Here’s the deal with cheap apartments: they exist, of course, but they’re so unlikely to be offered by computer-literate people that the online ads, if they exist at all, have almost no information or photos. So I am including here two ads for the adventurous, and two regular info-rich ads for the wary. All apartments under $1050. Not an exciting week.

A few more things are available in the Bushwick Classifieds.

$1050 — 1br: Needs a paint job, both otherwise this is a pretty standard apartment and is a good price. It’s also in a good location right near the train and the new Little Skips café.
Bushwick and Myrtle | Myrtle JMZ

$594 — studio: This is low-income housing, but it’s newly renovated and attractive. The income cap is a generous $27,000 — you may feel poor if you make below that amount but if you get this apartment, you’ll be doing well. There don’t seem to be any restrictions on who can live here, except that this is for one person only, so try it out! Near all kinds of food and other stuff on Broadway and right by the train.
Willoughby and Broadway | Myrtle JMZ

$825 — 1br: It says “newly renovated” and “all new construction” — it seems to be the latter. Which around here leaves little room for charm or pleasing proportions but with your good taste you can work it out, especially at this insane price — *record scratch* — I just realized this second that it shares a kitchen. That’s ghetto, but if you don’t cook maybe it’s no big deal. Plenty to eat in the neighborhood.
Wilson and Stanhope | Central M/DeKalb L

$740 — studio: It’s a “two-room” studio, and from the super tiny photo, the kichen looks renovated and it doesn’t seem to be in a basement. There’s also no info on the exact location — this may actually be Bed-Stuy, or it could be near Broadway Junction. Or it could be in a great area, and you won’t know until you contact the owner.

The Ridgewood Bushwick Senior Citizens Council’s experience in building may indeed have won them the right, along with the United Jewish Organizations, based in Williamsburg, to contract the building of hundreds of units of subsidized housing at the Broadway Triangle.

But those who lost out, especially the main opponents like St. Nicholas Neighborhood Preservation Corporation and Los Sures — the latter connected to Diana Reyna — are suing over the award and planned design. They argue it is a snub to blacks and Latinos in favor of Hasidic Jews because of the building heights and apartment sizes. This ignores somewhat the role of RBSCC as a builder and renovator of housing for the decidedly non-Jewish.

The charges expose the fact that these properties are not intended for random residents to apply for from around the city, even if they are otherwise qualified. It is intended to be a permanent base of power for the winning organizations. That is why a certain lifestyle is built into the plan — shorter buildings so the faithful don’t have to use the elevator on the Sabbath and many-bedroomed apartments to accommodate lots of children, for example. No doubt the RBSCC “side” will be just the right setup for the typical families of their constituency.

Through a complicated application process, housing non-profits can ensure that they fill the housing they develop at public expense from the private ranks of their supporters. This process is described by Prof. Nicole Marwell in her book Bargaining for Brooklyn, written after years of immersive research in several organizations.

“Applications for government-subsidized housing are quite complicated, and those that are incomplete in any way are excluded from the lottery. Assistance from Ridgewood-Bushwick staff helps to increase the number of valid applications submitted by individuals affiliated with the organization. The informational and assistance benefits offered by Ridgewood-Bushwick, and other CBOs, thus ensure that its clients are overrepresented in drawings for any subsidized housing development it builds.” (Bargaining for Brooklyn, Pg. 116)

It’s reminiscent of how housing is built in a West Bank settlement — on ethnic lines and at about the same rate of subsidy. One assumes bulldozers will be used more properly here in Brooklyn.

Another well-kept home, 269 Woodbine Street has been owned by the same family for nearly 30 years, according to property records. They have upgraded everything — new boiler, new roof, new electrical — while keeping plenty of original historic character inside. Sure, their taste likely won’t be yours, and some of the finishes will need to go, but overall the house seems to be in great shape and at this price for three legal apartments, you’ll be living easy. It’s also close to a transport hub and plenty of shopping. But be careful — it has one of those big aluminum awnings which if not maintained properly can collapse, like what happened recently to a nearby home on this very block.

268 Woodbine Street | $399,999
2700sqft | 20ft-wide | 3-family, 3 bath | frame
Myrtle-Wyckoff LM/Knickerbocker M

Freelancers need to properly file for their $400 stimulus tax credit..

Freelancers can now save a few bucks this year on their taxes, thanks to recent local and national law revisions. Part of President Obama’s stimulus bill includes a $400 tax break for the self-employed who make under $75,000 in adjusted gross income — probably the great majority of such workers in the Bushwick area. Married earners can double the savings.

more »

This week we have some great four-bedrooms, which are great if you have a ton of friends but can’t decide which ones you want to share an apartment with — bring em all! But seriously, the more bedrooms the cheaper each one is, so if you’re not worried about the place feeling dorm-like, it’s a great way to save money. Some of these might even be affordable for families if you need room for your kids. Also check out the Classifieds, where you can find several more apartments and maybe find your roommates and a cleaning person for all these rooms.

$2200 — 4br: It’s not because I love older buildings that I chose this as the top apartment. Yes, it is full of original details and lovely, huge bay-front windows (though the bay is split by a room-dividing wall), and even built-ins, but it’s also quite affordable and is in an excellent area near everything Bushwick has to offer, including dining, shopping, music, art, the park, and the train. This is dead-center prime Bushwick, and the price and condition are just perfect. Also: great wood floors, big kitchen, two full bathrooms, and a private back yard. It’s just stupid to pass up.
CATS OK | Troutman and Irving | Jefferson L

$2565 — 4br/2ba: Very nice new construction — inside at least, the outside is horrendously ugly. Butif you don’t care — you’re not looking at it from the inside, right? — this place has excellent kitchens and finishes and wonderful views of the neighborhood. The duplex units also have large 5th floor terraces. Apparently there is a gym and laundry in the building as well. Little Skips café is around the corner and other stuff is a few-minute walk, with closer things coming soon. (Note Google street view is dramatically different now.)
PETS OK | Troutman and Evergreen | Morgan L/Myrtle JMZ

$2200 — 4br/2ba: This place is pretty nice, looks like lots of sunshiny space and nice wood floors. The fact that the historic and tree-lined surroundings are mentioned is a plus, usually Bushwick agents and landlords don’t care or notice. Two full bathrooms makes this ideal for roommates.
Grove and Evergreen | Gates JZ

$2345 — 4br: This is pretty far down there, and so unless it’s an absolute palace I’d try to bargain with the landlord on the price. Otherwise, it looks pretty good, love the hot kitchen. Some original details are left but it’s mostly a complete renovation, some exposed brick, French doors (probably because the living room is in the middle), and the entire basement, which should not constitute any of the bedrooms for this price.
PETS OK | Chauncey and Broadway | Chauncey J

$1849 — 4br: A nice place at a good price, though it’s at the far end of the neighborhood and is not in any meaningful sense near “upscale restaurants” or “organic groceries.” Duplex layout and a small but decent kitchen, exposed brick, stock wood floors, dirt back yard — this place is acceptable in every way, but not amazing in any. But if you’re roommates you’re at like $475/person with utilities.
PETS OK | Central and Cooper | Wilson L/Chauncey J

I am loving this green, fabulous, over-the-top two-family time capsule with a whopping 4000+ square feet. Some old lady really loved this house, and for whatever reason it’s being sold now. I see an updated kitchen — full of chintz but lovingly maintained, and with ample counter and cabinet space. The dining nook, with wood paneling, of course, has a photo of a family praying over it. The bathrooms are clean and one looks totally new. There’s even shag carpet! No, I suppose I wouldn’t choose to live in this myself but I can certainly appreciate it, and if you don’t have the funds to renovate immediately — who does, these days? — you can live in a style to which your grandma might have hoped to have been accustomed. Maybe you can get the furniture with it?

1150 Halsey Street | $499,999
4056sqft | 19.5ft-wide | 2-family, 3 bath | frame
Wilson or Halsey L/Halsey J

This week, not much in two-bedrooms under $1200, whether railroad or not. But you have your pick of locations and sizes. There are also a couple of gorgeous apartments in Ridgewood in the Classifieds, and a few others around the neighborhood at several price points.

$1200 — 2br rr: Nice two-bedroom with updated kitchen, a bay-front living room with original details and old fireplace, corner unit with windows all around, and access to a roof you can use as a terrace. Quick access to train, Beauty Bar, Little Skips, and your choice of fried or grilled chicken from any number of places.
PETS OK | Bushwick and Melrose | Myrtle JMZ

$1200 — 2br rr: Nice, bright apartment near food and transportation. Weird split kitchen layout, but there’s room for a breakfast table in a nook with corner windows, and it’s well-renovated. For a minute I didn’t know what he meant by “Greek” food nearby, and then realized he meant Tina’s diner, which is as Greek as any American diner. I think a couple of things have feta. But I digress.
CATS OK | Wilson and Flushing | Morgan L

$1200 — 2br rr: Not very charming or attractive, this apartment has laminate floors that are probably crappily laid. But it’s a nice open space and with your good taste you could whip it into shape. And it’s near a stretch of Wilson that for some reason is suddenly popular — a bar/café, a gallery, a burrito spot, Tina’s of course, and I hear rumors of yet another café and a wine shop.
PETS OK | George and Wilson | Morgan L

$1200 — 2br: For the location — lots of projects, far from business and transporation — this needs to be the size it is, at 1000sqft. It better also not be a railroad. I dispute the “high design” of the kitchen, looks pretty standard to me, in fact, it’s just a single cabinet set and a couple of freestanding appliances. I’d bargain with the landlord for at least $100 off, but the building does look well-maintained from the couple of hallway photos, so maybe it’s nicer than it seems.
PETS OK | Gates and Central | Gates JZ/Myrtle-Wyckoff LM

I featured this house last July, and in the ensuing 8 months the price has come down by $30,000. It is also listed with a different agency and now we can see inside — it’s in pretty good shape. The back yard itself backs up to the “Secret Garden,” a former horse-stabling area owned by the Schaeffer family (of the beer and the Bushwick street) which hosts the Bushwick Farmer’s Market. Linden Street is one of Bushwick’s loveliest blocks, with actual honest-to-goodness brownstones, and with the price reduction I think it’s one of the best homes available in Bushwick. Given how long it’s been on the market you could probably get a few more tens knocked off.

27 Linden Street | $369,000
2400sqft | 20ft-wide | 2-family, 3.5ba | brownstone
Gates JZ

UPDATE: As for 5:40am, the DOE has canceled school for the day.

The White Cliffs of Bushwick.

New York City will see 6-11 inches of accumulated snow by morning, and it is expected to continue snowing all day. By Saturday, the city may see up to 17 inches, with wind gusts up to 50mph. The National Weather Service warns the wet, heavy snow has the potential to take down trees and powerlines and is more difficult to shovel.

Though streets and sidewalks are covered in inches of snow — as much as the blizzard earlier this month — the Dept. of Education says as of midnight that schools are scheduled to be open Friday.

PTA meetings, however, are canceled.

Some corporate offices are reported to be closed as well.

This week is three-bedrooms, some railroads, under $1500. Used to be able to find many things (in any condition) for less but they’re just not around anymore. As ever, also check out the Bushwick Classifieds, which have a few new roommate posts and assorted other offers.

$1450 — 3br: This is an impossibly intact historic apartment, with built-ins, stained glass, wrought-iron arches, parquet floors, and ancient glazed tile in the kitchen — the original subway tile. There is even a (modest) coffered ceiling in the living room, something I’d expect in Park Slope, not Bushwick. Just amazing. The area is full of beautiful brick apartment houses and owner-occupied townhomes on tree-lined streets, and it looks like the landlord will be your neighbor. Close to transportation and shopping.
Putnam and Wyckoff | Myrtle-Wyckoff LM

$1500 — 3br rr: There are two private bedrooms and one pass-through — good for an uneven roommate share. It’s decent inside and has a yard, but the location is excellent, with close proximity to the park, subway, and all kinds of food.
PETS OK | Willoughby and Irving | Jefferson L

$1499 — 3br rr: Two large bedrooms and an “office” in this okay railroad with a yard that is not at all in any kind of Williamsburg. And you’re near the adorable, newly-opened Little Skips café here in the thick of Bushwick.
Troutman and Evergreen | Morgan L/Myrtle JMZ/Central M

$1500 — 3br: First, this place is at eye-level to the elevated train. It is also right at the subway stop. Weigh that pro and con for yourself, and decide if an okay apartment is good enough for this price. In my opinion, there better be nothing remotely railroad about these three bedrooms, especially considering how far down it is, which may be fine if you like Checkers. Like I do.
PETS OK | Broadway and Gates | Gates JZ

$1250 — 3br: Not many photos but there is shows a well-renovated kitchen with dishwasher and granite counters and an attractive living room with some old details. Great price even for a railroad — it simply says “Grove Street” but by the price it’s probably around Bushwick Avenue.