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Sutherland

Re: Tell Trader Joe's to come to Jersey City!

Home away from home

I can't determine sq ft on site. But perhaps a Wegman's could take over the space where the ACME is. I have been in some Trader Joe's and I really don't get the concept for come reason.

Posted on: 4/6 16:14

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Sutherland

Re: Exterior painting on historic district home

Home away from home

it is unlikely that the historic color charts you're looking at will fall within the compliance of Dan. Hopefully, the existing color of your home will give you most guidance. Some of those clapboard houses are very pretty. I think the folks who live in 8th St between Monmouth and Brunswick are outside of the historic preservation district. So if you live there you may not have to comply. If you are in a historic preservation district, Dan will tell you what color your house has to be. If he is not getting back to you, stop in the office one morning. Squeeky wheel phenomena. Good luck and enjoy.

Posted on: 4/5 12:00

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Sutherland

Re: Exterior painting on historic district home

Home away from home

The historic preservation office dictates the color of your house trim. He believes he knows exactly what the original color was and will tell you that you have to paint it that color. So do not be surprised. I do not know what color your house trim is now, but it may or may not be the original color. So please do not be surprised. You may think, "well there are other houses on the block that are the same color as mine, why can't I paint my house the color that it currently is." It doesn't work that way.

Years ago, several members of the Hamilton Park Neighborhood Association, retained the services and reporting of an expert that demonstrated an actual historic color chart that showed that three or four different colors a brick row house could be painted, based upon the color or tint (red) of the brick. This was presented to the historic preservation committee. In objection to this documentation, they presented pictures of recently built houses and said, "we cannot agree with you because we do not want houses that look like these houses in historic neighborhoods."

I share this with you, so you just aren't surprised by the response you may or may not get.

Quote:

lcb333 wrote:
We are in the process of submitting the application right now. Any tips??

Posted on: 4/5 10:59

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Sutherland

Re: Exterior painting on historic district home

Home away from home

Make sure to get a "Certificate of No Effect" before you start.

Posted on: 4/4 14:34

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Sutherland

Re: New Tax Rate is Insane!

Home away from home

One thing that's really difficult is that a lot of the people most adversely affected by the tax increase were real pioneers who purchased homes here in the early 80s and got behind the community, effectuated significant change and ultimately did more for Jersey City than any politician or developer. Now after pulling Jersey City from out of the depths, many of them may be forced to sell and move. The process doesn't seem to pay any deference to their efforts. For a lot of these people, downtown Jersey City is a uniquely special place to live. So the fact that they could sell their homes and maybe cash in with a lot of money may not be so comforting. They actually CREATED a community here and created a place that was unique and special. Now they have to think about where they could go and live and feel as comfortable. It's a hard pill to swallow and it's something I wish people would feel sensitive to.

Posted on: 2/18 10:08

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Sutherland

Re: New Amazon HQ

Home away from home

Bayonne is just hard to get in and out of. The drive from EWR to any place in Bayonne could take hours.

Posted on: 1/18 16:02

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Sutherland

Re: New Amazon HQ

Home away from home

I like Newark too, in fact I love Newark. I'm born and raised there. For a lot of reasons I think Newark, could be a good choice. But i don't think it's going to happen. My guess is going to be Atlanta. The airport is better and the cost of living a lot less than anywhere in the NYC tri state area. But I'll still keep my fingers crossed.

Quote:

jc201jc wrote:
i like Newark - low cost of living, easily accessible to NYC and EWR, lots of good colleges in the area (Princeton/Stevens/Rutgers/NJIT, plus all the NYC schools).

Posted on: 1/18 12:01

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Sutherland

Re: Introducing SnoHub - The Uber of Snow Shoveling

Home away from home

Shoveling the steps of a brownstone could be a lot of work. You typically can't shovel the snow off to the side of your house because that's you're neighbor's property. So you have to keep re-shoveling the same snow downwards. The sidewalk work tends to be a little easier since most of our properties aren't more than 18 feel wide. Digging the car out also tends to be rough because the plows dump, wet freezing snow around the cars making it harder to dig out.
Quote:

jc_dweller wrote:
for all those people in JC with 100' driveways, this will be great.

Posted on: 1/7 21:42

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Sutherland

Re: Fair current value for a home with low taxes.

Home away from home

Have your realtor make an offer with which you're comfortable. If the buyer gets a higher offer the listing agent will call your realtor to let them know, so long as your offer is reasonable. Again, using Hoboken as a metric, I don't think the reval is going to cause a big problem with regard to values. I personally think the bigger issue is a sense that there may be a downturn in the economy.

Posted on: 2017/10/26 12:04

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Sutherland

Re: Fair current value for a home with low taxes.

#10

Home away from home

For what it's worth, real estate taxes in Hoboken are pretty high and their real estate market doesn't seem to have been hindered by that. On the other hand, an economic downturn is forecasted by more than a few economists. Anecdotally, it seems more properties have been sitting on the market a little longer.

Posted on: 2017/10/26 11:44

Edited by Sutherland on 2017/10/26 12:02:19

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Sutherland

Re: Solomon has no resume

#11

Home away from home

His CV is on Linked In

https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-solomon-0531aa37/

I don't know this candidate at all. So I have no opinion of him at this juncture.

But he does have a resume that he has posted publicly.

Posted on: 2017/10/20 11:00

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Sutherland

Re: Apartments Available in Jersey City,NJ

#12

Home away from home

Emotional intelligence and charisma are integral to a successful political campaign. False criticism of the winning candidate is typically evidence of a candidate who lacked both, but didn't understand why he lost. Yet, after their defeat they continue to demonstrate that same weak etiquette in a desperate effort to undermine the candidate to who they lost their bid with a pathetic hope that the constituents will look to them as the candidate who got away. It never works and only makes that losing candidate looking more foolish. As it continues the constituents go from feeling sorry for that losing candidate to just losing all respect for them. Over all it's embarrassing.

Quote:

bodhipooh wrote:
Quote:

DanL wrote:
Wow! Hyper- gentrification from Dixon Leasing, $4,155 per month on Bowers in the Heights.

No wonder they gave $300k to mayor's Super PAC.

Quote:

iGreg wrote:
Here is one:

https://jerseydigs.com/jersey-city-hei ... 4-bowers-street-for-rent/

Dude, you still haven't gotten over your crushing 2013 election defeat?? Dixon has long expanded outside of the DTJC area and they have several properties in The Heights, including one a few blocks away on Manhattan Ave. Their prices are not cheap, but the work they put into their properties is really, really well done. I have been inside two such properties and they are both as good as they look in the photographs.

This particular listing will have an effective monthly rent of $3,700 after you factor in the 2 free months. For a 4bd/3.5ba property with a private driveway, with those kinds of finishes, it really is a great deal.

Posted on: 2017/10/7 17:55

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Sutherland

Re: Matsikoudis want to expand rent control?

#13

Home away from home

I think if owners of 2 and three family houses, especially those that were converted brownstones, were suddenly subject to rent control, they would convert them back to one families and sell them. Or sell them to buyers who are interested in converting them back to one families. Since I purchased my three family brownstone 16 years ago, I've anecdotally observed that more and more of the new buyers of these multi unit brownstones have been converting them back to one families and raising their families in them.

Quote:

brewster wrote:
Thinking more about this, I bet it would have the exact opposite effect of what he'd like. If you control the rents of small buildings I bet tons of owners would say fuck it, condo them and sell them off, dramatically reducing the number of rentals.

Rent control is a "zombie idea" that won't die just like supply-side economics, cuz people like to vote their wallets no matter how much evidence there is that it's a failure.

Posted on: 2017/10/4 21:09

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Sutherland

Re: Top Fulop allies on tape trying to steer city bid, court depositions say

#14

Home away from home

People aren't talking about it, because it's hearsay on top of hearsay and most of it doesn't even make sense. It's a total hype article that one cares about because it's too convoluted of a story. Also, Pandolofo was a Healey aide. The entire thing stinks.

Posted on: 2017/10/1 21:02

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Sutherland

Re: Dale Talde = Scum

#15

Home away from home

Sounds like it could be a frivolous law suit:

"Court records show that Atlantic Social is currently being sued for $60,639 over an unpaid bill from restaurant supplier Chef’s Warehouse.

A former Tony Roma’s employee also sued the Menexases’ holding company, Atlantic Yards Plaza LLC, in 2014, claiming she was not paid overtime."

Posted on: 2017/9/13 20:06

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Sutherland

Handy Man Recommendations

#16

Home away from home

I'm looking for recommendations for a good handyman who works in the downtown area.

Thanks

Posted on: 2017/6/27 16:41

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Sutherland

Re: Tell Trader Joe's to come to Jersey City!

#17

Home away from home

I'd much rather have a Wegman's.

Posted on: 2017/5/3 8:29

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Sutherland

Re: Gardeners in Jersey City, I have questions...

#18

Home away from home

I do not plant tomatoes or other vegetables in my Jersey City back yard. IMHO there's too much underground fill for me to feel the vegetables would be safe to eat. Every year I find a bunch of new stuff that "crops" up, like marbles, toys, glass and other stuff.

I do however, plant perennials and some annuals and switch them up.

I used to use the Mothers day rule, but I have more recently started a little earlier.

However, if you go ahead with the tomatoes and are going to start with seeds, I second the suggestion of the poster who suggested you start the seeds in doors and then transplant them later. Also, I've observed some neighbors who've had container gardens for their veggies.

All the best and good luck!!

Posted on: 2017/2/17 17:53

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Sutherland

Re: Fulop ties to Kushner?

#19

Home away from home

That's ok, Dan. But you're nobody's Mayor.

Quote:

DanL wrote:

#notmymayor

Posted on: 2017/1/29 13:00

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Sutherland

Re: Jersey City mayor-elect orders end to citywide reval

#20

Home away from home

This beautiful Fair Haven home, which just sold for $1.7 mm has real estate taxes of $13,000.00. I'm confident their public schools are better than JC, they have less crime than JC, probably not as many water main breaks, which seems to be a regular occurrence and fewer pot holes.

http://realestate.nj.com/realestate-n ... ng.html#incart_river_home

Of course I anticipate someone telling me to move to Fair Haven if I wanted lower real estate taxes. However, I do think it's a worthwhile metric.

Posted on: 2017/1/26 10:18

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Sutherland

New Year's Eve Options

#21

Home away from home

Any recommendations for a fun venue for New Year's Eve. Preferably something with dancing.

Posted on: 2016/12/27 22:06

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Sutherland

Re: Critics target Jersey City over outside law firm

#22

Home away from home

DanL, I think you're probably 100% incorrect on that. Since the law firm's bills have been produced, that's as transparent as the city needs to be. The "criticism" lead by a very small group of or one former Healy minion(s), is merely a desperate effort of making a tempist in a teapot.

If I were running for Mayor, I would focus more on my history of advancing valuable initiatives for the benefit of the City, my skills that will enable me to do that and my strategy to continue doing that INSTEAD of squawking about non-existent drama.

Posted on: 2016/12/27 9:20

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Sutherland

Re: Buy this beauty - and pray the reval never happens!

#23

Home away from home

That is a really nice house. $3mm is a lot, and I'm not sure the market will bare it. But I'm not insisting on that point. I hope I'm wrong. Parking is a great amenity. Looking at these and other similar pictures of home renovations gives me house envy and makes me want to renovate my place. However, the cost of such renovations can be around the $500k mark, which seems like a lot of dough to me Even if you can assume me it brings up the value by 100% of the cost of the renovation, I still have to pay that loan back, because I certainly don't have the cash for that kind of renovation. But God Bless the people that do. I love looking at real estate porn.

Posted on: 2016/12/8 16:13

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Sutherland

Re: Jersey City mayor-elect orders end to citywide reval

#24

Home away from home

It will be interesting to see how the "values" are set. Since the crash, the volatility of the local market has been significant. A brownstone today going for $1.5mm was going for $750 just 5 years ago. That same house sold for $490k only 5 years before that, but was selling for $1mm, 6 years ago. If we're in a bubble now, values could drop again. While facing interest rate increases, that could similarly impact values.

Posted on: 2016/12/1 16:13

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Sutherland

Window Washer for brownstone

#25

Home away from home

Any recommendations are welcome.

Thank you.

Posted on: 2016/11/21 14:53

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Sutherland

Re: Leaf Collection Schedule

#26

Home away from home

Thank you very much!!

Posted on: 2016/11/13 18:52

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Sutherland

Leaf Collection Schedule

#27

Home away from home

Can anyone direct me to the leaf collection schedule?

Thank you.

Posted on: 2016/11/13 12:29

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Sutherland

Re: Vote YES for 2 city questions

#28

Home away from home

Dolomiti,

The values of real estate has gone up significantly relatively recently. From 2000 through 2004 DTJC brownstone prices were somewhere between $250k to $550k. At the height around 2007 brownstones were somewhere in the $700k to $1mm range, of course depending on the typical variables. However, they slumped after the crash to $400k to $750, where they stayed for several years and then in the last two years definitely sky rocketed. However, no one ever imagined the values would have gone from the 2004 values to the current values. It could be surmised that the current values may be unsustainable and we are headed for another slump. The erratic movement of the market hardly supports the proposition that there have been huge tax breaks. Furthermore, the values of the homes, do not necessarily reflect the conditions of the neighborhood. Even at the height of the market in 2007, homeowners with children were not confident enough in the school system to stay and send their children to the local public schools. That's an integral component of assessing real estate values, not necessarily the prices the homes demand through a volatile market. [quote]
Dolomiti wrote:
[
Yeah... no. That's not how it works.

When and where those conditions are in effect, they are reflected in the value of the property, which is used as a basis for the property tax.

Property values have gone up, without this being reflected in the taxes collected. This has resulted in a de facto tax break.

There was no benefit 28 years ago, when the last reval was done. The benefit was minimal 15 years ago, when property taxes were rising. The benefit today is significant for many people today. And the people who have owned their homes for 28 years have gotten the maximum break possible in this situation.

So while I can sympathize with people because they have a low income, and yes it would suck to be driven out because your property taxes went up (even though they are deductible from federal taxes), the simple fact is that some people have gotten a huge break over the years.

Posted on: 2016/11/10 16:33

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Sutherland

Re: Vote YES for 2 city questions

#29

Home away from home

I disagree with you that anyone's been getting huge tax breaks. When people moved here 15 to 30 years ago, there was high crime, bad schools (which there still is), flooding issues, which there still are and a host of other issues making JC less desirable and not warranting higher real estate taxes. In the meanwhile we've been giving developers tax abatements. So it's pretty hard to tell a constituent that they've been under paying real estate taxes when we've been giving tax abatements to developer predicated on the notion that these are blighted areas. Quote:

Dolomiti wrote:
Quote:

Sutherland wrote:
I disagree with you. If people knew how much their new and increased real estate taxes are going to be, they would feel less inclined to take on an additional $200 to $400 in taxes. It's relative to how much MORE taxes people are able to pay.

Or, not.

If you're already paying $20,000 on real estate taxes, you're not even going to notice an additional $300.

Hopefully, though, people will notice more funds going into public parks.

Quote:
Also be mindful here are people who bought their homes 14 years ago and they never imagined their values would have gone up this month.

Sorry not sorry, but even as someone who has benefitted, and is looking at a nice whack in my own taxes, I have no sympathy for those individuals on this particular basis.

Some people have spent 10, 20, almost 30 years as the beneficiaries of lax property tax policies -- basically getting a huge break on their property taxes.

People deserve sympathy if their incomes are low. They don't deserve sympathy if they were totally unprepared for an inevitable increase in property taxes.

By the way, the reval is not exactly a state secret. At least some of the people who voted for #2 were fully aware that the reval was in the works.

Posted on: 2016/11/9 16:08

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Sutherland

Re: Vote YES for 2 city questions

#30

Home away from home

I disagree with you. If people knew how much their new and increased real estate taxes are going to be, they would feel less inclined to take on an additional $200 to $400 in taxes. It's relative to how much MORE taxes people are able to pay. Brownstones DTJC typically go for $1.5mm on average. Real estate taxes on those homes will go from approximately $13k to $22k a year. The additional $300 to $400 will be more of an issue at that point. I think the results would have been very different if the reval was already done before this was put before the constituency. Also be mindful here are people who bought their homes 14 years ago and they never imagined their values would have gone up this month. So while they have increased their equity, that's not the same as increasing their cash flow. Many of the people who moved here 14 years ago, moved here for a less expensive urban option. The exponential rise in real estate values was not anticipated by anyone. Quote:

bodhipooh wrote:
Quote:

Sutherland wrote:
Yes. I can't believe people voted for the Historic Trust Fund, without knowing how much there property is going to be assessed and how much their real estate taxes are going to increase. I bet if the constituency knew how much their new real estate taxes are going to be they would not have voted for this.

I think this is a faulty interpretation: if you own a one million dollar brownstone, the $200 additional tax ($16.66 / month) should not be an imposition. Regardless, the DTJC constituency will be in shock when their new assessments are announced, but that is 1 year out.

Posted on: 2016/11/9 14:11

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