by "Steve in Manhattan" (blogenfreude01)
Published 09/10/2017 at 17:31
by "Steve in Manhattan" (blogenfreude01)
Published 09/10/2017 at 17:31
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STARS: 1
The paint in our building was drying when the Titanic went down, and this elevator has been here for all that time. The staff let me use it myself to bring up a big TV back in 2007. As you can see, they’ve made a few attempts to modernize it, but who knows ....
"OPPOsaurus WRX" (opposaurus)
09/10/2017 at 17:37, STARS: 2
Elevator? I see a suicide room
"Little Black Coupe Turned Silver" (littleblackcoupe)
09/10/2017 at 17:40, STARS: 1
There are few things I hate more than freight elevators. At least that one seems to have solid walls and not the open metal grid like so many of them.
"Steve in Manhattan" (blogenfreude01)
09/10/2017 at 17:45, STARS: 0
Still got that double door thing where you can see the floors flying by as you ascend.
"Steve in Manhattan" (blogenfreude01)
09/10/2017 at 17:52, STARS: 0
I think you could certainly slaughter a few people in there and leave no trace ...
"DipodomysDeserti" (dipodomysdeserti)
09/10/2017 at 18:20, STARS: 0
I got stuck in one of these in Asbury Park at my aunt’s apartment when I was young. It was terrifying.
"Quadradeuce" (quadradeuce)
09/10/2017 at 18:25, STARS: 0
Growing up, the freight elevator in my dad’s warehouse was an open box (no doors) that rode on wood rails that I had to grease monthly. It was operated by pulling on one of three ropes that hung down the elevator shaft. Pull on one and the elevator goes up, pull on the other it goes down. The third rope stopped it. Needless to say, it was impossible to get the elevator flush with the floor without a ton on practice. As far as I know it’s still in use.
"ranwhenparked" (ranwhenparked)
09/10/2017 at 18:42, STARS: 0
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. I was in a hotel a few weeks ago that still had the original 1920s elevator cars, retrofitted to push button control. Absolutely beautiful carved and marquetry panelling, would be economically impossible to duplicate today.
"Ssfancyfresh" (scotttt)
09/10/2017 at 19:30, STARS: 1
Fright elevator
"Steve in Manhattan" (blogenfreude01)
09/10/2017 at 20:34, STARS: 0
Would not argue with you ....
"EngineerWithTools" (engineerwithtools)
09/10/2017 at 20:45, STARS: 0
With the rotating control! I love old machinery, particularly if it’s still being useful.
2500 lbs seems... light, though, for “freight”. One upright piano at a time, please.
"Steve in Manhattan" (blogenfreude01)
09/10/2017 at 23:52, STARS: 0
Having moved a couple pianos, I want to say 800 lbs on the high end, but thinking my Steinway K was about 650.
"tromoly" (tromoly)
09/11/2017 at 00:19, STARS: 1
I <3 freight elevators, in no way am I saying that ironically, they are literally the best thing ever. Need to move several pallets at once? Done! Need to move many dozen people? Hop on in! So convenient.
"Steve in Manhattan" (blogenfreude01)
09/11/2017 at 00:36, STARS: 0
The staff lets me use it when necessary (in other words not very often) and I respect that. Once in a while, when one of the two people elevators is out, they will take me to the 9th floor, where we live. I think sometimes that Christmas tips work for you.
"pip bip - choose Corrour" (hhgttg69)
09/11/2017 at 07:22, STARS: 0
better than the elevator i was in yesterday.
"Steve in Manhattan" (blogenfreude01)
09/11/2017 at 09:25, STARS: 0
Whoa - where was that?
"pip bip - choose Corrour" (hhgttg69)
09/11/2017 at 09:32, STARS: 1
local supermarket in the Woolworths supermarket Curtis St
from the roof to in store.
i’ll grab a pic next weekend.
"Chariotoflove" (chariotoflove)
09/11/2017 at 10:11, STARS: 1
I remember in college I had a class on the second floor of an old building that I had to use the passenger elevator to get to. It was behind a closet door, like this, and had the accordion grating door. Just the up and down button, and you had to eyeball when you were even with the floor you wanted to let go and stop it. I got stuck a number of times because they were doing construction next door, and it would knock something off the rails. There was no emergency call button. I would just have to yell up the shaft, and the TAs upstairs would hear me and call security to come rescue me. Good times.
"Steve in Manhattan" (blogenfreude01)
09/11/2017 at 10:23, STARS: 1
I’ve seen both regular elevators out, sometimes at one time, but the freight elevator never seems to die ... they’ve used it to get us upstairs many times. Our building is the best ...
"Chariotoflove" (chariotoflove)
09/11/2017 at 10:34, STARS: 0
That’s a nice building indeed. I was offered my dream job at Hunter College back in 2000. I couldn’t take it because I couldn’t find anywhere I could afford to live in a wheelchair on Manhattan at the time. Everything that was even new enough to be remodeled to be accessible was over $800k. Also, barely 10% of the subway stations were accessible. It sounds like you got yourself into a great little niche. My impression is that it’s very tough, and getting tougher, to find those unless you’re rich. Worth dealing with the elevators.
"Steve in Manhattan" (blogenfreude01)
09/11/2017 at 11:15, STARS: 1
This building would have been a good bet - elevator at 72nd & Broadway 1/2/3 station that 1/2 block away. Never realized how important that is until I threw out my back recently and stairs weren’t an option for a while. The rent on this 1 BR is now $2,750 - low for the excellent area we’re in - and we’re going to buy it after Jan 1 for considerably less than the 800K price you mentioned. Building completely wheelchair accessible - the only issue you’d have is the step up to the bathroom (this is to cover the plumbing installed in the 70s).
"Chariotoflove" (chariotoflove)
09/11/2017 at 11:38, STARS: 0
That’s pretty neat. I bet there a lot more options I could find nowadays by remote, especially since the age of the internet is in full swing.
The problems with these old buildings are not gross accessibility. Those can be fixed with post-construction solutions like ramps, electric door openers, and chair lifts. No, it’s the little livability things. For example, in that pic, you could put a ramp up to the bathroom level, but then I couldn’t get into the bathroom. See, almost all older residential buildings have 24" bathroom doors, making it nearly impossible for most wheelchairs to get in. Once in, you wouldn’t be able to close the inward-opening door unless the floor space is really big. The answer is to put in a 32" door opening outward the other way (or at least 28") and increase the bathroom square footage. Now you’re talking significant remodel money if it’s possible.
Now visiting is another story. I would put a rolling desk chair in the bathroom, and transfer to it across the door frame, close the door, and roll roll around inside. I’ve done that before when staying with relatives in old houses. It’s all about problem solving.
I bet there are a lot more stations with elevators these days, too. As a purely intellectual problem, it would be fun to go in with my tape measure, look at those old buildings, and see how I would map out a living plan based on different budgets.
"Steve in Manhattan" (blogenfreude01)
09/11/2017 at 11:47, STARS: 1
Just measured - door opening 28" or as near as makes no difference. The other issue would be that cutout on the left - it houses a tiny cubbyhole but can’t be taken out because it’s also what makes enough space on the other side so the kitchen is usable.
"Chariotoflove" (chariotoflove)
09/11/2017 at 12:27, STARS: 0
Awesome. I could squeak in at that angle with hopefully only minor damage to the woodwork.
Next time I’m in NY, I’ll just stay with you. I’ll even bring my own touch up paint!
"Steve in Manhattan" (blogenfreude01)
09/11/2017 at 12:45, STARS: 1
Who knows - once we close in 2018, she may rip out a lot of what’s here. All I can do is sign whatever she tells me to ....
"Chariotoflove" (chariotoflove)
09/11/2017 at 12:47, STARS: 1
#husbandsurvivalskills
I truly want to see how that potential remodel goes down, if you’re up for posting it. That kind of stuff is fascinating.
"Steve in Manhattan" (blogenfreude01)
09/11/2017 at 12:56, STARS: 1
She’s got floorplans all over the place - shift a wall to put the bathroom off the BR instead of LR, other changes. #husbandsurvivalskills? I haz them.
"Chariotoflove" (chariotoflove)
09/11/2017 at 12:59, STARS: 0
As long as there is enough space for the booze and a place to crash after, it’s all good.
When we were building, we got out graph paper and did the thing where we made starboard cutouts to scale of all the furniture (and of me) and moved them around to make the floor plan. Kindergarten skills in action!
"Steve in Manhattan" (blogenfreude01)
09/11/2017 at 13:07, STARS: 1
She’s got it on a design program online, so we can play with the floorplan on an iPad. I have no power here, so I’ll take what I get - and she’s got excellent taste, so it’ll be good.
"Chariotoflove" (chariotoflove)
09/11/2017 at 13:10, STARS: 0
Fantastic. I like her.