Archive for ‘real estate’

NY Mag Makes Judgement on “Most Livable” NYC Areas

By Tobey, 13 April, 2010, No Comment

I feel I can’t ignore this because I’ve seen it everywhere, but it also seems NY Magazine’s “The Neighborhood Issue” is just a way for us all to feel really good or really bad about where we live (and for the magazine to bank a ton of neighborhood ads). Here’s the link to the story, but I’ll quickly give you the highlights. Park Slope is the big winner–only down in two categories (Housing Costs and Diversity–’nuff said). Cobble Hill and Boerum Hill place 4th, Brooklyn Heights is 6th and Carroll Gardens and Gowanus is 7th. So Bococaland dwellers can feel pretty good. But don’t cry for Prospect Heights, they’re number 9. And if you’re wondering why these neighborhoods ranked so highly, here’s what the author had to say:

A few of our model’s conclusions are liable to be controversial. The front of the list is dominated by brownstone Brooklyn. This is largely due to how we calibrated the cost variable: Pay slightly less attention to price, and Manhattan starts to dominate; if price matters more, a number of Queens neighborhoods rise toward the top. But this group of Brooklyn neighborhoods is generally the most balanced in the city, with few obvious drawbacks and plenty of charm.

So suck it Upper East Side!

My Trip to Brooklyn Bridge Park

By Tobey, 11 April, 2010, 3 Comments

Pier 1 isn't all bad

After reading this quote in the Daily News last week:

“It’s beautiful, but it didn’t do it for us,” said Jennifer Bollard, 37, who traveled from NJ to visit the park with her kids, but was disappointed.

I felt the need to go check out Pier 1 for myself. I mean, this lady came from NJ to complain, the least I could do was walk over see what all the fuss is about. So this morning, we got the family up and out early and walked over to Furman St. (with a quick breakfast at Teresa’s for luck). I appreciated being so close to the water–instead of high above it on the Promenade. We were disappointed the lawns were closed so the kids couldn’t run and play ball, but I assume they will be open soon and in the meantime, the grass was green and thick and pretty to look at. And then we came to the dreaded burning domes.
It was morning so kids were still climbing on them, but by the time we left, they were warming up fast. And yes, you just have to ask yourself what the designers were thinking and if anyone involved has children.
There were also a few animals to climb on (not sure what they’re made of but cool to the touch), some stand-and-spin structures and a baby/toddler swing set. Since I’m used to kids getting smacked in the face by swingers in the red LICH playground, it didn’t occur to me that there was no fence separating them, but a few parents were grumbling about it. The ground was covered with a wonderful, soft matting I haven’t seen before. So good news–if your kids get scorched and fall off the domes, they won’t get scraped up.
We played for a while then walked the rest of the loop. Nothing spectacular yet, but the bones of the park are visible and give you a hint of what’s to come. We encountered a fully-dressed park ranger on the way out who told us our son had to get off his scooter (not sure why or which sections of the park this goes for but, um, ok) and then walked all the way back to Atlantic Ave via Furman–passing all the construction sites and the beautiful renderings of what the park will look like when it’s done (picnic peninsula! tidal pool! field sports and recreation!).
As we got to Pier 6, I did a little reconnaissance mission but couldn’t see much. There were some structures peeking out from the hills of dirt (a tee-pee looking thing and a dome of some sort) but I must say–it doesn’t look close to being finished. I know we were told “spring 2010″ as an opening date, but I wouldn’t hold your breath. Think it’ll be done in time for summer? We’d love to hear your thoughts.

The improbable $500k two-bedroom Cobble Hill condo

By Josh, 7 April, 2010, No Comment

Brownstoner reports that historic Cobble Hill Towers is going condo, an event that has been coming for some time. Current renters can buy their places pretty cheap: $230,000 for a studio, $595,000 for a 3BR. But even the market prices are pretty damn good: Here’s a two-bedroom for $500,000

The space isn’t huge, it’s a walk-up, and there’s only one bath, but the to-die-for feature isn’t even mentioned in Corcoran’s listing: Cobble Hill Towers is zoned for P.S. 29.

Forget the Windows, Norah’s Getting a Pool!

By Tobey, 30 March, 2010, No Comment

We’re not going to talk about window-gate anymore. It’s done and truthfully I don’t think it looks so bad. But now, Norah is going for broke by adding a pool in her backyard. And I’m not talking about a cruddy above ground dealie-o. I’m talking about a fancy, in-ground pool with a hydraulic system. All this was reported by Brownstoner from the advice of a well-connected tipster. Does anyone else have serious Brownstone envy yet?

Drum Roll Please…

By Tobey, 19 March, 2010, 2 Comments

Pier 1 to open Monday

Can you believe it? The first part of Brooklyn Bridge Park is set to open on Monday, according to the NY Post . Pier 1, at Fulton Ferry Landing, will include

grassy hills, an esplanade overlooking the Manhattan skyline, and an elevated wine bar.

I will say that last part again, more forcefully–WINE BAR. Pier 6, which is the super cool new playground area, should follow next month.

Cafe on Clinton Gets New Lease on Life

By Tobey, 15 March, 2010, No Comment

image from NY Citysearch

The website is up, so we’re assuming the new resto Breucklen will be coming sooner rather than later to the kind of creepy site (the tables are still fully set with starched white clothes and winking glassware) of Cafe on Clinton–which is now officially closed.
According to Brownstoner, the new place will offer yet another locavore “field to fork” experience.

According to the owner, the menu will most likely have a Roman’s-esque three-course approach (apps, small pastas, mains) and include ingredients from the garden that will soon be planted out back and on the roof of the one-story building. Weekdays there will be lunch geared toward the stroller set plus dinner, and on the weekends the standard brunch-and-dinner combo.

No news on when we can expect to see those tables rebooted down, but we’re always happy to welcome a new neighbor–especially one who is partial to strollers.

Brooklyn Heights Blaze

By Tobey, 11 March, 2010, 2 Comments

This morning, like most Thursday mornings, meant stuffing the kids in the car to get out of my parking spot before 9am. And, per usual, I was a little late out the door and my 20 month old wanted to walk and we just had enough time to drive to Brooklyn Heights before preschool started. And then I hit traffic. A ton of it. And I saw lots and lots of flashing lights on Hicks St. It took me about 15 minutes to turn around and get onto the BQE (Clinton St. was just as bad) to Cadmen Plaza. It turns out Montague St. was completely shut down because Montague Wines and Spirits was burning down. According to The Brooklyn Paper,

The flames were so bad at the shop — which is between Pierrepont Place and Hicks Street — that an adjacent Laundromat was also badly damaged from fire and smoke.

Yes, we were late, but there were no injuries thank goodness. Though it looks like the store won’t be opening its doors again anytime soon.

Barclays Center Interior Revealed

By Tobey, 9 March, 2010, 2 Comments

Love it or hate it, the Atlantic Yards project is pushing ahead, with official groundbreaking on Thursday. The main event, however, is going to be the brand new Barclays Center, which will be the home of Brooklyn’s very own basketball team (now the NJ Nets). Here’s a little rendering in case you were curious what it’s going to look like. According to the NY Post , the arena

will hold 18,000 seats for Nets games — including 9,500 on the lower level — and up to 19,000 for concerts. Although seat prices aren’t set, 11 of the arena’s 104 luxury suites run $540,000 a year — Nets part owner Jay-Z already bought one — and the rest cost an average of $264,550. Designed by the team of Ellerbe Becket and SHoP Architects, the sleek glass-and-steel, clamshell-like arena is about 200,000 square feet smaller than the original design by starchitect Frank Gehry, who was fired last year to cut costs.

Expect plenty of restaurants and a whopping six clubs inside the arena which will also play host to concerts. I know there’s been plenty of controversy around this behemoth development project, but I am not well versed enough to take a particular stand on it one way or the other. Please feel free to comment and let us know your thoughts.

Landlords Too Greedy on Atlantic Ave?

By Tobey, 8 March, 2010, 1 Comment

Are tumbleweeds about to roll down Atlantic Avenue? We’ve already reported that Nova Zembla, the furniture store on Atlantic and Henry, will be closing after 11 years of business. Now we noticed that a long time favorite, Mezcals on Atlantic between Henry and Clinton is also closed for business. According to Lost City , its the usual story–the lease ran out and rent skyrocketed (though you can always visit sister Mezcals at 522 Court in Carroll Gardens). Finally, La Pizzetta, the fairly new pizza joint on Atlantic also between Henry and Clinton, had a sign on it a few weeks ago that mentioned it would be closed until early March, and will open under new management. Walked by today and it didn’t look like it was ready for much. None of this bodes well for this busy stretch of the avenue or for the community in general. What are your thoughts? Hear of any new businesses that might take over the empty storefronts? Let us know.

Gowanus Green Still a Go

By Tobey, 5 March, 2010, No Comment

Photo from Curbed.com

After the announcement this week that the Gowanus Canal would become an EPA Superfund site, we also learned from Curbed that giant real estate developer Toll Brothers will cancel its 450-unit housing development which would have hugged the canal. I’m not sure the idea of “waterfront property” would have the same idyllic ring when you’re gazing into the swirling brown waters of Gowanus, but guess we’ll never know.
On the bright side, the Gowanus Green project, a $300 million mixed-use project with 774 mixed-income units in nine buildings between Smith St. and the canal, still looks like a go. The project is being led by Hudson Companies, but will be assisted by development organizations such as Bluestone Organization, the Fifth Avenue Committee and Jonathan Rose Companies. No dates yet on when they’ll break ground.