North Sleeper's Profile
Author's Posts
Leaving a door on the garden level?? Thoughts, please.
We're converting the bottom 2 floors of a brownstone into a duplex. The parlor level will have a deck with stairs to the backyard. The garden level is configured to have 2 small bedrooms towards the back. Here's our dilemma: we were thinking of placing a glass door in one of the bedroom to allow access to the backyard and natural sunlight in, but at the same time, we are hesitant to put a glass door in a small bedroom because it would constrict placement of furniture, and because of safety issues. Is it stupid to give up access to the backyard on the ground level or are we unlikely to use the bedroom door anyway?
anyone put in a claim under AIG's Distinguished Program?
I know there's been lots of discussion about homeowner's insurance on the forum but I'd like to go one further and see if anyone has put in a claim under AIG's Distinguished Program. This is a fairly new program started after AIG and the Brownstone Agency parted ways. I'd like to leave the Brownstone Agency myself as I don't feel too confident about their ability to fight on my behalf if I ever had to file a claim. If you have put in a claim, were you successful?
general liability insurance if you're acting as own GC?
If there are people out there who have acted as their own GC on renovations (small or large)or do their own plumbing/electrical repairs, how many of you obtained general liability insurance for this work? We are in the process of renovating and also obtaining new insurance coverage. Better to be upfront and tell the broker exactly what we're doing, or what they don't know won't hurt them?
renewing Cert of No Harassment?
HPD issued us a Certificate of No-Harassement a couple of years back. It says the certificate remains in effect for 3 years. Anyone know what I need to do to renew it? Clueless here. Does the Cert. ever become permanent?
Searching for former Clinton Hill SRO reno owner
Hi- I am trying to locate the Clinton Hill SRO reno owner whose kitchen was featured on Brownstoner's kitchen special. Back in the day, you had posted some photos of your living room w/ kitchen and I really loved the look of the room arch with flanking bookshelves. If by any chance you are reading this, can I contact you to see the photo again? Brownstoner site no longer has it. Thanks!!
Being held hostage by a supplier
Waht can you do in this situation? Wood flooring supplier sold us prefinished oak floooring that he assured us was solid. We told him we only wanted solid wood so we could sand it and re-varnish if we wanted. We bought $1,800 worth of flooring. After a da's worth of installation by subcontactors, we discovered the wood was not solid, but in fact compossite. Now we are out $1,800 and the subcontractors want their money for teh aprtially installed floor. Aghhhhh!
anyone renovating an SRO apply for J-51?
Has anyone who converted an SRO or done a total gut renovation of a brownstone applied for J-51? Why don't I hear of this more often? If your labor costs are basically undocumented, does this make teh application process more difficult?
why no central vac?
Me again. Wondering why more people don't install central vac into their homes especially if they're doing a gut renovation? Would not be a great expense if that were the case.
central vac???
Anyone do a renovation and consider/install central vacuum? It hasn't been discussed here before and I'm wondering why??
Author's Comments
Colonel - if you can figure out a way to convert huge hard copy drawings into a pdf, I'd be happy to send the plans to you. Otherwise, I'll tell you that we have squeezed 3 bedrooms and 2 baths on the garden level and a kitchen, LR & powder room on the parlor floor.
Posted by: North Sleeper at October 29, 2008 4:28 PM in response to Leaving a door on the garden level?? Thoughts, please.
hey everyone - thanks for the comments. the more I think about it, the more sensible it is to leave a door on the garden level, even though it is sort of annoying for the person whose bedroom it will be to have people traipsing back and forth through his/her room. Vai - we already have another bedroom at the front of the house, we are squeezing every last drop of space out of the layout. And yes, the glass door will be double-paned etc.
Posted by: North Sleeper at October 29, 2008 11:27 AM in response to Leaving a door on the garden level?? Thoughts, please.
North Sleeper wrote a review about Sugarcane on September 24, 2008 2:58 PM
looks and feels more like a bar than a restaurant. i want to hear myself in a restaurant. Pass.
Have heard horror stories about Drimmer's, even though they often have the best prices. you should check apartmenttherapy.com for reviews - some of the stories are pretty outrageous. seems like drimmer's often deals in refurbished appliances--but doesn't tell the buyer. SHADY, SHADY, SHADY. We went with Gringer & Sons for this reason.
Posted by: North Sleeper at September 23, 2008 9:58 AM in response to Unfortunate experience with Drimmer's
i forgot to add: the agent might be one of the partners or the owner himself.
Posted by: North Sleeper at August 15, 2008 3:54 PM in response to Open House Picks
my guess re: st. james is that the place was purchased in Jan 08 by some partners that do the renovate and flip thing frequently and that the real estate agent is well-acquainted with the owners/partners from prior transactions.
Posted by: North Sleeper at August 15, 2008 3:53 PM in response to Open House Picks
hey 8:44, perhaps your renovation was a snap. ours isn't, and we are doing the work ourselves, which makes it slow going. your tone and ignorance don't belong on this post.
Posted by: North Sleeper at July 2, 2008 11:15 AM in response to renewing Cert of No Harassment?
that makes sense, mkop. thanks.
Posted by: North Sleeper at July 1, 2008 3:47 PM in response to renewing Cert of No Harassment?
12:13 - you need to learn reading comprehension. where did I insult renters and call them "morons" and "bitter?" Seriously, you need to re-evaluate your public school and SUNY education. I have no problems with renters. I do not rent yet - hence my paycheck to paycheck situation. I have a problem with people that call me entitled because they wrongly assume I took a handout from my parents. And, BTW, I have a moniker, so rather than referring to me by a time stamp, you can address me directly.
Posted by: North Sleeper at June 5, 2008 1:11 PM in response to School Admissions Changes Causing 'Chaos'
11:42: wrong again (you are the same as 11:03 I take it). I was smart enough to buy in Manhattan when interest rates were high but prices were low and cashed out at the right time. Took that $$ and bought something in BK. My partner and I work our asses off at our jobs and we are both handy - hence doing our own renovations. Dumbass.
Posted by: North Sleeper at June 5, 2008 12:09 PM in response to School Admissions Changes Causing 'Chaos'
11:03 is not a homeowner, pure and simple. Not all homeowners have cash to put 50% down and live on all floors of their home (few do). Most rent out a portion of their home to offset expenses or for a little extra income and believe me, while we are renovating our home, we live paycheck to paycheck. We do not have an extra $20,000 per year laying around to pay for private school. We don't even have $2,000. So, before you spout off your mouth and talk about something you know NOTHING about, live a little and learn a little. And, most importantly, save some money so you can buy a place yourself and see what it's really like.
Posted by: North Sleeper at June 5, 2008 11:33 AM in response to School Admissions Changes Causing 'Chaos'
hmmm...I owned a 625 sf 1 bedroom in a co-op in midtown as of 3 years ago. Compeltely full service with roofdeck, concierge etc etc. My maintenance was $850. The maintenance here is outrageous. But the kitchen IS nice, although the track lighting sucks ass. Brownstoner hates high hats but is OK with track lighting? nice taste, brownstoner!
Posted by: North Sleeper at June 4, 2008 3:27 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 60 Remsen Street
The entryway/lobby is the one part of the building I actively dislike. Ick. apartment itself looks spacious and reasonably priced.
Posted by: North Sleeper at May 22, 2008 3:11 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 179 Ocean Parkway
Hi - this garden is looking way more lush than a couple of years ago when the owner gave us a tour after selling us some industrial paint remover. Nice photos!
Posted by: North Sleeper at May 13, 2008 11:06 AM in response to Garden of the Day: Crown Heights Verdant
Looks to be in fantastic condition for an SRO. The new owner will be lucky so have so many details left (except the stair woodwork - gives me the shivers). And the listing says delivered vacant with an SRO exemption. Not exactly sure what this means. Having been through this process myself, it seems like the paperwork may be have been put through and approved. In which case, the new owner would just have to file the paperwork for a new C of O.
Posted by: North Sleeper at April 29, 2008 1:34 PM in response to House of the Day: 52 South Oxford Street
update - the supplier just told us HE was told by the manufacturer that it was solid oak rather than being laminate. he has now told us he will 'check on it." we feel badly for teh subs who were just there to do their work. it's basically a waiting game at this point.
for those of you who have nothing better to do than make disparaging comments, unless i were to split the wood from each case, there's no way to tell the quality fo the wood. second, if you pay by credit card, of course you have recourse. My cc company would stand by me, unlike some of you losers. We had a contract to buy a certain kind of flooring, which was not delivered. Contracts 101 will tell you that the supplier has to make good on that.
Posted by: North Sleeper at February 26, 2008 3:26 PM in response to Being held hostage by a supplier
Mrhancock, you're a moron. You can't see it's composite until you split the wood in half, which we didn't see until the subcontractors were cutting the wood to size. Moron, and not helpful to boot.
Posted by: North Sleeper at February 26, 2008 12:14 PM in response to Being held hostage by a supplier
told you that 60 St. Mark's would do just fine despite ppl commenting that the street "just isn't that nice." Too nice for you, I guess.
Posted by: North Sleeper at February 26, 2008 12:12 PM in response to Last Week's Biggest Sales
oh yes, we also stupidly paid cash, not credit card.
Posted by: North Sleeper at February 26, 2008 10:16 AM in response to Being held hostage by a supplier
those are the doors that we bought from Eddie propped up right behind him!
Posted by: North Sleeper at February 22, 2008 2:07 PM in response to Eddie!
you can tell a building inhabited by hasids a mile away. ugly little balconies with gates and otherwise non-descript. the reason for the balconies matters little to me, just wonder why they can't make the effort to have them look a little nicer. ugh.
Posted by: North Sleeper at February 22, 2008 1:54 PM in response to Catching Up on the Bedford Avenue Building Boom
Sorry, BrooklynLove, but zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
As for the Bay Ridge super, yes, he has a potty mouth but he's probably getting the job done!!
Posted by: North Sleeper at February 22, 2008 10:12 AM in response to Friday Links
down, boy. I think 10:41's reaction was to the generalization that ALL Jews need to learn to obey the law. When, in fact, it's some of the Hasidim and the Orthodox (and they make up a small percentage of Jewish people) that time and time-again, flout the law and endanger lives. Anyone that flouts the law and puts people's lives at risk should be punished, and in this case, meet their maker for final judgment.
Posted by: North Sleeper at January 29, 2008 10:58 AM in response to 475 Kent Avenue: How It All Began
the owner basically put everyone's lives at risk. how come all he gets is a slap on the wrist and the tenants get kicked out to freezing cold weather?
Posted by: North Sleeper at January 29, 2008 10:29 AM in response to 475 Kent Avenue: How It All Began
why wouldn't it go for $2.5 mil? I mean, it's a prime, prime neighborhood, despite teh walk to the subway. Nice finishes and PS 29 is reportedly a great school. It sounds like a deal to me.
Posted by: North Sleeper at January 28, 2008 3:07 PM in response to House of the Day: 462 Henry Street
I think it's a big zzzzzzzzzzzz. Wish it were the Gap, better yet, Baby Gap. As for crime, there was a hold-up at the Dunkin' Donuts right up the block at 5 p.m., and that there is a regular watering hole for cops. Also right near the 78th. Nothing deters a criminal hard-up for cash.
Posted by: North Sleeper at January 11, 2008 5:44 PM in response to StreetLevel: Mo' Money on Flatbush Ave.
here's my advice: hire someone with knowledge of the system. The people at HPD are notoriously difficult to work with.
Posted by: North Sleeper at January 10, 2008 4:41 PM in response to Certificate of No Harassment
these sanitation officers are the same idiots that issue tickets for having bags of construction refuse in your own front yard. sometimes you just can't get to the dumpster on a daily basis!
Posted by: North Sleeper at January 10, 2008 10:04 AM in response to Sanitation Signs Off on Sandwich Boards
I only mentioned Israel b/c the freak neo-con mentioned he is a Zionist as well. Although, I guess they go hand-in-hand.
Posted by: North Sleeper at January 9, 2008 5:42 PM in response to Brownstoner Democratic Primary Results
10:58. You scare me. Why don't you pull out those Uzis while you're at it. And defend your brownstone. We don't need America invading countries to establish democracy at the expense of American lives. And, ever think Israel was a big, gigantic mistake???
Posted by: North Sleeper at January 9, 2008 12:19 PM in response to Brownstoner Democratic Primary Results
10:39, are you also a cloistered urban provincial? Because you certainly espouse views that would lend support to that position. Nothing to back up your statements, which in effect are gross generalizations, and I could go on and on. You make it sound like Republicans are martyrs, crusading for what we all think is holy in America. Corporate America is doing just fine and if we can force them to give back 1/1,000 of what they make off of the general public, so be it. I take pride in America, and I'm not a Republican. Where does that leave your argument? As for the rest of you "stance," it's wholly ridiculous.
Posted by: North Sleeper at January 9, 2008 10:51 AM in response to Brownstoner Democratic Primary Results
ughh. 3 tenants and a possibility of an SRO. coupled with a not-top-of-the-line neighborhood--no thanks!
Posted by: North Sleeper at January 8, 2008 2:10 PM in response to House of the Day: 78 Halsey Street
exposed brick...that is a seriously silly quibble. it's not like it's an eyesore.
Posted by: North Sleeper at December 19, 2007 2:25 PM in response to House of the Day: 381 Bainbridge Street
Thanks for the reminder about the STAR rebate.
Posted by: North Sleeper at December 10, 2007 10:13 AM in response to Monday Links
Ughhh, 5:51, you are dense. Are you arguing that Sorrel and FF are in the same geographic area? Better take a geography lesson. They are on opposite sides of Flatbush Ave. different areas, and that's a fact. The foot traffic was just an additional comment on why Sorrel is different from FF.
Posted by: North Sleeper at December 4, 2007 10:23 PM in response to Restaurant Sorrell Closing?
well, Z, they are definitely in different areas. Flatbush Farms gets tons of foot traffic, sorrel does not. Different areas entirely.
Posted by: North Sleeper at December 4, 2007 2:34 PM in response to Restaurant Sorrell Closing?
who cares about interior details when you have to come home to aluminum siding every day (yours and your neighbor's)? Fugly.
Posted by: North Sleeper at December 4, 2007 2:18 PM in response to House of the Day: 735 Decatur Street
Sorrl is in Prospect Heights and Flatbush Farm is in Park Slope. Two different neighborhoods.
Posted by: North Sleeper at December 4, 2007 10:47 AM in response to Restaurant Sorrell Closing?
Last year, we woke up to find a swarm of huge black flies trapped between the vestibule door and the front door. I shudder to think the nest (?) was contained somewhere in the vestibule. We killed 'em off with some heavy duty poison, but next time we'll use the vacuum attachment. Better for the environment and for humans.
Posted by: North Sleeper at November 29, 2007 10:19 AM in response to Invasion of the Fat Flies
I don't have much faith in a place called Canteen. For good deli, as close to Katz's in Brooklyn you're going to get, go to Mill Basin Deli. Real kosher deli.
Posted by: North Sleeper at November 16, 2007 11:01 AM in response to StreetLevel: A Katz's for Brooklyn on 4th Avenue?
My thoughts - maybe there's a better way to organize the Forum so that different trades like electricians and plumbers can be listed with reader's comments about each. Basically, can there be a better way to search for forum postings? A search result can be all over the place.
Posted by: North Sleeper at November 15, 2007 10:26 AM in response to Please Take the Brownstoner Reader Survey
Despite Mr. B's attempt to explain his aversion to the doors, I still don't get it. we purchased solid wood doors looking just like these (6 panel) for our rental apartment. They were a few hundred dollars apiece. how's that cheap???
Posted by: North Sleeper at November 13, 2007 2:52 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 11 Monroe Place
I'm very familiar with this stretch, 12;17, being that I live 3 blocks away. is tand by my statement that this stretch is dreary and sometimes very dirty from the (fake?) hair scattering dumped by the numerous hair cut shops. I can count about 5 just on that block and the next one towards 6th.
and, someone please tell me where the Starbucks in Atlantic Terminal is. The one right by the LIRR (and next door to Bath and Body works) closed down last year.
Posted by: North Sleeper at November 7, 2007 4:21 PM in response to Prospect Heights Watering Hole Getting the Boot
craigslist is a pretty common place to look for temporary housing, 3:26. get with the program. it's also a popular site to do vacation trades.
Posted by: North Sleeper at November 7, 2007 4:17 PM in response to Rental of the Day: Turkey Time in Cobble Hill
I don't think a Starbucks would survive on this stretch. They certainly didn't survive in the Atlantic Terminal (only a few blocks away), which seems like it would have been a shoo-in. This stretch of Flatbush is pretty dreary and has way too many barbershops/hair salons/hair-braiding shops. Let's get something useful in there.
Posted by: North Sleeper at November 7, 2007 12:04 PM in response to Prospect Heights Watering Hole Getting the Boot
I don't know exactly where this is, but I don't think it's in Park Slope.
Posted by: North Sleeper at November 6, 2007 1:51 PM in response to House of the Day: 121 Windsor Place
Franny's is overrated (and too expensive) and Peperoncino's pizza (and the rest of their entrees)is merely average. However, the new place won't be a competitor of either since it is several blocks away from both places.
Posted by: North Sleeper at November 2, 2007 5:35 PM in response to StreetLevel: Slope Getting a Piece of the Bay Ridge Pie
The sofa (and other decor) IS horrendous, but that should not detract from the house itself. A coffin in the living room of a house on a prime street of PS, BH or CH would not equate a decrease in sale price.
Posted by: North Sleeper at October 31, 2007 1:44 PM in response to House of the Day: 72 Rutland Road
Yeah, but were you the one insulting people who shop at BI or other stores *you* don't approve of?
Posted by: North Sleeper at October 30, 2007 12:52 PM in response to Brooklyn Industries Outgrows 7th Ave. Digs
Wow, so many people on here thinking they are the fashion police. I probably couldn't tell you people apart from the suburban Kmart or Kohl's shoppers. Or don't tell me you buy from that crap "vintage" store on 5th..what's it called? Beacon's closet? I can probably smell you a mile away then...
Posted by: North Sleeper at October 30, 2007 12:06 PM in response to Brooklyn Industries Outgrows 7th Ave. Digs
Responses to Author's Forum Comments
You don't have to let people go through your bedroom, but yeah: closing off the yard access is a silly idea, even if someone blocks it with furniture.
I'd look at fire codes, though: I'm pretty sure you are required to have egress at both ends of a multi-family dwelling.
Posted by: serpentor at October 29, 2008 2:26 PM in response to Leaving a door on the garden level?? Thoughts, please.
We are also now doing a renovation and creating a garden/parlor duplex. For what it is worth, we went with the door on the garden floor. I'd be curious to see your plans, if you feel like swapping, I can send you a pdf. Ours does have a small extension but I can send you the alternate plans that did not include the extension. Good luck!
Posted by: Colonel at October 29, 2008 3:22 PM in response to Leaving a door on the garden level?? Thoughts, please.
Colonel - if you can figure out a way to convert huge hard copy drawings into a pdf, I'd be happy to send the plans to you. Otherwise, I'll tell you that we have squeezed 3 bedrooms and 2 baths on the garden level and a kitchen, LR & powder room on the parlor floor.
Posted by: North Sleeper at October 29, 2008 4:28 PM in response to Leaving a door on the garden level?? Thoughts, please.
I'm not sure how to do it, I got the PDF from my architect. I'm at avery.kotler@napster.com. If you email there i'd be happy to send you ours anyway.
Posted by: Colonel at October 29, 2008 5:58 PM in response to Leaving a door on the garden level?? Thoughts, please.
Well, the end of the story is that after investigating, our credit card company charged back to Drimmer's the full amount of the defective appliances and an overcharge I discovered(we resolved the washer and microwave problem.) In other words, they took the money back from Drimmer's. It took a lot of persistence and documentation.
Now we have to get a new fridge and hearing what some of you say about the problems of high-end models, I'm thinking something more conventional would be a better deal.
Posted by: blulight at November 1, 2008 5:44 PM in response to Unfortunate experience with Drimmer's
I also have had very bad experience with Drimmers. In particular they caused damage upon delivering applicances and after agreeing to pay for repairs won't return any calls.
Better to go with a large seller like PC Richards who worries about their reputation.
Posted by: aabklyn at November 6, 2008 4:59 PM in response to Unfortunate experience with Drimmer's