« Co-op of the Day: 280 Ocean Parkway Friday Links »
May 31, 2007
House of the Day: Price Cut at 112 Butler Street
When the modern house at 112 Butler Street hit the market last fall, almost everyone agreed that it was a great example of modern townhouse design. There was significantly less agreement about the $2,250,000 asking price. After being off the market for several months, the price has recently been cut by $100,000. Will this be enough to get a deal done? Hard to say, though the market is arguably stronger now. Of course, the shooting directly across the street earlier this week can't be helping the sales effort.
112 Butler Street [Corcoran] GMAP P*Shark
House of the Day: Going Back to Cali [Brownstoner]
Behind the Facade at 112 Butler Street [Brownstoner]
New Build Odyssey [Brownstoner]
Trackback Pings
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.brownstoner.com/mte/mt-tb.cgi/1264
Comments
Still too high by about $300,000.
Posted by: crouchback at May 31, 2007 2:01 PM
while any crime, and especially shooting is of great concern, i have to say that domestic ones such as this are not nearly as disturbing as random ones.
this neighborhood is still a safe one for being right in the midst of a big city.
Posted by: anon at May 31, 2007 2:03 PM
Where do you get a bathroom sink like that? We have been looking for exactly such a double sink.
Posted by: anon at May 31, 2007 2:09 PM
This is not a double sink, these are Kohler undermount sinks, installed under the stone counter and have the stone fascia (front apron). It appears on the photo as one.
Posted by: mg at May 31, 2007 2:14 PM
there you go folks. crime and violence happens everywhere in nyc.
Posted by: anon at May 31, 2007 2:16 PM
These nabes aren't as safe as you think.
Read the police blotter. There is a persistant drug problem in these areas that hold on it seems forever. It might shift a block, here or there, but it is persistant.
Posted by: Anonymous at May 31, 2007 2:22 PM
and your most apt to get murdered by your own spouse,family, friends...so stay away from spouse,family and friends.
Nice house..but a bit pricey still since isn't all that big and not choicest spot in the area.
And the stain or finish they put on outside already needs a new coat.
BTW - there is large house, 4 fam, needing reno probably for sale across street for $1.8.
Posted by: petebklyn at May 31, 2007 2:25 PM
So you all jog at five am. come home alone at theee am and have never felt frightened. Or, I order food late at night and I don't come home after midnight.
You live a midwestern life or a new york
life. That's how safe a nave is to me, when i can take a walk anywhere at anytime.
Posted by: Anonymous at May 31, 2007 2:27 PM
Anon 2:22...You are right. People will argue, but it's a stretch to call that nabe Cobble Hill. Those who know know that it'sa different ballgame when you get east of Court Street. It's much rougher over there. Always has been, always will be.
Posted by: Anon at May 31, 2007 2:28 PM
Domestic crimes happen as much in suburbs and small towns as they do per capita in cities. Tragically.
In houses that are smaller it seems better to keep it a single-family home these days. People spending this kind of money want big space. The owners unit isn't very big and neither is the rental. I bet potential buyers are doing the math and finding the rental income for the apartment isn't worth it, to spend that much on the whole building. Also, being new construction this property is competing not with brownstones but with new modern condos, and again that's where the owner's unit being smaller, hurts these sellers.
Posted by: Anonymous at May 31, 2007 2:29 PM
@Anon 2:22PM
You seem to have a "persistant" problem spelling the word "persistent".
Posted by: Anonymous at May 31, 2007 2:36 PM
I thought this nabe was beohrem hill? no?
Posted by: Anonymous at May 31, 2007 2:41 PM
Anon 2:28. Last June a guy killed his ex-wife by blowing up there townhouse on 62nd St. between Madison + Park. Got to watch out for those nieghborhoods North of Court St. too? As one who remembers what Smith + Hoyt St. were like back in the 80s + early 90s, you can't desribe the neighborhood as anything but "safe" these days.
Posted by: Anonymous at May 31, 2007 2:51 PM
It is very cool but perhaps playing in the wrong game. If I wanted $1m worth of modern materials, I'd look for evidence of them in the house and I don't see them here.
An old brownstone has detail you can't buy new, at any price, which is why people pay $2m for them (rightly or wrongly).
Posted by: Anonymous at May 31, 2007 2:57 PM
anything where people can see you from smith street is fine. now, the corcoran listing for a two bedrrom on warren that is literally between two of the projects, and asking $600k+? that's another story.
Posted by: Anonymous at May 31, 2007 3:05 PM
anon 2:51 you got it a bit wrong...manhattan dude blew himself up in his townhouse that he didn't want to sell. UES psycho went to extreme measures to take the home away from ex. But then she got last laugh when she was able to sell the site for a far greater sum without the house on it.
Posted by: Anonymous at May 31, 2007 3:15 PM
Guys, it is 1/2 a block away from the projects... 1/2 a block!!!
Posted by: Peter at May 31, 2007 3:21 PM
This also has to be the most idiotic looking home I've ever seen. That glass facade is ridiculous.
Posted by: Anonymous at May 31, 2007 3:29 PM
and the zoned schools are awful.
I just don't see a family who are looking to spend 2mm and send their kids to private schools buying this place.
Posted by: Anonymous at May 31, 2007 3:37 PM
"the market is arguably stronger now" really?
Posted by: ANON at May 31, 2007 3:41 PM
I love what they've done. Location close to the projects aint great, but definitely not the negative it used to be. And it's not that big once you factor in garage space, but if you dig modern, this is pretty tasteful.
Posted by: John at May 31, 2007 3:50 PM
I agree. This home is a laughing stock. I actually feel sorry for the people who live here.
Posted by: Anonymous at May 31, 2007 4:36 PM
the comps here are the new "tao" condos on warren, also between smith and the pjs. they're asking $800+/sf (actually more with the ol mezzanine trick but whatever) and will get something close to it. i'll take this house anyday.
i wish more people were as petrified of the pjs as you posters profess to be - then i'd be able to buy on these blocks.
Posted by: Anonymous at May 31, 2007 4:37 PM
It's a bit irresponsible for Brownstoner to imply that the family quarrel/shooting across the street from 112 Butler Street is indicative of the overall safety of that neighborhood. I dislike the use of scare tactics to deflate prices as much as I dislike when Brokers overstate the hotness of the market to induce people into acting quickly.
The motives behind bringing up this murder is particularly curious, considering how rarely Brownstoner discusses the legitimate safety issues and crime statistics of his own neighborhood - Clinton Hill.
If I were the homeowner on Butler Street, I'd sue.
Posted by: Anonymous at May 31, 2007 4:41 PM
"If I were the homeowner on Butler Street, I'd sue."
On what legal basis? Defamation of a neighborhood?
Don't be inane.
Posted by: Anon at May 31, 2007 4:47 PM
I see no harm in mentioning that someone got their head blown off across the street.
Posted by: Anonymous at May 31, 2007 4:48 PM
i think this house is very cool and interesting, although the price is a little high for the size and location
Posted by: z at May 31, 2007 4:55 PM
My theory: Someone saw this hideous building and blew his own head off. I can barely stand it myself!
Posted by: Anonymous at May 31, 2007 5:20 PM
If this is zoned for 261, it is a great school. Other schools in the area are ok, not horrible.
Nabe is definitely Boerum Hill. Cobble Hill ends at Court and this is 1 1/2 blocks past that. Because the Gowanus Houses block of the through street, these can be very quiet blocks.
Posted by: Anonymous at May 31, 2007 5:39 PM
I think not 261 but zoned for elem on Union/Hoyt. Which of course did not hurt the sale of the 'blue house' on Sackett.
And ,not that it matters, but
"is definitely Boerum Hill. Cobble Hill ends at Court " - ain't quite right.
This couple of blocks kinda a no-mans land between Cobble Hill, Boerum Hill, and Carroll Gardens. (and please don't call it Gowanus,yech). All you line in the sand people would say Boerum Hill does not go south of Warren...and most people would not call any block between Court and Smith -'Boerum Hill'...except some newcomer.
But this block (and Baltic) did 'join' Carroll Gardens Assoc. for what that is worth.
Posted by: Anonymous at May 31, 2007 6:43 PM
Who buys a place for over $2MM and send their kids to NYC schools (except for Stuy, Bronx Science and the like).
Posted by: Anonymous at May 31, 2007 6:44 PM
Anon 6:44
Answer: everyone bending over backwards to get their kids into PS 29, 58 and 261, thats who.
Behind in your school awareness?
Posted by: Peter in CG at May 31, 2007 9:51 PM
As I recall, this used to be a vacant lot used as parking for the adjacent home (same owner) properties were sold together for a total of $600,000-$700,000 about 4 years ago. They sold the existing home and then built the modern home. Not sure what the construction costs were but it looks like they'll make out nicely.
Posted by: Anonymous at June 1, 2007 7:05 AM
This house was a yoga studio called the energy center for several years. Not vacant.
Posted by: Anonymous at June 1, 2007 9:48 AM
This house was a yoga studio called the energy center for several years. Not vacant.
Posted by: Anonymous at June 1, 2007 9:48 AM
6:44- as a private school tuition can cost upwards of $60K a year. Think two kids and 120K starts to look pretty good- going into a mortgage.
Posted by: Max at June 1, 2007 10:34 AM
Wrong, this house not used as a yoga center ever.
This is very recent construction.
Posted by: Anonymous at June 1, 2007 4:04 PM
I lived at 89 Butler Street from 1963 to 1979. The neighborhood was going to hell quickly and we got out. I knew the person who was shot in the back twice across the street.
" Of course, the shooting directly across the street earlier this week can't be helping the sales effort."
The man isn't even in the ground and you use his murder as an excuse why your overpriced pos house will be harder to sell?
I hope his ghost comes back to haunt you.
Posted by: Mitch Hinton at June 1, 2007 5:08 PM
spare me the drama Mitch.
Posted by: Anonymous at June 1, 2007 8:07 PM
It's called having a little compassion anonymous for a person who was killed asswipe.
Posted by: Ben D. Over at June 1, 2007 8:27 PM
I agree wholeheartedly with the above poster. Do any of you people who obsess about property values in Cobble Hill actually bother to get to know those who have spent their lives there? Who the hell do you think kept Brooklyn alive for all those years before your sorry asses got wind of it? Would it be "drama" if this had happened to someone close to you? I feel bad for you.
Posted by: Me at June 2, 2007 2:15 AM
" Of course, the shooting directly across the street earlier this week can't be helping the sales effort."
What a pitiful comment......Parts of that neighborhood have more history & fond memories for some that grew up there & lived a real city experience than you'll ever know....Freakin yuppies worried about their market value, what a shit thing to say.
Having also personally known & grew up with the family of the victim I find the above comment very disrespectful and way out of line & can't believe that this site would even promote a statement like that....
And to anonymous......It's not drama moron, human compassion rather than the almighty dollar is a bit more valuable. But obviously that's a concept you are not capable of.
Posted by: Scott at June 2, 2007 1:44 PM
When does drama turn to tradegy?
When it happens to you.
The new crew of homeowners wouldn't even
come to the aid of an old person .Only old time neighbors come out and help.
These new kids, they aren't smart, they aren't stylish, they aren't anything.
If the oldtimers move out you will have a
crime wave.
Posted by: Anonymous at June 3, 2007 9:58 AM
While I agree with Scott and Ben who said it was disgusting to be so crass in discussing someone's death, the post at 9:58pm is pure conjecture. How do you know what I or anyone new to a neighborhood would do for an elderly neighbor? What is your opinion based on? Our neighbor's son won't help him with housework or yardwork, is just a layabout. Yet your claim is this son is more likely to help his father than us simply because they've lived here longer and paid less for their house than us. Doesn't even make sense. I definitely have witnessed myself certain types of residents of the most gentrified neighborhoods (i.e. Park Slope) are quite self-absorbed and don't bother knowing their neighbors very well. But don't make a huge generalization of ALL new homeowners all over Brooklyn. That's ridiculous. Plus have you ever considered new residents might seem aloof because, here's a thought, they don't feel welcome? By YOU? It takes two.
Posted by: Anonymous at June 3, 2007 11:57 AM
In regards to the post made by Anonymous 6/3 11:57 AM.........
I'm not sure who is who here because it appears the same name is overlapped somehow & the replys appear to mean different things. So I'm not sure who said what.
Every neighborhood changes & growing up on Butler St. for me in the 60's & 70's may have been a completely different experience. Old neighbors, new neighbors, who knows what motivates their behavior for one another. Old generation values, new generation values? We all played hard, worked hard, and were a pretty tight bunch back than. Today, who knows, people are far too busy maybe with their careers & self-worth to worry about what powers a community. I don't like to generalize but when I see a statement as I have reacted to I find it appalling that that would be of concern, especially when it should have NO bareing on the overall worth of the neighborhood as it's an isolated incident. So feeling welcome as you said, I wouldn't be sure how to respond to that, maybe people feel that all the "trendy" business that is apparent in the building up of the area does not appeal to the older residents as well & don't feel welcome by the trenders......if that makes any sense..... ;0)
I think in a sense most of New Yorkers attitudes have cahnged over the years & people are becoming more self-absorbed and dis-interested because there seems to be no hope. I'm not sure if you actually live in the Butler St. area but I grew up on that block & have just seen recent pictures of it and am amazed at how much its changed.
Bottom line, tragedies will happen but to deface them in plight of the almighty dollar is appalling and I think brownstoner should pull that remark & the referance to the incident.
Posted by: Scott at June 3, 2007 2:03 PM
Hey Scott,
I'm a freakin yuppie and I couldn't agree with you more. stonerbrown
Posted by: Anonymous at June 4, 2007 1:18 PM
The POS house in question is not across the street.
The POS house is a few houses off of Hoyt Street right up the block from the Gowanus projects.
Here's a picture.
Sorry my middle finger got in the way.
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b372/StoneWaller/Misc/112ButlerStreet.jpg
Posted by: Mitch Hinton at June 5, 2007 8:29 PM
Post a comment
Please be patient while your comment is published. It may take a moment.