« Gowanus Holiday Inn Opens Without Incident House of the Day: Bergen Street Roll of the Dice »
August 14, 2006
Condo of the Day: Slick Townhouse Duplex
This has got to be the most expensive condo ever in Carroll Gardens. The top two floors of this 24-foot-wide building on Union Street have been gutted and tricked out to create a luxury pad with expansive views of Manhattan. We'd love to see a real picture of the limestone facade (can anyone hook us up?)--the rendering ain't doing it for us. And now for the big question: Is it worth it? We imagine most of the people looking to drop $1.7 million bucks in Carroll Gardens would rather buy a house than a condo, but that isn't to say there's not a market for a luxury pad like this. We just bet it's not very big.
Union Street Condo [Brown Harris Stevens]
Comments
This house is the new sore thumb (and laughing stock) of the neighborhood. You can stand out front and watch everyone shoot dirty looks at it as they walk by. They took some dinky 1960's house and have slapped a load of out of context white stone on top. What's best is that any potential buyer will be able to look at the remaining 3 pre-renovation houses, and know exactly what shoddy architeture is under their luxury renovation.
Posted by: pumwi at August 14, 2006 11:39 AM
I live across the street and agree - this is the laughing stock of the neighborhood. It is called the "mausoleum" by those on the street. It will never sell.
Posted by: Jay at August 14, 2006 11:43 AM
it is very nice and very spacious inside. they did a pretty good job with the finishes and it has central air (which is my dream)...that being said, i live down the street and my wife and i have our own inappropriate nickname for it.
Posted by: anon at August 14, 2006 11:58 AM
Which block is it on? Court/Clinton?
Also - looks like new (kinda nice looking from outside) condo bdlg on Union close to Smith is nearing completion - anyone seen any marketing/prices for it?
Posted by: Anonymous at August 14, 2006 12:18 PM
It is Union between Henry and Clinton - next to "Royals" - another mystery on that block.
Posted by: Jay at August 14, 2006 12:23 PM
Would one of you neighbors be able shoot us a photo of the exterior please?
Posted by: brownstoner at August 14, 2006 12:51 PM
The floors look superb! Why can't everyone do floors like these? Even if costs double what a regular floor costs, it's definetely worth it in my opinion!
Posted by: Anonymous at August 14, 2006 1:13 PM
Brazilion cherry floors? Oh I guess those are those million dollar Brazilian floors ;)
Posted by: Anonymous at August 14, 2006 1:24 PM
It definitely looks out of place and could have used some better design. But, I do commend them for the idea of trying to rework one of those truly awful white iron and brick '60s nightmares.
That being said, the price is nuts. The execution looks kind of cheap. An effect which is only amplified by being attached to said awful '60s homes from whence it was spawned.
Wait til you see a picture of the outside.
Posted by: ANON at August 14, 2006 1:29 PM
Walked by it the other day. Is an odd bird, but I sort of like it. Someone took one of those hideous carport '70s jobs and added on. Got to say anything is an improvement over the original, and I like the exterior spiral staircase and roof deck. Yes, it is out of context, but blame that on the guy who built it 30 years ago.
What is up with Royals btw? Tempted to go in, but the fireplace is telling me to wait until Oct.
Posted by: Max at August 14, 2006 1:32 PM
Royals is great! Extra good in the winter with that fireplace. But the food is really top notch anytime, along with the excellent cocktails. Highly recommended..
Posted by: Anonymous at August 14, 2006 1:40 PM
I will snap a photo tonight when I get home.
Posted by: Jay at August 14, 2006 1:47 PM
It is so ugly. You can put all the expensive stone you want on one of those buildings (I call them the "Queens houses") it's just completely hideous. Is the whole building for sale or just the top? What an eye sore.
Posted by: alexuma at August 14, 2006 4:02 PM
THAT place is ridiculous. They took an already-mediocre 1960s (70s?) brick facade and slapped some bathroom-y marble tile over the front of it. It's truly terrible. My favorite part is the spiral staircase leading to the 'private roof deck'...that overlooks Union Street. Ugh. The price of real estate in CG is already SO ridiculous, but with the penthouse unit at 11 2nd Place going for over $1M, it really wouldn't surprise me if they got it. (Well, it WOULD surprise me, but still!)
Posted by: sandra at August 14, 2006 5:19 PM
Pointless rhetorical question: why can't DCP come up with design guidelines/zoning overlays for brownstone neighborhoods? But, seriously, it's such a shame that a charming, largely architecturally consistent block (even if it isn't landmarked) gets an addition like that.
The only good thing I can say about the original building (prior to the addition) is that I used to live catty-corner to it and was grateful for its low height, which allowed the low winter sun to pour into our apartment. Glad I moved, because those golden rays will be gone now, and if I still lived there I would be quite upset!
Posted by: anon2 at August 14, 2006 5:46 PM
Galley kitchen. No separate dining room. 2 of the 4 bedrooms are tiny 11 * 13/14. $1.7 million? You can easily by a good house for that.
Posted by: Tony at August 14, 2006 7:28 PM
The crazy thing about the listing is that they "greyed" out the adjoining buildings in the artist's rendition. I'm sure buyers will be shocked when they see the actual building in context. However, I do prefer the look of this building to the '60s era building it once was. But price seems ridiculous in this market.
Posted by: Anonymous at August 14, 2006 10:48 PM
This thing truly is hideous. I walk by it every day and I'm still appalled by the pastiche of awful styles applied here. I can't believe anyone will pay anywhere near that much for it.
Posted by: Anonymous at August 14, 2006 11:52 PM
heard a mets or a yankee player bought the penthouse...
Posted by: Anonymous at August 15, 2006 11:56 AM
I agree -- it's good to see someone try to do something with those queens style houses, but a better approach was the one taken with the new construction just west of Smith St. on Warren -- they gave them Queen Anne-style gables and mullion windows.
The one real sore thumb on this building is the vent stacks on the side. They make it look even more horrific.
It will help if they do mix some brick onto the mausoleum-like facade.
Best,
GT
Posted by: behindthelibes at August 15, 2006 2:41 PM
Absolutely ridiculous. I am actually fond of those "Queen's house" simply because they are unpretentious. This might not look so ridiculous in another context, but on that block it is really trying too hard. Not to mention the bus going by all the time, etc makes the location less-than-glamorous. And Royal is really good, btw. Not sure how they stay open--maybe the catering?
Posted by: Carol Gardens at August 15, 2006 4:54 PM
off topic, but wanted to weigh in as well that Royal's is a great restaurant. Forget the condo, have the bouillabaisse and keep them open.
Posted by: frmrres at August 15, 2006 5:34 PM
I lived in one of those 70s things! It was my very first apt in NYC in 1989-90. The walls and floors were paper thin; the building shook and flexed when you moved. The 4th floor plan is the exact same as my 2BR apt next door. My roomate and I paid $950 a month. Junk.
Posted by: Chris M at August 15, 2006 5:55 PM
Union Street bus going by all the time?
It hardly ever runs.
Posted by: Anonymous at August 16, 2006 9:50 AM
Okay, you're right. I wish the bus WOULD come more often!
Posted by: Carol Gardens at August 16, 2006 7:25 PM
the real problem here is that the owner/rehabber in the bottom wants to retain voting control over the two-condo "asociation." i almost burst out laughing when the broker told us.
Posted by: anon at January 26, 2007 3:26 PM
Latest Restaurant Additions
-
Kimchee
added March 16, 2010 12:00 PM in Bay Ridge -
Magda Int'l Cafe
added March 15, 2010 12:00 PM in Williamsburg -
Villa Rustica
added March 12, 2010 12:00 PM in Park Slope -
Happy End
added March 11, 2010 12:00 PM in Greenpoint -
The Blue Stove
added March 10, 2010 12:00 PM in Williamsburg -
Madina
added March 9, 2010 12:00 PM in Kensington -
Cataldo's
added March 8, 2010 12:00 PM in Prospect Heights -
La Locanda
added March 5, 2010 12:00 PM in Williamsburg -
Manhattan 3 Decker Restaurant
added March 4, 2010 12:00 PM in Greenpoint -
San Remo
added March 3, 2010 12:00 PM in Ditmas Park
Post a comment
Please be patient while your comment is published. It may take a moment.