Sources: Men Arrested Trying To Repaint Bedford Bike Lane
Video: Sad Subway Rant
Call to Ban Carriage Horses, Close Stable
VIDEO: Cycling Activists Repainting Bedford Ave. Bike Lane
Oh D'Oh They Didn't! TSA Posts Airport Screening Manual On Web
How much would you pay for 21/2-acres of land in the Bronx? What if it were an island of your very own located swimming distance from the creepy, off-limits Hart Island? One man, Red Brennen, is asking $300K for ownership of the unfortunately named Rat Island, which he used mostly to store marine construction equipment throughout the years.
Though small in size, it's got a long history (albeit sometimes details are hard to come by). Allegedly it housed a typhoid quarantine hospital in the 1800s, and the remains of cobblestone walls and foundations are still there. The Daily News reports that it got the name from "when prisoners, nicknamed 'rats,' escaped from Hart Island, they paused on the island to catch their breath before swimming on toward City Island." No real rats have been spotted there in over 50 years, they likely bailed out for the same reason it became abandoned: storm floods. According to Wikipedia the highest point on the island is underwater during high tide storms.
add to stumble upon
add to reddit
tweet this
post to facebook
I'm somewhat skeptical as to whether the entire island floods during high tide storms. While it's hard to tell for sure from the picture, the highest point looks a good ten to 15 feet above sea level. A storm severe enough to submerge that point would cause a lot of flooding in populated parts of the city, it would be the sort of event that people would be talking about for years to come.
The photo was taken at low tide, as evidenced by the high water mark, the greenish black line going halfway up the rocks. If there was a severe enough storm during high tide, it's is entirely possible that the water level could submerge the island.
The Mayor should build housing for all his third world buddies.
1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 dollars
perfect new home for Ruth Madoff
Perhaps NY Waterways would be interested in purchasing the island for use as another party beach.
Typhoid hospital? I bet it's HAUNTED!
(Ghosts are water and rat-proof)
But I don't wanna be a pirate!
I'm gonna buy it, put a home on it and then call FEMA when it floods! Oh, wait, I'm white. No one cares when whites along the Mississippi et al. get flooded out their homes. Never mind.
Is there a moment of your day when you're not obsessing about race?
Rat Island, Rat City, USA.
If there's no real rats here, it's beacuse the eating is too good over at Hart Island. Free delivery too.
That island clearly need a Duane Reade, Chase and Starbucks.
Thread winner
In agreement 100%. At least a Duane Reade Express.
Sorry. It was meant for Matty @#13.
Move the MTA offices here.
Only $300k? That's a steal. Your own island within spitting distance of NYC. Just build your house on stilts like many beachfront homes and you'll be golden. Man, if I only had that money to spare.
They should rename it "America's Economy Isle" ..given that it's barren & mostly underwater.
Call it "Citi Island" and pray for the floods.
The island does flood at high tide during noreasters. There is 100 miles of open water to the northeast of Rat Island. I've seen waves wash over the island during storms. That photo is not at low tide, more like mid tide. Tide range is around 6 feet around there.
The island is completely covered in bird crap. It stinks, and you'd spend your entire time trying to beat the birds off, including a few species of protected ones.
In the end... Only an idiot would buy this island for $300000. You can buy a house on City Island for that, and have water, heat and electricity. I have no idea how they are claiming it to be 2 acres in size. Water almost cuts the island in half at high tide.
The island does flood at high tide during noreasters. There is 100 miles of open water to the northeast of Rat Island. I've seen waves wash over the island during storms. That photo is not at low tide, more like mid tide. Tide range is around 6 feet around there.
The island is completely covered in bird crap. It stinks, and you'd spend your entire time trying to beat the birds off, including a few species of protected ones.
In the end... Only an idiot would buy this island for $300000. You can buy a house on City Island for that, and have water, heat and electricity. I have no idea how they are claiming it to be 2 acres in size. Water almost cuts the island in half at high tide.