Brownstone Renovation

Subject: Re: Brownstone Renovation

Old Time Brooklyn wrote: The people who bought two doors down from me are renovating their brownstone. Have been renovating since early late spring/early summer. I know they have the right to do this based on permits etc. But it's really annoying how much noise pollution it causes. I can't have my door open to the outside without hearing saws, drills, bricks breaking. Every day for months.

Been on both sides of this, and all I can say is that it sucks all around! Hope that they're done by next summer.

BCODSNPKSLOPE wrote: you should be happy that someone cares enough to better the neighborhood by rennovating an old house. The fact that they are improving their property can also increase your property value. If they arent going at 6 am or past 9 pm thank your lucky stars and be happy... or would you prefer run down delapidated old homes that turn into welfare tennaments and crack houses?

This is a wild assumption at best. In my block in Park Slope, one person bought several brownstones over the last several years and renovated them serially; non-stop dumpsters and noise and bizarre stuff like running crudely-spliced extension cords over our roof from one nearly-completed renovation to another just beginning (so he wouldn't have to pay for power in the new place). The brownstones he bought were in good condition, and housed families that had lived there in some cases for several generations. What he did was probably legal (except for the power thing) but it wasn't preventing our relatively nice block from becoming run-down. Property value means very little to me when I have to spend years dealing with fewer parking spots, double-parked vans, a street blocked off regularly for drywall and lumber deliveries, and taped off sidewalks while they crush perfectly good slate sidewalks to replace them with cement.
And yes, I cut the extension cord. I'm not cool with having exposed wires carrying 120 on my roof. You should have heard the bastard scream at me about it.

Call 311...be patient...and tell them your story slowly. If the builder is braking laws...noise codes or other building violations, the 311 call will help. They will report it or tell you who to call.

I was "afraid" to do this and then my walls started cracking, glass flew out of the window and hit me on the head while I was leaving the apartment, etc. There are a bunch of stories but I am not afraid to report it any more.

Again, if done in a mature, responsible way, this empowers not only us but it helps get things done. Don't listen to the folks who lecture. There are plenty of home owners and landlords who really try to do the right thing. Believe me, they get ripped off too, but if there are safety problems, noise or other pollution, etc., report it.