The Scaffold is Up, and the Real Work Starts

The mesh-wrapped scaffold is now installed on top of the bridge in front of the house. Also, the preparations are underway for the front of the whole house to come down. This is going to be a delicate, slow operation, especially the removal of the brick at the top of the house.

The Bridge is Up, Scaffold to Follow

The Stoop Comes Down

The stoop came down today to make room for the bridge and scaffolding that are supposed to go up tomorrow. The front looks like some ancient ruin right now.

Finally, the Work Permits Come Through.

The Purchase of this House was named "Deal of the Year" by REBNY

As various posts on this blog indicate, the purchase of the house wasn't the easiest thing to accomplish. The pitbulls, turtles, seller's son, and so on, made things, ahem, interesting. Apparently, I'm not alone in thinking this. The purchase of the house was named "The Deal of the Year" by the Real Estate Board of New York. Congratulations, Jacqui! Below are some articles on this:

http://liveinnyc.com/blog/?p=516

http://www.brooklyneagle.com/categories/category.php?category_id=5&id=39030


http://therealdeal.com/newyork/articles/corcoran-broker-jacqui-howard-sicignano-nabs-top-rebny-residential-sales-deal-of-year-senad-ahmetovic-and-pasquale-strippoli-of-halstead-got-residential-rental-of-year

Shopping for Fiberglass Cornices

I've decided on a fiberglass cornice for the house. Fiberglass is surprisingly environmentally sensitive. My chosen style closely resembles those on the houses next door. I'm torn about a color, but will probably opt for black, if the factory can paint them.

Update: Plans Approved, Original Contractor Splits, New Contractor Found

The plans for the renovation of the house have finally been approved. However, the original contractor decided he doesn't want to do the job anymore. I think the condition of the front wall scared him away.

Another contracter who specializes in brick has agreed to build the front of the house. Although the new contractor really seems to know what he's doing and has done a lot of very elaborate work, he's going to need some guidance. Judging from his website, he does most of his work on those huge houses in Staten Island and Dyker Heights, and not a simple brick townhouse in Downtown Brooklyn. I'm going for simplicity here, and those mansions on Staten Island are anything but. Let's hope he can tone it down a notch or two. If so, I think things will work out fine.