Here Now, a Monochromatic Look at 1980s Chinatown | Armonk Real Estate

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Photos via My Modern Met
Photographer Bud Glick, who in the 1980s wandered the streets of New York on an anthropological mission, writes that, at that time, "an older generation" of Chinatown's denizens were being replaced by a "rapidly expanding new influx of immigration." His series Chinatown, NY was his attempt to document the neighborhood's transformation. For three years he brought his camera to the the hub in lower Manhattan, not doing much with the negatives for some three decades. A generation later, he's pulled them out and started digitally editing them. "When you look at images from another time, often many years later, you see things you didn't see before [...] your photographic style may have been a certain way but we also evolve."

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http://curbed.com/archives/2014/11/14/chinatown-1980s-photographer.php

Teatown Reservation news | Chappaqua Real Estate

November 12, 2014                                                               PROGRAMS: Advanced Registration is required for all programs. Unless noted, all programs meet in the Nature Center and are $7 per person or FREE for members. Please register by calling (914) 762-2912 ext. 110.  Caring for Exotic Reptiles Sunday, November 16 1 pm - 2:30 pm Join Elissa Schilmeister for this program about responsible exotic reptile care. Learn about the exotic pet trade as we explore the realities of keeping pet turtles, lizards and snakes. Elissa will bring a few reptiles from her own personal collection. This program is for adults only.

Visit Teatown Holiday Birthday  Party Special Book a party and invite a friend to book a party and each save $25 on the booking fee.   Offer ends Dec. 15. Please call 914-762-2912 to book your party.   1600 Spring Valley Road Ossining, NY 10562  914-762-2912  www.teatown.org    Teatown Lake Reservation's   mission is to inspire our community to lifelong environmental stewardship. Nature Center hours: 9 am - 5 pm daily Trails are open 365 days a year from dawn to dusk.   Click here for Teatown membership benefits, details,  and to purchase or renew  your membership online.    Your donation can make   an immediate impact and help   support our environmental education programs and the stewardship of our 1,000 acre preserve.       Shop on Amazon?  Click the link below and a portion of your Amazon purchase will be donated to Teatown! Click here.

Upcoming Events and Workshops: Winter Birds Saturday, November 22  9 am - 10:30 am Winter is on the way! Charlie Roberto will lead a bird walk around Teatown Lake to locate our last lingering songbirds and other birds that remain for the winter. Free. Bats in Peril Saturday, November 22 10 am - 11 am Did you know that bats are in a critical state of decline throughout the northeast due to white-nose syndrome? Come learn all about the curious and often misunderstood world of nocturnal insect-eating bats and what present-day challenges they face. Learn why we should all care about a future without these important little creatures. This program is for adults only. Going Green: Out With the Old & In With  the New Sunday, November 23 11 am - 12:30 pm Reduce, reuse, recycle, turn an old t-shirt into a reusable bag and learn about ways to reduce your ecological footprint. Not suitable for children under 8. In the Nature Center Gallery:   Ceramic Plates & Sculpture  by Barbara Krohn On exhibit November & December 2014 Ms. Krohn and her family have long standing connections to Teatown and we are very pleased to be hosting an exhibit of her recent works.   Click here for more info. Teatown Highlight: Invasive Removal at Teatown    We have been monitoring our lakes for an invasive aquatic plant called Hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata) that was found in the Croton River just last year.   Hydrilla is highly invasive, capable of taking over various types of waterbodies. It can grow 1 foot per day, and can be introduced to a new area through transport on waterfowl or humans.   Think you have hydrilla in a water body near you? Contact Teatown or click here for more information about hydrilla: http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/85939.html         www.teatown.org

Can a Debt Collector Fax My Employer? | South Salem Real Estate

A reader, Joanne, wrote to us concerned because a debt collector had sent a fax to her employer, and right at the top of the fax was her Social Security number, available to anyone who happened to grab it from the fax machine. Here's what she asked:

Can the debt collection agency send a fax to my employer disclosing my Social Security number on an unsecure fax line inquiring … to fill in employment information about me? I feel violated that they exposed my SSN publicly.

At our request, she sent a copy of the document, and we showed it to Troy Doucet, a consumer protection lawyer who practices in Ohio.

He discussed debt collector letters with us, and indicated placing a Social Security number on a fax is only one potential problem. There could be other concerns that are far more serious.

Can They Do That? 

Debtors are often confused about what collectors can and can't say to others about their debts, including their employer. The good news is that federal law restricts debt collectors' contact with third parties.

Doucet said in an email, "a debt collector may only contact employers, family, or friends for the purpose of locating the debtor, and is prohibited under the FDCPA from conveying information that would indicate the purpose of the communication is to collect a debt." The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act is designed to protect consumers from abusive, deceptive or unfair practices by debt collectors.

The first page of the fax requested job title, dates of employment and address of the employer. Such an inquiry, if it were a genuine effort to locate Joanne, or if she had a judgment against her, would likely be perfectly legal and appropriate. However, without a legal judgment, the request goes beyond what is likely allowed under the FDCPA because it is asking for more than just her personal contact information. Nevertheless, an employer is not required to respond to a faxed request for information.

Are They For Real?

The second page of the fax raises some concerns because it uses language that is often used by scammers to scare consumers into paying debts they may not owe. It lists a "case number" and a message.

"This Law Office is investigating [consumer name redacted] on pending charges out of [consumer's County]. Please complete & return promptly. We also would like a copy provided to [consumer]." That is, the fax also asks the employer to share the letter with the alleged debtor, which may be an illegitimate effort to pressure the debtor into paying.

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http://finance.yahoo.com/news/debt-collector-fax-employer-103028267.html

New Castle Zoning Board Moves Closer To Mosque Vote | Chappaqua Real Estate

The New Castle Zoning Board of Appeals voted to adopt a findings statement for the Upper Westchester Muslim Society’s proposed mosque, a step that effectively ends its environmental review of the project.

The ZBA made the unanimous vote at its Oct. 29 meeting following overviews of several environmental topics by Town Planner Sabrina Charney Hull.

The proposed mosque would be nearly 25,000 square feet and located at 130 Pinesbridge Road, which is in the West End of town. The project includes 120 onsite parking spaces and 15 allotted for landbanking, which means potential future use. The society, which is also called UWMS, has proposed having offsite parking at several nearby locations, which would be used for two major holidays. Busing would then be used to bring people to the site. If UWMS is not unable to secure enough offsite parking, then it proposes to cap attendance.

The proposed mosque has been met with concern from several neighboring residents who worry about traffic , potential septic failure and impact on a nearby lake. During her overview discussion, Hull noted that the applicant has committed to pumping out the septic tank and overflow tank prior to holidays. Hull, discussing hydraulic connectivity, explained that the lake is not connected to the site.
The next step for the ZBA is to vote on whether to grant UWMS a special permit for the mosque. ZBA Chairman Kenneth Cooper does not expect a vote at the board’s November meeting because they have not seen a draft of the permit’s language.

“So it would be, I think too quick a turnaround to expect it that soon,” he said.

A vote on the permit, according to Cooper, depends on how quickly it is drafted and on how quickly they are able to give input.

Adoption of the findings statement followed acceptance of a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the project. The FEIS, in turn, was the successor document to the project’s Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). the Muslim Society revised its project earlier this year to expand a setback near an neighboring property and to include its current parking proposal.
Hussein Elzoghby, a Muslim Society board member, expressed satisfaction with the findings statement being consistent with what they worked on previously in the DEIS and FEIS.
The atmosphere at the Zoning Bosrd meeting was markedly different from earlier ones, with turnout being considerably lower. The previous meetings were for public hearings pertaining to the project.


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http://chappaqua.dailyvoice.com/news/new-castle-zoning-board-moves-closer-mosque-vote

Darling Red-Brick 'Castle' in the Hamptons Wants $4.3M | Bedford Hills Real Estate

So what if this historic red-brick house is moatless and only 2,900 square feet in size—its characteristic ivy-covered turret has got the oceanfront town of Southampton, New York, calling it "the Castle" nonetheless. Built in 1911, the three-bedroom dwelling was most recently purchased by noted Manhattan interior designer William Sofield in for $830K in 1999. After over a decade of careful restoration, Sofield has listed the home for $4.3M.

There are two bedroom suites on the main level and a sunny master bedroom up in the turret. Sofield has tried to revive the home's original arts-and-crafts style décor, complete with retro appliances in the kitchen and plenty of wooden furnishings throughout. The petite residence also has a surprising treat in the backyard: right next to the heated gunite pool, there's a design-y gazebo formed by elaborately carved openings.

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http://curbed.com/archives/2014/11/04/southampton-ivy-castle-william-sofield.php

Location Is King | Bedford Real Estate

The real estate adage “location, location, location” has been around for decades. Real estate agents, investors and experienced home buyers will tell you that location trumps everything. I always advise clients that you can make changes to a home, but you can’t change the location — short of moving the house.

Some neighborhoods change over time, of course, and most improve rather than getting worse. So as you set out to buy a home, should you look for the best home on the worst block? The worst home on the best block? The best home on the best block? (In real estate, “block” is a loose term for an area or neighborhood.) Here’s what you need to know.

How to buy in a great area at a lower price

A home could be in the best school district in the top neighborhood of any town, but if it’s on a busy street, across from a commercial center, next to a school or near a freeway on or off-ramp, that home’s value will always be significantly less than the values of comparable homes nearby. If you want to be in a great area but don’t want to pay top dollar, buying a home near a slightly undesirable feature could be an option, so long as the broader location is good.

The worst house on the best block: go for it, if you’re willing to work on it

If you have a good location, nobody can take that away from you. Smart real estate investors and developers know that if a home is in a good location, it’s a good investment. In places like San Francisco, it’s not uncommon to see 10 developers make offers on an absolutely ugly, tear-down house simply because of the location. If it’s a good house, there’s a huge upside for the person who renovates it.

For a home buyer who wants to live in the home and isn’t afraid of a little work, this is the best purchase to make. Why? Because once the renovations are done, you’re sitting on equity. The lesson here: Don’t be afraid to buy a home that needs work, particularly if it’s in a prime location.

The best house on the best block: a great choice if you plan to stick around

Buying a fully renovated home in an A+ neighborhood is a safe choice because it will likely hold its value. But it will not have the same upside seen by its fixer-upper neighbor down the street. While there will likely be dozens of buyers lined up to purchase a move-in ready home on a prime block, a home buyer needs to understand that they’re paying top market value for the house.

In this next generation of real estate, the world moves faster. People get job transfers more often, and it’s less common for someone to stay in their home for 30 years. If you pay top dollar for the best house on the best block and then have to sell it within a few years, your investment may not have time to appreciate enough to cover your selling closing costs.

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http://www.zillow.com/blog/location-is-king-in-home-buying-163569/

Comfort Food and Garden Strolls in Crown Heights/Ditmas Park | Pound Ridge Real Estate

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Photos: Driely S. for Racked

Crown Heights may have been anointed the next "up-and-coming" neighborhood by The New York Times, but it hasn't peaked at full-blown, chain store-stuffed popularity just yet. Instead, the area is buzzing with new businesses, delicious eats, talented artists, and a strong vintage game. After feasting on comfort food, caffeinating with strong coffee, and stocking up on pre-loved fashion and hard-to-find books, Ditmas Park—home of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden—is a quick stroll away. Here's how to hit up the best of both neighborhoods in one Saturday.

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  ↑ Start your day on a Southern note with down-home cooking at Catfish (1433 Bedford Avenue). This cozy neighborhood spot serves up thoughtfully prepared comfort food with a side of spice. Tuck into chicken-fried steak with eggs, a catfish po’boy, or shrimp and grits, and complement your meal with a kick in the form of a Creole Bloody Mary.
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  ↑ Temporary tattoos, handmade chocolates, candles, greeting cards, jewelry, toys for babies, sweaters for dogs—Owl & Thistle General Store (833 Franklin Avenue) is full of the kinds of things you never knew you needed. The inventory is eclectic with a crafty, locavore slant. You’ll find unique gifts, not to mention snacks from Brooklyn favorites like McClure’s, Nunu and Brewklyn Grind Coffee & Tea Co.

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http://ny.racked.com/archives/2014/10/31/perfect_saturday_crown_heightsditmas_park.php