TENANTS SAVED AN AVERAGE OF $1,300 since the Fairness in Apartment Rentals Act banned broker fees in June
The post FARE Act cuts broker fees, but savings are likely short-lived appeared first on Brooklyn Eagle.
Day: September 16, 2025
GREEK AMERICAN DESIGNER Angela Kambourakis has turned a childhood hobby of making friendship bracelets into Matia Designs
The post Brooklyn-based Greek jewelry brand draws on heritage appeared first on Brooklyn Eagle.
For an old-house lover or preservationist, the recent renovation of one of Brooklyn Heights’ oldest houses, now on the market, is heartbreaking.
While the exterior of the circa 1820s wood frame at 24 Middagh Street has been beautifully restored, per the Landmarks Preservation Commission requirements, the rare almost fully intact historic interior has been gutted and reconfigured so that, apart from one or two mantels, it is unrecognizable.
What was needed, perhaps, was a deep-pocketed preservationist to guide the house gently into the 21st century, making what structural reinforcements were needed without disturbing the historic fabric. But such an approach can be more costly than gutting, and such characters are thin on the ground — and evidently none stepped forward.
Contrast the fate of 24 Middagh with nearby 48 Willow Place, a townhouse designed and built in 1965 by owner-occupants and architects Joseph and Mary Merz. A mid-century-modern-loving family bought it 2021 for $5.8 million and flipped it in 2024, having updated it for modern living — so carefully the changes are hard to discern — without affecting the style or spirt of the original, thus ensuring its preservation for at least a few more decades.
“The big idea was to preserve and be deferential to the mid-century ideas and intentions of the Merzes,” renovation architect Ian Starling told Architectural Digest.
A Brownstoner story about the history of 24 Middagh Street extensively documented the interior before the house sold in 2022 for $4.2 million. Now it is back on the market today after a thorough renovation, asking $9.995 million. The listing, from Daniel Kramp of Christie’s International Real Estate Group, shows new floors, a new staircase, and an open-plan parlor floor. The kitchen has been relocated from the basement to a new parlor-floor extension, which was allowed because an original one had been removed, Landmarks documents show. The layouts of the basement and bedroom floors have also been rearranged.
This story first appeared on Brooklyn Paper’s sister site Brownstoner
Categories
Cartoon Sketchbook: September 16
A collection of topical political cartoons from various artists curated by the Brooklyn Eagle editorial staff.
The post Cartoon Sketchbook: September 16 appeared first on Brooklyn Eagle.
Pyotr Tolstoy and the stories of corruption – Google Search google.com/search?q=Pyotr+To…
Two prominent figures with the name Pyotr Tolstoy are associated with stories of corruption, but in very different ways: the author Leo Tolstoy’s ancestor Pyotr Andreyevich Tolstoy, and the contemporary Russian politician Pyotr Olegovich Tolstoy. [1, 2, 3]
Pyotr Andreyevich Tolstoy
Pyotr Andreyevich Tolstoy (1645–1729) was a Russian statesman who is primarily associated with political intrigue and espionage under Peter the Great.• Political intrigue: While serving as Russia’s first permanent envoy to Turkey, and later as a senator and diplomat, he was known for his ruthless pragmatism. His actions were largely seen as serving the state’s interest and his own career rather than being defined by corruption as it is typically known today.
• Downfall: His career ended when he was exiled by the future Tsar Peter II, the grandson of Peter the Great, whom Pyotr Andreyevich had convinced to return to Russia only for the young man to be executed.
• Literary ties: Pyotr Andreyevich was the ancestor of the famous author Leo Tolstoy, whose works would later explore the themes of social and moral corruption. [2, 4, 5, 6, 7]Pyotr Olegovich Tolstoy
Pyotr Olegovich Tolstoy (born 1969) is a Russian politician and journalist currently serving as Deputy Chairman of the State Duma.• State-sponsored propaganda: As a state-controlled media figure, Tolstoy has a history of using his position to disparage opponents, including journalists and opposition figures, in what critics characterize as “illicit PR”.
• Political intimidation: Reports indicate that Tolstoy has used his platform to attack political opponents. For example, in 2016 he appeared on a state TV program where he helped paint his competitors in a negative light.
• International condemnation and sanctions: As a staunch supporter of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Tolstoy has been targeted by international sanctions. In 2025, it was reported that he was hosted in Switzerland at an event despite EU sanctions imposed on him for his vocal backing of the war.
• Disinformation and war rhetoric: Tolstoy has been a key figure in spreading state propaganda and disinformation regarding the war in Ukraine. In 2025, he also gained notoriety for publicly threatening to “kill every French soldier who sets foot on Ukrainian soil”. [1, 8, 9, 10]Author Leo Tolstoy’s exploration of corruption
It is also worth noting that the famous author Leo Tolstoy, a descendant of Pyotr Andreyevich, extensively wrote about corruption within Russian society. His novel Resurrection is a critical examination of the corruption of the criminal justice system and the moral failings of the aristocracy. His criticisms of the hypocrisy and corruption of state institutions and organized religion led to his excommunication from the Russian Orthodox Church in 1901. [4, 11, 12, 13]AI responses may include mistakes.
[1] golosinfo.org/en/articles/10…] britannica.com/biography/Pyo…] en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyotr_…] sites.northwestern.edu/nurpr…] en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyotr_…] en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyotr_…] britannica.com/biography/Pyo…] theins.ru/en/news/283557[9] data.europa.eu/apps/eusancti…] holodomormuseum.org.ua/en/pr…] ebsco.com/research-starters/…] bbc.co.uk/programmes/article…] en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyotr_…
–— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) Sep 16, 2025
