This is not a realtor blog.

So everyone stop asking about open units, sale prices, and square footage. There are people who are paid to care about that kind of stuff. Capisce?

Floor Meetings.

So tonight, at least on the Southeastern side of the building, there were floor meetings with a guy from the State Senator's office.

My floor's meeting was really interesting; it was great to meet everybody who lives on the floor.

And I'm curious what the big building-wide meeting is gonna be like (I think the guy said it'll be in the next week or so).

What did everybody else think?

Mellow Mike

"Where exactly do you live?"

That's what friends keep asking me when I extol the virtues of this neighborhood. I tell 'em Flatbush.

I never say Prospect-Lefferts Gardens. It's too unwieldy to me. Actually, for a couple months in the Summer of 1991, I lived on Chester Court, in one of those big mock-tudor houses, along with eight other indigent college kids. We called it Flatbush. (after all, there's those giant concrete trees announcing Flatbush Avenue )

So where did this term come from? And when?

I just don't think it has legs. But then again "SoHo," "Tribeca," "the East Village," "Boerum Hill" and, my personal favorite, "East Williamsburg" (it's Bushwick, people!) were all invented by real estate agents.

So what do you guys call our hood?

Mellow Mike

We started a trend!

There's a new building blog on the block!

Well, techically, the block behind us. Anyway, check it out:

10midwoodsucks.blogspot.com

Suffice it to say, things could be worse.

Public Health Notice

I've been informed that a recent visitor to the building has come down with scarlet fever. Almost all adults are immune to it (it's pretty much the same thing that causes strep throat), but it's common in infants.

I don't want to start anyone panicking, it's not all that communicable and it's very easy to treat, but who knows if he sneezed in the elevator or what. So, you know, safety first. If you or your kids come down with flu-like symptoms followed a few days later by a crazy rash, it's something you should tell your doctor.

-Mister T

Whoa, whoa, whoa.

So there's been quite the controversy brewing in the comments lately. I've kinda stepped back and let it unfold because I really want this to be an open forum.

I'd like to throw in my two cents, though. I realize this is dangerous, since, you know, I run the blog, so I'll put up this disclaimer:

Understand that this is JUST ME, not me speaking as a representative of my race or my socioeconomic status or as some sort of 'voice of the gentrification'. Just ME. If you disagree with me, excellent. Convince me. Make me see things from your point of view. If I'm wrong, correct me. I'm here to learn. I mean nothing as an attack on any person or group.

That being said, click here if you really want to read my opinion...

What do I think? Well, there seem to be two groups at work here.

Group 1: Well-established in the building, have been here a long time. Know and love the neighborhood.

Group 2: New, young, moved here because it was cheap or convenient to. Getting to know the neighborhood.

Group 1 thinks that things are fine the way they are. They just want to live their lives in peace. They see graffiti on the walls, they ignore it; they've seen graffiti before, there's always been graffiti, and really who cares? They see a suspicious character in the hallway, they keep walking. Not my business.

Group 2 wishes that things were a little more progressive. Great, we've got a coffeeshop now. This new restaurant is pretty darn good, too. Now all we need is a bookstore and a wine shop and an organic grocer and a daycare center and the list goes on and on. To Group 2, graffiti is a BAD THING^TM. What's this stream of suspicious people going in and out of the apartment next door at all hours? I've got kids, should I be worried for them?

Personally, I think the security of the building is major issue. I get people ringing my buzzer at all hours of the day, who refuse to tell me who they are but who demand that I buzz them in. While I'm arguing with them, someone else will invariably either open the door for them or buzz them in blindly. I mean, what the hell?

When I notice someone has defaced the building, whether through graffiti or garbage or spitting, I want it cleaned up yesterday. The longer it stays, the more people are taught that it's okay to draw on the walls and break things and disrespect the building.

When someone like me brings up issues like this, though, Group 1 gets up-in-arms, saying things like, Quit trying to change everything, if you don't like it, then move. Where does this come from? How did my concern about locks on the doors and gang signs on the walls turn into a debate about gentrification?

I think I need to remind people: The name of this blog is '163 Ocean'. Not 'Prospect Lefferts Gardens'. Not 'Brooklyn'. Just '163 Ocean'. We all live here. Whatever the world outside our door, this building is our home, and we have every right to feel safe and secure. If anything, I think Group 1 should be spearheading the movement, because they're the most invested, they've got the deepest family ties to the building and the area. Long-time residents will certainly benefit from improvements to the building.

The apathetic attitude some residents have toward building security makes me so angry. Who am I to question someone else's visitors? I'm a resident of the building, that's who. You can question my visitors all you want. What's the harm? None of my business? Damn right it's my business. If there's someone in the building who's not supposed to be there, it's all of our business. Speak up, damn it, if not for your kids' sake then for your neighbors' kids' sake.

If there are voices from Group 2 saying "We need a lock on this laundry room door", why on earth do I hear voices from Group 1 saying "No we don't, and stop making a fuss"?

I just cannot fathom, I just do not understand.

-Mister T

Breaking News!

A very reputable source has let us know that the three arrests last night were, in fact, burglers. Probably the ones behind the rash of door-kicking-ins lately. Here's what a tipster wrote:

Apparently, if you do not use the dead bolt to lock your door, the people breaking in can kick in your door pretty easily. The problem is, as is the case with my apt and a known few others according to the super, that when the metal doors were installed with their metal frames, they were done without much care. In the place where my dead bolt should be able to go, there is a strip of metal that prevents it from fully locking. This should have been removed before the metal door frame was installed.

So check your doors, everyone, and use those deadbolts.

UPDATE: I was scooped! Anonymous commenter:

robbery. three people arrested were inside apartment when police responded. initial break-in was two about weeks ago. people have been living in the apartment. who knows how many people have been coming and going.

we need to look out for each other. be persistent with the police, calling for loitering and other illegal activities. we should form a tenants organization or have a meeting so that we can get to know our neighbors.

be careful. this building is crazy right now.