What SHOULD Your Apartment Cost?

Let's have a bit of interactive fun, shall we? Over on recent semi-related post a wonderful set of comments evolved documenting what people are paying and for what. I think this could be an incredibly useful tool for us all, and for folks looking to move here. Please add to this list in the comments, and I'll swing them up to the post. Please join! The more the merrier. Each of the below was written by a separate anonymous commenter. (in the comments themselves there's a hot discussion taking place over the role of subsidy in the housing marketplace.)

1. You have actually hit on a nerve which I have been wanting to itch for a while. Can we do a simple poll here where people that rent in our nabe self-report what rent they pay. I for one pay $1800 for two bedrooms. Depending on the day I feel its either fair or outright outrageous. I also know that my building is rent stabilized and that my rent should realistically be around $1200 given that the last tenant paid around $930 a month. I need to pick this up with my landlord obviously. While market rate offerings are desirable to attract a certain demographic we also have to temper this with the ultimate desire that this neighborhood not go the way of those other inflated ones... at least not artificially by landlords who prey on unsuspecting tenants who aren't aware of the rules for rent increases. So there. Not sure if blogger has capabilities for polling but perhaps something like surveymonkey can be used. Happy to volunteer to put it together.

2. To rent or not, $1800 a month is about the going rate for a two bedroom apartment here, and it is very possible that that is the legal stabilized rent for your apartment, regardless of what the previous tenants paid. Every time a rent stabilized unit turns over, the landlord is immediately entitled to a vacancy increase of between 18% - 20%, depending on whether the new lease is a one or a two year lease. Additionally, a further 0.6% per year is added for each year the previous tenant occupied the apartment if it was for more than 8 years, so potentially right there you could be looking at a 25% increase right off the bat, making that apartment now $1162.50.

3. In my experience, floorthroughs in PLG range from $1500-$2000, depending on quality of finishes, yard access, etc. Many people pay less, but I'd say open market a floorthrough in a limestone will be $1800.

4. $1350 for a one bedroom and live in super? That's a good deal.

5.  Maybe because I'm a long-time resident of PLG (2+ decades now!:-D), but I feel like rents are ballooning out of control. One of my concerns is a company like Abba monopolizing most of the listings in the neighborhood and, IMHO, artificially inflating rents. How much of a concern for agents; if at all? Many tenant's just aren't aware that they are being overcharged, so they'd never know to report anything. For example, I moved within my building a few years back and found out that tenant that took over my old apartment is paying almost 60% higher rent than I did. My landlord's excuse was that he completed MCI, but all he did was paint and re-glaze the tub.

6. 1800 for a two-bedroom is insane! Especially so in this neighborhood where a lot of the buildings are barely maintained and many don't have on-site laundry. I guess I see it this way because I pay way less for my very large 2 bedroom apt while my upstairs neighbor who moved in six months after me, pays about 800 dollars more and their apartment was never fixed up after the previous tenant moved out.

7. 1800 for a 3 bedroom in a poorly maintained building.

8. $1260, 1br, decent building, responsive super.
increase over last year's $1149

9. $1750, large 2 bed, decent (not amazing) building with dysfunctional building laundry room. Lenox and Flatbush. Suspect many other tenants pay far less, and our place was certainly not renovated (much less cleaned) before we moved in. We got far more space for our dollar here than anything in the other "edge" nabes, like northern Sunset Park, Kensington, 4th ave "slope" stuff, etc.

10. Ground floor 1br of townhouse on Fenimore Flatbush/bedford, $1500 w/shared backyard and laundry. Parlor apt and top floor apt (2brs) $1800 each. (stove gas/electric/internet extra.) A good deal compared to what else was available.

11. Large 2 bdrm (about 920 sq ft), was gut renovated when we moved in 3 years ago, all new appliances, live-in super, pretty well maintained elevator building, laundry, Winthrop btwn Flatbush + Bedford, $1620. 

12.  Moved to Parkside between Rogers and Bedford in December. 1 br for $1200 in a quiet elevator building with a friendly live-in super. Gut-renovated before moving in, new appliances and new hardwood flooring. No laundry but large laundromat right around the corner. The apartment has an inexplicably long hallway entrance (seriously almost 40 ft) and makes the place feel bizarrely spacious.

13.  i moved into a studio apt, in a well-maintained, rent-stabilized elevator building, in 2009... at that time i paid $1000 for it... in 2011 i got the rent lowered to $950 (just by asking / being a quiet, responsible tentant)... last year the rent went up to $980, as per the 6% allowed increase.

14.  Currently in a 2BR for $1800 at Ocean and Parkside. Newly renovated, great building, live-in super and laundry in building. LL raised the rent to $1890 and we are moving out. After searching high and low (Ditmas, Crown Hts, PLG, Kensington, Bed Stuy, Bay Ridge) I found a large 1 BR around the corner on Woodruff for $1500. More than I wanted to pay, but no fee and laundry in building, so it balances out. Plus I'm still around the corner from the subway and the park.

15. Large 2BR on Fenimore St (between Bedford & Flatbush) $1600. When we moved in almost 6 years ago our rent was $1300 and everything was newly renovated with all new appliances. Elevator building with on-site laundry and super. Can't think of a single complaint about my building.

16.  A rent-stabilized, fully renovated (including new doors and floors) 1 bedroom for $1250 on Lenox and Bedford with a live-in super (who has been really helpful and responsive as we settle in). Unfortunately, it seems the building has a history of bedbugs so we hope caulking the baseboards and vigilance will keep them at bay. We moved because rent increased on our place at East 17th St and Ave H. That was also a 1 bedroom but it had a dishwasher, was slightly larger but not newly renovated by a long shot. The management company was asking for $1500 with another increase coming in July.

Laurie Cumbo for City Council in the 35th District

I'll tell you more about Laurie as we get closer to the election. But of the six candidates announced so far (6!) Laurie would be getting my vote, if I lived in her district, the 35th (the area accurately called "Lefferts" is in the 40th). Not only do I know and dig her personally, but she started MoCADA (Museum of Contemporary African-Diaspora Art) and turned it into a little powerhouse over on Hanson Place. She's smart, she's funny, she's savvy, she works hard and takes this town and the concerns of ALL its citizens seriously, and yes, she's got a kick to her, like the lady she's shooting to replace Tish James, who's now gunning for the Public Advocate job. The 35th district starts at Empire and goes North, so most of you won't have a chance to vote for her in September's primary (the only election that matters, since the Dems always take it in November). But if you DO live in her district, or if you have friends who live in Crown Heights and Ft. Greene, please let them know about tomorrow night's party for her birthday and fundraiser for her campaign. Go Laurie!

Planet Fitness Opens on Church at Flatbush

Much like my past attempts to join a gym and stick with it, I'm too lazy to go down to Planet Fitness, the new gym mere blocks from my house, to do an interview and take some pictures. Anyone tell me what's going on down there besides sweating, grunting and mirror-gazing?

Here's the website. Go get fit, y'all! 

Report on Last Night's Cops Meeting

Thanks to Angel and Dynishal for a great meeting last night in the lobby of 40 Lincoln Road in the "LEFFERTS" neighborhood. Sgt Falk, who heads the "quality of life" unit, introduced longtime and newly assigned members of the group. These guys (and gal) are responsible for knowing the businesses and buildings in our neighborhood intimately. Much of the discussion centered around efforts at 40 Lincoln to rid the building of nuisances created by residents and non-residents alike, from smoking weed and drinking and carrying-on til all hours in the halls, to (crazy story here) a pervy peeping Tom who used to hang out on the fire-escape and do all manner of unseemly things up there, to domestic violence issues and more. One moment of heated debate came up when the cops were asked to be sure not to  "harass" the tenants, or make needless stops, while doing their in-the-building patrols. The police were visibly upset at this suggestion, trying to describe how it feels on their side when they are called to a building to do nuisance abatement, and then are aggressively confronted or even sued for "doing their job" and trying to assess who are the bad guys. So, basically, we were treated to an impassioned argument by the cops for using stop-and-frisk to do what they're asked to do. Tricky stuff that. I'd prefer not step into the debate, but they did seem to make a good point about how buildings can't really have it both ways. Either you want the cops to harass people and get them out, or you don't, since it's unlikely the folks are committing serious enough offenses to get them locked up for good.

The assumption some had was that the 71st has "tenants lists" for the buildings that have signed up for the F-TAP program (not to be confused with the Park Slope Food Coop's FTOP program) which gives the police the advanced right to enter a building and do "verticals" of the stairways, hallways and elevators. F-TAP does not allow them entry to individual apartments though, of course, meaning that the most they can do is to intimidate criminals and partiers into staying out of sight and off-sight. If you're interested in getting your building into the F-TAP program, you can go here and contact the D.A.'s office.

Here's a brief vid of the scene last night:

So here's the sitch: along with Officers Charlie and Leo (Melee and Ramos) already on the beat in the area, we'll have newly assigned Officers Sky and Rodriguez on morning patrols. Meetings like last night's are awesome, cuz you get to see your neighbors and see what concerns they have and how they express them. The cops too are refreshingly frank and eager to answer questions.

But here's something they keep saying, and I'm starting to believe. They simply don't get that many calls. Even when we claim we do, they say we don't. You can call the precinct directly, or you can call specific people like Sgt. Falk at 718-221-3429 or Sgt. Kelly (mornings) at 646-235 8611. You'll probably have to leave a message, so an emergency or urgent condition should always be a 911. And DON'T think someone else will call! They probably won't, and more calls are better than no calls. Just get used to calling in problems...they promised they don't get mad numbers of calls anyway, and it really is how resources are deployed. So call. Call. Call! And talk to your landlord about better lighting. The cops say it makes a huge difference.

Let's be frank; the police don't always do the right thing. Sometimes they're brusque or dismissive. Sometimes they seem reluctant to take a report when we're clearly upset. These experiences can make us suspicious whether they care at all. But just like how sometimes you go to a restaurant and get a rude waiter, it doesn't necessarily mean the whole place is worthless. Of course, it always COULD be a crappy business run by people who don't care, and that's what Yelp is for. But in the case of the 71st, I've met some pretty decent folks and I think that in general it's worth giving them our business, and the benefit of the doubt.

A rep from D.A. Charles Hynes' office was there, and she added the "law" side to the "order" conversation. Basically, the D.A. is interested in prevention, prosecution, and limiting recidivism. Because ALL the enforcers in attendance agreed that it's basically the same folks who cycle in and out of the system who cause the majority of the problems. When a kid gets out after serving a couple months, where does he go? Right back where he was before. The cops know him; he knows the cops. Falk said sometimes the perps come right up and say hello to him as if they're glad to see him after some time in the pen. Another thing they noted: these guys just don't give a sh*t about authority. They'll fight with the blues, punch 'em, spit in their face. It's a generation of lost souls, and the cops are only so empowered to deal with them. That's where the D.A.'s programs to try to reform repeat offenders become crucial.

D.A. Hynes will also attend "roundtables" of local citizens and precinct bigs to come up with a comprehensive plan to root out the serious gang activity. That's what the Q is working on for his block; the hard drugs have to go. I'm tired of seeing crackheads and junkies on the corner waiting for goods at 8am. And I'm really tired of watching the block be taken hostage by a small group of guys thinking they're Scarface Jr's. Next stop, D.A. Not that the cops haven't been incredibly helpful and started investigating more seriously...but we need more help, and it may be on its way through the "law" side. I don't know; I'm making it up as I go along, but I've had a lot of support and I'm grateful for it.

But really folks. Call. Call. Call. The cops say they're there for you and got your back. So call, and maybe get to know who's on the other end of the line.

Name of Neighborhood "Officially" Changed to LEFFERTS

After much debate and ultimately this completely official proclamation, the awkwardly worded Prospects Lefferts Gardens (and its hyphenated step-sister) nabe name has been shortened to the more useful, accurate and simple to pronounce "Lefferts." Originally the land owned and developed by the prominent Lefferts family, the area was always, and continues to be, part of the Greater Flatbush area. Given the outpouring of neighborhood jingoism gripping parts of the great social experiment known as the Borough of Brooklyn in the world's cultural and financial capital New York City in the Empire State of New York, an essential, largely liberal and trend-setting Eastern power-central member of fifty of the estimable United States of America in the venerable Northern Americas of the Western Hemisphere on the third planet from the sun, the currently habitable rock known as Earth, Universe....

The Q hereby pronounces the name of the neighborhood spanning from Empire Blvd to the North, New York Avenue to the East, Prospect Park AND the Parade Grounds to the West, and Caton Avenue to the South, irrevocably and irreducibly "LEFFERTS," no more no less.

These environs will continue to associate deeply with the larger and highly historic neighborhood of Flatbush, once the Town of Flatbush in the dutch chartered city of Breukelen. Put otherly, a resident of Lefferts IS a resident of Flatbush.

Your eyes are getting heavy...count back from 100...now repeat after me..."I live in Lefferts, I live in Lefferts...I live..."

The Q Ain't Going Nowheres

The Q has 20 more years on his mortgage, two kids and a tab at ParksideZ. Why would I go anywhere?

McDonald's Says Git 'n' Go!

From DNAinfo's Sonja Sharp comes this story about older folks being asked to "move along" rather than being allowed to hang out in the newly designed McDonald's "cafe."

Interestingly, Sharp chooses to create a bit more conflict than actually exists by citing Yelp reviews who point to their general dislike of the chain restaurant by newcomers, or "hipsters," which I guess has now extended its meaning to include anyone not liking McDonald's. From the story:

But while hipsters may hate it, longtime residents adore the restaurant, calling it a haven for for (sic) seniors in the absence of a local community center.  "I've been coming here ever since this McDonald's opened, 25 or 30 years ago," said local resident Ralph Belgrove, 70, a retiree who comes most days to visit with friends, nursing one or two cups of coffee during his four-hour stay. "It's wintertime, we can't go to the park, so we come here and buy a cup of coffee. You sit awhile, buy a second cup of coffee — you relax."

What in Sam Hill do those things have to do with one another? I'm beginning to think, after reading an over-the-top story that included the coining of a dreadful new term "hipsturbia" in the NY Times, that the word hipster has become shorthand for "come read my story about class warfare and entitlement that will make you want to throw your latte at a neighboring at MacBook Pro." But hey, sometimes the story is just a story, whether it's seniors not having a place to chat or young families choosing to move out of the City and live nearby. (Other than cattiness, I can't see a single reason to employ the word hipster to anything other than musical or fashion style, oh and of course the new foody foodiness. Otherwise, it's just people living their lives - why not judge people on the content of their character? Among the so-called hipster nation is a hell of a lot diversity. And how is what people wear, what they listen to, what they eat and what they "believe" any of our business anyway? It was funny the first time, amusing the second, and now it's just plain boring to talk about. Ever since the term baby-boomer was coined, we've been barraged with zeitgeist nonsense intended to belittle our fellows. Whatever you're pickling in your basement and selling at the Brooklyn Flea is fine by me, as long as you don't try to pickle a hot dog, because dammit that would be blasphemy. And yes, gentrification involves real and serious issues, but not the cartoon caricatures favored by journalists).

The real story here, in the Q's mind's eye, is that local retirees have nowhere to go. McDonald's is probably being short-sighted by kicking sweet neighborhood seniors out of their booths (they make the place look popular after all, and they DID pay for their coffee - maybe you could make a case if the place is packed, but otherwise let 'em gab for Pete's sake. Hey, I wonder if Pete knows Sam Hill...), what's really sad is that there isn't a halfway decent senior center nearby. According to this list, I don't see any within walking distance for a "hipster," let alone someone suffering from worn "hips."

Note to McDonalds: if you want the endorsement of this blogger, let the old folks sip their coffee. I'll be happy to eat your fries from time to time. I'll savor them, one a minute.

Rhythm Splash, Friend or Foe? Depends On Who's Asking!

After hearing a particularly impassioned complaint about big bottomed noise coming from Rhythm Splash, the only real "club" along the Flabenue, the Q decided to put on his other hat as chair of the environmental protection committee of the community board and check it out. Speaking of hats (fedoras), it turns out that Ben Edwards, the prez of the Lefferts Manor Association, knows the owner Richard and offered to set up a meeting for the three of us. Ben came striding down the Flab dressed to the nines as usual, with his trademark chapeau -- I could tell it was him from three blocks away. Anyhoo, twas a bit late for this old man to be out even on a weekend, but technically I was here on business, and I couldn't help thinking what a strange pair we looked as we entered the place.

We were greeted kindly at the door; I scanned the place and found it immediately inviting, not at all like I'd pictured it through the window, where it often appeared exclusive. Exposed brick, a nicely lit bar, the music not too loud but not too soft. If things were always this relaxed and pleasant, I'd find it hard to believe it could draw unwanted attention. If anything, I'd expect the place to be packed most nights, given the dearth of decent bars around here. Much to my surprise (should I have been?) a tableful of four coed young folks of the newcomer variety [were they real young or mid-young? I can't tell anymore. And yes, they were white, so in answer to one reader's query, the place is not "restricted" anymore than by your own mind :) ] were busy chatting, chugging and chuckling. The pretty bartender was all smiles, the few "regulars" were watching a game. For the life of me, I can't imagine why there weren't more than the 10 or so folks there, especially since the place seems destined to attract a diverse and un-thuggy crowd. Well, on regular non-club nights anyway.

So in walks Richard, a sweet Trinidadian who's tried a few tactics to heighten the bar's profile over the past couple years. It became clear within minutes that his heart and head are in the right place...but it's been hard to find the right groove. When he and his partners rely on party promoters to pack the place, things can get out of hand, despite the frisking bouncer. Because it's being run as a DJ party the volume tends to start loud and just get louder as the night wears on, and not all the patrons are known to the owners. A party can run til 4am, and though Richard claims the upstairs neighbors don't complain and have his cell number in case of problems, it's quite clear that all the opening and closing of the front door DOES cause quite a bit of excess urban chaos to sleepers nearby. The irony is that the thick curtains could be shut to contain a lot of the sound, but the cops have asked that they stay drawn so they can easily see inside. Even with the curtain's attenuation, though, smokers are constantly opening the door and spilling onto the sidewalk, and each door opening punches the quiet night like a blaring car alarm. No question it's a quandary, since the volume generally doesn't reach illegal levels when the doors are closed, which would be how the cops would test the decibels. So...what to do? I welcome your comments...it really is a question of how to balance the rights of a business vs. the rights of neighbors. Even the decidedly downscale LPT has been struggling to keep its music alive on weekends. (Is karaoke kaput?)

Here's a picture of Richard and Renee standing at the bar. Nice people. Give 'em a try some time. The most you have to lose is the cost of a happy hour drink.

I'm happy to log any complaints through the community board, and they'll go right to the precinct. 311 is a bit less direct, but it works. You can absolutely call 911 if things have become unruly or criminally loud. Or just ask me for Richard's cell phone number, and I suspect he'd rather turn it down than risk a bigger ordeal. He's doing five to six club nights a month, so maybe a schedule would be helpful? I don't know. I'm trying to find a compromise here!

Oh, and yes he IS changing the name of the joint. Probably to The Avenue. I don't think I need to tell you what name the Q would prefer...

The Trouble With Doubles

The Q thanks you all for your kind words in my defense after that last lazy post. Not necessary, mind you, but very warmly received. And now, back to the kind of hard-edged deeply-researched muckraking you've come to expect from the world's most local news source. Fox News may be "Fair and Balanced," but at the Q our motto is "Fairly Random."

From the "we got it pretty damn good" department:

Trinidad's favorite snack food, doubles are truly, truly one of the Q's favorite Flatbush secrets, and I say secrets only in the sense that Ausländers simply won't understand. Two taco-sized bara are your yellowy turmeric bread and the filling, channa, is all about the chickpeas, usually curried with some tamarind sauce as condiment. Other stuff gets thrown in their two, varying from place to place. It's a messy eat to be sure, but then so's a taco, and I ain't heard much complaining about them. Can't say I've ever made doubles myself, and why would I, when I can order world class doubles at De Hot Pot for a buck fifty (1127 Washington) or Bamboo Express (772 Flatbush) for a dollar? Try both spots and note the slight difference in the textures and spices.

And why not throw in some bake while you're at it? I know most folk order it with the saltfish, as in bake and saltfish, but our Congolese pal Simba hooked Little Miss Q on the bake by itself...it's like a perfect poori-esque doughnut, which is by the way the proper spelling of doughnut no matter what Dunkin' says.

But here's the real question, re: the Trouble with Doubles, and I'm looking for y'all to help me out. The double is usually listed as an appetizer, which make sense given all the wonderful other dishes sitting out there on the steam table. BUT...how many to order? One is a tease; two seems nice; three maybe piggy? Four is really what I'm thinking when I'm hungry and staring at the chef.

Please, and let us know your other favorite "only here" dishes that hifalutin Ft. Greene only WISHES it could sink its fashionable teeth into.

Tragedy on Church Avenue

Word is coming off the wire of a six year old boy being shot on Church Avenue at East 18th Street. If you're one for prayer, now's the time.

As per the commenter below, victim was 59, despite multiple reports to the contrary off scanners and Spotcrime.