 430 Baltic Street. They will have hot food set up for 300 people (and a catering truck) and need volunteers to help carrying meals up to people who are unable to come down, as well as check in on elderly folks. They have been set up and servicing folks since 9:30, this morning. See Erin when you get there.

Rockaway Post Hurricane Communication Hub

Rockaway Post Hurricane Communication Hub published on

The Rockaway Emergency Plan community Facebook page  seems to be the main hub for communication among ROCKAWAY residents and folks looking to help.  “A place on Facebook to find and share information after Hurricane Sandy devastated Rockaway.”

Check this page “like” it, as they are updating almost hourly with timely important information on: School relocation, Fema procedures, directing volunteers to particular locations.

Visit them at Facebook.com/Rockaway-Emergency-Plan

School Relocation Information

School Relocation Information published on

It’s going to be a rough road for many kids, but the New York City Department of Education just posted the list of school relocations for those in the majorly hard hit areas.

From schools.nyc.gov

Schools to be relocated

While the vast majority of students across the city will report to their home schools on Monday morning, November 5, there will be schools that will be relocated temporarily in other buildings because of significant damage to their home building.

This is a list of schools (as of 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 3) that have experienced severe damage and cannot open for school on Monday.  The list shows each impacted school with a temporary location, where the school will hold classes until its original building can be repaired. (list in pdf format)

In some instances impacted schools are being sited across several schools, i.e., Kindergarten through grade 2 at one receiving school, grades 3-5 at another.

Students in these schools will not attend class on Monday, November 5 or Tuesday, November 6 (Election Day), but will attend class at their new temporary location on Wednesday, November 7.

We are working with our busing companies to provide transportation for eligible students. We will provide updates early in the week.

Teachers will report on Monday and Tuesday to integrate into their new temporary location and prepare for students to come back to school on Wednesday.

Staff should report to their new temporary location on Monday, November 5, at their regular start time.

Schools without power

This is a list of schools that as of 5:00 p.m. on Friday, November 2, did not have power restored. (list in pdf format

This list will be updated Sunday afternoon.

We hope that as power is restored throughout the city, that these schools will also regain power.

This list excludes schools that are relocating due to severe damage.

Schools serving as shelter sites

This is a list of schools that will continue to host a shelter site on Monday, November 5. (list in pdf format)

Students in these schools will not attend class on Monday, November 5 or Tuesday, November 6 (Election Day), but will return to school on Wednesday, November 7.

Staff should report to school on Monday, November 5, at their regular start time.

One of the Lucky Ones

One of the Lucky Ones published on

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Finally got over to the house yesterday. I was first of all, happy to see my neighbors whom had stayed during the evacuation. Then I was relieved to see that the house is still standing. When my neighbor told me that my basement was flooded, I was like “That’s it?”

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The water had gone down to about 5 inches deep but it was clearly up to about 5 feet because everything up at a height had sand on it. Things that I put on the sawhorse to keep off  the ground ended up on the floor. I’m pretty sure they floated there.

I estimate about $10-15k worth of damage including a new boiler and water heater, washer and dryer. Unfortunately, I’m pretty sure I won’t be able to salvage the cabinets I spent time painting. Also gone is the sweet blue dresser I bought to use as a sink vanity.

There is a roof leak and some siding that was pulled off, but nothing drastic. I’m proud of the house. It put up a good fight against Sandy. Interiors above basement were untouched!

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So, that’s my story. What’s going in the rest of Rockaway? Well true, it looks like a war zone. Debris, burnt and water damaged houses, cars piled on top of each other.

But…

It wasn’t as depressing as I thought it would be. The people who stayed and survived were plentiful. They were out cleaning up their homes and they were grateful to be alive. That’s what to take away from this: It could have been worse. We’re not hearing the real death toll on the news. One neighbor mentioned that it was up to 100 yesterday in Rockaway alone. Those are the truly unfortunate people. Everyone else can rebuild. And for godsakes, think about those people who lost their lives, their loved ones or their homes before you whine about not having power!

One last rose-colored-glasses comment. I was inspired to see a community working together to move past this. There were numerous first responders, government agencies and even the ASPCA helping out, for which I am thankful.

Hanging in There?

Hanging in There? published on

Hope everything is ok on your end. That bitch Sandy really kicked our asses, didn’t she? No worries, if there’s anything east coasters are good at, it’s bouncing back.

I’m posting from a cell phone so it’s tough to research and write, but later this week I’d like to compile a list of helpers and helpies. Offhand, I know that FEMA is one place to go if your home has sustained damage. More to come if I ever get a new computer.

For those wondering about my Rockaway renovation, I haven’t seen it yet. I’m going to try to make my way out there today. If only the basement was flooded, I’d be thrilled. Expecting the worst: Total loss but hoping for the best. Either way, watching this unfold from the comfort of my Bed Stuy home where the lights didn’t so much as flicker, has been surreal. I may have lost a significant amount of money and time, but there are people who lost everything, including their lives. So, I’m one of the lucky ones either way.

Of course if I find my house under water, I probably won’t be so zen about it.

So, I guess I should head over there now. Fingers crossed.

The House on Macon Street

The House on Macon Street published on

Macon

The house had been sitting empty since the fire in 2003. It always seemed so crazy that a once majestic home was allowed to deteriorate while real estate in this pocket of Bed Stuy has remained tight.

I heard that it was going up for auction. First I saw the “suits” meeting out front. Then came the rubbish removal truck. I knew something was going down.

Today I weaseled my way into 91 Macon while my neighbor was waiting to let the water company in. He was put in charge for the day, flashlight and all. Since I’m a licensed real estate agent and it IS officially on the market, it wasn’t verboten even though I felt like I was trespassing.

So here’s how crazy real estate in Brooklyn is. They are asking $900k as is. Word on the street is that they intend to renovate but leave any detail that’s there (Praise God) and that price will be $1.5m. Public record shows that they purchased it at auction for $600k a few months ago. That’s a hefty profit although not quite the $300k it may look like. Perhaps there were other liens and taxes, clean up costs, legalizing “stuff”, getting rid of squatters or dead bodies…

In any case, high for Bed Stuy? Homes in the area have been hitting over a million. Although $900k seems steep, $800’s seems almost fair. It’s 4000 square feet. I’m gonna predict they either get $850k as is, $1.1 on a crappy flip or $1.3 on a nice restoration.

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A Visit to Tin Can Trading Post

A Visit to Tin Can Trading Post published on 1 Comment on A Visit to Tin Can Trading Post

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I met Sal a few years ago as a fellow Brooklyn Flea vendor. We stayed in touch via the Interwebs and I kept meaning to visit his shop in Callicoon, NY. Sal is now in the process of moving Tin Can Trading Post to a multi-dealer store up the road. What finally got me up there to see the store was his massive moving sale.

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Because I was focused on house materials, I only made out with three lights (four if you count the pair of sconces as two). But oh, how I wished I was there shopping for myself! Scary dolls and clown paintings, old wicker subway seats, a dessert cart from Grossingers. Grossingers!! It would make a fabulous kitchen island.

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Sal closed up his shop for a bit to give us a tour of his home that’s on the market for $189k in nearby Cochecton. What a treat for an old home lover! The restoration reveals layers of history. Original wallpaper was cleaned with wonder bread. Did you know about that technique? I did not. The plaster in some areas was left unpainted. You know how much people pay to faux this look? Here, it’s the real deal.

Worth the trip up to Sullivan County. Check out the shop. Buy the house. Turn it into a B&B so I can stay there in the future.

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Like a College Dorm

Like a College Dorm published on

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Still a ways to go with the house but at least there are new walls and….yeah, that’s about it…new walls. It’s barely liveable but probably no worse than any other renovation that I’ve occupied full time. At least there is a toilet and a sink. They are located two flights from each other but they do exist.

We’ve come a long way in a week and some.

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So Much for Landmarking

So Much for Landmarking published on

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My block is calendared to be landmarked at some point soon. It’s not the lovliest stretch of Bed Stuy, but it does currently have solely historic structures. Yeah, the most beautiful house on the block is still boarded up after a fire about 3-4 years ago, but that’s everyone’s favorite.

I didn’t even notice the empty lot. Thought it was just part of the apartment building courtyard on Fulton. Well, they’re putting in a new building there. Because they still can. Because we’re not landmarked yet.

Would be nice if it complimented the older homes in the neighborhood? Would even be ok if it was a tasteful modern design, although that wouldn’t fit in. But what are the chances it’s gonna be a cheap Feder’s home? Or perhaps a huge luxury condo?

I’ll try to remain positive until I see this monstrosity new structure.

Day 1: Left Behind

Day 1: Left Behind published on 1 Comment on Day 1: Left Behind

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Yesterday I just went over to the house with the dogs to clean up the bathrooms and kitchen, shop for essentials and figure out what I’m doing. I spent over an hour changing a lock and scratched my head quite a lot over the configuration of the house.

One of my favorite parts of a renovation is discovering things unearthed in the demo. Well, since I didn’t really start demo yet, here are some items the seller left behind.

No, not the dog and not the whiskey. The whiskey was a gift from the selling broker. I’m gonna need it.

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And So It Begins (Again)

And So It Begins (Again) published on

boots

A couple of years ago when I pulled a major restoration just to get my house on the market, I said that was the last one. Well, time heals all sanity and the addiction has returned. Yesterday I closed on the latest project in Rockaway Beach, a small 2 family frame right off the bay.

So, here’s the deal with this blog. It will get more renovation and design oriented. I’ll try to do DIY videos instead of written posts.

HOWEVER! Can’t promise I’ll stick to a post per day. You may get some cheater posts like a single photo minus words or even some days when there aren’t any posts.

Whatevs. Stick with me, kid. It’ll be worth it to see the before and afters, even if it’s not on a daily basis.

Affordable NYC: Rockaway Beach

Affordable NYC: Rockaway Beach published on

rockaway beach

The Rockaway Peninsula consists of neighborhoods that range from skid row to exclusive. Since this is a post about “affordable housing” in the area, we’re not here to talk about Belle Harbor.

Rockaway Beach was once a summer destination for city dwellers. The bungalows that lined the shore were torn down to make way for public housing in the 50’s and 60’s. That’s about the time urban blight set in and it’s still very visible in areas of neighboring Arverne that have not yet been rebuilt.

But the fact is, Rockaway Beach has been rediscovered. And the new developments at Arverne by The Sea are a big F U to urban decay.

Once upon a time, Rockaway Beach was known as The Irish Riviera. Now it’s the Hipster Hamptons. There are still plenty of working class  Irish American families whom have been rooted in the area for generations. Now it’s a diverse mix of old timers and new.

During the summer months, this is fast becoming THE place to be. The concessions open up on the boardwalk, hipsters flock here to surf, swim and be all hip-n-shit. Rockaway Taco has 2 hour lines. For a friggin taco. Winter months are fairly quiet. The dedicated surfers are out there all year, but you’ll notice less of a scene and more of a community in the cold weather.

Surely, if you are a beach person or a boater (the bay is on the other side of the peninsula), you can’t do much better on a budget than Rockaway Beach. This stretch of the peninsula is walking distance from shore to shore, so you have the best of the beach and the bay. But let’s talk about off season. People haven’t been surviving out there for generations on nothing!

Are there restaurants? Yes. Thai Rock and Bungalow Bar next door are on bayside and have outdoor seating in the warmer weather. They have live performances as well as food and drinks. There are plenty of established restaurants near 116th Street (a main shopping district) or across the bridge in Broad Channel.

What about bagels? Yeah. They even deliver.

Hot yoga? Of course!

Dog park? Fantastic dog park! Tested on my own dogs. They loved it!

Supermarkets? The Stop and Shop on Beach 72nd Street in Arverne is worth the 20 block (or so) trip.

Those are all pros. So, what are the cons?

Well, it’s a schlep. The A runs about 10 trains during rush hour. Other hours, you have to switch for the shuttle at Broad Channel to get out to Rockaway.

Hit or miss areas. Like any neighborhood in transition, some blocks are nicer than others. You do see people fixing up their homes across the street from an abandoned burnt out shell.

Safety? Look at the statistics and judge for yourself. Personally, I can’t comment on how safe I feel there yet because I haven’t spent enough time there. I don’t think I’d want to walk around near the Hammel Houses at 2am with my ear buds, but then I wouldn’t do that in most neighborhoods. Just to be clear, there are plenty of great families living in housing projects, not just the “bad elements”. The elevated train line does give the feeling of being isolated from the more pleasant beach side of town.

Schools? Don’t have kids. Again, check it out. I will say that the high school I pass along Beach Channel Drive looks nice with their tennis courts and all.

All in all, I think it’s a pretty great investment and a wonderful place to live. You can still pick up a small fixer upper for less than $300k but act now. I swear there were more listings in the $200k’s when I started looking and was less than impressed. My how things have changed so quickly.

Home Buying Checklist

Home Buying Checklist published on 5 Comments on Home Buying Checklist

Buying your first home can be a bit daunting. Heck, buying for the fifth time is still stressful! Here’s a list of steps to take to ensure that there are no freak out moments during your transaction.

1. Pre-qual and down payment. Before you even start your search, you should know your budget. How much cash do you have to put down? The full amount? Well, good for you! Can I borrow some? Talk to a bank or mortgage broker and find out how much they are willing to give you FIRST.  Chances are, you will need to provide proof of funds with your offer.

2. Get a good buyer’s agent. Well, if you live in NYC, you know that ain’t gonna happen. You’re on your own. Good luck. Not saying there aren’t good agents out there, but not all brokers like to share their commission. Kapeesh? So, you may have the bestest, most hardest working agent in the world, but she can get cut out of the deal if you happen to find that for sale by owner who won’t work with brokers. Outside of the boroughs, get yourself a good agent and relax.

3. You found a house? Hoorah! Ok, here’s the deal. At the time of this writing, things are cray-cray in Brooklyn once again. Bubbles! Maybe they’ll burst or maybe they won’t, but open houses are getting about 100 people in attendance and there have been multiple offers over ask. So, if you’re interested in a super popular location, expect to fight for it. Present a decent enough offer. If they bite…

4. Get that inspection done ASAP. Doesn’t mean a thing if they’ve accepted your offer. They’re not on the hook until the contracts are signed. Oh, did I mention that you should have chosen your attorney by this time? Go back to somewhere between steps 2 and 3 and do that.

5. More negotiations. There was probably some fierce negotiating back  when you were arguing over the price. Well, now that you know the house needs $80k worth of work over what you thought it did, it’s time to demand more. If your agreed upon price was as-is, don’t get greedy. If there’s nothing really wrong with the house and you just feel like haggling some more, don’t.

6. The lawyer. Depending on whether or not you have an agent, the lawyer usually doesn’t come into the picture until you come to an agreement. The seller’s attorney writes up the contract and sends it to your attorney. They change some things around just to strut their stuff. You sign. The sellers sign. Congratulations! You’re in contract!

7. Now you wait. The bank will be asking you for stuff. You’ll be looking at designs and getting names of contractors. Blah, blah, blah. All the while, you can stress out about bank appraisal, underwriting, title search.

* Jeopardy theme *

8.  Mortgage Commitment. Remember that pre-qual letter you got? Yeah, it didn’t really mean anything. The commitment letter from the bank is gold. This is the baby you’re waiting for.

9. Title search. You’re getting close! This is something your attorney orders when he/she knows everything is kosher. After these steps, you’re clear to close! Your attorney should be trying to save you a few bucks by seeing if there’s a recent existing survey instead of having to order another one.

10. Closing Date. You’ll wait for 2-3 months twiddling your thumbs and then you have a few days to scramble the last minute things together. Nope, you can’t get a head start and do them way in advance.

– Insurance
– Utilities
– Bank Check. You’ll get the exact numbers from your attorney the day before if you’re lucky. In some cases, you might be running from the bank to the closing with not a minute to spare.

11. Congratulations! You bought a house! And now the stress really begins….

Incredible Brownstone: $675k

Incredible Brownstone: $675k published on 1 Comment on Incredible Brownstone: $675k

Head’s up! Anyone looking for an inexpensive (relatively speaking) brownstone in an up and coming area of Brooklyn? Before I tell you about the house that’s available, check out Reno Dakota’s (yes, like the song) full Victorian restoration (above). Yes, someone actually lives like that.

Envious? Me too. But what does that ever solve? Do something about it! The house right next door is for sale for a mere $675k, listed with Urban View and hopefully still on the market. It’s got every bit the detail that Reno and Kei’s house has.

My husband said “Let’s sell our house and move there.” I’m tempted but I like my part of southwest Bed Stuy, plus I can’t keep moving every few years. The part of Bed Stuy this home is located in is “Stuyvesant Heights East” near Ocean Hill. It’s clean, quiet and has lovely tree lined streets, but it’s closer to the Bushwick border than Clinton Hill…not that there’s anything wrong with that. The price reflects the eastern location. Homes in the western part of Bed Stuy have been hitting the million mark, so a gorgeous house like this seems like a steal. Plus, it’s getting tougher to find a place with so much detail. Seems like the flippers have gotten to many of them first and ripped out all the beauty.

Personally, if I was in the market for a house in Bed Stuy, I would check this one out ASAP!

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