237 79th Street (via Facebook).
It looks like the notorious 79th Street raccoon house, built in a simpler time before air conditioner sleeves became architectural ornamentation, will soon be no more. Continue reading »
May 022013
Apr 302013
The former convent of Saint Anselm parish (Image source: Google Maps).
A nunnery which previously housed teachers from Saint Anselm’s Catholic School [365 83rd Street] has been resurrected to serve as a home for developmentally disabled seniors. Continue reading »
Jan 302013
Click to enlarge.
The following is a press release from the office of Councilman Vincent Gentile:
BAY RIDGE – Do you have questions about your property taxes? Want to know how you can appeal them?
Councilman Vincent J. Gentile invites you to a presentation and Q&A on “How To Appeal Your Property Taxes”.
Have your questions about your property taxes answered by the Honorable Kirk P. Tzanides, Commissioner of the New York City Tax Commission.
Monday, February 11th at 7:30 PM at Our Lady of Angels Auditorium (7320 4th Avenue). Parking will be available in the OLA lot – you can enter the parking lot via 74th Street.
For more information, call Councilman Gentile’s office (718) 748-5200, extension 203.
City Councilman Vincent Gentile represents Council District 43, which includes Bay Ridge, as well as parts of Dyker Heights, Bath Beach, and Bensonhurst.
Dec 192012
Image source: Aislinn Ritchie via Flickr.
It can be easy to forget a friend’s birthday, especially when it falls smack in the middle of a hectic holiday season – which is why we’re wishing a belated happy birthday to our much-beloved hood of Bay Ridge!
According to Home Reporter, this past Sunday, December 16, was the 159th anniversary of the day in 1853 when prominent residents of Yellow Hook voted to change the area’s name to Bay Ridge.
The name change was prompted by an outbreak of yellow fever. Not wanting their beautiful bay side hamlet to be associated with the illness, community leaders made the real estate-savvy decision to name the area after the terminal moraine, or ridge, it sits on top of. Continue reading »
Aug 162012
Every time someone neglects an older home, “This Old House” host Kevin O’Connor quietly weeps.
Homeowners living on either side of a neglected 83rd Street property fear their Victorian-era wood frame neighbor could be in danger of an imminent Ovington Avenue-style collapse, and are asking the city for help, as reported by Will Bredderman for the Brooklyn Paper.
After dealing with insects, animals and trespassing teens for years, residents Danielle Basso and Siu Leung say that enough is enough, as it looks like the historic home might have to be brought down before it falls under its own weight.
“I’m scared,” Basso, a mother of three, told Brooklyn Paper. “It’s unfortunate, because it’s a beautiful structure, but it should be torn down.”
Basso said she and her husband have paid to have the bee and termite-infested house fumigated in order to prevent the pests from crossing over the property line to their home. Continue reading »
Jul 272012
Image source: Martin Cathrae via Flickr
Bay Ridge’s worst neighbors strike again.
A piece by Denise Romano for the Home Reporter revealed yesterday that local real estate investor Mousa Khalil owns two additional neglected properties on the same Ovington Avenue block where he allowed a house to collapse – including one that appears to be illegally occupied.
Meanwhile, the Daily News’ Alex Robinson reports that City Councilman Vincent Gentile is trying to guilt property owner Frank Landy to turn a 79th Street house that’s been falling apart for decades over to a good cause.
Residents of Ovington Avenue between 5th Avenue and 6th Avenue say that of the three properties Khalil owns on their block, one is actually occupied, albeit illegally. They speculate that 556 Ovington Ave is serving as a home for squatters, or possibly even a hostel. Continue reading »
Local Real Estate Prices Down Slightly, Brownstones Continue Rise Due To Low Inventory, Niche Market
Jul 192012
Image Source: Ian Muttoo via Flickr.
As one of Southern Brooklyn’s more expensive hoods, a slight dip in Bay Ridge real estate prices over the last year should come as *slightly* good news for potential homebuyers, as reported by Guelda Voien for real estate website The Real Deal .
However, if you prefer an older, more historic home, just bear in mind that lower inventories are continuing to push brownstone prices up – potentially placing townhouse living outside the reach of even many upper middle class purchasers. Continue reading »
Jul 172012
“It’s still good, it’s still good!” (Image Source: Bobolink via Flickr)
Some call him “controversial.” Others, notorious.
No matter how contentious a label you pin on neglectful Bay Ridge landlord Mousa Khalil, you can be sure to find others who agree with you, as reported by Will Bredderman in a pleasingly pointed piece for the Brooklyn Paper.
As owner of the Ovington Avenue property that collapsed on Sunday night, Khalil – and his real estate holdings – have once again been thrust into the local media spotlight.
Of course Khalil’s investments have incurred the scorn of neighbors for years. And locals claim that Khalil – who currently owns more than 20 parcels in Bay Ridge – has been buying up properties only to let them fall apart for at least as long. Continue reading »
Jul 162012
As local real estate prices remain some of the strongest in the country, another apparent victim of the “benign neglect” so many once-proud homes in New York City suffer from began to crumble late last night.
ABC 7 is reporting that firefighters and police were called to the scene of a partially collapsed vacant building on Ovington Avenue, between 5th Ave and 6th Ave, at around 3 a.m.
Authorities do not believe anyone was inside the older wood frame house – which is owned by “controversial” landlord Mousa Khalil - when the structural failure occurred. Continue reading »
Jan 182012
Photo: Curbed.com
A few weeks ago, I poked a little fun at the mansions depicted in the tilework of the 86th Street subway station. To be clear: I know there’s plenty of detached housing in Bay Ridge, and we know some of those houses can qualify as mansions. We have, after all, written about them before.
Recently, Curbed put the spotlight to one such home, a little 11-room number on 83rd Street that’s selling for a cool $2.9 million. The January 10 Curbed article appeared right around the same time that (1) a $200+ million lottery ticket was bought on Long Island, and (2) the second season of British costume drama/prime-time soap Downton Abbey aired on PBS. And I cannot lie to you – the convergence of the three events has made me want a $2.9 million mansion more than I ever have in my life.
If that winning ticket had gone to me instead of some dude from California, I’d be buying this house. No, check that – I would already be moved in by now.
Now, this place has six bedrooms, but realistically I only need two for my own purposes. So I guess that leaves room for four servants. For $200 million, less $2.9, I should be able to afford four servants.
For the greater good of the estate, I’ll take one for the team and marry Michelle Dockery.
But alas, I did not win a $200+ million lottery jackpot. Some dude from California did.
This two-bedroom apartment rental looks nice…