House of the Day: 82 Carroll Street

Wow, that tenant must have been there since before 1971? If it's Rent Control (and not Rent Stabilized).

What is the difference between Rent Control and Rent Stabilization? http://www.dhcr.state.ny.us/ora/ora.htm
In New York City, Rent Control tenants are generally in buildings built before February 1, 1947, where the tenant is in continuous occupancy prior to July 1, 1971. Tenants who took occupancy after June 30, 1971, in buildings of six or more units built before January 1, 1974, are generally Rent Stabilized.

Posted by: Anonymous at December 6, 2006 12:08 PM

wow Dave, I don't think you'll last long in NYC with your outlook. ALmost everyone lives in some sort of multifamily and most single family are attacted (which means if neighbor is going to blast music you;'ll hear it quite well).
Not too many rent contolled left in brownstones - but I do remember seeing listing recently , I think in Carroll Gardens with 2 R/Cs.

Posted by: Anonymous at December 6, 2006 12:13 PM

whatever the tenant situation is, this is nutsy. like someone else here said, either they are onteh garden level or top floor. neither is cool for that kinda dough.

Posted by: Anonymous at December 6, 2006 12:47 PM

There is either a rent-control or rent-stabilized unit in this building. If the tenants is over 64, it's essentially a rent-controlled unit. After the age of 64 you can't kick out a rent-stabilized tenant because you're planning to renovate and live in the entire building...

Posted by: Anonymous at December 6, 2006 1:06 PM

>> 72 Carroll sold for mid $800Ks not even 7 mos ago

72 Carroll had an open house at $1.4M a few weeks ago. Broker said that an offer had already been accepted...

Posted by: Anonymous at December 6, 2006 1:12 PM

If, indeed, all the apartments are rentals, then this was likely bought a few years ago by a flipper as investment property who is now trying to make a huge profit. Any house with a rent-controlled or rent-stabilized tenant is a significant liability, and I would factor the cost of buying them a new condo in the neighborhood as part of the purchase price. So, add another $400,000 at least to this, not to mention the trouble. A realtor from one of the big firms (not Corcoron) recently appraised our 4-story CG house at 1.6 or "maybe" 1.7. It's only 20 feet wide, but on a place block, already duplexed with 2 rentals, and delivered vacant. I think that was a more realistic appraisal given the market, and the crazy sky high prices you see aren't selling, or are selling for significantly less.

Posted by: Anonymous at December 6, 2006 1:18 PM

I dont think this is on the wrong side of the BQE. There's alot happening on Columbia street and its a very easy bus ride to borough hall. Plus, this area will look very different in years to come when the waterfront park is built.

Posted by: Anonymous at December 6, 2006 1:25 PM

I dont think this is on the wrong side of the BQE. There's alot happening on Columbia street and its a very easy bus ride to borough hall. Plus, this area will look very different in years to come when the waterfront park is built.

Posted by: Anonymous at December 6, 2006 1:26 PM

Yet another example of why Rent Control and Rent stabilization lead to hoarding of apartment space in NYC and the controls need to go, and let market rates prevail.

While I'm sure the 82 year old is quite happy occupying an entire floor of a building for only $360 per month, that unit could house an entire family.

There should be programs that provide rent subsidies for low income people, regardless of age. I would much rather see the money spent on keeping the temporary rent regulations that were enacted during World War, be spent instead on a subsidy.
The current systems, which only rewards people for being luck enough to have rented an apartment ages ago, and then never moving, regardless of their current number of dependents.

Posted by: Anonymous at December 6, 2006 1:28 PM

I lived on tiffany place for six months and the area sucks. The noise from the BQE is a steady thrum and the dust from the exhaust coats everything unless you seal yourself up. There are no "1m++ condos", there is a new block (with water views) that is struggling to find buyers and that is on tiffany place which is about the nicest street in the area. Columbia is a mess with trucks that take it regularly (buildings actually vibrate when they hit the bumps). Trucks also get stuck in the area and that leads to cascades of car horns.

The transport is a rush hour minibus that is only open to a couple of condo buildings on tiffany, otherwise you're waiting for regular buses or walking across the BQE and able to phone in a traffic report to 1010wins.

Any waterfront park is a distant dream, right now it is still firmly and actively industrial. Anyway, if you believe in waterfront development down there, go take your 1m+ and spend it on columbia without some old guy holding grimly onto your 3rd floor for pocket change.

Posted by: Anonymous at December 6, 2006 1:44 PM

1:14 PM: My understanding is they bought it in early 2006, did a full "cosmetic" reno and are now selling it. It's empty and there are new appliances, windows, floors, etc.

Posted by: Anonymous at December 6, 2006 1:55 PM

"Wow! How horrible! Having to take the "regular" bus with "regular" people."

Way to take something out of context. I'm emphasizing the disadvantage of living 5 long blocks + 3 short blocks from a subway plus the dismal experience of looking at the BQE trench each morning. "Regular" was a comment on the difference between the tiffany place bus - which is free and frequently cited as a (dubious) advantage - and the normal bus, not a comment on the people.

Geez posters to this site have a hair trigger over-reaction to the slightest possibility of elitism. Ironic, when everyone visits here to gloat over 1m+ brownstones. An amount for housing unthinkable in 98% of america.

Posted by: Anonymous at December 6, 2006 1:55 PM

I doubt anyone is about to rent one floor of this house to a 'family'.

Posted by: Anonymous at December 6, 2006 2:26 PM

Regarding "Family"
Well if the owner refuses to rent to a couple with a child or two, or a single parent with child or two, then they could get in trouble for discrimination.

You know, there are just way to many self important people on this blog that seem to think that they need to take up a huge amount of square footage. Any time a large house is mentioned that is not already a single family, people start wanting to make it a single family. Come on, just how much space do you need?

And news flash, there are tons of houses in Brooklyn that were built as multifamily, so everyone needs to get over the single family is the right/best way to utilize a building.

Posted by: Anonymous at December 6, 2006 2:38 PM

Nothing like spreading some disinformation yourself ;)

http://www.nyc.gov/html/cchr/html/housing.html

It is unlawful for landlords, superintendents, building managers, condominium owners, cooperative owners and boards to discriminate in the sale, rental or lease of a housing accommodation or in the provision of services and facilities because of a person’s actual or perceived race, color, national origin, gender (including gender identity), disability, sexual orientation, creed, marital status, partnership status, alienage or citizenship status, age, lawful occupation, or because children are or may be residing with the person.

Posted by: Anonymous at December 6, 2006 3:40 PM

Ha You are all full of it. All these buildings are overpriced. For a 1 million I could live in my dream MCMANSION with my 8 baths and cheap marble entry way and my 65 inch plasma. You can have your little crappy bathroom for 1 million. And the old lady who lives upstairs for 370 amonth. HA.

Posted by: Anonymous at December 6, 2006 3:48 PM

yikes, I only meant when I said doubt would rent to 'family' wasn't about families not wanted... It was reference that this single old rent-control person was occupying huge space alone that could be housing a whole family. Space isn't that large -- and that most 'families' would not consider it large enough... nor would most landlords want to rent to more that 2 people something of this size (one floor thru in average size house).

Posted by: Anonymous at December 6, 2006 4:09 PM

This area is interesting, but ot very appealing in terms of amenities, convenience and with the bqe noise and pollution. I would definitely consider it Red Hook. Also, it's very overpriced for what you're getting in terms of sf and location. Of course, it only takes 1 sucker...

Posted by: Anonymous at December 6, 2006 4:13 PM

Sounds like the beginning of the movie "Duplex."

Posted by: Anonymous at December 6, 2006 4:16 PM

Statically, single person households are the exception in Brooklyn:
Of the 880,727 households in Brooklyn, 38.6% were married couples living together, 22.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.7% were non-families. 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households 27.8% are made up of individuals and 9.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.41.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brooklyn

Posted by: Anonymous at December 6, 2006 4:36 PM

its a 22' by 35' - so 770sq ft. No matter what stats are for 'Brooklyn'
- I would think that on open market rental in this area there would be few 'families of 3.41' interested in this amt of space. Only say that as an area resident and see who rents the floor-thru apts around here that become vacant. 25 years ago maybe different There maybe exceptions but in general thats what I see.

Posted by: Anonymous at December 6, 2006 4:51 PM

I have lived on both sides of the BQE and I for one would choose "the other side" any day over Carroll Gardens. The Columbia Street Waterfront, Carroll Gardens West, Red Hook or what ever you want to call it has so much more charm Carroll Gardens. The fact that it is located near the BQE has very little impact on sale price considering that some of the most expensive property in New York City is located on the FDR Drive, West Side Highway and BQE. And the coming waterfront park and greenway are in fact a reality.

Posted by: Anonymous at December 11, 2006 6:14 PM