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May 20, 2008

House of the Day: 207 Washington Avenue

We've always wondered what this place at 207 Washington Avenue (and its twin next door) look like! Frankly, we were expecting something a little shabbier from the 1852 shingled cottage. Au contraire, someone's done some pretty slick remodeling, injecting some modern energy into the place while keeping much of its original feel. Given its size (~~PropertyShark puts it at 1,700 square feet~~ the broker says it's 3,000 square feet), the asking price of $2,300,000 feels ~~expensive~~ high but not impossible. After all, this is a pretty unusual place (and it has its own driveway).
207 Washington Avenue [Brown Harris Stevens] GMAP P*Shark

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A floorplan on the BHS site wouldn't hurt...

Posted by: guest at May 20, 2008 1:52 PM

Countdown to the first "recessed lighting" comment. 10, 9, 8...

Posted by: Biff Champion at May 20, 2008 1:56 PM

I caught this listing before it was corrected. The broker had initially written that it was the home of David Bowie.

Posted by: guest at May 20, 2008 2:00 PM

Countdown to the first "I hate curb cuts" comment...

Posted by: guest at May 20, 2008 2:02 PM

I have been in this house (as currently configured) many times and it has been exquisitely renovated. Also, there is a full garage tucked into the back corner of the property which could, likely, be converted into an artists studio or other space. As it is, it can handle lots of storage.

Posted by: guest at May 20, 2008 2:05 PM

rcessed lighting is ok in the servants' quarters only, like in this house.

Posted by: guest at May 20, 2008 2:06 PM

this house IS the servants quarters.

Posted by: guest at May 20, 2008 2:11 PM

Cheez Louise, that sure is pretty.

Posted by: guest at May 20, 2008 2:11 PM

Y-A-W-N Slow day Brownstoner?

Posted by: guest at May 20, 2008 2:15 PM

No matter how "exquisitely renovated" this house is, I can't see a shingled cottage, in this location, in this market, selling at 1,350 psf. This is not Manhattan, and it is not 2006.

Posted by: guest at May 20, 2008 2:17 PM

2.15 - you are the yawn.., please go away with your brainless auto-comment

Posted by: guest at May 20, 2008 2:19 PM

Some people just don't learn. Never judge a book by its' cover.Agreed.....very slow day.

Posted by: guest at May 20, 2008 2:19 PM

I can't see a cottage period. have any of you ever seen a cottage?

Posted by: guest at May 20, 2008 2:20 PM

It's hard to find fault with this place. I absolutely love the kitchen—one of the most tasteful renovations that I have seen in a while. As much as I love that Viking and our five-burner stove (we cook a LOT), does anyone else find that they'll never, ever (ok, other than Thanksgiving) find the need to have five flames going at once?

BTW, is it ironic that one of the founders of the Art Ensemble of Chicago lived in Brooklyn for 20 years? If I had the $$ and knew that the 2.3M was going towards jazz musicians in need, I buy the place...

Posted by: Fjorder at May 20, 2008 2:23 PM

Three points. Firstly, as suggested in yesterday's posts regarding the current state of the home mortgage industry, the available pool for qualified purchasers at this type of price point has dwindled dramatically. Secondly, if a perspective buyer qualified for a jumbo mortgage of this amount for 207 Washington, the bank's appraiser would not value this property at its current selling price by a long shot. So who are we fooling here? Consequently, prices for this home (which appears to be quite lovely by the way)and all of browstone Brooklyn WILL COME DOWN. It's time to be realistic if sellers actually want to sell. For the near term (the next 36 months or so) the longer sellers wait, the less they will get.

Posted by: guest at May 20, 2008 2:33 PM

Fjorder 2:23 p.m.- You are right about the five burner stove, but is that any reason not to buy this house? Plus, maybe the 2.3 M is going to jazz musicians in need. You should buy the place and disable one of the five burners. I would choose one near the back, on the left hand side, or maybe in the middle. Yes, the middle so there is enough room for two big pots - one on the left and one on the right.

Posted by: guest at May 20, 2008 2:34 PM

I saw this house on a house tour a few years back - it is gorgeous! Hardly a "cottage" - it is similar in design to many of the detached shingle houses in Ditmas Park. Price? I gave up on seeing affordable livable houses on this site a while back.

Posted by: Putnamdenizen at May 20, 2008 3:07 PM

Having walked by this house many. many times, I think it would have to be much bigger than 1750 sf. If that were the case, it's only 440 sf per floor, which I don't think is correct.

If the sq footage is indeed higher, the pricing may not be that crazy--especially with a garage and a driveway.

One downside is that the closest train is the G.

Posted by: tinarina at May 20, 2008 3:09 PM

What is that kitchen floor made of? Is that wood?

Posted by: Heather at May 20, 2008 3:26 PM

I think it's two connected shingled houses, actually, that you're looking at from the sidewalk. The yards in back seem to suggest that. This is too close to Myrtle for two million, I think. Not sure I'm wild about being on Washington Ave, either, which can get pretty congested.

Posted by: guest at May 20, 2008 3:29 PM

Heather, I believe the kitchen floor is made out of the insides of fresh direct boxes.

Posted by: Biff Champion at May 20, 2008 3:33 PM

$2.3?!

hahahhahahahahhaahahahahahahahahahh!!!!

Posted by: guest at May 20, 2008 3:35 PM

Very nice house on a nice block. there is a buyer out there somewhere...

However, (and pls don't admonish me for voicing my opinion) I don't know...maybe I have to see it in person, but I am just not "feeling" it. It seems a little to sterile to me...almost as it tries to hard to accomplish that modern/traditional look. Kind of like a grown up “hipster”

Posted by: bedstuyhoya at May 20, 2008 4:12 PM

David Bowie did a wonderful reno here.

Posted by: guest at May 20, 2008 4:23 PM

bedstuyhoya, i have to take issue with the phrase "grown up 'hipster"

Otherwise I think I agree with you.

That concrete wall in the front looks awful and the lack of "original details" inside is a drawback. However, I like the modern kitchen on the garden level.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at May 20, 2008 4:24 PM

Maybe it was Iman who did it.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at May 20, 2008 4:26 PM

Ha. I figured that "grown up hipster" would strike a nerve somewhere...all in good fun

Posted by: bedstuyhoya at May 20, 2008 4:52 PM

I agree too Bedstuyhoya. Nice reno/nice-ish house but nothing to drool over.
The house is interesting but the windows are terrible. Many people seem to have forgotten (or simply don't know)what good windows for pre-war homes are all about. I have seen a lot of "landmark approved" windows that aren't so nice. Just my opinion. I am sure some of you will disagree. I guess the days of multipanes are coming to an end. I know they are expensive but it can do wonders to a facade while maintaining the integrity of our antique homes...and no not those cheesy fake ones. I could also take issue with fake shutters but I will save that for another day!!:)

Posted by: guest at May 20, 2008 4:52 PM

bedstuyhoya - I'll tell you what you're objecting to: the loft design in a 7 foot-ceilinged ground floor space. It just looks kind of ridiculous - it IS trying too hard - like a 40 (50?) yr old hipster.

Posted by: guest at May 20, 2008 4:59 PM

David Bowie knows construction. It took FIVE YEARS. And by the way I have not been to OXFORD TOWN.

Posted by: guest at May 20, 2008 5:09 PM

Fjorder,

Glad you gave a shout out (of sorts to the AEC). Art Ensemble of Chicago formed in the eponymous city, but they have truly been world travelers. They lived in Europe for quite some time in the 70s and toured relentlessly around the globe. Nothing inconsistent with one if its members ultimately ending up here in Brooklyn. Trombonist and scholar George Lewis has recently written an excellent book on the history of the music community out of which the AEC arose. While the music was not to everyone's or even most jazz fans' taste, Lester Bowie and his white lab coat are sorely missed and fondly remembered by many here in Brooklyn and elsewhere.

Apologies for the digression.

Posted by: slopefarm at May 20, 2008 5:10 PM

Fjorder, I am a fairly ordinary everyday cook, and I use four burners at one time a few times a year. While I do not cry for five, I can see the beauty. Just having some breathing room for four boiling pots would be a big plus.

Of course, those stoves and those types of kitchens were not designed for anybody who really cooks.

Posted by: guest at May 20, 2008 5:26 PM

Look it.

The house is nice. Many of us would live there. It has a driveway and garage.

On foot, it's a bit of trek to the C-train so you end up taking the G or taking the DeKalb bus down to Flatbush if you need to take the subway.

All-in-all, the price is too high considering everything...might be considered way too high depending on how you look at it.

It doesn't "feel" like a brownstone/townhouse so that segment of buyers are less likely to go for a house like this. And the house has apparently lost the look of it's actual period (mid-1800's...if that is correct per BHS's ad).

It has jazzy furniture though. They should drop the price and include all the new show furniture.

Posted by: guest at May 20, 2008 6:27 PM

Sick to death of those cow rugs. So four years ago.

Posted by: guest at May 20, 2008 6:36 PM

Not impressed, and somehow not surprised by the absence of pics of any part of the house other than the foyer and kitchen. Take away the furniture, and we are left with uninteresting rooms completed stripped of all details. The kitchen looks ok, but a kitchen alone a house does not make. I was expecting something far more grandiose given the listing description.

Posted by: guest at May 20, 2008 11:00 PM

This is Emma and I love the house. I have played it this yard thousands of times and I have played in this house more than thousands of times. It is a great house.

Posted by: guest at May 21, 2008 8:21 AM

« Condos of the Day: Goings-On at the Gretsch NYC's Budget Maze Game »

May 20, 2008

House of the Day: 207 Washington Avenue

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