House of the Day: Would You Midwood?

argyle Here's another place east of Prospect Park for under $1 million. Located on Argyle Road in West Midwood, this is pushing the boundaries of how far out we'd consider living, but you do get such surburban amenities as a front lawn and a 2-car garage. This particular freestanding Victorian also has a lot of original exposed oak wodwork, original parquet floors and some stained glass windows. (For some reason, we're not loving stained glass these days. A little too precious maybe? Dunno.) Real estate taxes look a little higher than for much of brownstone Brooklyn too. Not sure about the nearest subway service or other infrastructure either. You can find out for yourself whether this place is worth the $925,000 asking price at the open house on Sunday from 1-3pm.
766 Argyle Road [Mary Kay Gallagher]

Comments

probably 30 minute train ride to midtown from Ave H station (couple blocks from house) on Q
Very walkable to Brooklyn College

Posted by: Anonymous at April 21, 2005 12:05 PM

Another difference besides taxes are utilities. With free-standing houses this big, it adds up. I went and saw a place near this one and the owner said that water, heat, gas, and electric total up to $600.

Still, it's just my preference, but I really like some of these houses space and layout wise over the row houses I have seen in other nabes. Something about getting light from windows on all four sides vs two.

The commute is longer than from brownstone Bklyn and not on the F (the notoriously down B and Q trains). Services could be better. Regarding neighbors, this is a pretty established area with a mix of black, jewish, and "other" professionals. Good public schools too. Some of the locals I talked to say the area's heyday has past but it could be in for a "revival", whatever that means (my guess is more Slope style stores and restaurants nearby). As it is, it is priced more like Carroll Gardens/Cobble Hill, mostly for the great housing stock, sq footage, and stable neighborhood.

If I could afford to buy a place for $900k's, this area would be on my list.

Posted by: Bk Squeeze at April 21, 2005 12:19 PM

I live nearby in a similar house on E. 18th. 30 minutes is about right, but the Express train (B) at Newkirk Ave, is a little quicker and about 3 blocks away. As for Utilities, the real issue is gas for heat. Most of these places (mine included) lack real insulation so the bills can get up there. Still, I must admit that I was pleasantly surprised by how much less the actual bills were this winter than I thought they'd be. Anyway, you can always blow in insulation to help. Services are a little sparse, but getting better all the time. All in all, I have to say that we love living in the area. It's very peaceful, great neighbors, and it's really nice to walk out my front door every morning to such a tranquil neighborhood.
-pk

Posted by: Anonymous at April 21, 2005 12:37 PM

A quibble: Every old house is not a "Victorian." 1910 is outside the period of Victoria's reign (1837-1901).

Posted by: Anonymous at April 21, 2005 4:26 PM

After a long search we bought a late Victorian house in Beverley Square W 3 years ago...Bottom line is what you get per sq foot plus the porch, parking spaces for two cars and yard....close enough (10 minutes by car thru tunnel to WTC...15 minute Q train to Chinatown, half hour to Central Park,a short walk to lower Prospect Park and a longer stroll or bike to PARK SLOPE....Local schools are ok and things are picking up on Cortelyou road....It is really a bargin all things considered!

Posted by: Robert V Peters at April 21, 2005 9:33 PM

So what period should we call this if not Victorian?

Posted by: Brownstoner at April 22, 2005 8:49 AM

Edwardian? I dunno. Do building styles always coincide with the reigns of the monarch they're named for? Do they send round a memo to the architects? "Sorry, queen's dead. You'll have to come up with a new style."

Posted by: linusvanpelt at April 22, 2005 8:57 AM

Even though it was built in 1906 and thusly inside the victorian cutoff, we call our house in Ditmas Park West a colonial revival. No royalty were harmed for the label of our style.

Posted by: junker at April 22, 2005 9:25 AM

Style names correspond to design characteristics. If it looks like a Victorian then it is a Victorian.

Posted by: Anonymous at April 22, 2005 1:22 PM

Anybody notice that the Ditmas houses, ironically, draw more comments than anywhere else on the Brownstoner site? Is it because Ditmas homeowners have envy for the brownstone neighborhoods, or vice versa?

Posted by: Jimmy at April 22, 2005 8:13 PM

Actually I would say Bed Stuy is right up there too!

Posted by: Anonymous at April 22, 2005 8:51 PM

Notoriously down Q and B? According to whom? I've lived on them for years and they're are the unsung heros of NYC transit as far as I'm concerned. Rarely down and very fast.

Posted by: Jennifer at April 23, 2005 4:45 PM

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April 21, 2005

House of the Day: Would You Midwood?

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