David Schwimmer gets heat for demolition -- but did he do anything wrong?
by Lucy Cohen Blatter | 2/08/12 - 8:02 AM
Former “Friends” star David Schwimmer angered some soon-to-be neighbors when he tore down an 1852 East Village townhouse – which he bought for $4.1 million in 2010 – to make way for a new, six-story mansion.
The City’s Landmarks Preservation Commission reportedly sent him notices on March 31 and May 27, 2011, notifying him that the building he had purchased could get landmark status by the end of 2012, according to commission spokeswoman Elisabeth de Bourbon.
But by September 2011, the original structure was gone. According to The New York Post, neighbors see Schwimmer as just another spoiled celebrity who’s changing the character of their neighborhood without thinking of others.
We consulted with real estate attorney Steven Wagner of Wagner Davis to see if Schwimmer actually did anything illegal. And the answer is no.The right time to make an offer on your dead neighbor's apartment
by Lucy Cohen Blatter | 2/07/12 - 2:50 PM
When your neighbor kicks the bucket, how long should you wait before reaching out to the dearly departed's family about buying the apartment? Over on UrbanBaby, a variety of opinions have emerged.
Some commenters urge pouncing fast, despite the circumstances: "I waited to make a business propostion 2 weeks after an untimely death which was one week to late," offers one.
Another says, "I would wait until after the funeral then ask. Don't wait too long."
But most recommended getting in touch with the doorman or managing agent, to risk offending family members by moving too soon.
Ask an Expert: The consequences of an illicit washer-dryer
by Teri Karush Rogers | 2/07/12 - 12:58 PM
Q. My landlord doesn't allow washer-dryers in apartments, but I know two people who have them anyway.
Is there any downside to doing this, besides giving up the machine if we get caught? Could we get evicted? Anything else we should know?
A. An in-unit washer-dryer is a wonderful thing, but whether it's worth breaking the rules for depends on the size of your savings account and how lucky you feel, according to our experts.
"The core problem with washer-dryer units is that the flow of water often overwhelms the limiting plumbing capacity of older buildings," says Dean M. Roberts, a real estate attorney with Norris McLaughlin & Marcus in Manhattan.
The StreetEasy Hot Dozen: 12 rentals that may or may not be available by the time you read this
by Emily Feldman | 2/07/12 - 10:38 AM
The room pictured in this $1,795 Lincoln Square 1-bedroom may be on the small side, but it's bright, airy, clean and in a building with some pretty enticing amenities (private courtyard, gym).
These won't last: There are two SRO units up for grabs in a building on West 29th Street for $980/month including utilities. (Here's one, there's the other.) They rightfully lead this week's Hot Dozen, meaning more StreetEasy.com visitors were clicking on listings for these units over the last seven days than any other listing.
If you can live without a bathroom in your apartment (that is, if you can live with sharing a bathroom with other people in your building a la dorm room) these units are an exceptional deal. They don't look creepy, they each have a window and kitchen and deserve awards for most economical use of space.
Is your neighbor driving you nuts--or worse? Here's what to do
by V. L. Hendrickson | 2/07/12 - 8:02 AM
With over 8 million people living on top of one another in our fine city, there’s bound to be some quibbling between neighbors. But when a dispute escalates, what can be done to deal with the problem?
“The most common complaints are always addressed in the scope of a property’s lease,” says Paul Gottsegen, president of Halstead Management. Noise issues and offensive odors top the list of complaints.
Here's what to do...
Tips from a Doorman: Door to door service not included
by Leonora Desar | 2/06/12 - 2:25 PM
This 50-year-old Tribeca doorman, who prefers to remain anonymous, has worked in the same luxury rental building for two and a half years.
Here is what he has to say about what makes someone a good or bad resident, salacious sightings on a previous job, and what it’s like to work in a full-service (and non-smoking) luxury building.
How does working in Tribeca compare to Midtown where you were before?
Midtown is very hectic -- I had an overnight shift that was very stressful for me. The building I worked in was near four nightclubs and there was constant traffic, and at the time when I first started working there, I saw a lot of drugs and prostitution.
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The Open House Scorecard: Brooklyn for less
by Emily Feldman | 2/06/12 - 11:41 AM
Also in this $599,000 Park Slope co-op: Two bedrooms, one bathroom, a separate dining area, outdoor garden, French doors and access to the building's storage and laundry facilities.
Two-bedroom for under $700,000? This week's StreetEasy Open House Scorecard's got three of them. Each of the units—vetted by the many StreetEasy.com users who saved them in their Open House planners, thus elevating them onto this elite weekly roster—is a true 2-bedroom in brownstone Brooklyn.
A $599,000 co-op at 22 Lincoln Place (pictured above) in Park Slope is open, airy and walking distance to Prospect Park and 5th Avenue's shops and restaurants, and adjacent to a playground...which could be a plus if your kids are small and your windows soundproofed.
- Sponsored by Norris McLaughlin & Marcus
Beyond the board interview: 5 good reasons to visit prospective buyers at home
by Dean M. Roberts, Esq. | 2/06/12 - 9:10 AM
Home visits, in which a buyer’s apartment is ‘inspected’ as part of the co-op approval process, are far from widespread: Of the large number of New York City co-ops my firm represents, only a handful routinely require home visits. Many more decline to do so because it is not something they would want “done” to them.
But the visits--scheduled in advance and conducted by a third-party investigator working from a checklist prepared by the co-op board--are not as intrusive than they sound, and certainly not the equivalent of the warranted searches by police we are all familiar with from television.
StreetNoise: How to drive a seller insane, your doorman's illegal side job, and more
by Ronda Kaysen | 2/06/12 - 7:45 AM
- Renovating your home doesn't have to mean unleashing a toxic soup (New York Times)
- It's a fine line between due diligence and delusional, or how to drive your seller insane (StreetEasy Talk)
- When the doorman moonlights for a mob run drug ring (New York Post)
- When the city rips a hole in the abandoned property next door, don't expect them to fix it (NY1)
- If the seller is dead, you'll probably never find out why (Malcolm Carter)
- Tenants beware, the bar downstairs might sue you for making a ruckus (Brooklyn Paper)
- To permit or not permit: when to tell the city about a bathroom reno (Urban Baby)
- Sorry, popcorn ceiling, but it's time to go. The question is...how? (StreetEasy Talk)
No-Fee Apartment of the Week: Park Slope one-bedroom for $2,600, w/d included
by Lucy Cohen Blatter | 2/03/12 - 1:32 PM
This $2,600 one-bedroom Park Slope condo has a spacious kitchen, ideal for home cooks.
The owners of this 640-square-foot one-bedroom Park Slope condo are renting it out for $2,600 a month. They are willing to offer a one or two-year lease, as well as a lease renewal after two years.
People who like to cook will appreciate the spacious kitchen (with a rack for hanging pots and pans) and anyone with a green thumb can get to work on the 120-square-foot balcony.
It's located inside The Crest condo building, at 302 2nd Street, which is a four-block walk to the R train and a seven-block walk to the F/G.
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