The Freshest Food is from Above: New York’s Rooftop Gardens

Kara Schlotthauer

Agriculture reaches further than just in the acres of open farmland in the Midwest; it’s also suspended above pedestrians’ heads in the middle of NYC. Gardens are taking over the roofs of New York’s buildings, silencing the excuse that wide open spaces are necessary to produce quality, fresh vegetables and herbs. These rooftop gardens find their places atop apartment buildings and restaurants, while New Yorkers also use plots of ground-level land where possible to establish urban farms. Urbanites have taken their nutrition into their own hands to get only the best ingredients to support a healthy lifestyle, ranging from a few contained plants to bulging green expanses.

Even city lawmakers are on board with more green spaces. A bill is currently in the works that would promote the importance of urban farming and community gardens, protecting them and adding bright spots of growth to vacant lots around the area. This is one of the reasons why careful planning is really important in gardening.

Many small community gardens and farms are spread throughout the city’s neighborhoods, located largely on publicly-owned land or operated by nonprofit organizations to make the food accessible to community members.

A few of the largest gardens crowning New York’s rooftops, though, are listed below.

Riverpark Farm at Alexandria Center

Instagram: @riverparknyc

A year-long paused construction site caught the attention of Top Chef’s Tom Colicchio and Gramercy Tavern alum Sisha Ortuzar as the perfect site to grow the freshest ingredients for their restaurant. Planted in milk crates, the portable garden relocated to the plaza’s north side when construction restarted, not giving up on the quality of the dishes served with the 100 types of fresh vegetables.

Bell Book & Candle

Using a vertical garden system, Bell Book & Candle is a host for a lush rooftop garden, placing the highest value on locally and organically grown produce. The menu selections heavily rely on the available ingredients acquired from the garden and cycles through the year’s seasons, bringing guaranteed savory flavors to every dish prepared.

Brooklyn Grange

Instagram: @brooklyngrange

Despite the location its name suggests, this rooftop garden is based out of Long Island City. Claiming five and a half acres of rooftop space across Brooklyn and Queens, Brooklyn Grange operates the largest rooftop soil farms in the world. Since 2010, it’s passion is to grow and source food to local communities in the eco-friendliest way. Modern urban agriculture takes its cues from Brooklyn Grange, and the 80,000 lbs. of produce isn’t all that it offers. The rooftop gardens double as event venues for yoga classes, weddings and dinner parties.

 If you don’t want to walk down the street for a ripe tomato or a sprig of parsley, you could create your own garden with a bit of a green thumb. While personal rooftop gardens require a considerable amount of care, time and money, many New Yorkers are accepting the challenge to get the best ingredients for their meals.

 The reward of a self-grown garden is worth the effort anywhere you go, from the tallest building to just around the block.

 For tips to start your own rooftop garden, check out these websites:

• Before Starting Your Garden                                           

• Starting a Rooftop Container Garden

Have a listing you think should be featured contact us or email at Jeremy@offthemrkt.com to tell us more! Follow Off The MRKT on Twitter and Instagram, and like us on Facebook.

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Broker Marcos G. Cohen Launches New Digital Film

Marcos G. Cohen

Douglas Elliman Real Estate, announces that top broker Marcos G. Cohen has launched a digital marketing film, showcasing his knowledge and expertise about the landscape of New York City, be it the city’s architecture, treasured locations and especially, its residential real estate. Cohen, a native of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, moved to New York City at the age of 22, and began his career at Elliman in 1994. He has been a consistent top-producer ever since he joined the company three decades ago, servicing local, domestic and international clients.

In 2019, Cohen was the tenth highest ranking individual at Douglas Elliman. He was the top ranked individual agent in 2010, 2012 and 2014 and second ranked in 2015 among 7,000 real estate professionals company-wide.

“No two customers are the same, and I use my skills and personality to provide exemplary service to my clients from day one until closing,” said Cohen. “Throughout my career, I’ve had the ability to help many people realize their dreams here in New York City. In exchange, my own dreams are realized, which is priceless to me.” 

“Marcos’ unparalleled dedication to his clients has been demonstrated over his accomplished and longstanding career at Douglas Elliman,” said Howard M. Lorber, Executive Chairman, Douglas Elliman Realty, LLC. “His enthusiasm for New York City, as demonstrated in this digital film, is no different than the passion he shows on a daily basis when working with clients and colleagues.”

Have a listing you think should be featured contact us or email at Jeremy@offthemrkt.com to tell us more! Follow Off The MRKT on Twitter and Instagram, and like us on Facebook.

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Pro Or DIY: Questions To Ask Yourself Before You Start A Remodel

Summer is one of the best times of the year for renovation and remodeling projects when you're getting ready to put your house on the market. But before you pick up that sledgehammer to start taking out those old cabinets, it might be a good idea to hit the pause button. First, ask yourself whether it's best to DIY or hire a professional for the job. Those Youtube tutorials may make your DIY project look easy, but you don’t want to ruin your home by biting off more than you can chew.

You don't need to hire a contractor for every renovation job you do, especially if the project is small. But how do you know for sure when it's best to call someone else or when to pull on your safety goggles and save some money?

Here are a few key questions to ask yourself when you're not sure if your remodel requires an experienced set of hands.

Do you have all the tools you need for your project?

One important thing to remember when you plan to DIY a project is that your main goal is to save money. You won't be saving money if you need to invest in a series of expensive tools and equipment to DIY your remodel. You may want to have a machinist tool box for your upcoming project.

That said, when you're still in the planning stages of your remodel, make sure that you're considering every material and tool you might need and the cost of that material. Do you need specialized drills or flexible graphite, which is 95% carbon? Or do you just need a good saw and some new hardware?

If you need more expensive materials or equipment, it may be in your best interest to contact a professional to do the job for you. This way, you're only paying for the contractor's services instead of paying for all of the equipment, which you might not use again.

However, if the materials you're using are inexpensive or you plan on using the equipment you're purchasing again in the future, it might not be a bad idea to DIY your project. Just be sure to do the calculations and compare them with your budget before making your final decision.

Does your remodeling project require specific skills?

Approximately 50% of the world's steel is used for buildings, and you don't necessarily need a degree in engineering to use steel in a remodel if you're going for an industrial design.

However, you might need professional assistance if you want the steel you're using to look a certain way. For instance, powder coating is a popular dry finishing process that represents 15% of the industrial finishing market. Powder coating provides both protection and decoration for steel and other metals.

The same is true for wood materials. You can stain wood cabinets yourself during a kitchen remodel. But if you're looking to paint your cabinets, it might be a good idea to have a professional do the job to avoid any mishaps that might make a potential buyer think twice. After all, 8% of consumers said they "caused damage to my home" as the result of their DIY home improvement projects. In this situation, it’s far better to find a reliable, professional home remodeler to give you the quality and expert finish you’re looking for without causing any damage. 

Do you have the energy to take on a remodeling project?

Once you've established the materials, equipment, and skills you need for the project you've decided to take on, it's important to ask yourself whether you have the energy to do it. This might sound like an odd question, but there's a reason why millennials are more likely to take on a DIY project.

Just one hour of moderate intense exercise such as martial arts can burn up to 500 calories. If you can handle the sweat, you can take on a remodeling project by yourself, with a partner, or with friends and family.

However, if you're on a time crunch for selling your home or you don't have a lot of energy to do the project yourself when you get home from work, it might be a better idea to contact a contractor.

There are many factors to consider when deciding whether to DIY a home project or to hire a professional. But ultimately, the decision comes down to your budget, your schedule, and your capabilities. Small renovations that are on the cheap can easily be done on your own, but be careful with larger and more complicated projects.

Great Reasons To Invest In Real Estate

Apart from putting all your hard-earned money in a savings account, many financially-savvy individuals are always on the lookout for the best avenues in which they could invest. It’s natural to want to strive for financial security and grow your money. This can lead to many individuals looking for passive income opportunities and businesses that make money while you sleep.

Passive income works just like your savings does, except that your money is in another investment form and not in the bank. One of the most promising choices in which you could invest is real estate. This refers to residential homes, commercial buildings, or rental property. As you invest in these properties, you can watch your income grow.

As a start, here is a great guide on residential real estate investing that you can study first. To convince you further, here are some of the best reasons why you should start investing in real estate today:

1. It Allows You To Enjoy High Returns

When you have some extra money on hand, you may constantly be searching for the best ways to get your money to gain high returns. If you currently hold a day job, you might prefer a passive means of earning income through real estate investment. Even as you sleep, your property will continue to earn, and all you have to do is enjoy it. As of 2018, the National Council of Real Estate Fiduciaries found that private commercial market real estate made a return of at least 9.85% over the past years. This percentage is quite substantial when compared to other means of investing, such as through a traditional savings account, which can only give you around 1% to 3% of returns per year.

2. It Gives You A Steady Cash Flow

This section applies to those who are keen on choosing rental properties for their investment. Or you may purchase a residential house or property, and convert it into separate sections that can be rented out. Whether the lease plan for your tenants is long-term or short-term, one thing is for sure: you are going to enjoy a steady cash flow into your account. 

This steady cash flow helps make sure that you are still going to enjoy a monthly income stream. Hence, no matter what happens to the current job that you hold, you know that you are going to be okay. In other instances, too, it may also be the case that you have long been dreaming of having more freedom with your time. Perhaps your full-time job is eating up too much of your time that you tend to forget and neglect your family, or you are also exhausted at the end of the day. With real property investments, you have many ways to earn a steady income.

A steady income from real estate starts with getting and developing good properties. Browse through reliable real estate listings in your favorite cities to find your prospects. There are websites dedicated to properties in specific areas. For example, if you’re interested in island properties, Maui Real Estate is an excellent place to start.

3. It Allows You To Enjoy Tax Benefits

When speaking of tax benefits, these can generally differ depending on the state you’re from. Typically, governments often reward rental property owners with tax benefits. For instance, rental property owners get to enjoy lesser tax than other forms of earning an income, as whatever income you may receive from rentals isn’t subjected to self-employment tax. Other tax exemptions that you may enjoy also include:

• Lower tax rates for long-term profits

• Better depreciation adjustments

 To be a hundred percent certain, though, always double check with your local laws.

4. It Appreciates In Value

This is one of the most well-known advantages of investing in real estate. Among all the assets that you can ever own, real estate properties are those with the most growth. You get to enjoy better appreciation, as real estate is always increasing in value. Hence, even if you do not do anything with your property at the moment, or if you also use it for personal purposes, you can still earn from it in the future should you one day decide to sell your property. 

5. It Gives You High Rental Amounts

High rental amounts are beneficial for you as the owner of the rental property. While it may not be the case for your tenants, this is still something that you can enjoy since you are the one who made an investment in the real property. After all, for the first few years, you will also have to take back first whatever it is that you spent to purchase the property. If the prices of commodities are always increasing, you can be sure that rent can increase, too. Hence, you can fairly increase your rental amount in relation with inflation. This means even more income for you as the property owner.

Conclusion

With these reasons and so many more, it is generally safe to say that the choice to invest in real estate is a good one. Real estate is a long-term investment with a value that increases over time. If you are looking for a stable investment that can also be one of the best assets that you can own and pass down through generations, real estate is the best one for you to purchase. As many have used real estate to build their wealth, you can accomplish that for yourself as well.

Have a listing you think should be featured contact us or email at Jeremy@offthemrkt.com to tell us more! Follow Off The MRKT on Twitter and Instagram, and like us on Facebook.

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