Brownstoner's Profile
- Mr. B
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Author's Posts
House of the Day: 242 Bergen Street
This 20-foot-wide brick house at 242 Bergen Street in Boerum Hill was on the market for back in June for $2,995,000 before getting yanked in July. It just re-emerged this week with a new price tag of $2,750,000. The recently renovated double-duplex is quite a looker but even so that asking price is hardly a lay-up in the current market. What do you make of it?
242 Bergen Street [Corcoran] GMAP P*Shark
Co-op of the Day: 209 Lincoln Place, #1G
This one-bedroom at 209 Lincoln Place, a very nice prewar doorman in Park Slope, has a nice original details and a new eat-in kitchen. The asking price of $399,000 doesn't seem bad given the building quality and location but there is one catch: This apartment is on the ground floor. Is that deal-killer or a buying opportunity?
209 Lincoln Place [Brooklyn Real Estate] GMAP P*Shark
Inside Third & Bond: Week 145
The latest missive from our friendly developer bloggers...When will Third + Bond be finished? We are asked this question at least as many times a week as there are Tea Party rallies. Our answer depends on who’s asking. If it’s the construction manager then we say, ‘When we have certificates of occupancy, temporary or permanent, the project will be substantially complete.”
Completion at C of O doesn’t satisfy Kiska. They want to consider the project complete, or more specifically “substantially complete” today. They look around the site and say, “Everything’s finished except for the punch list and some inspections.” Why are they so eager? A certificate of Substantial Completion is typically signed by the architect and handed over to the construction lender. The lender uses this form, as well as a big pile of other paperwork like final lien waivers, to justify releasing the remaining funds held in retention until job completion (aside from some amount held for punch list). Often Substantial Completion is also used to demarcate the end of the contractor’s responsibility for general conditions which includes security, utilities, daily project manager oversight, insurance, etc. Putting the brakes on overhead costs for the construction manager is highly desirable, especially when they have new projects where they want to move personnel.
Substantial Completion is defined as...
Rejoice! Bar Tabac Is Open Again
Remember at the end of last month when we told you Bar Tabac had been shuttered by the Department of Consumer Affairs? We were pleased to notice earlier this week that the popular Smith Street spot is fully operational again.
Another Boerum Place Accident
This was the scene at Boerum Place and Atlantic Avenue early Tuesday evening. Back in 2008, The Daily News noted that 28 pedestrians were hit in the preceding decade at the corner of Boerum and Livingston, just a couple of blocks away, and more recently we ran photos of Atlantic being shut down after a motorcyclist was killed a couple of blocks to the east of this.
Thursday Links
Brooklyn College Furor Is More Heated Online [NY Times]
Trees Battle Pavement, Pedestrians in Fort Greene [NY Times]
Starting to Prep Garden for Colder Weather [NY Times]
Williamsburg Mattress Maker Busted by Feds [NY Post]
Gang Shoot-Out in East New York [NY Post]
Tree Experts Rescue Cat in Fort Greene [NY Daily News]
"Hottie of the Double-D" Winner [Brooklyn Paper]
Bob Diamond to End Tunnel Tours [Brooklyn Eagle]
26 New School Spaces Opening This Year [TRD]
NYC Banks Discuss Foreclosure Reforms [WSJ]
Assessing the Atlantic Yards Legal Process [AYR]
House of the Day: 287 Dekalb Avenue
OMG this place is awesome! This 1905 1889 Romanesque Revival house at 287 Dekalb Avenue has some of the sickest original detail we've ever seen in Clinton Hill. The house, which appears to have been in the same family for over three decades, was designed by Montrose Morris, we learned from the LPC designation report on the Clinton Hill Historic District. Here's some more from that report: "Nos. 285-289 form one of the outstanding rows in Brooklyn...They were designed in such a way as to give the effect of one large mansion. The facades of these buildings display the textural and chromatic contrasts that are a hallmark of Romanesque Revival style buildings." The asking price is $2,250,000. We are very jealous of whoever gets to buy this place!
287 Dekalb Avenue [Halstead] GMAP P*Shark
Condo of the Day: One Hanson Place, #16J
This new listing that just hit the Brownstoner Marketplace claims to be the first two-bedroom resale at One Hanson Place. The 1,355-square-foot pad looks pretty sweet to us: two bedrooms, two and a half baths, prewar bones with nice modern finishes, and 16th floor views over Brooklyn. The asking price of $1,069,000 comes out to a little less than $800 a foot. How does that sound to you?
One Hanson Place [Corcoran] GMAP P*Shark
Backyard Expansion Plans at Prime 6?
Back in June we reported that the Royal Video space at 317 Flatbush Avenue in Park Slope had been rented to a "restaurant lounge & bar" by the name of Prime 6. On Monday, the blog Here's Park Slope got a peek inside the under-renovation interior. Then we received a photo at the end of the day yesterday showing that not only has the backyard been cleared out but that the new hotspot (which, so far, is looking pretty B&T to us) might extend all the way back to the triple-garage fronting on St. Marks. It certainly looks like this workman is beginning to open up that old doorway, doesn't it? Somehow we don't think this is going to work out to well for the neighbors.
Royal Video to Become Restaurant [Brownstoner] GMAP
Author's Comments
Based on the website!
Posted by: brownstoner at September 1, 2010 1:09 PM in response to Backyard Expansion Plans at Prime 6?
We're not tsk-tsking his attempt to maximize FAR ("It's just business" as they would say on the Sopranos), but we are saying that his attempt to maximize FAR is at odds with the attempt to create a piece of period architecture.
Posted by: brownstoner at August 30, 2010 11:01 AM in response to Retro Thinking Gone Wild at 288 7th Street
Agree, Minard.
Posted by: brownstoner at August 30, 2010 10:45 AM in response to Retro Thinking Gone Wild at 288 7th Street
re: how it used to look...we would have preferred to see the original two-story building preserved and then topped with a glassy, modern addition rather than have the whole thing remade into a period piece.
Posted by: brownstoner at August 30, 2010 10:40 AM in response to Retro Thinking Gone Wild at 288 7th Street
We obviously signed off on Emily's critique--and even added that Disney comment...As she said, it's not a bad try but the scale feels off to us and, as LITH says above, the FAR-maximizing additions both at the top and the rear are the real killers. (It's not nearly as bad, but it reminded us a bit of this bastardized mansard addition on State Street: http://bk.ly/ozy.) For the record, we like the brick and the windows though and it looks like there was no corner-cutting on construction quality. We also suspect that the inherent problems with the design were developer-driven; we bet the architect would have liked to have just stuck to three floors on the front!
Posted by: brownstoner at August 30, 2010 10:36 AM in response to Retro Thinking Gone Wild at 288 7th Street
Those upper two floors should have been fronting on Bedford...
Posted by: brownstoner at August 27, 2010 3:29 PM in response to Development Watch: 291 Bedford Ave.
Also, Blue Marble as a business is still doing great--they're just closing that one location and will probably open a new one somewhere else soon.
Posted by: brownstoner at August 25, 2010 10:59 AM in response to Wednesday Links
Holy cow: 499,300. Hope 500,000 doesn't happen over the weekend!
Posted by: brownstoner at August 20, 2010 10:39 AM in response to Open Thread
Regardless of the cause or even financial responsibility, the main issue here is that time is of the essence, as it is an accident waiting to happen.
Posted by: brownstoner at August 19, 2010 3:49 PM in response to Gaping Hole on Grand Avenue
You are not allowed to ride your bike inside the park at Pier 1 FYI
Posted by: brownstoner at August 18, 2010 11:30 AM in response to Interim Bike Path for Brooklyn Bridge Park?
FYI we just passed the 498,000 comment mark...
Posted by: brownstoner at August 18, 2010 11:27 AM in response to Open Thread
yeah, bought that years ago with the idea of doing a blog for lawyers/legal profession
Posted by: brownstoner at August 17, 2010 12:03 PM in response to Off-Topic: URL Brainstorming
Heads up: We are now within 5,000 comments of the 500,000 mark! We should get there within a couple of weeks :)
Posted by: brownstoner at August 10, 2010 4:55 PM in response to Open Thread
fyi, it's not opening until 8 o'clock
Posted by: brownstoner at August 4, 2010 6:52 PM in response to Fulton Grand Bar Opens Tomorrow. For Reals.
Any PLUSAs going to Fulton Grand Bar opening tonight?
Posted by: brownstoner at August 4, 2010 9:38 AM in response to Open Thread
we tend to like exposed brick in a loft conversion but not in a townhouse parlor floor...
Posted by: brownstoner at July 29, 2010 1:38 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 654 Carroll Street, #3L
The regulars know that, Tybur6, but in its current configuration a less sophisticated reader could be forgiven for thinking that the average price was a statement on what the property was worth at sale...
Posted by: brownstoner at July 28, 2010 1:09 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 47 Plaza Street West, #11B
Kinda like how the people who live on South Elliott Place are more "real" than those who live on South Portland?
Posted by: brownstoner at July 28, 2010 8:16 AM in response to McCarren Tennis Court Get Full Makeover
It really does! Here's a photo of the rock concert: http://bk.ly/sWt
Posted by: brownstoner at July 20, 2010 11:37 AM in response to Sampling Berlin's Flea Markets
The cost of living's also a little lower in Berlin, 11217! And that market's about twice the size of The Flea, we'd guess...
Posted by: brownstoner at July 20, 2010 11:25 AM in response to Sampling Berlin's Flea Markets
pleasant
Posted by: brownstoner at July 16, 2010 5:18 AM in response to Guten Tag from Berlin!
Totally evil and completely unsocialized. We got reamed for top dollar even though Mrs. B has a German passport.
Posted by: brownstoner at July 15, 2010 3:24 PM in response to Guten Tag from Berlin!
Wrong again, shillstoner. You clearly missed the whole point of our Absolut rant! What we should do, and will make every effort to do, is to disclose in the post if the property is a paid listing! It's not about eschewing sponsorship but about about being transparent.
Posted by: brownstoner at July 6, 2010 3:41 PM in response to Brownstoner Marketplace Launches With Listings
For NYPD purposes, Brooklyn divided into 2 parts--Brooklyn South and Brooklyn North...assume that's what it's referring to.
Posted by: brownstoner at July 6, 2010 11:28 AM in response to The Summer's Just Begun and Violent Crime Is Spiking in North Brooklyn
Don't know what the stats are, but we can confirm that Prenzlauerberg is crawling with babies. It's also rather, ahem, homogeneous in the race department. Had dinner in Kreuzberg last night and that's certainly much more diverse, as noted above.
Posted by: brownstoner at July 2, 2010 3:07 PM in response to Greetings from Berlin
The What is busy sending us profanity-laced emails cheering on what he sees as our imminent and inevitable demise...
Posted by: brownstoner at June 30, 2010 12:09 PM in response to Case-Shiller, Up in April, Likely to Fall Again
there are a couple of nice loft buildings on this side of the street, but some of the even-numbered buildings on the west side of the street are amazing, including one terra cotta beauty at #52 currently being allowed to fall apart.
Posted by: brownstoner at June 24, 2010 2:40 PM in response to New(ish) Gallery for Wallabout
Where do you stand on jaywalking? Of course cyclists should never do anything to endanger or inconvenience pedestrians (or drivers for that matter) but to think, for example, that a person on a bicycle at a red light on a quiet street in the outer boroughs with no oncoming traffic in sight is going to wait for a green light is, regardless of the law, both unrealistic and delusional. It's all about judgment, manners and common sense.
Posted by: brownstoner at June 22, 2010 11:59 AM in response to Rush Hour in Brooklyn
Jeesh, it's hardly Times Square! There wasn't a pedestrian in sight. Being kinda tight-assed there, aren't you, Expert? Everyone had helmets on, no one zipping through the intersection, no one riding on sidewalks. All was well.
Posted by: brownstoner at June 22, 2010 11:36 AM in response to Rush Hour in Brooklyn
Actually, Cobble Hill Blog, a reader overheard the owner talking to someone about it. Sounds like that someone was you. Not sure what time your post went up because you don't show a time stamp but we can assure you that we didn't get the info from you post. Obviously we would have linked were that the case.
Posted by: brownstoner at June 21, 2010 12:03 PM in response to Ted and Honey Contemplating Drinks
Hilarious but not crazy suggestion, Chuck!
Posted by: brownstoner at June 17, 2010 3:20 PM in response to Paper Store Confirmed for Smith Street
On another note, for those keeping score at home, we're almost at the 475,000 comment mark...
Posted by: brownstoner at June 15, 2010 2:23 PM in response to Open Thread
We pulled a few comments that were critiquing the female broker's physical attractiveness.
Posted by: brownstoner at June 15, 2010 2:22 PM in response to Open Thread
Haven't had to do this in a while, but we pulled some of the personal remarks. Not fair game.
Posted by: brownstoner at June 15, 2010 12:04 PM in response to
Park Place,
We must have missed your email tip about the signage way back when it first went up!
Posted by: brownstoner at June 15, 2010 10:46 AM in response to Brooklyn Pub Revealed
Does anyone know if this place has any connection to the great Princeton Record Exchange?
Posted by: brownstoner at June 10, 2010 9:58 AM in response to Thursday Links
Keep reaching, cillmylandlord. There was no exchange of goods or money with Martha Stewart. Nor did she try to coerce us into writing fake editorial in exchange for anything. Her television show covered a flea market we happen to run. Not really even sure what point you are trying to make...
Posted by: brownstoner at June 9, 2010 4:38 PM in response to Despite Objections, CB3 Backs Bed Stuy Bar
Wrong, jillysp. It was fully credited. Other bloggers use our photos all the time and as long as they give attribution it's fine.
Posted by: brownstoner at June 9, 2010 4:33 PM in response to Brooklyn Blogfest Sells Out
Sponsorship, advertising, etc. are all totally fine but requiring bloggers to write editorial puff posts and tweets that have been bought and paid for with gifts without disclosure undermines the entire medium of blogging. It's all about disclosure and calling a spade a spade.
As for photo usage, most bloggers in Brooklyn have an understanding among themselves that a modest amount of photo usage as long as its with proper attribution is fine. The one commenter above, evidently, is not on board with that approach so we removed his photo from this post.
Posted by: brownstoner at June 9, 2010 3:13 PM in response to Brooklyn Blogfest Sells Out
Hey, we're not talking about a place with a kiddie corner--just somewhere where you feel welcome bringing the kids at 6 o'clock and where there are a couple of items on the menu that work for them...
Posted by: brownstoner at June 9, 2010 1:31 PM in response to Cellars Space for Rent
Classon makes a lot more sense as a border since it's also the border between Clinton Hill and Bed Stuy
Posted by: brownstoner at June 7, 2010 10:30 AM in response to Prospect Vs. Crown Heights
Saturday
Posted by: brownstoner at June 4, 2010 4:58 PM in response to Closing Bell: Rock and Roll Flea
Hey, clearly this falls under the category of "Who really gives a crap" but for the record, we went by LAST WEEK to try to arrange something and spoke to the manager who was very nice and asked us to come back this week. As a courtesy, we didn't post any photos of the partially-finished interior...and this is the thanks we get.
Posted by: brownstoner at May 20, 2010 11:11 AM in response to Sheraton Bridge Burning Ribbon Cutting Today
Did you guys see DIBS and Zinka quoted in the WPIX story about Greenpoint Bridge?
http://bk.ly/rUD
Posted by: brownstoner at May 20, 2010 9:23 AM in response to Open Thread
Agree the space is great, DH, but we had the misfortune of going one night when a metal band was playing and it was a bit much to take.
Posted by: brownstoner at May 19, 2010 11:52 AM in response to Brooklyn Buildings Award Winners Announced
we're only at 462,000 and change in comments
Posted by: brownstoner at May 19, 2010 9:35 AM in response to Open Thread
If we can get to par by July, it would make the month we're going to be spending in Berlin all the more affordable!
Posted by: brownstoner at May 19, 2010 9:29 AM in response to High-End Retailers Eyeing Brooklyn
Embarrassing!
Posted by: brownstoner at May 19, 2010 9:22 AM in response to High-End Retailers Eyeing Brooklyn
Sure. Just noting, as every article on the topic has, that despite no longer living in the area the Italian Americans still feel a strong connection to the church and feel that it's worth fighting for.
Posted by: brownstoner at May 17, 2010 9:31 AM in response to A Reprieve for Historic Brownsville Church
Argyle, are you on Explorer?
Posted by: brownstoner at May 13, 2010 10:36 AM in response to Site Freezing or Crashing?