Rentals of the Day: Williamsburg Lofts

Aaaaaaarrgghhhh,

Enough with the damn Kent artist/loft/fire department story.

Get on with the brownstones.

Posted by: guest at February 14, 2008 12:48 PM

honestly, why don't Browstoner and his staff take these people in?

Posted by: guest at February 14, 2008 1:01 PM

Nos. 2 + 5 with real pictures have market rents. Unless they can prove otherwise, the others are obviously bait and switch posts.

Posted by: guest at February 14, 2008 1:11 PM

$3800 / 1br?

Goodness me.

Posted by: guest at February 14, 2008 1:17 PM

I've seen the first posting- its at the Rocket Factory. Building is a total dump with all sorts of managment problems. I heard Apts and Lofts originally had the exclusive but stopped working on it because the tenants had so many complaints. I've been looking for a 3br up to $3800 in Williamsburg and there just doesnt seem to be much nice stuff out there. Its either crummy walkup buildings for $2800 or overpriced condo sublets. Any suggestions?

Posted by: guest at February 14, 2008 1:26 PM

#5 is a ground-floor duplex unit and is huge (~1500 sq ft) in one of the two nicest loft building conversions in Williamsburg (Jackson Foundry east of BQE, and this one is Sophia Lofts by Bedford). Guess they're having trouble selling those ground floor units. My friend lives in one of these buildings, and I've check out a few apts in each--really nice.

Posted by: guest at February 14, 2008 2:07 PM

"#5 is a ground-floor duplex unit and is huge (~1500 sq ft) in one of the two nicest loft building conversions in Williamsburg"

Still. $3800 for 1br in Brooklyn. Whatever. A fool and his money, as the saying goes.

Posted by: guest at February 14, 2008 2:10 PM

It can easily be used a very large 2BR, it has a large "home office" and 2 full baths (no windows in the office). Not a broker, just checked it out at one point. Unit is still listed for sale on CL at $699K. I don't think they really want to rent it.

Posted by: guest at February 14, 2008 2:15 PM

#1 is a scam. Trust me. Saw another "3 bedroom" they are marketing on Troutman except it wasn't a 3 bedroom at all. Turns out it was a studio that had housed three people previously, on bunkbeds no less, and therefore they deemed it a "3 bedroom".

I wasn't even mad. Just amused by the whole schtick and what a waste of time it was for the guy marketing and showing me the space.

Let the buyer beware.

Posted by: guest at February 14, 2008 2:37 PM

Yikes! Those rents are ridiculous. And who says buying isn't worth it?

Posted by: guest at February 14, 2008 2:57 PM

Me and roommates looked at this one yesterday. Its really nice but a little above our range. Nice deal if you can afford it though.
http://newyork.craigslist.org/brk/nfb/571622079.html

Posted by: guest at February 14, 2008 3:26 PM

#5 is priced correctly for the area. 1500 sq feet is very large. you could easily make 2+ bedrooms there. also, great block and location. quiet, but super convenient.fyii --

i live down the street (bought a condo) and can recommend the area.

are we sure that the developer is renting it and that it wasn't bought by an investor? from my experience, there are several investors buying up williamsburg condos and turning right around and renting them because of the extremely strong rental demand.

Posted by: guest at February 14, 2008 3:51 PM

1 bedrooms in Williamsburg should be practically free. honestly, the neighborhood is such a wasteland. It makes Jersey City look good.

Posted by: guest at February 14, 2008 4:00 PM

4:00 pm wow you sound super informed. funny that they are not only NOT FREE, but in high demand. guess not everyone agrees with you. hmmmm.... maybe you are totally clueless.

yes, now that I think about it, that seems right.

Posted by: guest at February 14, 2008 4:19 PM

I'm not clueless, I just have some aesthetic sensibilities and I happen to think Williamsburg is a hideous place. That's all.

Posted by: guest at February 14, 2008 4:40 PM

all insainly overpriced as usual.

Posted by: guest at February 14, 2008 4:48 PM

OK, so you turn #5 into a two "bedroom." Somebody is stuck paying $1900/mo for a windowless room.

PT Barnum strikes again.

Posted by: guest at February 14, 2008 4:50 PM

i really don't think the posters here know the market.

there are tons of beautiful spaces in williamsburg, and because it's close to the city, with so many restaurants, bars and music venues, it's in demand.

and, yes, i do think that you can do a windowless room for maybe a kid if let's say, you need to rent while looking to buy - i have neighbors doing exactly that.

fyi: williamsburg tends to be ugly on the outside and fantastic on the inside (apartments, restaurants, shops and salons especially).

it's a lot of fun here.

Posted by: guest at February 14, 2008 5:21 PM

There are plenty of desperate folks who think any place is fabulous if it has electric power and reasonably reliable running water. Incredibly, they are willing and able to pay 3,000 a month for any low-class dump is any low-class neighborhood.
what is the matter with people?
This is mob insanity!
It is a real estate mosh pit.
No brains and too much money.

Posted by: guest at February 14, 2008 6:28 PM

I miss the williamsburg of the mid-nineties.

Posted by: guest at February 14, 2008 7:13 PM

I think that neighborhoods, unlike books, can be reasonably judged by ther covers. If they appear ugly, raggedy, and low-class,
that says it all.

Posted by: guest at February 14, 2008 7:54 PM

Williamsburg is hideous but there is a great scene there for the young 'uns (how they afford it who knows) and we love every restaurant we try there. Way better restaurants than Park Slope or Cobble Hill, hate to break it to those 'hoods. And the homewares and home decor shops are way more chic too. It's definitely happening.

But every time I'm there I think, where do people live? If you want a house you're out of luck unless you want a piece of junk. I'd also feel very uncomfortable walking down some desolate street at night if I were a young woman. BUT, fun place to visit. Despite the supposed development of that neighborhood my opinion never changes, that it's always just a great place to visit not to live.

Posted by: guest at February 15, 2008 11:56 AM

first of all, i'm not a broker or a landowner. although i hope to own property someday. i'm still not sure where...and this blog is really helping me try to figure out where i want to live.

sorry for the long post but if you are considering living in williamsburg i thought it might be helpful to hear about the changes from a true resident rather than a now

i wanna put my 2 cents in about Williamsburg. i moved here in early 2000..i definitely remember going to the L cafe and having drinks in the back garden. it was practically the only place to go...besides planet thai and black betty. my good friend worked at the paint store on bedford. it was cute...but only around the Bedford stop. if you ventured further out there wasn't much. there was definitely more crime back then. sadly, one of my friends was raped near the waterfront. a few other male friends were hit on the head with a lead pipe and robbed. the crime seems to have surely decreased in the last 5 years.

and the number of places to eat or drink..first there was diner, bonita, relish, dumont, miss williamsburg. miss williamsburg is no longer around (i think it moved to the east village) but the others have stayed and there are a hundred or so new ones. dumont now has dumont burger and dressler. moto. diner opened marlowe and sons. sweetwater. egg. lodge has expanded and has a cafe as well as urban rustic. there are a few great japanese places on north 6th. for music there is death by audio, glasslands, union pool, music hall, warsaw, the concerts in the park. it's pretty great.

i still live here..AND i still love it. sometimes i think the new architecture sucks and it bums me out. i'm sorta dreading the edge and schaeffer's landing has to be the ugliest condo thing in NYC i don't like the ikon or other things on bayard..it IS getting too white.and too expensive. for better or worse... it is not a college campus anymore. families are moving here. BUT there is going to be an apple store, trader joes, a barney's co-op. i'm welcoming some of these stores. there are supposed to be new trees planted ..right now i think we have one! haha. and with the waterfront and the parks getting some extra care...it should help with the appearance.

i love brooklyn. i'm still single, unfortunately, and this is a good place for singles in the 20-30's range. the L train leads to Union Square and the Flatiron and over towards Chelsea where a lot of
artists/designers still work. the J train leads to Soho.

When I get married...I would probably rather live in Clinton Hill or Carroll Gardens in a beautiful brownstone..until then. I'll stay in Williamsburg.

Posted by: guest at March 2, 2008 12:31 PM