Page 43 - NY Cooperator Expo April 2019

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Cohen Chief Executive Officer Jay M. Cohen VP & Director of Operations •Tel: 877.641.5900 • Fax: 877.641.5780 •Email: info@amtrealtyny.com •Website: www.amtrealtyny.com 122 East 42nd St., Suite 1700, New York, NY 10168 See us at Booth 1126 inquired about the possible impact of Ama- zon leaving the neighborhood. “We literally just threw the baby out with the bath water,” Haber said. “You want the Rockefellers, the Carnegies, the Bezos’ coming to our shores, and that economic growth that comes with them. We’re not setting up New York for suc- cess in the 21st Century. What happened to- day is a real tragedy.” “Many \\\[recent sellers\\\] will face angry buy- ers who want to get out of their contract,” Andrew Gordon, an agent for Compass, told Crain’s in a statement. He worked on behalf of owners who recently closed on selling a condo prior to Amazon’s decision. Still, other real estate experts don’t see the canceled deal as a disaster for the neigh- borhood; in fact, a study showed that Long Island City was already doing fine before Amazon with the addition of new apartments since 2010, and with more housing coming by 2020, Curbed reported. Jonathan Miller of real estate appraisal company Miller Samuel said: “The impact was overhyped, so conse- quently, the exit will be overhyped.” n David Chiu is an associate editor at The Cooperator. Staff writer Mike Odenthal con- tributed to this story. insignificant as that may turn them off alto- gether. According to both brokers and design pros, many buyers today like that “move right in” look. The next step up is to replace the doors on your cabinets. While many apartments may require custom-made cabinets to fit into a specific space, often the actual doors on those cabinets are a standard size. Doors can also be purchased at any home improvement store. Prices on replacement cabinet doors run from $45 to $57, according to Porch. com, without labor and equipment. If it’s the look of the wood or your doors aren’t a stan- dard size that’s a problem, consider painting your doors and cabinets. With a little steel wool, sanding paper, good-quality paint, and instructions from your Home Depot profes- sional, you can have a dramatic change in no time—a DIY triumph. Another option is changing the wood panels on your cabinet doors for glass. If your cabinets aren’t neat enough for your friends to look inside, how- ever...go with opaque glass panels! What Else Can You Do? Other quick fixes include such additions as a crown molding at the top of your cabi- nets where they meet the ceiling, a backsplash behind your sink, and fresh window treat- ments. You can even use your small appli- ances as accents. Toasters, blenders, mixers, and other small appliances in the same color scheme are a great way to tie together your kitchen’s look. New window treatments can really warm up a space. Have only one win- dow? If it’s recessed, try some glass shelves in front of it. They can hold anything from a canister set to plants -- even a tiny herb gar- HOW TO UPGRADE... continued from page 8 den if it’s sunny enough. A Real-Life Experience Allison Spitz recently upgraded her kitch- en through Ikea. She did research -- and got inspiration -- online via Pinterest and other design sites. She then hired a consultant who specifically designs Ikea kitchens. The consultant charges a fee of about $200 and designs the kitchen based on the customer’s needs and Ikea’s system. Spitz made modifi- cations to the design, and afterwards the con- sultant put the final plan into Ikea’s system. Spitz then went to Ikea and was able to access her plan directly in the store to purchase what she needed. “I am impressed with the quality, style and design, which exceeded my expec- tations,” she says. In the end, whether you are using a par- ticular vendor’s system or designing your own changes, upgrading your kitchen is less stressful than you think, and can bring a little freshness to your home. n AJ Sidransky is a staff writer at The Coopera- tor, and a published novelist. least steer – a project, they tend to feel more in touch with, and even integral, to the great- er community, notes Fries. “Working on a garden should enable a committee to oversee other important communal issues, including: • Monitoring the work of the landscape con- tractor to ensure that the duties under con- tract for landscaping of common areas and private homes are performed as scheduled and in a manner consistent with the quality for which the association has contracted. • Becoming familiar with the operation of the irrigation system, drainage basins and aerators. • Determining need for additional services as resident population increases or other needs arise, and make recommendations to the board. • Advising the Architectural Review Board on landscape issues related to ARB appli- cations, if requested by the ARB.” A Warning Of course, when it comes to planting gar- dens—or any common area improvement project, really—an association should be mindful never bite off more than it can chew. “As the manager, we see to it that noth- ing falls to ill-repair,” says Avery, “but I can understand how a property might allow its gardening to become overgrown. These are often budget-challenged communities with few funds to spare for beautification. Neg- ligence here would be a mistake, however, as buyers are attracted by curb appeal, and might never even enter a property to see the units if the exterior is unsightly. If there are few funds available to accommodate garden- ing, the community should consider contain- ers in strategic places, or simply plant ground cover.” n Mike Odenthal is a staff writer/reporter with The Cooperator. PLANNING... continued from page 11 See us at Booth 1307