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March 3, 2006

House of the Day: Deal on Cottage Row Survivor

house house
Maybe we've been smoking some of that wacky crack that changes hands on our corner, but this 1835 woodframe in Brooklyn Heights looks like a friggin' steal at $1.6 million! The 3-story Federal, one of original houses on "Cottage Row", is so dripping with old-world charm we don't know where to begin. So we'll just jump straight to the burning question: Given the location, why is this so cheap? Is it just the modest square footage? We think there will be lines of people tripping over themselves to get a piece of this action. If we hadn't just expended serious blood, sweat and tears on our own place, we'd be one of them.
Columbia Place [Corcoran]




Posted by Brownstoner at 11:12 AM | Comments (29)
Categories: News

Comments

About four years ago, another one of these four, very cool, houses was on the market for, I believe, 795k. At the time, we lived in the neighborhood and asked a broker friend about it. She told us that the house shakes and rattles with the subway passing underneath (the 4/5, maybe). Don't know for sure whether that's true, and we never saw the inside. We've always loved the quiet of Columbia Place, despite its proximity to the BQE.

Posted by: PPSer at March 3, 2006 11:27 AM

I had the pleasure to see this gem at a brokers preveiw and it is an absolute priceless piece of history. I pray that someone with taste and discernment gets it.

Posted by: Mark at March 3, 2006 11:30 AM

Its so full of antiques that through pictures can't tell of general condition - what sold of work will need. Almost museum like. Smaller than most other houses... so maybe per sq. ft. price is about right.
I'd take it but I need rental income.

Posted by: Pete at March 3, 2006 11:38 AM

yikes...typos - I meant what sort of work.

Posted by: Anonymous at March 3, 2006 11:39 AM

I would guess price cause most likely needs work done - kitchen, only 1 full bath that most likely is dated too and house needs to be reworked so more bedrooms?

bet it needs at least 500,000

Posted by: Anonymous at March 3, 2006 11:39 AM

It's got to be the square footage. Think about how you'd feel about a 14 foot wide brownstone. That's teeny. And it's wood frame, which as we all know is a bitch to maintain.

Posted by: combustiblegirl at March 3, 2006 11:41 AM

I emailed this listing to a lot of people when it came on the market. So sweet.

But, this is a house that is not in great shape and the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge Park may be an issue. Also, this is the exact area that is fighting the current park plan. It's gonna suck for them

Posted by: Anonymous at March 3, 2006 11:48 AM

Its not 14' wide...Most rooms look to be 14'x16' which are all pretty good sized.

Posted by: Anonymous at March 3, 2006 12:14 PM

The Brooklyn Bridge Park is gonna suck for them? Who wouldn't want a park half-a-block away? Whacky logic...

This house also has a center stair, so the rooms front and back are full width. Great house. Hope it's gets a nice restoration...

Posted by: Anonymous at March 3, 2006 12:38 PM

The Corcoran agent is nice too. I've used Beth in the past. Professional and not pushy (btw - I'm not an agent or broker).

Posted by: Anonymous at March 3, 2006 12:43 PM

it does look sweet, but- 1.6 for a narrow one-family house- you'd have to be pretty rich to float that boat.

Posted by: Anonymous at March 3, 2006 12:51 PM

It's not a big house -- it's a two bedroom, which must be a factor, as it should be, in how it was priced....

Posted by: rfsgreene at March 3, 2006 1:19 PM

I 2nd Mark's comments. Hope whoever buys it doesnt do the maple cabinets, granite countertop, stainless steel shtick.

Posted by: Anonymous at March 3, 2006 1:51 PM

I think it's going to suck because that's where the traffic will go. That whole area is trying to block it.

Posted by: Anonymous at March 3, 2006 1:52 PM

The subway runs right up Joralemon St. and this house is just off of Joralemon. The shaking is intense. I've lived on Joralemon and you never forget that you're over the train.

Posted by: Anonymous at March 3, 2006 3:24 PM

I, too, hope the buyer loves it for what it is, and doesn't try to change the character or the basic layout. It is what it is - an early 19th C. house with a unique charm, and interesting layou, keeping with it's time. Restore in order to keep it in good shape, but please don't modernize the kitchen or add new baths. I would imagine the seller would like to see traditions respected, and would choose a buyer who is of like mind.

Posted by: CrownHeightsProud at March 3, 2006 3:28 PM

This house has a large front room, dining room and kitchen on the first floor (and a nice backyard). Second floor has a large room on the front and a large room on the back. The layout of the top floor is the same. Much more than a two-bedroom house. Despite being landmarked, there's additional F.A.R. The subway shake is really only felt on the first floor.

Posted by: Anonymous at March 3, 2006 3:31 PM

I hope whoever buys the house has the taste and respect for its history to install a coal-burning stove, icebox and butter churn.

Posted by: linusvanpelt at March 3, 2006 4:34 PM

With a hitching post out front.

Posted by: PPSer at March 3, 2006 5:46 PM

1.6 mil yea thats a real steal

Posted by: Anonymous at March 3, 2006 6:27 PM


Do you folks have any clue what the monthly mortgage payments are on a loan that large?

Why would Donald Trump want to live in that house?

I do pretty well financially, but you folks must be running the banks or something.

Posted by: Anonymous at March 4, 2006 5:21 AM


A wood frame house is not any more difficult to maintain than a brick house.

Anon 11:39am has no clue what he's talking about.

Posted by: Anonymous at March 4, 2006 5:24 AM


When the big earthquake hits (NYC is on a major fault line believe it or not) folks living in wood frame homes will likely survive and those living in brick houses (most of you folks) will perish.

Sorry, but it's an undisputable fact.

Posted by: Anonymous at March 4, 2006 5:27 AM

And dogs will be sleeping with cats. Oh the humanity.

Posted by: Anonymous at March 4, 2006 8:57 AM

What about those living in brick-filled frames? Egad!

Posted by: anonnymouse at March 4, 2006 12:37 PM

yeah, what exactly about brick filled frames? only because i live in one....

Posted by: anon at March 4, 2006 10:31 PM

When the big one hits, the bricks in brick filled frame houses will turn to margarine.

Posted by: Shahn Andersen at March 5, 2006 7:48 PM

And then the trans-fats will kill you. Run for the hills!

Posted by: Tim at March 6, 2006 8:33 AM

"Do you folks have any clue what the monthly mortgage payments are on a loan that large?

Why would Donald Trump want to live in that house?

I do pretty well financially, but you folks must be running the banks or something."

Ummmm... you do realize this is in Brooklyn Heights don't you? Check out the prices of everything else there and you'll see that this is on the "cheap" side. This is where the people running the banks live.

Posted by: Woodside Al at March 7, 2006 11:09 AM

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