4/27/04 Looking for Apartments in Brooklyn Heights; Brooklyn Promenade:

We figured we'd give it a shot. Every once in a while a too-good-to-be-true apartment ends up being listed in Brooklyn Heights within or near budget. It eats away at a person after a while, taunting, begging for attention. Well, today, that kind of listing would get the attention it craved, and Natalie and I would learn something we knew all along.

The Shenly. It has a name. O.K.

Ornate grills in front of a lovely old building. Not bad.

Nice street save for a large windowless building on the next corner.

Much better view in the other direction. 2 blocks from the Brooklyn Promenade. 3 blocks from the A train, one stop out of Manhattan. Not bad.

Next door to Coleman Cleaners! Natalie's last name! Perhaps a sign?

We wait for the owner.

We enjoy some of the architecture from across the street.

A lovely but hard to understand Asian man shows up and shows us two apartments in the building. The first one was the reality of what we should have expected before we got excited like we were going to win the lottery. Rounded window wall, not bad. Not working exposed brick fireplace, not bad but dirty. 200 square feet if lucky, a bit small. Everything was old. Every wall had too many coats of paint on it.

Bathroom, totally and utterly unacceptable.

Wow.

Useless, takes up space.

A random bar separated the tiny space into two useless halfs. The kitchen was essentially behind the back half. Closet door to the left, bathroom door to the right.

Courtyard view. Not enough light and air.

So, we climb two more stories, already getting into a walkup-problem zone, and look at another apartment.

Better light and air on the street side.

More space in the apartment. Strange wall separating kitchen from living area, but better than before. Unfortunately, the wall is too far from the kitchen, creating an eat-in kitchen space in a STUDIO. Better to have a bigger main area, no? Black and white floor in kitchen, interesting touch if its authentic and old. Not sure. Long hallway led along back left wall to bathroom in rear.

Lots or random preexisting rope lighting already in ceiling.

Older lightfixture evidence present, but replaced with modern lights. Previous tenant obviously into lighting.

Kitchen was acceptable.

Fridge out of place in large eat-in area.

Bathroom much better, but old sink shape was a bit scary.

Toilet bowl a bit dirty on inside. What's up with the utilities in this building?

Looking back down internal hallway towards front of apartment. Track lighting above.

Nicest feature of this apartment was the pattern on the fire escape just outside the window.

Random shelving built into side wall next to not-working fireplace.

It was a much better apartment upstairs, but the odd break in the space, the floating fridge, the dirty toilet, and the 3 flight walkup combined with an above price range quote of $1400 a month put this on the "no thanks" list. So we walked to the Brooklyn Promenade to get some fresh air and perhaps some fresh ideas.

It was a beautiful day. If anything, searching for an apartment has been a good excuse to get outside, and learn new things about the city's neighborhoods and some of its hidden interiors. And to spend quality time with Natalie, of course!