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January 24, 2007

House of the Day: 100 Decatur Street

house Here's another house that will put the Bed Stuy market to the test. Located at 100 Decatur (between Throop and Marcus Garvey), this four-story, two-family sits outside the Stuyvesant Heights Historic District (map here) but is on a nice block nonetheless (though some might argue it's a little close to Fulton). Anyway, the red flag here appears to be that only the lower duplex has retained the building's original architectural details (serious stuff), which might not be a problem for a buyer who definitely wants to maintain the current configuration. Still, we think the lack of charm upstairs might merit a small discount from the asking price of $899,000.
100 Decatur Street [Corcoran] GMAP P*Shark
Large photo by Gregg Snodgrass for Property Shark

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Comments

It looks like a movie set!

Posted by: Anonymous at January 24, 2007 12:04 PM

i bet this one's in contract in 4 weeks . i also see it going for 879 k min.

Posted by: eletricgreek at January 24, 2007 12:07 PM

This is a beauty. It is lovely and the price looks in the realm of the doable. I don't think that lack of architectural details in the upper duplex is no big deal. I am not so sure of the location and Fulton Street is still so awful, but that house...wow. Really pretty.

Posted by: donatella at January 24, 2007 12:17 PM

edit problem on my post....Should say..."don't think that the lack of details is a big deal.....

Posted by: donatella at January 24, 2007 12:19 PM

it is a wonderful deal for 2000sq ft of detail with rentals paying your expenses and a chunk of the mortgage.
but.
what is a whitey ipod family from the slope realistically gonna find around there in terms of services, other than milk bread newspapers and a subway stop? just curious..

Posted by: Anonymous at January 24, 2007 12:19 PM

"whitey ipod" should as the other "whitey MP3s" that are in the neighborhood on a regular basis. He also should head down to the bakery and coffee shop down the road on Lewis - just a thought.

Hmmm... I would want a bigger discount for the additional kitchen that I need to remove.

Fulton Street is awful, but I am sure that there isn't "that" much (however you quantify it) overflow onto the street. Now...the Mickey D's on the other hand would be a pain in the @$$.

Posted by: Big Paws on a Puppy at January 24, 2007 12:29 PM

oh...as for the prediction -

3 weeks tops - $840K

Posted by: Big Paws on a Puppy at January 24, 2007 12:31 PM

you people are on crack...look at the floorplan..it's a 1 bdr owner's duplex...who's paying $899K for a 1 bdr in bed stuy?

Posted by: anon at January 24, 2007 12:37 PM

and the only bathroom is in the back by the kitchen...terrible, terrible, terrible layout.

Posted by: anon at January 24, 2007 12:38 PM

anon January 24, 2007

I think you pay for the entire building not just two floors...just a thought

Posted by: Anonymous at January 24, 2007 12:40 PM

I didn't notice that! However, SOMEbody did pay well over $2 million for a brownstone in North Park Slope we saw this past Fall, that had a 1BR owners duplex too. Go figure. But it does suit a childless couple, or a gay couple (who don't have children) since these houses are at a two-income price level. That must be who they sell to.

Posted by: Anonymous at January 24, 2007 12:42 PM

12:40 pm...I figured you are buying the whole building, but you are paying that amount to live someplace...and I wouldn't pay $899K to live in a 1 bdrm in bed-stuy just to have a brownstone, half of which I don't occupy. But thanks for the pointer.

Posted by: anon at January 24, 2007 12:50 PM

Shady happenings on Throop all the time. Open air crack slangin on the corner up by Halsey. Multiple homicides up by Putnum and Gates over the past four weeks. Gonna take at least 10 years to clean up around there. Dog crap all over sidewalks. Honey Bun and Dorito wrappers all over the place. Looks nice on the surface - but living there is a different story.

Posted by: Anonymous at January 24, 2007 12:55 PM

I see more dog crap in PS than in other nabes. What is it about PS dog owners not cleaning up after their dogs? They're too special to do that? Grrr. I wish they'd put signs up as reminders to shame the dog owners. Sorry, got off-topic.

Posted by: Anonymous at January 24, 2007 1:06 PM

I have a house right near Fulton. When I first looked at it, I thought it was a drawback, but it turned out to be a blessing. Very close to the train and currently, because of lack of restaurants, it's pretty quiet at night. May become a problem if Fulton St becomes the next Smith St, but I'll cross that bridge when/if I come to it.

Posted by: Anonymous at January 24, 2007 1:24 PM

Beautiful house. I remember seeing it on a house tour. Wonderfully preserved detail. Decatur is a beautiful block, and the surrounding area is just fine. Even with the spacial concerns of the upstairs layout, I think this one will sell quickly. If everything else is up to snuff, one could always change the layout, and as someone else stated, it might be fine just as it is for a single person or childless couple.

Fulton St is not really an issue. I've seen that those who hang out there don't move off the block. It's a retail wasteland, but that won't last forever. BTW - Nobody - old time or new, likes what Fulton Street looks like. We all look forward to improvements. Even us non Park Slope IPoders.

Putnam and Gates is as far from this house as Putnam and Gates is from lower Fort Greene. Sorry, that one doesn't fly. Halsey and Throop is closer, but not next door, either, and is getting cleaned up. Dog crap and litter is also everywhere. Let's have a GOOD reason to reject this place, not the usual rehashed crime and dirt in the hood mess.

Posted by: Anonymous at January 24, 2007 1:29 PM

Right you are 1:06!
More dog crap in PS and BK Heights. Take stroll after a snow storm.
We all know there's less street cleaning and corner trash cans in Bed Sty.

I'll be rooting for the 899k! The comps are a couple of blocks ie 371 Hancock :-)

Posted by: Anonymous at January 24, 2007 1:33 PM

In terms of size, location, and condition, at least in the (few) photos shown, looks like a winner - this is a great part of bed-stuy. Biggest drawback has got to be the one bathroom in duplex. Wonder if a bathroom could be added below current one, in the ground floor of the extension.

Posted by: Anonymous at January 24, 2007 1:33 PM

Something is a little funny here - anyone else notice how the exterior of the house doesn't have bay windows, but the interior photos do?

Posted by: Anonymous at January 24, 2007 1:56 PM

The bay windows are in the back .Look at the floor plan

Posted by: eletricgreek at January 24, 2007 2:01 PM

nothing funny is going on here, the bay window is in the back of the house, truly rare. the house is beautiful and worth every cent.

Posted by: Anonymous at January 24, 2007 2:01 PM

Bay window is in the back - check the floorplan.

Oh, if only I had money....

Posted by: chickenmadness at January 24, 2007 2:02 PM

There was ONE murder on Putnam and ONE murder on Gates. And each was the first in the last few years, so come down off the crime element.
Ironically the 78th precinct's Crime Stats look pretty similiar to the 79th.

http://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/pdf/chfdept/cs079pct.pdf

http://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/pdf/chfdept/cs078pct.pdf

Posted by: NewStoner at January 24, 2007 2:12 PM

The layout is the way that it is, because the bathroom on the ground floor is actually in the extension to the back. My house has a similar layout because that was the easiest way to put a second bathroom in without major renovations when the houses were changed from one to two families.

In many of the central brooklyn brownstones the bathrooms in the original structures were on the 3rd and 4th floors (where bedrooms were) and not on the parlor or ground floors (used for entertaining and dining). The extensions were essentially dead space, and were in close proximity to the plumbing lines in the basements/cellar, hence them being changed into bathrooms.

Posted by: Oh Lord! at January 24, 2007 2:27 PM

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9803E5DE1331F934A25751C1A9609C8B63

this happened a few doors down @ 131 decatur ..im no bed stuy basher but . shit happens everywhere

Posted by: eletricgreek at January 24, 2007 2:30 PM

Does any one know the name of this style of Brownstone?

Posted by: Anonymous at January 24, 2007 3:19 PM

what i would do with this house is move the kitchen up to the middle parlor and create another bedroom in its former space on the garden level. This is a stunning house!!!

Posted by: Anonymous at January 24, 2007 3:41 PM

Wonder what the two floor through apartments look like and whether the building will be delivered vacant....

And the owners only get one bedroom .. that sucks. Why would you want a house with only one bedroom...?

Posted by: Anonymous at January 24, 2007 4:16 PM

I think this style is Richardsonian Romanesque or Rennaissance Revival. Heavier solid look, chunky arches. I love it, it's one of my fave styles of architecture. Lots of it in the upper Midwest.

Posted by: Anonymous at January 24, 2007 4:42 PM

Thank you.

Posted by: Anonymous at January 24, 2007 4:52 PM

Why IS Fulton such a pit? The other day, I walked Fulton from Throop to S. Portland. Parts of it are so desolate, vacant lots, shuttered commercial space. The only really lively part is around the express stop at Nostrand. With the ever-increasing gentrifying interest in Bed Stuy, and with all the people who already live there, why is this main commercial street so under utilized?

Those of you who live in Bed Stuy, where do you buy your groceries? I live in Sunset Park, and we have a very decent Key Food. The only market I saw on Fulton was -- what's it called? -- the SuperTown?

Posted by: Anonymous at January 24, 2007 6:51 PM

Keyfood on Malcolm X and Putnam, clean well managed but small.Also Keyfood on Broadway near Saratoga,worth the trip.The market on fulton is a Superfoodtown. great idea horrible market.

Posted by: anonymous at January 24, 2007 8:13 PM

What they used to call "Do or Die" they now call "Too Late to Buy".

Posted by: Nicolo Macchiavelli at January 24, 2007 9:22 PM

I don't think the Foodtown is so bad. I go there, or to Tony's Healthfood, or the Korean grocery (not a great Korean grocery, but they are Korean and it is a grocery).

Posted by: Anonymous at January 24, 2007 10:18 PM

The grocery store at Restoration Plaza is not bad. That's on Fulton between Marcy and Thompkins.

Posted by: Drew at January 24, 2007 11:43 PM

Part of the reason the commercial areas are so bad is that very few of the buildings on Fulton Street are owned by people who actually live in the community. I'm told by people who have wanted to rent spaces, that the rents are ridiculously high, especially for the locations, and that after years and years of neglect, so much needs to be done to bring many of the buildings back to a decent state, and the landlords don't want to do it, and the tenants, or tenants to be, don't want to (or can't) handle the costs.

As much as I can't understand it myself, places like nail parlours make money, and can pay the rents because they don't have a lot of overhead, they don't pay their employees very much, and if they try to gussy the place up, most of it can be done with just some superficial dressing consisting of paint, laminate board, curtains,lighting and mirrors. You can hide a lot of flaws behind all of that.

As for Super Foodtown not being a good supermarket - I suppose not, if you generally shop at upscale joints like the Food Emporiums in Manhattan, or even Whole Food. But for those of us who remember the horror that was Pathmark, which occupied the space before - this Foodtown is wonderful. The selection is good, the fresh produce is pretty fresh, and they have a deli department. You can actually buy a fresh bagel, Earl Grey tea, and soy products. Here, in the hood! My only complaint is that the aisles are too narrow, and checkout lines can be difficult, but I find that true of most New York City supermarkets.

Posted by: Anonymous at January 25, 2007 12:21 AM

Beautiful looking house. Any guesses on what the 2 rentals would bring in per month (esp. considering that horrible looking kitchen layout)?

Posted by: Anonymous at January 25, 2007 2:30 AM

I'm getting $1500 for a 1 BR in this part of Bed Stuy. It's a beautiful parlor floor, so it would probably be $1000-1300 if these apartments weren't up to snuff. BTW, there was some talk of only having 1BR for the ownder on this house. I'd move the kitchen up to the parlor and make 2 BRs downstairs. Viola...2BR duplex. It's a beautiful house and I'm going to make a prediction that it goes for above ask.

Posted by: Anonymous at January 25, 2007 8:42 AM

Foodtown on Fulton is actually not bad. The selection is quite good. For produce they carry things like watercress and fresh local apples in the fall. I've been pretty impressed when I've gone.

Posted by: Anonymous at January 25, 2007 9:46 AM

you may think i'm crazy, but i bet it goes above asking price.

Posted by: pietro at January 25, 2007 10:34 AM

i agree with Pietro's assertion that the property can go above asking price. A nyear ago i was a participant in a bidding war for a house on Macon being conducted by Corcoran. This house seems to be undervalued, I have seen houses who have far less the character go for alot more

Posted by: anon at January 25, 2007 11:36 AM

Brownstoner.com is killing me! I have been looking for a brownstone just like this for months! And now it's the most viewed property on corcoran's website. Thanks a bunch :(

Posted by: eleven at January 25, 2007 11:43 AM

Brownstoner.com is killing me! I have been looking for a brownstone just like this for months! And now it's the most viewed property on corcoran's website. Thanks a bunch :(

Posted by: eleven at January 25, 2007 11:46 AM

ha..ha gotta be more proactive..just kidding good luck in your pursuit

Posted by: anon at January 25, 2007 11:47 AM

RE: Above ask...just remember that I said it first at 8:42am. Quit jumping on my bandwagon! ;)
11:46, so hurry up and put in an offer on this place!

Posted by: Anonymous at January 25, 2007 12:44 PM

I don't see this going for under ask. That woodwork is beautiful.

Posted by: Anonymous at January 25, 2007 1:24 PM

As an owner of a house on the block, I hope it goes near the asking price. I can't be mad at the comps.

Posted by: Comp Dreamin' at January 25, 2007 1:46 PM

I think this place is better than 371 Hancock. A Much nicer block and we know that 371 went for $935K.

I think ti goes for mid $900

Posted by: NewStoner at January 25, 2007 3:13 PM

I've been looking for a brownstone with original detail for two years... there are very few, and with 2 rentals to help with the mortgage!
This is a rare opportunity, if you want to wait for gentrification like fort greene be prepared to spend 2 million on a mansion like this one in about 6 years...
or pay over a mill for something needing some serious work in clinton hill.
What a beautiful block, and close to the A train, I saw this house and there is plenty of detail on the upper floors, 2 very charming apartments that could probably get 1,500 each a month...
I say it goes for well over 900...

Posted by: vr at January 27, 2007 2:33 PM

This house is amazing. I bet it does over 9. This is the real deal.

Posted by: ts at January 27, 2007 8:15 PM

do the existing tenants go with the house or will it be delivered vacant?

Posted by: Anonymous at January 29, 2007 11:05 AM

This house really is a steal. I have friends who sold a house for $1.2M in Spring 2006, a few blocks over. More "historic" area but this house is better. Saw it this weekend. The rentals, which are just okay, are currently garnering $1300/month. Not bad Bed Stuy.

I agree with one of the earlier comments, that the proximity to Fulton is a big plus. This house is literally around the corner from a C train, and the grocery store. One could be farther down Decatur but have a hike to the cleaners, supermarket, train, bodega, or any other convenience. Due to Operation Impact, there has been a significant increase in police presence with more to come in 2007.

Come on Bed-Stuy!!

Posted by: Anonymous at January 29, 2007 1:55 PM

Operation Impact? That's the first I heard of that. I know that it would be ideal if this place was inbetween Lewis & Stuyvesant. But it's not bad where it sits either.

has anyone been inside? the rentals as well. What's the Layout?

Posted by: NewStoner at January 29, 2007 2:07 PM

I live on the block. The street isn't bad at all, IMHO.

Hey, we even have a "brown sign" because of the building on the corner --yeah, yeah...I know that it isn't historic district "proper" but I can at least see the historic district every morning. Shucks, I can even touch it.

The C train (I know...ugh...but at least it ain't the G) is right around the corner, which is incredibly convenient. (also, equals higher rents) The A train, for those of you who seek additional cardio, is a couple of blocks away.

As for Operation Impact...the damn suits are around the corner all the damn time. I can't get away with squat. I even need to remember to put my seatbelt on because they set up a check point on the corner of Fulton and Throop.

Rest assured - whoever gets the house -it is a good block.

Welcome!

Posted by: 2nd Block of Decatur at January 29, 2007 4:53 PM

word is that there are 5 bids with more coming, and a best and final round likely.

of course some bids might be under ask. But still, probably corcoran underpriced this.

Posted by: Anonymous at January 29, 2007 6:10 PM

Word has it that the best and final is Due Thurs, 2/1, at 5pm not Friday --And there will be an open house this sunday 2-3 for backup offers.

Posted by: anonymous at January 31, 2007 10:34 AM