Over two years ago, we wrote about 1870 Eastern Parkway, a 41-unit, 3-building affordable condominium complex in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn. The project, which was designed by Dattner Architects and developed by Habitat for Humanity, was completed back in September and is seeking a LEED Gold rating from USGBC. Earlier this week, we were happy to read that 27 families have already moved into the complex and, according to Brownstoner, all 41 of the units have been sold to applicants who earn between 45 and 80 percent of the area's median annual income at an average price of $145,000. Although nearly 90,000 people live in Brownsville, only 16 percent of residents actually own their homes; median household income is less than $21,000. The 41 units at 1870 Eastern Parkway are twice the number that Habitat for Humanity will produce in a typical year, and residents should save up to 30 percent on their energy bills thanks to Dattner's design program, which also specified various low-VOC and recycled-content materials.

I really should handle this one. The good news is that Stephen is back from his Far East honeymoon, safe and sound, but while he'd usually be our hockey correspondent -- given the fact that he cares about the sport, and I only write about it when my other job requires it -- he's 1) currently saddled with a body clock that is telling him it's 13:72 a.m., Bermuda Triangle time and 2) such a devout New York Rangers fan that it'd be hard for him to write a post about the New Jersey Devils without inserting all-caps "Let's Go Rangers" interjections throughout. And anyway, as New Jersey relatives, we both share a track record with the Devils that goes back to their old Christmas Tree Color Scheme days, so I'm qualified.

Some blocks get all the history. West 135th Street in Harlem, between 7th Avenue and Lenox, was one of the proudest blocks in the neighborhood during Harlem's glory years. In 1910, the St. Philip's Episcopal Church -- the wealthiest of uptown's black churches during that period -- bought the block of homes on 135th Street, with the intention of renting them to parishioners. At the time, the row of stately townhomes were the first buildings that far uptown to belong to an African American landlord. The block was later the home (and one of the main subjects) of the famed photographer James Van Der Zee. These days, the block is notably worse for wear, but headed for another encounter with New York City history.