Which of these structures is inhabited by human beings?
If you guessed "all of the above", you're right!
33 comments:
Anonymous
said...
I always thought that Crap pertained to new, architecturally insignificant development. But, now you're also slamming older homes that are, obviously, occupied by middle-lower class people?
The first two were formerly garages and the bottom one was an auto-repair shop (click on the photo to see the faded writing above the door), so I am not slamming "older homes".
If you don't think it's crappy that people are now living in these, then I guess you believe in the mayor's overdevelopment plan for Queens. There's a job at CAU waiting for you.
I agree with ANONYMOUS #1. What's with the condescending classism here? You don’t like those houses? Well, what are you going to do to help their residents find better housing? Or are you just going to call them out for obviously being less well off than you? Because that’s really assholish.
For all you know, they wanted to live in a converted garage. Much like the way people live in converted stable and carriage houses. Now, is it safe? Probably not...who knows what kind of things are under the house that used to be a repair shop. I'm also wondering if you would be on here complaining if these structures were torn down and lets say a 2 or 3 family was built in its place. Maybe to match the size of the neighboring structures. My guess is that, all of you would be saying how terrible it is that crap is being built in ridgewood, and no one cares about the look of the neighborhood, and they are destroying the history of the hood. Which is better?
Wow someones bringing the heat. Is it even legal/ possible to get a garage or repair shop turned into a apartment? This seems to be along the same lines and the illegal basement apartments.
As far as the class issue, I think its irrelevant mainly because we don't know what the inside looks like, how much rent they pay or who rents it. For all we know it could be floored with granite.
If we are going to argue/debate at least make it something worthwhile.
re-purposing a used garage and turning it into a house? that's so cool they might wind up on the new "green" discovery channel! wouldn't we rather have that than some 14 story unsafe hi-rise?
(I wonder if the Crapper got permission from the owners or residents to photograph and publicly ridicule their homes. If I were them I would certainly feel that I owed Crapper a hell of a haymaker. Also, I wonder if Crapper, or other posters here, would have the stones to put up pictures of their own homes. My prediction: what with all the abominable McMansions and faux-historicals that clog up our “better” neighborhoods most of them would certainly be more expensive looking but not all that much more tasteful.)
I’ve read post after post decrying these houses (by the way, HOUSE: “A building for human habitation; esp. a building that is the ordinary dwelling-place of a family” – Oxford English Dictionary) but not ONE with any good idea as to what should be done about them. Lets’ be clear: No one WANTS to live in substandard housing. I lived in some for a long time myself, housing that was probably illegal (and yes, if you’re wondering, I am a natural born citizen), but it was all I could afford at the time and you know what, it sucked. But it sure was better than homelessness. Any solution to the problem has to be based on the idea of these people finding better places to live, not exchanging what little they have for the street. So either the price of decent housing has to come down or they have to have more money to afford housing on the open market (without triggering inflation). One or the other. Or maybe a combination of the two. Any constructive thoughts as to how this is to be accomplished? Because “tear ‘em down, screw ‘em, get ‘em out of my neighborhood, not my problem,” is not only not constructive it’s practically nihilistic and appeals only to the assholes among us.
I know my posting was a little long - might take a whole half minute to read - but if you had bothered to read it at all you'd realize that no, I don't think converted garages etc. are at all ideal for housing. Although they ARE probably better than outright homelessness. But it you’re going to say that people shouldn’t be living in them you have to answer the question of where they SHOULD be living. Unless they happen to be occupied by eccentric millionaires we can assume that the people who are living in them can’t afford anyplace better. So what do you propose to do about that?
Not having been inside any of the houses I don’t know how decent they are as living spaces. I presume they’re not great. If Crapper had found out the names of whoever converted them from their original uses – and whether or not any laws were broken in the process – that might have been a valuable community service. But instead it’s all, “how crappy, how can people live like this,” and that’s mean spirited and ugly.
"Unless they happen to be occupied by eccentric millionaires we can assume that the people who are living in them can’t afford anyplace better. So what do you propose to do about that?"
I doubt their any kind of millionaire in a place like that. I truly feel sorry for people who can't afford a better home than that. I don't have any sort of solution other than to say if someone can't afford to live in New York than maybe this is not the place for them. NY is a very expensive city as we all know. And many people have been moving out-of-state to more affordable cities. All of the development going on recently is certainly not geared towards working or even middle class people. As far crappy finding out any names- who cares? That's just silly.
I wonder if the Crapper got permission from the owners or residents to photograph and publicly ridicule their homes.
No, and in the United States of America taking photos on public streets is legal and there is such a thing as freedom of speech.
If I were them I would certainly feel that I owed Crapper a hell of a haymaker.
So you are advocating violence against those who don't agree with you? Maybe Communist China is more your thing.
Also, I wonder if Crapper, or other posters here, would have the stones to put up pictures of their own homes.
I already did.
My prediction: what with all the abominable McMansions and faux-historicals that clog up our “better” neighborhoods most of them would certainly be more expensive looking but not all that much more tasteful.
I live in a real historical home. Not a McMansion, not a piece of Queens Crap. Those who follow the blog already know that. Thanks for taking time out of your busy day to write to Crappy. Have a great weekend, neighbor!
ANONYMOUS: I don't have any sort of solution other than to say if someone can't afford to live in New York than maybe this is not the place for them.
It would be a disaster for the city if it were to become only a city for the rich and the well to do. Sure, it would make sense for a lot of us to leave except – where would a civilized person want to live? Philadelphia? Chicago? Boston? Toronto? London? All good cities but none of them are New York, and, anyway, they’re pricey as hell, too. I’m originally from New London County, CT (where the casinos are now) and I have no desire to go back there, or anyplace like it. No, it makes more sense to find a solution to our problems here.
CRAPPER: I live in a real historical home. Not a McMansion, not a piece of Queens Crap. Those who follow the blog already know that.
I can’t say I’ve followed you for years or decades but I have followed you for months. Always with interest, sometimes with appreciation (your coverage of the recent special election was excellent), sometimes with amusement, often with disgust. Perhaps your home is beautiful. But de gustibus non est disputandum: something you might want to remember.
CRAPPER … in the United States of America taking photos on public streets is legal and there is such a thing as freedom of speech.
True. But there is such a thing as tact.
CRAPPER So you are advocating violence against those who don't agree with you?
Not at all. Although there is a long tradition of gentlemen demanding satisfaction from those who have insulted them. You haven’t insulted me, at least not overmuch – those aren’t my dwellings. But I could see how their owners and occupants would be a little pissed that you held them up to public ridicule. Maybe you’ll get lucky and they’ll just sue.
CRAPPER: Maybe Communist China is more your thing.
That’s about as lame as a Yankee fan chanting “19-18” after 2004 (which some Yankee fans continued to do well into 2005, by the way). History has passed that by. But since you bring it up, I actually have an old friend living as an ex-pat in Beijing. As a foreigner (and a minor movie star) he gets it pretty good but he tells me that the city is closed to migrants from the hinterland, at least legally. If you want to move there you have to get permission from the powers that be. Sounds to me like you might well be comfortable with that.
Also, unless I’ve read you completely wrong, you’re an advocate of downzoning, aren’t you? Isn’t that anti-capitalistic? I mean, if a plot of land is worth more with an apartment building on it, say, than it is with a one family house shouldn’t, in a capitalist society, that apartment building be built? Isn’t the market always right? Personally, I don’t think so but I have to say, you seem a lot more Red than me.
Hey, Ridgewoodian, you really need to think about what you write before you hit the submit button. We have zoning laws in this city to prevent out of character building, although enforcement of that seems to be lacking in this city. We also have something called freedom of speech and of the press. Crappy can criticize anything he wants to and is free to express his opinion. Let them try to sue because he said their house was ugly or had too many units, they won't get far.
That’s about as lame as a Yankee fan chanting “19-18” after 2004 (which some Yankee fans continued to do well into 2005, by the way). History has passed that by.
ANONYMOUS: We have zoning laws in this city to prevent out of character building, although enforcement of that seems to be lacking in this city.
And isn’t Anthony Como lucky that those laws aren’t enforced! I have no philosophical problem with them. If you want to tear these “shitholes” down and replace them with something more in keeping with the neighborhood, go right ahead. BUT you can’t do that at the price of making the occupants homeless. Help them to find better housing and I’m 100% with you.
ANONYMOUS: We also have something called freedom of speech and of the press. Crappy can criticize anything he wants to and is free to express his opinion.
If you knew me personally you’d know that there’s no more zealous an advocate of freedom and human rights. I carry around a copy of the Constitution with me wherever I go. I’m as close to a First Amendment absolutist as it’s possible to come without yelling FIRE in a crowded theatre. I would never, ever say that Crappy or anyone else has no right to publish their thoughts, as ugly or mean spirited as they may be. I appreciate that Crappy, as the moderator of this blog, has not edited me even when I’ve disagreed with him. That being said, I can’t deny I wouldn’t be thrilled to witness a duel of honor between Crappy and the occupants of those houses. Swords and pistols at dawn have fallen out of favor but they can still strap on gloves and go a few rounds. Alas, it’s not an honorable age; it won’t happen.
CRAPPER: I'm pissed that they blighted my neighborhood with their pile of shit….
I wonder how you became an arbiter or aesthetics.
CRAPPER: In this country you're supposed to get permission from the powers that be, too. It's called LEGAL immigration.
Obviously, you misread what I wrote about Beijing. It’s not foreigners who are restricted, so far as I know, but CHINESE people. They have to get permission to move from the countryside to the big cities. And what’s your evidence that the people living in these houses are, in fact, illegal immigrants? Did you investigate their status? They could well be native Americans who just can’t afford better. (As I mentioned elsewhere, I’m a native born citizen, the descendent of a couple of generations of natives, but I lived in housing almost as bad for a time, before I could afford better.) Xenophobia much?
ANONYMOUS: They should be living in legal structures built for humans to inhabit.
Agreed. 100%. The only question is how to make sure everyone can find such housing in the city and be able to afford it. Any ideas?
ANONYMOUS: China is no longer Communist? Holy shit!
Not in any meaningful sense and hasn’t been for a long time. When Deng Xiaoping said, “to get rich is glorious,” that was pretty much the death knell of “classical” communism in the People’s Republic. That doesn’t mean that China is in any way democratic – far from it. It’s still an authoritarian, repressive country and much of its economic advancement has been built, essentially, on slave labor. Basically, it’s a fascist state. I sure wouldn’t want to be Chinese.
Yes, I did misread your post. I have no problem with people moving in from other parts of the city or country as long as they are here legally. Not sure what xenophobia has to do with wanting the immigration laws of the country enforced. I would guess this is the majority opinion across the country.
If you guessed "all of the above", you're right!
33 comments:
I always thought that Crap pertained to new, architecturally insignificant development.
But, now you're also slamming older homes that are, obviously, occupied by middle-lower class people?
That's kinda crappy, in my opinion.
The first two were formerly garages and the bottom one was an auto-repair shop (click on the photo to see the faded writing above the door), so I am not slamming "older homes".
If you don't think it's crappy that people are now living in these, then I guess you believe in the mayor's overdevelopment plan for Queens. There's a job at CAU waiting for you.
"occupied by middle-lower class people?"
Try illegals.
what neighborhood is this?
"Lower" Ridgewood.
aka the part of Ridgewood no one gives a shit about, including CB5. I bet there are no members of CB5 from this area.
I agree with ANONYMOUS #1. What's with the condescending classism here? You don’t like those houses? Well, what are you going to do to help their residents find better housing? Or are you just going to call them out for obviously being less well off than you? Because that’s really assholish.
Hi, Ridgewoodian:
1) Those aren't houses but people live in them.
2) It's not my duty to help people find housing.
Anonymous #1 and Ridgewoodian are the reason why this kind of thing goes on. People should not be living in converted garages and repair shops.
How about that paved over front yard on #2? Where's the stormwater going?
Ridgwoodian wants you to make a plea for AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
In other words, overdevelopment pitched to the working class.
For all you know, they wanted to live in a converted garage. Much like the way people live in converted stable and carriage houses. Now, is it safe? Probably not...who knows what kind of things are under the house that used to be a repair shop.
I'm also wondering if you would be on here complaining if these structures were torn down and lets say a 2 or 3 family was built in its place. Maybe to match the size of the neighboring structures. My guess is that, all of you would be saying how terrible it is that crap is being built in ridgewood, and no one cares about the look of the neighborhood, and they are destroying the history of the hood. Which is better?
I'd like to live in a Rosenwach water tank.
"Which is better?"
Shame we are expected to have to choose between the two.
Wow someones bringing the heat. Is it even legal/ possible to get a garage or repair shop turned into a apartment? This seems to be along the same lines and the illegal basement apartments.
As far as the class issue, I think its irrelevant mainly because we don't know what the inside looks like, how much rent they pay or who rents it. For all we know it could be floored with granite.
If we are going to argue/debate at least make it something worthwhile.
these are ugly as sin
but yesterday i was in flushing around 35th ave near union street and that area is the most disgusting mess of a neighborhood i have seen in years
total crap show and really just disgusting place
i wish i had my camera with me
what a cesspool
re-purposing a used garage and turning it into a house? that's so cool they might wind up on the new "green" discovery channel!
wouldn't we rather have that than some 14 story unsafe hi-rise?
Crapper is right. Let tear it down and put up new condos.
(I wonder if the Crapper got permission from the owners or residents to photograph and publicly ridicule their homes. If I were them I would certainly feel that I owed Crapper a hell of a haymaker. Also, I wonder if Crapper, or other posters here, would have the stones to put up pictures of their own homes. My prediction: what with all the abominable McMansions and faux-historicals that clog up our “better” neighborhoods most of them would certainly be more expensive looking but not all that much more tasteful.)
I’ve read post after post decrying these houses (by the way, HOUSE: “A building for human habitation; esp. a building that is the ordinary dwelling-place of a family” – Oxford English Dictionary) but not ONE with any good idea as to what should be done about them. Lets’ be clear: No one WANTS to live in substandard housing. I lived in some for a long time myself, housing that was probably illegal (and yes, if you’re wondering, I am a natural born citizen), but it was all I could afford at the time and you know what, it sucked. But it sure was better than homelessness. Any solution to the problem has to be based on the idea of these people finding better places to live, not exchanging what little they have for the street. So either the price of decent housing has to come down or they have to have more money to afford housing on the open market (without triggering inflation). One or the other. Or maybe a combination of the two. Any constructive thoughts as to how this is to be accomplished? Because “tear ‘em down, screw ‘em, get ‘em out of my neighborhood, not my problem,” is not only not constructive it’s practically nihilistic and appeals only to the assholes among us.
Hey Ridgewoodian,
First of all if you believe a converted garage and an auto-repair shop is totally suitable for a home, then you need to take your crazy pills.
If a developer builds a hideous home, he deserves for it to be ridiculed. End of story.
Anonymous--
I know my posting was a little long - might take a whole half minute to read - but if you had bothered to read it at all you'd realize that no, I don't think converted garages etc. are at all ideal for housing. Although they ARE probably better than outright homelessness. But it you’re going to say that people shouldn’t be living in them you have to answer the question of where they SHOULD be living. Unless they happen to be occupied by eccentric millionaires we can assume that the people who are living in them can’t afford anyplace better. So what do you propose to do about that?
Not having been inside any of the houses I don’t know how decent they are as living spaces. I presume they’re not great. If Crapper had found out the names of whoever converted them from their original uses – and whether or not any laws were broken in the process – that might have been a valuable community service. But instead it’s all, “how crappy, how can people live like this,” and that’s mean spirited and ugly.
The auto shop in the last photo looks fine to me. It's probably fairly spacious as well. One story residences break up the monotony a bit.
Hey rigdewoodian:
"Unless they happen to be occupied by eccentric millionaires we can assume that the people who are living in them can’t afford anyplace better. So what do you propose to do about that?"
I doubt their any kind of millionaire in a place like that. I truly feel sorry for people who can't afford a better home than that. I don't have any sort of solution other than to say if someone can't afford to live in New York than maybe this is not the place for them. NY is a very expensive city as we all know. And many people have been moving out-of-state to more affordable cities. All of the development going on recently is certainly not geared towards working or even middle class people.
As far crappy finding out any names- who cares? That's just silly.
Anonymous
I wonder if the Crapper got permission from the owners or residents to photograph and publicly ridicule their homes.
No, and in the United States of America taking photos on public streets is legal and there is such a thing as freedom of speech.
If I were them I would certainly feel that I owed Crapper a hell of a haymaker.
So you are advocating violence against those who don't agree with you? Maybe Communist China is more your thing.
Also, I wonder if Crapper, or other posters here, would have the stones to put up pictures of their own homes.
I already did.
My prediction: what with all the abominable McMansions and faux-historicals that clog up our “better” neighborhoods most of them would certainly be more expensive looking but not all that much more tasteful.
I live in a real historical home. Not a McMansion, not a piece of Queens Crap. Those who follow the blog already know that. Thanks for taking time out of your busy day to write to Crappy. Have a great weekend, neighbor!
ANONYMOUS: I don't have any sort of solution other than to say if someone can't afford to live in New York than maybe this is not the place for them.
It would be a disaster for the city if it were to become only a city for the rich and the well to do. Sure, it would make sense for a lot of us to leave except – where would a civilized person want to live? Philadelphia? Chicago? Boston? Toronto? London? All good cities but none of them are New York, and, anyway, they’re pricey as hell, too. I’m originally from New London County, CT (where the casinos are now) and I have no desire to go back there, or anyplace like it. No, it makes more sense to find a solution to our problems here.
CRAPPER: I live in a real historical home. Not a McMansion, not a piece of Queens Crap. Those who follow the blog already know that.
I can’t say I’ve followed you for years or decades but I have followed you for months. Always with interest, sometimes with appreciation (your coverage of the recent special election was excellent), sometimes with amusement, often with disgust. Perhaps your home is beautiful. But de gustibus non est disputandum: something you might want to remember.
CRAPPER … in the United States of America taking photos on public streets is legal and there is such a thing as freedom of speech.
True. But there is such a thing as tact.
CRAPPER So you are advocating violence against those who don't agree with you?
Not at all. Although there is a long tradition of gentlemen demanding satisfaction from those who have insulted them. You haven’t insulted me, at least not overmuch – those aren’t my dwellings. But I could see how their owners and occupants would be a little pissed that you held them up to public ridicule. Maybe you’ll get lucky and they’ll just sue.
CRAPPER: Maybe Communist China is more your thing.
That’s about as lame as a Yankee fan chanting “19-18” after 2004 (which some Yankee fans continued to do well into 2005, by the way). History has passed that by. But since you bring it up, I actually have an old friend living as an ex-pat in Beijing. As a foreigner (and a minor movie star) he gets it pretty good but he tells me that the city is closed to migrants from the hinterland, at least legally. If you want to move there you have to get permission from the powers that be. Sounds to me like you might well be comfortable with that.
Also, unless I’ve read you completely wrong, you’re an advocate of downzoning, aren’t you? Isn’t that anti-capitalistic? I mean, if a plot of land is worth more with an apartment building on it, say, than it is with a one family house shouldn’t, in a capitalist society, that apartment building be built? Isn’t the market always right? Personally, I don’t think so but I have to say, you seem a lot more Red than me.
Hey, Ridgewoodian, you really need to think about what you write before you hit the submit button. We have zoning laws in this city to prevent out of character building, although enforcement of that seems to be lacking in this city. We also have something called freedom of speech and of the press. Crappy can criticize anything he wants to and is free to express his opinion. Let them try to sue because he said their house was ugly or had too many units, they won't get far.
"But I could see how their owners and occupants would be a little pissed that you held them up to public ridicule."
I'm pissed that they blighted my neighborhood with their pile of shit, so I'd say we're even.
"If you want to move there you have to get permission from the powers that be. Sounds to me like you might well be comfortable with that."
In this country you're supposed to get permission from the powers that be, too. It's called LEGAL immigration.
But it you’re going to say that people shouldn’t be living in them you have to answer the question of where they SHOULD be living.
Easy to answer. They should be living in legal structures built for humans to inhabit.
That’s about as lame as a Yankee fan chanting “19-18” after 2004 (which some Yankee fans continued to do well into 2005, by the way). History has passed that by.
China is no longer Communist? Holy shit!
ANONYMOUS: We have zoning laws in this city to prevent out of character building, although enforcement of that seems to be lacking in this city.
And isn’t Anthony Como lucky that those laws aren’t enforced! I have no philosophical problem with them. If you want to tear these “shitholes” down and replace them with something more in keeping with the neighborhood, go right ahead. BUT you can’t do that at the price of making the occupants homeless. Help them to find better housing and I’m 100% with you.
ANONYMOUS: We also have something called freedom of speech and of the press. Crappy can criticize anything he wants to and is free to express his opinion.
If you knew me personally you’d know that there’s no more zealous an advocate of freedom and human rights. I carry around a copy of the Constitution with me wherever I go. I’m as close to a First Amendment absolutist as it’s possible to come without yelling FIRE in a crowded theatre. I would never, ever say that Crappy or anyone else has no right to publish their thoughts, as ugly or mean spirited as they may be. I appreciate that Crappy, as the moderator of this blog, has not edited me even when I’ve disagreed with him. That being said, I can’t deny I wouldn’t be thrilled to witness a duel of honor between Crappy and the occupants of those houses. Swords and pistols at dawn have fallen out of favor but they can still strap on gloves and go a few rounds. Alas, it’s not an honorable age; it won’t happen.
CRAPPER: I'm pissed that they blighted my neighborhood with their pile of shit….
I wonder how you became an arbiter or aesthetics.
CRAPPER: In this country you're supposed to get permission from the powers that be, too. It's called LEGAL immigration.
Obviously, you misread what I wrote about Beijing. It’s not foreigners who are restricted, so far as I know, but CHINESE people. They have to get permission to move from the countryside to the big cities. And what’s your evidence that the people living in these houses are, in fact, illegal immigrants? Did you investigate their status? They could well be native Americans who just can’t afford better. (As I mentioned elsewhere, I’m a native born citizen, the descendent of a couple of generations of natives, but I lived in housing almost as bad for a time, before I could afford better.) Xenophobia much?
ANONYMOUS: They should be living in legal structures built for humans to inhabit.
Agreed. 100%. The only question is how to make sure everyone can find such housing in the city and be able to afford it. Any ideas?
ANONYMOUS: China is no longer Communist? Holy shit!
Not in any meaningful sense and hasn’t been for a long time. When Deng Xiaoping said, “to get rich is glorious,” that was pretty much the death knell of “classical” communism in the People’s Republic. That doesn’t mean that China is in any way democratic – far from it. It’s still an authoritarian, repressive country and much of its economic advancement has been built, essentially, on slave labor. Basically, it’s a fascist state. I sure wouldn’t want to be Chinese.
Yes, I did misread your post. I have no problem with people moving in from other parts of the city or country as long as they are here legally. Not sure what xenophobia has to do with wanting the immigration laws of the country enforced. I would guess this is the majority opinion across the country.
My God, Crappy, you got yourself a fan with massive keyboard diarrhea.
CRAPPER: So we're agreed, more or less. I love harmony.
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