It may not look like much from the outside, but with a little help from me, the condo on the first floor of this 1900 row house in Hoboken's old "downtown" neighborhood, is about to do its part in rescuing the sagging U.S. economy. Come on, America, we've all got to do our part.In recent days I heard it said that the stimulus money sent to taxpayers a few months ago wasn't being spent fast enough to help. Then I remembered the $250 that had been transferred to my bank account in the name of reversing the recession. I hadn't spent mine. I had planned to do it all at once; to go out the week I got it and buy $250 worth of American products from a little mom-and-pop American shop. Hoboken is full of them, and I knew the proprietors would enjoy my enthusiasm. But instead the money went to my bank and stayed there.
Now is the time I'm gonna react. The recovery has slowed down and I'm about to stimulate it on my own. I'm getting a mortgage and I'm going to pay some movers, and I'm going to have to buy all kinds of big ticket items (including that new thing, a washer-dryer all in one) to make myself comfortable. I'm going to spend a heck of a lot more than the $250.
You see in the picture above the exterior of the little building. It's four floors and I have nabbed the apartment on the ground level with the picture window. This also offers easy access to the shared back yard. I'll be in the Homeowners' Association, in this case being about three other people, where I'll try to effect some renovations, landscaping, and maybe removal of the aluminum siding that covers the place now (to sell it, the current owners have already painted over the red with an off-white accented in tan. I assume there are bricks beneath that). A gorgeous new door and removal of the awning would be an improvement. Hope my fellow condo-owners can be persuaded to go along with me.
My condo is move-in ready, but I may invest in a few customizing touches, and will definitely have to buy some storage-type furniture. Wait til you see pictures of my apartment--first empty (BEFORE) and later AFTER, meaning after I've filled it up!
I will admit that my main purpose in this move is not that I'll stimulate the economy. It was time to get out of a fourth-floor walkup and explore a new neighborhood in my new found town. Down on lower Madison Street--just around the corner from the birthplace of Frank Sinatra and a score of other second-generation Italian-Americans--I'll put down roots and become a native. Almost. I know a lot of stories about that part of town and expect to learn many more. There is an elderly lady who runs a garage sale every weekend out of the building next door; I understand she has connections to a prominent family, including a former mayor.
If I play my cards right, maybe I can get her to help me unload some of my excess stuff and stimulate the economy at the same time.
15 comments:
Congrats, Mary Lois! Can't wait to see the pix...
Congratulations! No more stopping for lunch on the 4th floor landing before pressing on for the final 12flights of stairs.
I'm directly across the street from you on the top floor of what used to be a garment factory (fur collars). You'll have great karma there because the loveliest couple lived there (I think they had been there forever) until the wife became very ill. They sat out every night on a bench when the weather was fine below your window. He was a devoted to her and they knew the entire neighborhood.
Just the kind of stories I was hoping to hear, Deirdre. Thanks for telling me that.
I just remembered that the couple were in a picture (a family reunion group photo- no names- but I recognized them immediately) in a chapbook from the Hoboken Historical Museum about the recollections of Tom Olivieri and his family who came from Puerto Rico in the 1950s. Olivieri was a tenant's rights activist and cultural affairs official for the city.
Their bedroom was on the second floor and they always had the lights out by 9:30PM. I could set my clock by their routines. What a wonderfully small town!
Yikes! Now I know you'll be up there watching to see when my lights go out. Hint: I don't think you'll be able to set your watch by my nocturnal illuminations.
Actually it's me who is now in bed at 9:30PM!
Deirdre
So ya living downtown now. First floor, back yard too, lucky find.
No more of them Battan death marches to da top floor.(Seek and ye shall find, and ya did)
Frank Sinatra's old hangout as a kid ...feel honored...NOW you're a down town goil...wishing you a long and happy life.
Good for you. But don't count on brick under the siding. This house and my last one had it because after about 25 years or so the pine siding won't hold paint. But siding can be attractive or at least bearable if properly painted.
Congratulationa on youe move. I like the look of your ground floor apartment and I'm looking forward to seeing all of the photos that you have promised.
I'm surprised Slezak didn't hit upon "row house"......i.e. tenement.
All the best. See ya Sunday. C.
No, I will not hit upon the downtown "row house" (tenement), Miss C. That was home to you and you enjoyed growing up there. I'm sure ML will find downtown as enjoyable as you did as a kid growing up there
Ws for myself...I just got used to the plush upper crust section of uptown on Garden Street...where all da action was. Even SINATRA moved from downtown to uptown just to live near me, just a block away from my house. I think Garden Street gave him happiness, the courage to sing and become a super star...and his legend lives on.
I do hope ML has a DUMBWAITER to ride as we had on Garden Street. As you know I would have given you a ride on my DUMBWAITER ......but you declined. Chicken.
These two (HK & C) are at it again with the dumbwaiters!
In case you missed their previous exchange (and it's hilarious too) I recommend you go here.
Best of luck with the new place!
Good luck on your new home. You should be right near Biggies, good if you like clams.
You certainly have seen a lot of the mile square city, where each neighborhood has its own traditions and culture.
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