Brownstoner: LightPole

1450 Pacific Street

2010-03-12T20:00:00Z

Address: 1450 Pacific Street, between Brooklyn and Kingston Avenues
Type: Private House
Neighborhood: Crown Heights North (CHN Historic District)
Year Built:1882
Architectural Style: Italianate/Neo-Grec
Architect: George Damen
Landmarked: Yes

Why chosen: This freestanding brick Italianate, set back on a small hill, overlooks the rest of Pacific St, and must have had an amazing porch view, when built. It is a beautifully preserved home, with an impressive wooden cornice and Neo-Grec detailing in the lintels and porch. It also has a garage, built before 1940, squatting in front of the house cutting off the fine gardens and walkways. In spite of that, it is a remarkable survivor, constructed when the area was a suburban retreat, just before the opening of the -Brooklyn Bridge in 1883.

Correction: In our very first post, we credited the architectural firm of Halsey, MacCormack and Helmer with the design of the Hanson Place Central Methodist Church, getting that information from a reputable source, a well regarded architectural guide to Brooklyn. An intrepid reader thought differently, did some digging, and wrote in that the actual architect was Lessing Whitford Williams, a contemporary, and sometimes colleague, of HM&H. His evidence is overwhelming. The address was incorrect, as well. It should be 9-13 Hanson Place. Thank you Mr. H.P. for that information.

470 Driggs

2010-03-12T19:01:34Z

Chef Michael Psilakis, of Kefi and Anthos in Manhattan, just got a liquor license for the space on the corner of North 10th Street and Driggs. According to the New York Post, "The chef has not signed a lease on the space and even if he does, he remains unsure of the concept of the business. So far, Psilakis is using the name Biergarten williamsburg LLC, for the liquor license application, but this would not be the name of the restaurant." With Radegast in walking distance, is this neighborhood in need of another biergarten? Or would it make more sense for Psilakis to bring his signature Greek cuisine to Brooklyn? GMAP

1253 Carroll Street

2010-03-12T18:13:35Z

Park Slope
17 Park Place
Warren Lewis
Sunday 3-4:30
$1,775,000
GMAP P*Shark

Carroll Gardens
405 Smith Street
Manzione RE
Sunday 2-4
$1,100,000
GMAP P*Shark

Midwood
698 East 22nd Street
National Brokerage
Sunday 2:30-4:30
$848,000
GMAP P*Shark

Crown Heights
1253 Carroll Street
Realty on the Greene
Sunday 1-3
$755,000
GMAP P*Shark

698 East 22nd Street

2010-03-12T18:13:35Z

Park Slope
17 Park Place
Warren Lewis
Sunday 3-4:30
$1,775,000
GMAP P*Shark

Carroll Gardens
405 Smith Street
Manzione RE
Sunday 2-4
$1,100,000
GMAP P*Shark

Midwood
698 East 22nd Street
National Brokerage
Sunday 2:30-4:30
$848,000
GMAP P*Shark

Crown Heights
1253 Carroll Street
Realty on the Greene
Sunday 1-3
$755,000
GMAP P*Shark

405 Smith Street

2010-03-12T18:13:35Z

Park Slope
17 Park Place
Warren Lewis
Sunday 3-4:30
$1,775,000
GMAP P*Shark

Carroll Gardens
405 Smith Street
Manzione RE
Sunday 2-4
$1,100,000
GMAP P*Shark

Midwood
698 East 22nd Street
National Brokerage
Sunday 2:30-4:30
$848,000
GMAP P*Shark

Crown Heights
1253 Carroll Street
Realty on the Greene
Sunday 1-3
$755,000
GMAP P*Shark

17 Park Place

2010-03-12T18:13:35Z

Park Slope
17 Park Place
Warren Lewis
Sunday 3-4:30
$1,775,000
GMAP P*Shark

Carroll Gardens
405 Smith Street
Manzione RE
Sunday 2-4
$1,100,000
GMAP P*Shark

Midwood
698 East 22nd Street
National Brokerage
Sunday 2:30-4:30
$848,000
GMAP P*Shark

Crown Heights
1253 Carroll Street
Realty on the Greene
Sunday 1-3
$755,000
GMAP P*Shark

25 Washington Street

2010-03-12T16:31:48Z

Remember the residential conversion we told you was in store for 25 Washington Street in Dumbo? Well, it's started. Last month the permits were approved for interior demolition and the requisite scaffolding went up shortly thereafter. Perhaps of greater interest, we noticed on the Alt 1 application mention of a proposed two-story enlargement of the building. Anyone know the status of that effort?
25 Washington Conversion Confirmed [Brownstoner] GMAP P*Shark DOB

GreenWood Florist

2010-03-12T15:00:16Z

The brand new GreenWood Florist has officially opened on the East side of 4th avenue and 21st street in Greenwood Heights, in the same spot that Danielas Floral Design used to occupy. It is conveniently located directly next door to Leone Funeral Home and two blocks north of Park Slope Funeral. The cemetery, which shares its name with the florist, is just one avenue away. GMAP

Hamm Archives Center

2010-03-12T14:30:43Z

BAM put out a press release on the first of this month announcing the exciting news that it had purchased the ground-floor retail space at the Forte and was planning to turn it into the Hamm Archives Center, named after board member Charles J. Hamm who put up the dough for the acquisition. What wasn't included in that press release was any mention of what the venerable institution had to pay to snag the 3,800-square-foot space, which is just up the block from BAM's Harvey Lichtenstein Theater. The transaction just hit public records, though, so now we know: $1,807,200. We asked commercial broker Michael Annunziata what he thought of the price. "At approximately $473 psf, I believe this sale is in line with today's market, and a fair deal for both sides," he said. From the press release: "The BAM Hamm Archives Center will house a rich collection of materials documenting BAM’s unique artistic heritage as well as the institution’s early history as a major Brooklyn center for cultural and community events." As the Brooklyn Eagle reported, an architect has not yet been chosen to design the space. Great news and great use of the space! GMAP

Former William Crane House

2010-03-11T20:30:00Z

Address: 284 Clinton Avenue, between DeKalb and Willoughby
Name: Former William W. Crane House
Neighborhood: Clinton Hill (Clinton Hill Historic District)
Year Built: 1854
Architectural Style: Gothic Revival, with façade re-shingled around 1884.
Architect: Unknown
Landmarked: Yes

Why chosen: Built when Clinton Hill was a suburban retreat, this classic Gothic Revival villa is a rare gem, both for its style, and for its remarkable good condition. Note the Gothic details on the fence, porch, and in the bargeboard over the entryway. The house was built for fancy goods dealer William W. Crane, and was probably modernized by new owner, oilman Richard J. Chard, in 1884. By this time, Clinton Hill was a very posh neighborhood, and the new shingles echo the upscale Shingle Style houses being built at this time. Originally, the grounds for the house extended to DeKalb Avenue. GMAP

160 North 12th Street

2010-03-11T19:39:41Z

As we reported back in September, Williamsburg's in the process of getting a new hotel--hopefully one that's a little classier than Hotel Le Jolie. This new one at 160 North 12th Street is designed by the ubiquitous Gene Kaufman and is going to be seven stories. The hotel is part of a cluster of three buildings that runs through the block to North 11th Street; the other two buildings are straight residential.
Gene Kaufman's Billyburg Hotel [Brownstoner] GMAP P*Shark DOB

Guvnor's Vintage Thrift

2010-03-11T19:05:12Z

No big surprises here: Guvnor's Vintage Thrift is moving next door into 176 5th Avenue and will reopen mid-March, and their old location has been filled by Gift Man, another decor/knick-knack shop on Park Slope's 5th Avenue stretch. With the huge amount of store closings in the area, we'll see if this place can tough it out. GMAP

871 East 15th Street

2010-03-11T18:15:35Z

Here's a modest but attractive house in good shape at an accessible price: 871 East 15th Street. The two-story brick is only 1,500 square feet, but it's got three bedrooms, a front porch and backyard. The original parquet floors and other wood details have a lot of charm. All for $575,000. What do you think?
871 East 15th Street [Brooklyn Hearth] GMAP P*Shark

154 Broadway, #4

2010-03-11T17:41:55Z

This loft at 154 Broadway in Williamsburg is starting to look like a pretty good deal. We first noticed it back in 2007 when the 1,710-square-foot pad was asking $1,350,000. From what we can tell from StreetEasy, the price appears to have been lowered in 2008 to $1,175,000 before getting taken off the market. Now it's back on again with a price tag of $985,000; the taxes and common charges are only a combined $1,009. We're not loving some of the design touches, but they're not anything that should significantly impact the sales price, and the space itself is pretty sweet. What do you think?
154 Broadway, #4 [Apts & Lofts] GMAP P*Shark

348 Clermont Avenue

2010-03-11T16:01:15Z

HPD appears to be wasting no time in dismantling the long-neglected brownstone at 348 Clermont Avenue. For more background on the situation, see our post from earlier this week.
348 Clermont Avenue Getting Demolished [Brownstoner]
House of the Day: 348 Clermont Avenue Shell [Brownstoner] GMAP

Le Gamin

2010-03-11T14:01:35Z

When NY Shitty first noticed that Le Gamin was planning to open a Greenpoint outpost at 108 Franklin Street, there was no signage in place yet to speak of; same deal when Eater checked in back in early February. Now, points out a tipster, there's an attractively branded awning in place. Anyone know if they succeeded in getting Community Board support for their beer and wine license? GMAP

Friendship Baptist Church

2010-03-10T20:30:00Z

Address: 92 Herkimer Street, between Bedford and Nostrand Avenues
Name: Kismet Temple, now Friendship Baptist Church
Neighborhood: Bedford Stuyvesant
Year Built: 1910
Architectural Style: Eclectic Moorish Revival
Architect: R. Thomas Short

Why chosen: Built for a Shriner chapter called the Ancient Arabic Order of the Mystic Shrine, this building is a wonderfully surprising piece of “Moorish” architecture, with its onion domes silhouetted on the horizon. Upon closer inspection, the domes are sheathed in pressed metal, and the golden brick façade is artfully festooned with terra-cotta Arabic script and ornamentation. The site of many public and political gatherings, it became a movie theatre in 1932, and was sold to Friendship Baptist Church in 1966. GMAP

386 Wythe Avenue

2010-03-10T19:41:03Z

We used to live a block from this old brick manufacturing building at the corner of Wythe and South 4th Street in Williamsburg and used to love going to the Roebling Hall art gallery that used to be in the ground floor. We hadn't noticed until this week that a sizable addition is springing up on the roof. It looks like it's part of a plan to convert the entire building to residential. Total units: 69. GMAP P*Shark DOB

Casa Tua

2010-03-10T19:01:23Z

Another update for the stretch of Atlantic between Henry and Clinton: La Pizzetta, which opened in the fall of '08, is out and Casa Tua is in. We spotted the owners posting the new signage last week, and the brick oven pizza spot was scheduled to open yesterday. Anyone know if it did? GMAP

142 Dean Street

2010-03-10T18:12:18Z

This brick townhouse at 142 Dean Street just hit the market. It's got lots of original charm and is 25 feet wide, which give it a shot at achieving the asking price of $2,750,000, we guess, but this really seems like boom-time pricing to us. We don't think the current market can support it. That's not to say we would mind being proved wrong!
142 Dean Street [Douglas Elliman] GMAP P*Shark

101 Lafayette Avenue, #9F

2010-03-10T17:41:27Z

Corcoran usually does an excellent job with its photos, but the ones on this new listing at 101 Lafayette in Fort Greene are the pits! You particularly need good pics to made a small place like this pop. The studio, which is asking $289,000, makes for an interesting comparison versus yesterday's Co-op of the Day in Prospect Heights. Which do you think is a better deal?
101 Lafayette Avenue, #9F [Corcoran] GMAP P*Shark

Strong Place Church

2010-03-10T16:00:10Z

Last month we noted that the Strong Place Church, which has slowly been undergoing a conversion into a 24-unit condo since 2006, was looking ready to have its windows installed. Sure enough, yesterday morning the delivery truck and crane arrived and, presto, in no time, the whole place was glassed up. The amazing thing about these new windows, according to architect Michael Ingui, is that they are each a single piece of solid mahogany! We guess it's that kind of attention to detail and quality that's making this thing take so long. Interestingly, the tower where you can now see a large mechanical unit of some sort parked will have acoustically line louvers installed for both aesthetics and noise reduction. Update: To clarify, here's what Ingui told us about the window frames and we managed to mangle above: "The client opted for solid mahogany units that came in one piece." Our bad!
Development Watch: Window Time at Strong Place [Brownstoner]
Strong Place Church Construction Update [Brownstoner]
Strong Place Church Conversion: Slow ‘n’ Steady [Brownstoner] GMAP DOB
Strong Place Church Conversion In Full Swing [Brownstoner]
Strong Place Church: Next Step, Scaffolding [Brownstoner]

106 7th Avenue

2010-03-10T15:26:43Z

Close to a year ago, Park Slope Farm opened up at 106 7th Avenue, much to the glee of nearby residents who were in need of a convenient and well-stocked bodega. Seems like things didn't go as planned though: It's already closed and boarded up, and although there are no signs out yet, the work order notice tells us the place is being remodeled into another bagel cafe. Pretty stiff competition, with the La Bagel Delight and the Bagel Hole further down 7th, don't you think? GMAP

Mount Prospect Laboratory

2010-03-09T20:30:00Z

The BOTD is a no-frills look at interesting structures of all types and from all neighborhoods. There will be old, new, important, forgotten, public, private, good and bad. Whatever strikes our fancy. We hope you enjoy.

Address: 349 Park Place, corner of Underhill Ave.
Name: Mount Prospect Laboratory, now Community School District 13 offices
Neighborhood: Prospect Heights (Prospect Heights Historic District)
Year Built: 1938
Architectural Style: Moderne
Architects: Aymar Embury II

Why chosen: The Laboratory was built by the Dept. of Water Supply, Gas & Electric, of the City of NY to test water samples from the city’s reservoirs and waterways. Built at the end of the Depression with WPA funds, it replaced a lab built for the same purposes in 1897. It remained the main testing lab in the city until the 1960’s. The Board of Ed has had it ever since, and it is now offices. Embury was one of the giants of NYC public works, designing or supervising the building of the Triborough Bridge, Lincoln Tunnel, Orchard Beach, Prospect and Central Park Zoos, Bryant Park, and McCarren Play Center, all under Robert Moses. GMAP

324 Grand Avenue

2010-03-09T19:39:20Z

The last time we checked in on 324 Grand Avenue, the ugly-brick rental building between Lexington and Greene Avenues in Clinton was just starting to poke its head above the construction fence. Now, as of last week, it's got all of its windows and balconies. This place is being built by the same developer who put up this rental across the street in 2006. Compared to that place, this new building at least gets props for the bigger windows; credit also for lining up the facade with the adjacent building.
Development Watch: 324 Grand Avenue [Brownstoner]
Heinous Bricks Confirmed at 324 Grand Avenue [Brownstoner]
Development Watch: 324-328 Grand Avenue [Brownstoner]
324 Grand Avenue Status Check [Brownstoner] GMAP
SWO for 324 Grand Avenue [Brownstoner] P*Shark DOB
Development Watch: 328 Grand Avenue [Brownstoner]
328 Grand: Here Today, Gone Tomorrow [Brownstoner]
Razing 328 Grand: What a Waste [Brownstoner]

Breuckelen

2010-03-09T19:01:54Z

A month ago, we wondered aloud what the heck was going on with Cafe on Clinton, the formerly-beloved-but-now-forsaken neighborhood spot at 268 Clinton Street in Cobble Hill. The restaurant had sat, ghost-town-like, since the New Year with tables set but doors locked. Now we have the full story: A new restaurant under new ownership is taking over. To be called Breuckelen, the new spot will be a locavore "field to fork" experience. According to the owner, the menu will most likely have a Roman's-esque three-course approach (apps, small pastas, mains) and include ingredients from the garden that will soon be planted out back and on the roof of the one-story building. Weekdays there will be lunch geared toward the stroller set plus dinner, and on the weekends the standard brunch-and-dinner combo. Seems to us this should be a great fit and much-welcomed addition to the neighborhood. GMAP

17 Garden Place

2010-03-09T18:18:44Z

This charming townhouse at 17 Garden Place was on the market for a couple of months last fall with a price that started with the number 4. After taking the winter off, the single-family home has been re-listed as a co-broke for $3,700,000, which brings the price per square foot under the $1,000 mark. While not quite one-of-a-kind, the house is pretty darn unusual and special and has clearly had a spare-no-expense renovation. Do you think the price is in the ballpark now?
17 Garden Place [Brown Harris Stevens]
17 Garden Place [Corcoran] GMAP P*Shark

60 Plaza Street East, #3D

2010-03-09T17:40:22Z

The whole stuffed animal thing is pretty weird, but maybe it's a brilliant stroke of marketing genius on the part of Arlene Greendlinger since it gets our attention! Cat or no cat, this studio at 60 Plaza Street East is one of the cheaper apartments you'll be able to find so close to the park (on this side of the park). It's certainly nothing fancy, but with a maintenance of $633 and an asking price of $249,000, this may be just the ticket for a single person on a budget.
60 Plaza Street East, #3D [Arlene Greendlinger] GMAP P*Shark

Ellis Bar

2010-03-09T16:29:19Z

On the morning of February 28th, workers at Ellis Restaurant and Bar in South Slope Brooklyn found out they no longer had jobs via giant pad lock on the doors. (New blog Greenwood Frame confirms the suddenness of the move.) After months of unpaid rent and disputes with the landlord, Ellis Restaurant and Bar is no longer in business. The place was open just shy of two years. It never quite found it’s footing in South Slope, feeling more like it belonged somewhere on the Upper West Side. The opening of the bar South next door a few months back, with its more relaxed jukebox and free popcorn environment, seemed to also deal a blow to Ellis. The space Ellis is leaving behind is enormous; it will be interesting to see if a food or beverage establishment can survive in it. GMAP

Paulie Gee's

2010-03-09T15:01:37Z

Paul Ginnone, a man Serious Eats calls “the consummate pizza lover," opens the eponymous Paulie Gee’s this week at 60 Greenpoint Avenue. Taking over the space of the old Paloma, Paulie Gee’s will put out authentic wood-fired Neapolitan-style pizza and utilize fresh local ingredients from Rooftop Farms. The rustic and welcoming space (check out the interior photo on the jump) features handcrafted woodwork throughout with the imported hearth as its anchor. Designed by hOmE, the same team behind the Manhattan Inn and Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream Café, the bar will be fully operational in short order. The menu? To start, Ginnone will offer about eight standard pies and a couple of specialty pies to change in accordance with local ingredient availability. While Paulie will never put pepperoni on his pizzas, he will garnish them with soppressata, prosciutto di Parma, guanciale, speck, even Kale. He’ll pull the first official pie from the oven at 5PM Tuesday. Check out some of Paulie’s pizza pics here. GMAP

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348 Clermont Avenue

2010-03-09T14:29:36Z

File this one under "Gigantic Bummer." Following a November 2009 determination by the Department of Buildings that 348 Clermont Avenue was unsafe and needed to be torn down, HPD contractors arrived yesterday to begin demolition of the long-neglected brownstone. (You can see some interior photos in this old post.) The building, which is within the Fort Greene Historic District, only abuts one other house, also a brownstone, which will be protected as part of the demolition. The silver lining, if you can call it that, is that the Landmarks Preservation Commission is suing the owner for the full market value of the property in an effort to prevent him from profiting from the neglect and as a deterrent to other homeowners who might consider a similar course of inaction. Let's hope they make an example of him. And before anyone starts crying us a river, this isn't even a case of some old-timer who couldn't afford to fix up his house: This place has changed hands (at least) four times since 2006 for prices ranging from $499,000 to $1,500,000. Smell a rat? Check out the transaction history on the jump.
House of the Day: 348 Clermont Avenue Shell [Brownstoner] GMAP

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470 Vanderbilt Avenue

2010-03-09T14:01:30Z

Developer GFI has been working to gradually reposition and fill the commercial space at 470 Vanderbilt while it tries to gain approval for a residential building fronting on Fulton Street. Last July, the developer announced that it had leased the second floor to the NYC Housing Authority. According to its website, a Quaker school called the Mary McDowell Center for Learning has taken space on the 8th, 9th and 10th floors for its new Upper School location. The plans, including the creation of a basketball court, are online here. That should be a nice shot of life for the area. GMAP

334 Clinton St.

2010-03-08T20:30:00Z

Address: 334 Clinton St between DeGraw and Kane
Name: The James Naughton House
Neighborhood: Cobble Hill (Cobble Hill Historic District)
Year Built: 1850, remodeled 1888
Architectural Style: Greek Revival to Queen Anne
Architects: Original architect unknown, remodeled by James Naughton

Why chosen: Originally the twin to 336 at left, 334 Clinton was tricked out with an ornamented Queen Anne tower, bay, and mansard roof, by architect James Naughton, Superintendant of Buildings for the Brooklyn Board of Education. Since he was the architect of the magnificent Boys High School, in Bed Stuy, as well as many other fine schools, it is not surprising that he did such an excellent job here. Would that modern “fixers” could do as well. GMAP

Albero

2010-03-08T19:43:25Z

The Finger Building, ahem, The Albero, we mean, is chugging along. The formerly controversial development, which is set to reach 14 stories in all, has been getting its exterior cladding on in recent weeks (which looks like some kind of brick); most of the existing windows are already glassed up as well. As Curbed recently pointed out, though, a spring opening is not looking like it's in the cards.
Finger Building Back in Action [Brownstoner] GMAP
Name Change for Finger Building [Brownstoner]

645 Vanderbilt

2010-03-08T19:03:17Z

There's a work permit on the gate of the space on the corner of Prospect and Vanderbilt, and it looks like a new restaurant will be moving in. According to the chatter on the Brooklynian boards, "The word on the street is that it will be a bagel place from the owners of Zaytoons." We're wondering if this Middle Eastern mini chain will be opening a basic bagel-and-cream-cheese joint — or if they'd be offering their savory spreads, like Turkish salad and hummus, on bagels, too. GMAP

544 3rd Street

2010-03-08T18:11:08Z

We're loving this new FSBO listing at 544 3rd Street in Park Slope. The one-family limestone is a gorgeous time capsule, complete with woodwork, wallpaper, stained glass and alcove sinks. Heaven! The asking price of $2,675,000 looks pretty reasonable in light of the recent sale of 607 2nd Street for $2,700,000. What do you think?
544 3rd Street [FSBO] GMAP P*Shark

383 Carlton Avenue, #11W

2010-03-08T17:39:56Z

If you're in the market for a modern condo in the Fort Greene area, this penthouse at the Green House at 383 Carlton Avenue will probably strike your fancy. Regardless of the 1,426 square feet of indoor space and 2,000 square feet of outdoor space, $1,350,000 is still a very big check to write in this part of town for an apartment, so it'll be interesting to see if the buyers are there, even at a reduced price. What do you think?
383 Carlton Avenue, #11W [Corcoran] GMAP P*Shark

McDonald's

2010-03-08T16:31:25Z

Someone's not wasting any time! We broke the news at the end of January that the highly-visible McDonald's at the corner of Tillary and Gold had just closed after a twenty-year run. Six weeks later, the place is boarded up with plywood and ready to be torn down: The demolition permit was pre-filed for last week.
McDonald's on Tillary Closes! [Brownstoner] GMAP

133 Lafayette Avenue

2010-03-08T16:01:32Z

After getting in big trouble for ripping out the entire storefront and original signage last fall, the owners of the deli at 133 Lafayette Avenue in Fort Greene had to put together a new plan that would make the Landmarks Preservation Commission happy. Last week they presented it to the commission and got the thumbs-up to proceed. The plan is to install a new paneled wood storefront with an angled recessed entrance door and for the old signage to be re-installed. We're working on getting our hands on the renderings.
133 Lafayette's Day of Reckoning at LPC [Brownstoner]
Streetlevel: Lafayette Grocery Overhaul [Brownstoner] GMAP

The Andrea

2010-03-08T15:01:14Z

We've been eyeing this sign along Myrtle Avenue for several months wondering when there'd be some news about the supermarket that was supposed to go into Red Apple's recently-completed rental project at the corner Ashland Place and Myrtle Avenue. There were a few kernels of information that surfaced at a Community Board 2 meeting last week, but a lot of the important details—like who the operator would be and whether the market would be targeted more at the upscale residents of the new towers along Flatbush or those who live in nearby public housing—remained in the dark. (The fact that it will be located in the basement, while a drugstore takes the ground-floor space, suggests they may not be aiming for the stars.) The Red Apple Group rep did say that the operator would most likely be named by the end of the month, reported The Local, and that the store could be opened as soon as May.
Long-Delayed Supermarket on the Way, Says Red Apple [NY Times]
The Andrea 10 Percent Rented, Drugstore to Follow [Brownstoner]
218 Myrtle Has a Name: The Andrea [Brownstoner]

John Truslow House

2010-03-05T20:00:00Z

Address: 96 Brooklyn Ave, corner of Dean Street
Name: The John and Elizabeth Truslow House
Neighborhood: Crown Heights North (CHN Historic District)
Year Built: 1886-87
Architectural Style: Queen Anne
Architects: Parfitt Brothers

Why chosen: This is one of Parfitt Bros. best private homes, and one of CHN’s best free standing mansions. Said to have 50 rooms, it was the home of one of the area’s most prominent men; politician, businessman, and philanthropist, John Truslow. The green square oriels projecting out on the Dean St. side of the brick building are unique, and set the house apart. The granite columns at the front entrance are also a unique touch on this impressive building. The house is in need of some deep pocketed love. GMAP

139 @tlantic

2010-03-05T19:01:20Z

Lost City recently posted about all the empty storefronts on Atlantic near Henry Street, and we mentioned that Abitare on Henry is closing, but it looks like a new coffee house is opening called 139 @tlantic. As noted by Brooklyn Heights Blog, the place will offer “fair trade coffee, live entertainment, interesting furniture, contemporary artifacts and a unique atmosphere.” GMAP
Another Atlantic Ave Design Store Biting the Dust [Brownstoner]

77 Adelphi Street

2010-03-05T18:04:13Z

Prospect Heights
592 Bergen Street
Warren Lewis
Sunday 2:30-4:30
$1,150,000
GMAP P*Shark

Crown Heights
1382 Carroll Street
Fillmore
Sat 3-6, Sun 2-4
$900,000
GMAP P*Shark

Fort Greene
77 Adelphi Street
Douglas Elliman
Sunday 1:30-3
$639,000
GMAP P*Shark

Bedford Stuyvesant
383 Bainbridge Street
Corcoran
Sunday 3:30-4:30
$549,000
GMAP P*Shark

592 Bergen Street

2010-03-05T18:04:13Z

Prospect Heights
592 Bergen Street
Warren Lewis
Sunday 2:30-4:30
$1,150,000
GMAP P*Shark

Crown Heights
1382 Carroll Street
Fillmore
Sat 3-6, Sun 2-4
$900,000
GMAP P*Shark

Fort Greene
77 Adelphi Street
Douglas Elliman
Sunday 1:30-3
$639,000
GMAP P*Shark

Bedford Stuyvesant
383 Bainbridge Street
Corcoran
Sunday 3:30-4:30
$549,000
GMAP P*Shark

1382 Carroll Street

2010-03-05T18:04:13Z

Prospect Heights
592 Bergen Street
Warren Lewis
Sunday 2:30-4:30
$1,150,000
GMAP P*Shark

Crown Heights
1382 Carroll Street
Fillmore
Sat 3-6, Sun 2-4
$900,000
GMAP P*Shark

Fort Greene
77 Adelphi Street
Douglas Elliman
Sunday 1:30-3
$639,000
GMAP P*Shark

Bedford Stuyvesant
383 Bainbridge Street
Corcoran
Sunday 3:30-4:30
$549,000
GMAP P*Shark

383 Bainbridge Street

2010-03-05T18:04:13Z

Prospect Heights
592 Bergen Street
Warren Lewis
Sunday 2:30-4:30
$1,150,000
GMAP P*Shark

Crown Heights
1382 Carroll Street
Fillmore
Sat 3-6, Sun 2-4
$900,000
GMAP P*Shark

Fort Greene
77 Adelphi Street
Douglas Elliman
Sunday 1:30-3
$639,000
GMAP P*Shark

Bedford Stuyvesant
383 Bainbridge Street
Corcoran
Sunday 3:30-4:30
$549,000
GMAP P*Shark

35 Pierrepont Street, #3B

2010-03-05T16:31:43Z

Apartment 3B at 35 Pierrepont Street in Brooklyn Heights was the Co-op of the Day back in July just as it hit the market with an asking price of $785,000. The widget average came in at close to $722,000. The prewar two-bedroom co-op went into contract in November and just closed at the end of February for $760,000, only 3 percent off the ask and just 5 percent above the widget. Surprised? We're not.
Co-op of the Day: 35 Pierrepont Street, #3B [Brownstoner]

664 Jefferson Avenue

2010-03-05T16:01:25Z

UPDATE: THIS HOUSE IS NOT IN CONTRACT! It appears someone with ulterior motives sent in these photos. The only upside is that now a reader can buy this place and restore it to the condition it deserves to be in.
When Montrose posted 664 Jefferson Avenue as the Building of the Day on Tuesday, it was clearly because of the woodframe house's architectural interest. Of course, the small For Sale sign in the photo led to heated discussion about what this place would sell for. The owner of the house, curious to know what Brownstoner readers thought it was worth, saw the post and sent in some photos of the interior. It actually just went into contract so it's an academic exercise but fun nonetheless. Hopefully he'll tell us the contract price when the widget voting has concluded. GMAP

Barro Pizza

2010-03-05T15:31:29Z

Right under the giant behemoth apartment complex on 23rd and 4th ave known as 725 4th ave, which looks like a mental hospital from the outside, is a new pizza place opening called Barro. Despite the aesthetic drawbacks of the building, it should be a good spot: The nearest pizza places are Brothers Pizza on 19th and Fourth and the famous Luigi’s on 21st and 5th; it's also just two blocks away for the 25th Street R-train station. GMAP

80 Dekalb

2010-03-05T14:59:26Z

When we checked in with 80 Dekalb in early January, the 365-unit rental being brought to you by Forest City Ratner was about 25 percent rented as best we could ascertain. Yesterday we received an email from a reader who had just toured the 36-story tower and been told by the broker that half the apartments were now rented. For what it's worth, the tipster also said that the apartments were extremely nice.
80 Dekalb: Lights Are On, Somebody's Home [Brownstoner]
New Website, Logo for 80 Dekalb [Brownstoner]
Development Watch: 80 Dekalb Getting Close [Brownstoner]
80 Dekalb Tops Out [Brownstoner] GMAP P*Shark DOB
Development Watch: 80 Dekalb Facade Spreading [Brownstoner]
A Touch of Glass for 80 Dekalb [Brownstoner]
Development Watch: 80 Dekalb Reaches 25 Stories [Brownstoner]
Development Watch: 80 Dekalb Avenue Halfway There [Brownstoner]
Development Watch: 80 Dekalb Avenue [Brownstoner]
Taxpayers Paying Up for Downtown Rental [Brownstoner]
Development Watch: 80 Dekalb Avenue [Brownstoner]
80 Dekalb Avenue: Get Ready for Take-Off [Brownstoner]

Lillian Ward House

2010-03-04T20:30:00Z

Address: 21 7th Avenue at Sterling Place
Name: Former Lillian Ward House
Neighborhood: Park Slope
Year Built: 1887
Architectural Style: Queen Anne/Romanesque Revival
Architect: Lawrence P. Valk

Why chosen: The French oriel tower is the icing on the cake for this fabulous house, which is the corner anchor for the other three adjoining houses in this group on 7th Avenue, all in amazing shape. The way light shines through the stained and curved glass must be amazing for the occupants of the tower. There is much to see in addition, including the entryway on Sterling Place and a large parlor floor bay. Lillian Ward was a famous singer during the latter part of the 19th century.
GMAP

Toren

2010-03-04T19:45:59Z

Yesterday we alerted you to the fact that Toren's scaffolding had just come down. Today Curbed one-ups us with the most extensive editorial slide show of a development we've ever seen. On the link, another look at the pool and a trip inside the massive, high-ceilinged penthouse with some of the best views in the borough.
Touring Toren, Brooklyn's Most Eye-Popping New Building [Curbed]

Black Gold

2010-03-04T19:03:42Z

Debbie Fisher Jewelry recently closed up shop at 461 Court Street—in between Frankie's 457 and Prime Meats—and now there's a sign in the window for a new shop called Black Gold. A tipster says, "I heard that it's going to be records, coffee, and antiques." GMAP

526 Carlton Avenue

2010-03-04T18:14:25Z

When we featured 526 Carlton Avenue as a House of the Day last September, the Prospect Heights brownstone had just hit the market with an asking price of $2,300,000. The price was knocked down to $2,100,000 a couple of weeks ago, and then to $2,000,000 earlier this week. As we mentioned back then, we think the extensive renovation that was recently done looks pretty nice but wondered whether the proximity to Atlantic Yards would hurt its chances. Apparently it has.
526 Carlton Avenue [Douglas Elliman] GMAP P*Shark
House of the Day: 526 Carlton Avenue [Brownstoner]

133 8th Avenue, #2CD

2010-03-04T17:40:30Z

Apartment combinations don't always work layout-wise, but this new listing at 133 8th Avenue looks just swell to us. The four-bedroom pad in this Montrose Morris-design building has a very large living area, the result of two mirror-image living rooms being combined; it's also got a generous master suite and plenty of extra rooms to stash the kids. Prewar details? Check. Tasteful modern kitchen? Check. The price is $1,495,000, or less than $100,000 per window. You digging it?
133 8th Avenue, #2CD [Brown Harris Stevens] GMAP P*Shark

309 Henry Street

2010-03-04T16:01:12Z

The Brooklyn Heights decor and gift store is closing up shop at the end of this month. The tiny store has been around since 2006, and owners say they won't be relocating. Looks like that corner of Henry and Atlantic will feel pretty barren soon, what with the shuttering of Nova Zembla. GMAP
StreetLevel: Heights Furniture Shop Shuttering [Brownstoner]

Chase Bank

2010-03-03T20:30:00Z

Address: 177 Montague Street
Name: Chase Bank, originally Brooklyn Trust Company
Neighborhood: Brooklyn Heights
Year Built: 1913-1916
Architectural Style: Renaissance Revival/Beaux Arts
Architects: Edward York and Phillip Sawyer

Why chosen: Modeled after a 17th century Italian palazzo, this is one of NYC’s most beautiful banks, by partners who worked together at McKim, Mead, and White. They also designed many of Manhattan’s most impressive banks, including the Federal Reserve, in the Financial District, and the Bowery Bank on 42nd St. Both the interior and exterior of this bank are landmarked, and worthy of a visit.
GMAP

452 Lafayette Avenue

2010-03-03T19:39:35Z

Six weeks ago we spotted the first window going in at 452 Lafayette Avenue. This weekend, we noticed that the eight-unit project now has all its windows in.
Development Watch: First Window for 452 Lafayette Ave [Brownstoner]
Development Watch: 452 Lafayette Avenue [Brownstoner] GMAP P*Shark DOB

Dutch Boy Burger

2010-03-03T19:01:58Z

Despite the fact that there was a Stop Work Order posted in the window when we stopped by last weekend, Time Out NY is reporting that Dutch Boy Burgers, the new venture at 766 Franklin Avenue from the folks that brought you Franklin Park (which connects to Dutch Boy at the rear) and Southpaw, is set to open this week. TONY highlights a couple of menu items including a burger topped with cheddar, mushrooms and caramelized onions and milk shakes made with Blue Marble ice cream. Local blog I Love Franklin Avenue had this to say about the opening: "It sounds fantastic, particularly the part about the bar serving the full menu into the wee hours. I suppose this does mean the end of take-out at Franklin Park, but it's a small price to pay for a good new burger place." On the jump, check out a photo of the interior. GMAP

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259 Henry Street

2010-03-03T18:10:08Z

This listing at 259 Henry Street in Brooklyn Heights just hit the market with an eye-popping asking price of $5,250,000. It's clearly a sweet pad (great location, nice architecture), but that's a lot of dough for a place that isn't knocking our socks off. Maybe it's some of the renovation or decoration choices or maybe it's the way it's photographed, but it's not the kind of classic show-stopper we'd expect for this amount of money in this market. Do you agree?
259 Henry Street [Corcoran] GMAP P*Shark

55 Eastern Parkway, #1-F

2010-03-03T17:43:20Z

This ground-floor studio at 55 Eastern Parkway in Prospect Heights was on the market briefly last spring but has just popped up again with a new-and-improved asking price of $209,000. It ain't huge, but is reasonably attractive, as is the monthly maintenance of $418. It seems like you could end up living here for an after-tax cost of not much more than $1,000. Good deal?
55 Eastern Parkway, #1-F [Core] GMAP P*Shark

689 6th Avenue

2010-03-03T16:01:34Z

It appears there will be a new bar on 20th Street and 6th ave in the same South Slope location that in the last year and a half has seen Bar B Q and Safe Haven go out of business. The bar will be right across the street from the classy Toby’s Pub and right next door to the restaurant Lot 2, which took the place of Kitchen Bar last summer. On the same block the brand new Lucali spin off Giuseppina’s is still in grand opening limbo and have their windows covered with the same newspapers clippings since November (did you hear the Yankees won the World Series?). Lying on a very secluded tree lined street with a gorgeous view of Green-Wood Cemetery, it seems only a matter of time before this little pocket is filled with upscale establishments; and possibly before the whole neighborhood becomes a second Park Slope. GMAP

Ed: This is the first post from our neighborhood stringer program. We got such a huge response that it's going to take a few more days to worth through. Thanks to everyone who expressed interest--we'll be back to you soon.

Toren

2010-03-03T15:30:10Z

Straying from his home turf earlier this week, loyal reader and tipster Denton spotted a big development in the Downtown Brooklyn landscape: Toren's scaffolding is no more...In related news, as of this week, there's now a yoga studio located in the SOM-designed building. With the new pool also open, Toren's shaping up to be quite the healthy building.

53 Bridge Street

2010-03-03T15:00:22Z

Big news for people who care about the Dumbo skyline and developers playing by the rules. It appears that the Guttmans are being forced to take down the five-story addition they put on top of 53 Bridge Street back in 2005 to bring it into zoning compliance; they also seem to be taking down the eighth floor as well, for reasons we are not exactly sure of. The approved DOB application can be found here.
53 Bridge Street: An Accident Waiting to Happen? [Brownstoner]
Development Watch: WTF at 53 Bridge Street? [Brownstoner]
Progress at 53 Bridge Street? [Brownstoner] GMAP

414 Hicks Street

2010-03-02T19:41:25Z

A reader just sent in this update of the six-story building rising at 414 Hicks Street along with this note: "Fucking massive. Will strain PS29. Insufficient parking. Can't wait." A ringing endorsement if we ever heard one.
Development Watch: 414 Hicks Street [Brownstoner]
Development Watch: 414 Hicks Street [Brownstoner]
Development Watch: 414 Hicks Street [Brownstoner]
Development Watch: 414 Hicks Proceeds Apace [Brownstoner]
Development Watch: 414 Hicks Street [Brownstoner] GMAP P*Shark DOB
Columbia-Hicks Development Still Being Tweaked [Brownstoner]

Lincoln Park Tavern

2010-03-02T19:01:50Z

In the wake of the meltdown of Jim Mamary's empire, a new bar is rising from the ashes of Fly Fish at 49 Lincoln Road. The new watering hole will be called Lincoln Park Tavern. We suspect it will be opened with open arms. The word on the street (or, actually, at Enduro next door) is that the tavern will serve only drink, not food. GMAP

98 Brooklyn Avenue

2010-03-02T18:15:59Z

It doesn't look like 98 Brooklyn Avenue is headed towards a happy ending for the person who bought it back in 2005 for $660,000. In early 2006, the new owner listed the three-story (technically it's a one-family but it's divided into three units) brownstone for $799,00. Over the next couple of years, as it failed to sell, the price fell to $699,000 until it was pulled off the market last October. Now it's re-emerged as a short sale with an asking price of $640,000. There's some nice original detail but the house is definitely worse off for having been carved up into three separate apartments.
98 Brooklyn Avenue [Corcoran] GMAP P*Shark

2 Grace Court, #2O

2010-03-02T17:39:25Z

Apartment buildings don't get a lot more charming than 2 Grace Court, where today's Co-op of the Day is located. This particular apartment is a two-bedroom, one-bath on the second floor. It's got old the old school bones plus an attractive modernized kitchen and some nice built-ins in the living room. The maintenance is $956 per month and the asking price is $745,000. Sound reasonable?
2 Grace Court, #2O [Douglas Elliman] GMAP P*Shark

29 South 3rd Street

2010-03-02T16:00:54Z

The new development at 29 South 3rd Street wasn't on the market when we looked it up last month, but now it is. The four-story building just launched its sales effort last week. In the mix: 24 one, two and three-bedroom units. The eight that have already hit StreetEasy are priced from $548,000 for a 864-square-foot one-bedroom to $893,000 for a 1,514-square-foot two-bedroom.
29 South 3rd Street Listings [StreetEasy] GMAP
Development Watch: 29 South 3rd Street [Brownstoner]

Dreamy's

2010-03-02T15:15:01Z

This new mattress place opened a couple of weeks ago at 635 Fulton Street near Flatbush but we just noticed it for the first time this week. Evidently this is the third location for Dreamy's—the other two are at 480 5th Avenue and 367 Flatbush Avenue. This location should be particularly convenient for all those buyers who just bought at Forte up the street! GMAP

The Maynard

2010-03-02T15:00:46Z

Corcoran made its first foray into the subsidized housing world this past weekend with the launch of The Maynard. Named after the Joan Maynard, the founder of the nearby Weeksville Heritage Center, the new co-op at 1509 Bergen Street held its first open house on Sunday, which was attended by Marty Markowitz and other local pols. There are 47 units available; the cheapest of the ones that have been posted on Corcoran.com so far is a 648-square-foot one-bedroom for $164,500 (which is, coincidentally, the price we paid for a 900-square-foot prewar one-bedroom on the Upper East Side in 1996...but we digress). Parking spaces can be had for an extra $10,000. The kicker is that you can finance the purchase through SONYMA with just 5 percent down. GMAP

Royal Castle Apartments

2010-03-01T20:30:00Z

The BOTD is a no-frills look at interesting structures of all types and from all neighborhoods. There will be old, new, important, forgotten, public, private, good and bad. Whatever strikes our fancy. We hope you enjoy.

Address: 20-30 Gates Avenue, at Clinton Ave.
Name: The Royal Castle Apartments
Neighborhood: Clinton Hill (Clinton Hill Historic District, individual landmark 1981)
Year Built: 1911-1912
Architectural Style: Beaux Arts
Architects: Wortmann and Braun

Why chosen: Built when “the Hill” was synonymous with fine living, this over the top, ornate building is a rare example of both Beaux Arts style and Austrian Sezessionist-style ornament. The stylized figures of stone masons holding up the ledges, the grotesques adorning the top floors, and the shape of the roofline would be at home in Vienna, and in many ways are real-life inspirations for moody set designs like those in movies Batman and The Dark Knight. A wonderful, unique, and eclectic Brooklyn building. GMAP

125 Lexington Avenue

2010-03-01T19:40:45Z

Scarano appears to be rocking some serious mezzanine action at 125 Lexington Avenue. The 11-unit building is only officially four-stories high, but it looks like the top two stories are each going to be double-height. The entire structure is supposed to top out at a height of 55 feet.
Development Watch: 125 Lexington Avenue Underway [Brownstoner] GMAP
Development Watch: 125 Lexington Avenue [Brownstoner] P*Shark
Development Watch: 125 Lexington Avenue [Brownstoner] DOB

Voluspa Salon

2010-03-01T19:01:10Z

There's a posh-looking new salon and spa in the old Trade Winds Imports space next to Santa Fe Grill called Voluspa. The website listed on their banner (voluspasalon.com) isn't up and running yet, but they seemed to be doing some brisk business when we walked by. The only review of the place we can find was written by a Brooklynian first-timer and seems like shill, but this enthusiastic customer claims to have gotten a great haircut from a stylist named Svetlana, and enjoyed the space: "they did a fantastic remodeling job (it was a firniture [sic] store). The lower level is gorgeous and soo relaxing!!! I had a thai massage... it couldn't have been more perfect!!" Anybody check this place out yet? GMAP

73 Willoughby Avenue

2010-03-01T18:17:50Z

This new brownstone listing at 73 Willoughby Avenue isn't perfect but it's still pretty nice, nice enough that we suspect its $1,499,000 asking price will attract some interest. Two negatives: The house is only 40 feet deep and it's been cut up into three units. Two positives: Nice bones and good location. Now for the market to decide.
73 Willoughby Avenue [Douglas Elliman] GMAP P*Shark

156 Flushing Avenue

2010-03-01T16:30:14Z

After what seems like forever (in reality it's been a little under three years), the 20,000-square-foot commercial building at 156 Flushing Avenue across from the Navy Yard has finally sold. The final price is a lesson in what can happen when a seller is behind the curve on a falling market. The property was initially marketed jointly with an adjacent smaller building at 11 Vanderbilt Avenue for a combined price of $4,250,000. (You can check out a pdf of the original marketing doc here.) There's no record of it yet, but we hear the Vanderbilt building went for around $800,000. The larger building on Flushing just closed in mid-February for $1,600,000 (barely more than $100 a foot!), so call it a combined sales price of $2,400,000. Combined, that's not much more than the half the initial asking price. Unfortunately for the seller, if he'd just priced it initially in the low- to mid-$3-millions he probably would have sold it quickly and for a much higher price than he ended up with. GMAP

Pies 'n Thighs

2010-03-01T16:01:54Z

It's hard to think of a more highly-anticipated restaurant event in Brooklyn this year than today's opening of Pies 'n' Thighs. We stopped by over the weekend and got a look at the new dining room (and peered in the window of the rear dining room set up in an old garage with shiny red doors.) The line for the Southern-style food is bound to be out the door, so get there early. To whet your appetite, TimeOutNY had some close-ups of some of the dishes on it food blog on Thursday, including fried chicken, hush puppies, mac and cheese and baked beans.GMAP