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October 27, 2006

IMBY's Tour of South Slope Frames

house house
Blogger IMBY takes a break from chronicling the shoddy construction practices at 406 15th Street to document a restoration revival in the South Slope that has sprung up amidst, inspite of and against the encroachment of predominately low-quality, ugly new construction. While there are plenty of unremarkable houses in this area, seeing photos of so many beautiful woodframes in one place is a great reminder of what a strong architectural heritage it actually has.
South Slopes Got Wood [IMBY]




Posted by Brownstoner at 10:01 AM | Comments (23)
Categories: Architecture

Comments

How nice! What a great way to start the day. Bless all those homeowner's hearts!

Posted by: SeamusMacD at October 27, 2006 10:27 AM

Wonderful shots of some of the nice renos in our are aof frame & clapboard houses...that weren't torn down in the name of progress and luxury condos.

Wish we had the bucks to restore our 1870-80's frame, currently hibernating under several skins of vinyl and shingles. But thars' wood in them walls!

10 year plan :)

Posted by: lostinbrooklyn at October 27, 2006 10:33 AM

While there are a few nice wood framed houses in the south slope, the VAST majority (perhaps 90%) are not worth keeping and should be demolished for the good of the people.

Posted by: Eryximachus at October 27, 2006 10:36 AM

Eryximachus -- You are an idiot. You are also wrong. If you are going to make a claim like that, at least back it up with some supporting detail.

Posted by: mimimi at October 27, 2006 10:45 AM

Nice Eryximachus, just mow em' all down and start over is it? Typical BS.

An original thought from you would be nice for once, other than "bomb 'em and build 'em."

Posted by: lostinbrooklyn at October 27, 2006 10:45 AM

very nice pics. webster place really has some hidden gems.

another great spot for wood frame houses in on hall st. between park and myrtle in wallabout. all but three houses on the block are frame. clermont and adelphi between p & m also have a good number.
there's also a pretty nice reno on hall between willoughby and myrtle. they resided with dark wood. a little too dark for my taste but it still looks pretty good.

Posted by: arsenal at October 27, 2006 11:03 AM

yeah, south slope is lookin' prettier these days. lots of efforts underway to de- "archie bunker" the homes.

the transformation over the last two years has been pretty remarkable...

Posted by: Anonymous at October 27, 2006 12:10 PM

I agree with Eryximachus. Those framed homes are disgusting and remind me of the cheaply made homes I once did in parts of Nassau. Those 95% dont add value to the neighborhood. New Quality Construction is the way to go. Sorry but there is a reason why its prime developer territory

Posted by: abe at October 27, 2006 12:23 PM

12:23 is the same guy. It's probably Fedders himself.

Posted by: Anonymous at October 27, 2006 12:31 PM

Quite a good chuckle at the last one from 12:23pm.

abe, so you are proposing to put up your own BS developments like "cheaply made homes I once did in parts of Nassau" in place of the century plus sustainable housing stock in the South Slope/ Greenwood Hts.?

Boy, I feel grateful that you want to replace our sustainable housing stock with more crap called "New Quality Construction." Go back to Nassau!

Renovate, don't obliterate...abe.

Posted by: lostinbrooklyn at October 27, 2006 12:43 PM

'Fedders himself'! LOL! Seriously, I've been a fan of these 'forgotten' South Slope frames for years...(living in a barn, I have 'small envy')...little cottages tucked in amongst big tough apt bldgs, warehouses, factories...some undoubtedly predating everything around them. I have a FABULOUS FANTASY: I win the lottery and go around, the Anti-Siding Fairy, giving homeowners like lostinbrooklyn a grant to tear off the vinyl and spiff up the wood! (Windsor Terrace would come under my magic wand, too!)

Posted by: Brenda from Flatbush at October 27, 2006 12:47 PM

I've actually always wondered if there was a grant program like this. Throughout these areas, we have seen how historic renovation of these homes can revitalize neighborhoods. (Not to say that new construction can't -- just that in the current environment, it often doesn't.) Seems like an interesting community redevelopment program.

Also, it's about time for a South Slope Wood Frame House Tour. Like 'em or not, this is a distinct architectual style (or more likely styles) that people have been investing in to bring back to life. And some of the interiors of these houses -- many of which lost their interior detailing a long time ago or never had much to begin with -- are really interesting.

Posted by: bkbroiler at October 27, 2006 1:33 PM

Speaking of developing the areas with these smaller wood-frame south slope houses, it's reminding me how in Los Angeles there is an area nicknamed "Norma Triangle" that has mostly cute, small bungalows, many of which are wood-frame, and that area became a very popular neighborhood for wealthy, gay male professionals. I.e. men who didn't have families and didn't need tons of space, but could do high-end renos on these houses, make cute gardens in front, and when you drive down these streets they are so picturesque and fun.

Posted by: Anonymous at October 27, 2006 2:19 PM

Is Scarano making all the posts today? Those frame houses are just terrific. If they were in Park Slope or Brooklyn Heights they'd cost a fortune. Looks like people have been buying and fixing those up in recent years. The neighborhhod really seems to be coming on.

Posted by: Anonymous at October 27, 2006 2:37 PM

Having put $100K or more (and rebuilding a window this weekend) my wife and I can attest it is worth every penny and every bit of sweat equity.

Our house was a mess of vinyl floors (now red oak), paneled walls (now new drywall or patched plaster & lathe) and brand spankin' new kitchen, 1/2 bath (just updated the circa 1940's main bath) and finished basement. Heck, we even fixed up our 12X18' shed in the back...and the garden, so much concrete to remove.

So enough about my abode, point is, with some $$, love and time YOU CAN CREATE A NEW SPACE FROM AN OLD ONE without a bulldozer and cement truck in our great nabes of South Park Slope and Greenwood Hts.

Off to Home Depot!

Posted by: lostinbrooklyn at October 27, 2006 2:51 PM

No, not replace with cheap housing. I said they remind me of the cheaply made homes b/c they are wood frame with ugly siding. I suggested ripping them down and putting in place more architectually significant homes. The value of these areas are maxed out. Why do you think these homes stay on the market longer and sell for alot cheaper. Mow and GROW!

Posted by: abe at October 27, 2006 5:02 PM

Abe -- You obviously have never gotten caught in a bidding war for a well restored frame house in this area. Good stock will move -- just like with the brownstones. Price differentials, I suspect, have more to do with location of these properties.

Posted by: Anonymous at October 27, 2006 5:28 PM

there is a very nice restoration on 18th street that was done all by the owner. that said the only thing that can revitalize my house on 18th street is to knock it down. oh it could be fixed by jacking it up and redoing the outside etc, etc. that would cost maybe 250k to do it really right. i was on the verge of knocking it down and building a nice looking condo (they can be made right?) but lucky me nimbys squashed my far/ zoning making it economically unfeasable. before you go on and say i'm crying because i lost x amount dollars ,don't i think i will survive. my point is i would have knocked it down and built something nicer. so now you nimbys can come see my ugly historic aluminum sighted aestheticly blighted house any time you want. it will be there for years to come. besides who doesn't like green and yellow siding . thank god for preservation! these are the circa 1920 fedder homes you are preserving. i won't say that all homes are in the condition mine is but quite a few are.

Posted by: Anonymous at October 27, 2006 6:31 PM

Anon 6:31pm

Feel like a broken record here, but let's walk down "Realistic Development Blvd." for a moment...

Assuming you do live on 18th St, I assume your lot is the typical 20X100 ft. If so, under the new "nimby zoning" you can build approx. 60X20 foot, 4 story, then a set back with a 10 foot high bump on your property (of course, to further have you lose $$ you need to match the adjacent street wall, and God forbid leave a 30 foot back yard...total hardship).

So, with my nimy FAR of 2.0 you get a 5 story, 5600 sq. foot building. Can you walk me down "Rational Street" and tell me how the new zoning is "making it economically unfeasible" for you? Really, I'd like to know.

Sheat, if you sold each floor (with the top as a duplex) say for $500-600K, you'd make $2-3Mil, minus your building expenses.

Quit yer bitchin'. Build a perfectly "economically feasible" building under the new zoning and give us all a break.

BTW, if you are at the house with the green & yellow aluminum siding, very cool, very retro. See, there are folks who appreciate your "aesthetically blighted house."

Or are you living on "Greed Lane?"

Posted by: lostinbrooklyn at October 27, 2006 7:31 PM

I am working on a post about a new condo development that is being built as of right, according to the new R6B zoning, that I think will be a nice addition to the area. In order to build this, old houses needed to be torn down. In my opinion the houses were rundown and had many building violations that made them lost causes. The new condos will be sold at the market rate, meaning I personally wouldn't be able to afford to live there. On this project, contrary to what "18th Street" has described, everyone concerned, the original owner of the property, the builder, and the developer, all stand to make a substantial profit AND at the same time provide quality, aesthetically pleasing, housing for twenty new families.

What I may not have been so clear about in my original post is that this domino effect works both ways. When someone on their block renovates their facade it inspires, for lack of a better word, others on the block to take on their own restoration projects. Many of the examples I posted are located on the same block if not side by side, to another recently restored home. Restoration is a virus. Ultimately, these restored houses will continue to make the area desirable and also increase the value of those homes that are no longer salvageable. That means "18th Street", simply by existing, without adding any $$$ improvements to your home, the land may still continue to increase in value and be of interest to a developer. Tear down offers are as high as $4, $5, $600,000. If I were you I would encourage your neighbors to continue to renovate. It will only help you in the end.

Posted by: IMBY at October 27, 2006 10:32 PM

Please ANTI-SIDING FAIRY come rescue Windsor Terrace from the blight of vinyl siding! And while you're at it, ship off all the old time WT-ers to Florida. The neighborhood needs new blood!

Posted by: anon at October 28, 2006 3:13 PM

Hey arsenal:
Thanks for the compliment regarding our house renov. on Hall between Myrtle and Willoughby. We waited 2 yrs for the guys to do the work and now we are looking for someone to do the steps. Sorry the house is a little dark for your taste, I let my husband pick the colors. ;) If anyone knows anyone (mason, etc.) who is reasonable (we do not an unlimited budget) that can redo cement steps please email me.

Posted by: Hall Street at October 28, 2006 4:38 PM

Anon 3:13--screw you. There's just no nice way to say it. This is our home and has been for generations and you're lucky you found your way to our nice community, and you're welcome here. But it's a nice community because of the old-timers, who didn't flee to the suburbs but stayed and looked out for one another. BTW, we look out for the nice new people, too. Any problems you're having with your neighbors probably begin and end with you.

Posted by: Anonymous at October 28, 2006 5:36 PM

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