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December 15, 2005

House of the Day: Another One in The Heights

houseHere's another 5-story brownstone in Brooklyn Heights for even less money than yesterday's Greek Revival on Willow Street. Not as pristine as yesterday's pick and missing a stoop, the Remsen Street pad still has a lot going for it and doesn't seem outrageous for the neighborhood, especially given the fact that the back of the house appears to look out over the harbor. Clearly the big negative, given the ritzy nabe, is that the house is currently configured as a four-family. But as long as you can get the tenants out, how big a deal is that?
Remsen Street Townhouse [Brown Harris Stevens] GMAP




Posted by Brownstoner at 11:44 AM | Comments (10)
Categories: Properties

Comments

I love this house and walk my dog past it twice a day. It has views from the front of the house. It is right at the foot of the promenade.

It has been on the market for quite a long time -- 8 months maybe -- so there might be something to those tenants.

On another note, I really think that Brooklyn Heights is a bargain compared to other things I see here, especially apartments. Brooklyn Heights is not the most exciting part of town, but it's safe and the schools are great, and the location is second to none. It makes me wonder if prices in BH are low or, as I suspect, prices have gotten a bit out of hand in other Brooklyn neighborhoods.

Posted by: Anonymous at December 15, 2005 11:50 AM

I was in the house once years ago. If I remember correctly there is nice roof deck - and of course at the foot of the promenade the views can't be beat.
Seems to be on and off the market for whatever reason.

Posted by: Anonymous at December 15, 2005 12:12 PM

I've seen this house on the inside. The house needs a ton of work regardless of whether your going to keep it as a four family or make it a one family. The apartments are oddly configured and for the most part not very enticing. Some need new kitchens. Bones are good, but very small (practically non-existent) garden. Also, quite a bit of background din from BQE

Posted by: Anonymous at December 15, 2005 12:14 PM

Yeah. This house is only the second building in from the BQE. Needs loads of work. It's been on the market forever. Clearly, the seller hasn't gotten the picture: This house is WAY overpriced. It was overpriced when the market was strong; in a softening market this seller's problems are only compounded...

Posted by: anonymous at December 15, 2005 12:24 PM

The public school for Brooklyn Heights (PS 8) is not on the same level as the ones in cobble hill, carrol gardens, or park slope south of union st. A lot of parents try to get variances to get into PS 29 on Henry st. That aside, of course it's a wonderful neighborhood.

Posted by: OE at December 15, 2005 2:16 PM

I think if you are buying yourself a $4 million dollar house, the public school situation is not big on your radar - private school tuition would seem like a drop in the bucket.

Posted by: Anonymous at December 15, 2005 10:22 PM

Exactly why PS 8 is not up to PS 29 et al -- most kids in the Heights go to private school (St Ann's, Packer, Brooklyn Friends, etc) and the PS 8 population is mostly from the Farragut Houses. However, I hear they've got a new principal, who is doing good things.

Posted by: Anonymous at December 16, 2005 7:53 AM

Most people in Brooklyn Hieghts live in coops, and for them private school is more than a drop in the bucket. I also hear that PS 8 is getting better. It's similiar to the situation in Prospect Heights.


Posted by: OE at December 16, 2005 9:53 AM

PS 8 got new admin a couple of years ago and people now are thrilled with the school. Still, test scores lag because the new generation of students have not been tested and the current 4th graders have not had the benefit of 5 years of solid teaching.

Posted by: Anonymous at December 16, 2005 10:41 AM

I too have been inside this house and think it has a lot to recommend it. However, to make it a really spectacular single family home you would need another mil. But if someone does that, they then have a six million dollar home on their hands-- the location and views can't be beat. The only thing you can't fix with $$$ is the small yard, so if that's really important to you, I'd pass.

Posted by: Anonymous at December 18, 2005 3:20 PM

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