The house goes on the market today; It will not be a local move

Well friends, frienemies, haters, and devoted readers, today marks what you may call the beginning of the end of Johnny's time in Jersey City. He's having the same real estate agent who sold Johnny and his wife this condo come over and be the one who lists it. Johnny won't even say it's bittersweet to be heading back to Michigan, where the family and friends structure are, it's awful. He never wanted any of this to happen this way; certainly not his wonderful wife passing in February. He'd have been content to stay in Jersey City until it was time for dual retirements down the road one day. But, this thing called life never seems to cooperate in the ways you'd like. So, here we are, on Johnny's birthday, and he's listing his home and isn't that just a little sad.

Unless the place sells frighteningly quickly (which would be both good and horrifying), we'll still have time for a Music Series or three, and some more commentary on where Johnny sees Jersey City heading and he'll also have a nice love note to all the people who have been so wonderful and kind during this last couple months. Make sure to catch that. The Jersey City Desk may not survive but Johnny will always be on Twitter as long as there is Twitter to be on.

The Jersey City Council will vote on a new $150 soak for homesellers -- UPDATE

Ward B councilman Khemraj "Chico" Ramchal has put a proposal in front of the entire Council tonight, supported by Steve Fulop yet opposed by real estate agents and other business interests. Ramchal's proposal would charge anyone attempting to sell their home a $150 bill to make sure the seller has not turned their apartment or home into little illegal apartments thus making it mandatory for the city to inspect your property before you sell. This is when you get the privilege of contributing $150 to the city of Jersey City for their trouble. Johnny is going to post something on this he left on NJ.com yesterday for you all to read:

Real estate values are the one thing in JC that works and are improving. It's sure not schools or tax rates under Mayor Stevie Wonder. Great timing with this answer in search of a serious question to help gum that up and slow things down. When you're buying or selling a property time is of the utmost importance to you and the parties in on the deal. The city government will slow things waaaaay down. They don't care about your deal. Ask yourself for YOU -- do you want the privilege of paying the city $150 while you wait with no way to expedite the process.

I read the plan and there is nothing about the law breakers they find. They want to soak you for $150 but nothing about the building inspectors who have been looking the other way through green colored glasses. Nothing about paying back the city for illegal rent you've been collecting when found out. Are punishments for those just something to be waived depending on who it is and if they do city business? Are fines on a sliding scale? 

Nothing about punishing the rulebreakers, Same as it ever was. No mention of taking a portion of all the money siphoned from homeowners being put back in to actual code enforcement and busting these places to begin with. Easier to lose money into a general fund if you don't set strict rules.

Smells like a money grab to Johnny.

Key point there, turning your important deadlines over to city workers.

Look, we like Mr. Ramchal, he does love his city, but this is two proposals he's come up with that look like a solution in search of a problem. Jersey City homes ALREADY go through an inspection for a certificate of occupancy. You yourself get to go through the property and demand changes be made before you buy. You may also report these illegal landlords to the city yourself. Where oh where is the Jersey City compliance office in all this? Like Johnny pointed out, this proposal does nothing to help fund those going after people who set up these illegal apartments.

This is one of those votes we're taking names on, Jersey City Council, if and when City Planning gets done with this, be forewarned.

UPDATE -- This is going to city planning as mentioned down further in the article, then most likely to City Council. The headline could have been clearer.

NYC real estate hits the tipping point; the $100 million dollar condo

That's right, we've now arrived at the point where some of the needle-like skyscrapers rising in New York City are taking earnest money on units being built and one, let's call just it the first one, to top $100,000,000, has been sold.

The building is at 157 West 57th Street and the condo will take up the 89th and 90th floors. Here's what $100 million gets you: 11,000-square-feet, with six bedrooms, seven bathrooms, two powder rooms, views of Central Park. That's $9,000 per square foot. Follow this link for picture mock ups of the condo. 

Ground has been broken this morning on 111 First St.

After years and years of haggling and battling, ground was broken and machines are moving at the 111 First. St. site bordered on the east by Washington, to the west by Warren and to the south by Bay St. Last we heard this was approved for a 52 story residential masterpiece (we realize appreciation lies in the eye of the beholder) by Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas.

Here is a look at what the the building, proposed to have 1.3 million square feet including 710 condominiums, 120 live/work units, 16,000 square feet of art galleries, and about 52,000 square feet of retail space, is supposed to look like:

Crazy huh? Arty enough though to look really good in the PAD.

Since this is Jersey City we once again wonder if this huge new residential building had any kind of impact report on how it would affect the less than desired road conditions around that particular neighborhood, or how such a huge new residence would impact sewers or say on street parking.

So indeed ground is broken in the Powerhouse Arts District on a plan at least 7 years in the making. Here are a couple shots from this morning:

Get out the bad weaves and hair teasing products, you too can roll like Donald Trump

Now not here in Jersey City of course, though Trump does have his name on that horribly bland architecturally challenged building down on Washington Street, we mean you too can become a real estate magnate and own part of the Empire State Building. The Empire State Building is Johnny's favorite building in the world, always has been. Now Johnny and everyone else can get in on the ground floor (d'oh) and buy a piece of the iconic 102 story building. The building is controlled by Anthony E. Malkin and his father, Peter L. Malkin. They want to start an incorporated real estate company and part of their holdings in any coming IPO is the Empire State Building. So, you buy stock in the Malkins you buy a piece of the Empire State Building.

You probably won't be able to jump the line over there for a tour if you own stock, and sadly you probably won't be able to bring your own booze up to the Observation Deck as a stockholder but the idea you could be part owner of something The Donald can only dream of, well that'll set your hair to easy breezy mode by itself.