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New York Shitty Day Starter: 239 Banker Street
Two selections from Craigslist:
I keep posting ’em and little happens. I wonder why?
New York Shitty Day Starter: Today’s Selections On Craigslist
Everyone needs a hobby during the dog days of summer.
I have decided featuring a few of (the manifold number of) advertisements on Craigslist for the former “Sweater Factory Lofts” in this site will be mine.
As you can see there are quite a few of them.
Hmm…
Greenpoint Photo Du Jour: Two Wheeler
From Meserole Avenue. (Note a very inhabited 239 Banker Street in the background.)
Greenpoint Photo Du Jour: 239 Banker Street, Revisited Once More
Curious to see the latest Stop Work Order issued to this property today I decided a trip to this, Greenpoint’s most (in)famous address, was in order. Not surprisingly, there was nary one to be found.
As you can imagine I found this quite fascinating. Thus, on a lark, I decided to see what gives on the Department of Buildings Information System.
It would appear that this property not only still has a standing Stop Work Order on it…
but they have wasted little time violating it!
To be continued, no doubt…
P.S.: Here’s a yet-to-be-investigated complaint yours truly found rather amusing.
Word of advice to “Zoey”: If/when advertising an illegal residential space in an Industrial Business Zone, it maybe advisable to refrain posting a photo of the building in question which clearly features a sign in the foreground that reads “Industrial Business Zone”.
New York Shitty Day Starter: Business As Usual
Yesterday before I celebrated our nation’s birthday, I felt a constitutional was in order. I wanted to see the latest Stop Work Order issued to 239 Banker Street (which I reported about in this post) in person. This has become my hobby. But alas, it was not to be.
Sure, I saw ample amounts of detritus. The stuff which fell onto an adjoining property’s backyard, and in so doing, wrecked a barbecue grill. Major party foul.
No Sir: nary a Stop Work Order was to be found. And when I got back home I learned why:
In a rare act of bureaucratic efficiency/mercy it has been lifted! And I suppose it goes without saying our real estate professionals have wasted no time posting capitalizing on this most miraculous turn of events.
To be continued, no doubt…
P.S.: Oh yeah, you can see the above advertisement by clicking here.
Reader Comment Du Jour: A Dispatch From 239 Banker Street
Some of you might recall that last week I posted an item about Greenpoint’s my favorite illegal residential conversion: 239 Banker Street. More specifically that this— one of Greenpoint’s more notorious “loft spaces”— was to have an “open house” last weekend (as seen at left). In this tome I wrote:
Your eyes are not deceiving you, Greenpointers. This weekend there will be an open house at 239 Banker Street! Those of you who are curious to see what an illegal residential conversion in an Industrial Business Zone looks like (or simply want to ask Mr. McHale a lot of really uncomfortable questions about the legal status and history of this building) this is your golden opportunity!
Guess what? Someone did! A commenter who calls himself/herself “gittlebass” writes today, July 2nd, 2012 (NOTE: I have taken the liberty of bold-facing my favorite passages— and there are many!):
i went to this.
1) the first broker never showed. when asked if we could see an apartment he said “if the door is open just go in and look around” which i did, and it was a horror show reminiscent of the basement scene from the burbs, i just couldn’t find the furnace. Also, they did the ol’ “This apt is on calyer and franklin” then when i got there “oh its a mistake in the ad, go to 239 banker st”
2) he said the rooms can be built out to whatever i would like. Ok, ill bite, how about…i dont know…windows and floors!? there was a huge mound of dirt in the middle of the hallway and bricks for where there should be a window. the realtor on the phone assured me that this would be ready for july 15th, which is impossible just short of a miracle in which jesus returns as the carpenter he was in order to build lofts for the poor.
3) All the apts had to be moved in by august 1st, no exceptions. i found this odd and asked them about it, they didn’t have a reason why, just that they had to be occupied. I was offered a free months rent to get me in there
4) It was a realtor frenzy there. I asked about the legality of the building because of its sordid past, and they offered to show me the documents that proved they were legal, only thing is, they had the docs in the office and had to go get them if we wanted to see them. i said i did and that i’d wait patiently, but she couldn’t leave cause there were other people coming to check out the place (red flag). She also told me that all my info was wrong and that no one was ever evicted. then there was this other broker who asked if i had a broker, i said he didn’t show up and then the broker who was there did the “money rub” with his fingers and at that point i left
overall it’s a shit show there and i feel bad for anyone who gets duped. save your money and get a nice place to live for cheaper. hell, even the gawdy condos they keep building are cheaper and LEGAL.
Fascinating!
UPDATE, 11:45 p.m.: It would appear 239 Banker Street was served a Stop Work Order this weekend. Click here for the deets (they’re interesting to say the least).
From The New York Shitty Inbox: Wanted For Questioning
Filed under: 11222, Criminal Activity, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic
This comes from the 94th Precinct via an anonymous tipster:
The New York City Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance identifying the following three individuals wanted for a burglary which took place on April 6, 2012 inside of a house located on Meserole Avenue in the confines of the 94 Pct. The victim M/W/86 was approached at his residence by three individuals posing as construction workers. One of the suspects lured him into a bathroom claiming that he had to inspect the windows. The other two suspects went into the victims bedroom and removed money.
Video of the suspects is attached
Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577.
All calls are strictly confidential.
From The New York Shitty Inbox, Part III: Gratitude
A personal we’ll call “D” writes:
Hi Miss Heather,
Thanks to your coverage I was able to avoid renting at 239 Banker. I was very close to moving in when I saw your posts. So after some savvy DOB research and a couple calls I decided it was not worth it. These folks are shady! Here are some bullet points as to why.
1. On the phone they had me meet at another location instead of giving the address. None of the advertisements for this place show the address anymore. Because it’s not a legal building.
2. They are advertising 2-3 bedrooms but even if the building were legal the spaces cannot be legally be divided up to be more than 1 bedroom without a window in each.
3. They say they will build out the space for move in, but there is no toilet, no heat, no stove, no appliances, the windows are unsealed, the doors don’t have locks, floors unfinished. Getting all that work done in a couple weeks is doubtful. Finishing floors alone can take a week with all the fumes and dust.
Don’t get me wrong. We all know folks who inhabit work lofts with a wink-wink nudge-nudge agreement. And I’m okay with that. But this is masquerading as an apartment conversion and charging near market rates. I don’t want these people to end up on the street all over again!
Take care
xo
Thanks for the kind words, D! On a lark I headed over to Craigslist (which is apparently where a number of advertisements for this space are to be found) to see what’s shaking. Follows is one I found:
As you can see this place is apparently for rent by owner. Fascinating. Those of you who desire to do so can view this advertisement by clicking here.
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