Rental of the Day: 56 Cambridge Place
This four-bedroom home at 56 Cambridge Place, which was renovated back in 2005 and 2006, is now on the market as a rental. The exterior of the house was restored from a wreck and a sizable addition was put on at the rear. The result, as the listing points out, is a 4,600-square-foot home on…
This four-bedroom home at 56 Cambridge Place, which was renovated back in 2005 and 2006, is now on the market as a rental. The exterior of the house was restored from a wreck and a sizable addition was put on at the rear. The result, as the listing points out, is a 4,600-square-foot home on a double lot with a driveway. Since Mr. B informs us that he knows the owner, we’re going to limit our own commentary on the interiors, other than to say that the main floor is very open-plan and the finishes are, not surprisingly given that it was a gut reno, all new. Asking price: $5,500 a month.
56 Cambridge Place [Corcoran] GMAP P*Shark
@grand army
those of us who are calling out the owner as a bad character aren’t basing such judgment on his financial problems or his design choices, but on the experiences we’ve had in personally dealing with him (either as a landlord or in other realms.) yea, great, he fixed up a rotting building, but that in no way makes him a decent person – or a person you’d want to rent from (because, after all, this is a rental, & if someone is considering renting it, they should know who they’re getting involved with.)
He’s a “douche”?? I don’t understand all the hating (and no, I’ve never met the guy). Running out of money in the midst of an economic collapse isn’t a personal character flaw last time I checked.
He’s underwater and needs to rent his place. OK, so the interior renovation isn’t what many of us would’ve chosen. The exterior, on the other hand, would be transformed by a good paint job in interesting historic colors — and I suspect he would’ve done this if he had the budget.
If I were a neighbor I might be unhappy about the lack of maintenance to the yard BUT I’d be ecstatic that the place was no longer falling down. Really, the rhetoric here is out of control.
Since Mr. B can’t delete the internet, here’s a look back…
http://web.archive.org/web/20060105030249/bstoner.wpengine.com/cambridgereno/
Looking at the listing photos and comparing them to the original plans, I can’t help but feel disappointed. While the front looks nice and all, it’s just a facade, both figuratively and actually.
That being said, the ‘final product’ is innumerable better that before. I’m just disappointed that he was able to get over on the LPC like he did.
Even though i think the owner is a douche, $5500 is a great price to rent the place. Keep and mind though that his monthly mortgage is close to $10,000/month.
This will be ground zero for MTV’s second attempt at The Real World Brooklyn!!
I think he had the guts to spend a lot of money and he did improve the block, so kudos for that. However, it would never have been a Fedders monstrosity, since the plot in the landmarked area. Anyway, he’s in a pretty deep financial hole, and he made a lot of (now broken) promises, I think that’s where the animosity comes from (and the nonconformist interiors, but to me that’s an unfair criticism; there was nothing to save or destroy, and personal deco choices are allowed.)
I have a few comments: Firstly, this block is a wonderful block — I moved here in April & it is a safe, friendly block — I couldnt be happier. Sure there are a few houses down on their luck – but still kept tidy and respectable. The neighborhood is AWESOME. I dont get what Rob is talking about at all. Gates is terrific – Greene is better — but uh oh I guess being walking distance to Classon makes it scary.
Second — this house is gross. The exterior is super ugly ( aluminum siding???) — the yard a total mess — the guy NEVER cuts the grass or even cleans up. There is trash all over the grass, building materials thrown on the side of the house and a lawnmower frozen in place on the front lawn. When I tell you its disgusting — believe me. It also reminds me of what a bordello might look like –its got a very sketchy and unsavory look to the house. Not good vibes coming from there.
There are about 5-6 outdoor lights on each side of this house and they are on 24/7. So wasteful. It gives the impression of there being many apartments inside — each with their own entrance kind of thing. I see a guy whom I believe is the owner coming and going from the house – his Lexus SUV is always parked in the driveway so I think he lives there at least part-time. I noticed he WAS overseeing a renovation on a bstone across the street which tho very active in May is now totally quiet – totally. No one there for some time now and the house clearly isnt finished. I guess from the sounds of it this place was much worse before. I just hope whoever moves in cleans it up and turns those damn lights off once in a while.
Beautiful house, so glad it wasn’t torn down. But, honestly, what happened to the 2nd floor? Was it cheaper to get rid of it? The place looks so weird inside!
Ah, OK all the memories are rushing back. It was bought by Shahn Anderson back in the day and he fixed it up and renovated the interior, was very open & bloggy aobut the process at the beginning, ruffled a few feathers, bla bla brooklyn blog soap opera.
I think it’s a little weird that the post just makes a cursory reference to the history of the building on Brownstoner.
He did save the building. The alternative would have been a tear down replaced with a Fedders nightmare, so it was great that he saved the exterior. The interior is still bizarre in my book.
Maybe 5 or 6 friends can get together and make a groovy pad in an upscale “Cedar House” kind of way (that is ‘sposed to be funny).
Oldtimers — is this Sean’s house? If so, I never would have thunk it!