House of the Day: 192 President Street

Love that listing!! "Priced to Sell" at $1.9 million. Puh-lease.

From pics, needs AT LEAST $700k in renovations to make it nice, prob more.

Have fun in your $2.6MM house 1 block from the BQE.

Posted by: guest at June 5, 2008 1:36 PM

Are you kidding me? This is a GREAT location- I used to live half a block from here and you absolutely do not feel the presence of the BQE at ALL. (except when you cross it to go to all the fun things in the "columbia waterfront district" and Red Hook.) President st is in the HEART of the neighborhood with easy access to everything and none of the problems of south carroll gardens where you do very strongly feel the presence of highways and overpasses.

Two families could buy this and each have a huge apartment for less than a mill each. Although I'm sure the place needs aesthetic and configuration work it's probably livable with smaller changes. also, probably being sold by an old Italian family who tend to be sticklers on systems maintenance.

Posted by: guest at June 5, 2008 1:47 PM

I'm a pretty savage housing bear, but I also live between Clinton and Henry, and setting aside the price question (of whether a CG fixer upper is worth 2m) I don't find the BQE intrusive until I go one more block over, between Henry and Hicks. Am I just deef?

Posted by: guest at June 5, 2008 1:51 PM

Thanks broker, I mean 1:47!!!!

Posted by: guest at June 5, 2008 1:58 PM

Looks like 25' x 50' house - plus an extension and also looks like high ceilings on all levels (see how it dwarfs house on right same # of floors).
Unrenovated 20'x40' houses seem to sell $1.6+ish.
If I owned it - certainly minimum I would ask.
(and between Clinton and Henry) which is pretty prime even if Dave thinks otherwise.

Posted by: guest at June 5, 2008 1:59 PM

i'll take it.

Posted by: guest at June 5, 2008 2:01 PM

"Two families could buy this and each have a huge apartment for less than a mill each. Although I'm sure the place needs aesthetic and configuration work it's probably livable with smaller changes. also, probably being sold by an old Italian family who tend to be sticklers on systems maintenance."

Families with $1M each do not want to buy with one other couple and share. They may choose to live in an apartment with many others, but they do not want to go halvsies on a house.

Posted by: guest at June 5, 2008 2:15 PM

At first glance it looked reasonably priced given the size and location. Then came the lack of photos.

Posted by: guest at June 5, 2008 2:20 PM

I live in the neighborhood, lived on that block at one point 4 years ago and you would NEVER know the BQE was a block and a half away unless you were going to cross it (or better yet, actually crossing it)...it's really not worth a mention - and no you can't hear it..you're obviously not in the hood...the area is in the heart of carroll gardens as one poster mentioned.

Posted by: guest at June 5, 2008 2:26 PM

1.5 and not a penny more.

Posted by: guest at June 5, 2008 2:36 PM

why would anyone spend $2M in CG when you could get something nicer in PS or another nice hood?

Posted by: guest at June 5, 2008 2:40 PM

I'm with you 2:40. I have absolutely no idea.

Posted by: guest at June 5, 2008 2:46 PM

Attempted slopejacking at 2:40. Don't fall for it, folks!

Posted by: guest at June 5, 2008 2:47 PM

Boring!!!

Posted by: guest at June 5, 2008 2:49 PM

2:40 = troll

Posted by: guest at June 5, 2008 2:51 PM

You've just been Slopejacked!

Posted by: guest at June 5, 2008 2:51 PM

We rushed to see the house shortly after it came out, a couple of months ago -- beautiful block (we live nearby), majastic looking facade, asking didn't feel outrages for that much space (vis-a-vis the asking prices for many other houses out there). Upon seeing it, it's a scary amount of work for the asking; and seeing is always "unbeliving". We were told by agent then there was already an offer from someone in Manhattan who had not seen the house in person. Guess no accepted offer yet?

Posted by: guest at June 5, 2008 2:54 PM

Check out Thirteen/WNET's website. Charles Lockwood, author of the "indispensable Bricks and Brownstone", discusses the evolution of the New York row house from the 1820s onward. He video describes the daily lives of houses’ occupants, and illustrates how brownstones were designed, built, and sold 100 to 150 years ago:
http://www.thirteen.org/local/history-of-the-ny-brownstone-and-how-people-lived-in-them

Posted by: guest at June 5, 2008 2:56 PM

Thank you 2:26. some people don't like Carroll Gardens which is fine (that's why the people who choose to live there are fun and specific)but you really don't know the neighborhood if you think the BQE is an issue at this location.

On the other hand - I actually can't believe that brownstoner said he likes the "unusual limestone" - I have passed this building a million times and that kind of veneer is truly hideous.

and 2:15 - "families who have 1 mill don't want to share" - that is absolutely ridiculous. families don't "have" one million dollars - they borrow much of that. We bought a 1 mill house in CG and ABSOLUTELY would have considered this building. I know many people who would consider it - maybe slightly more imaginative about real estate than you?

It is a MUCH better deal than buying a lame 8-900,000 2-bedroom condo. Even if you don't have the money to do a huge reno now, you would know that at 2500 sq ft(!!) you could renovate bits at a time and meanwhile have the comfort of knowing that you would never have to move for more space.

Posted by: guest at June 5, 2008 3:01 PM

2:47 LOL I would have fallen for it a few months ago, but being now a long time brownstoner addict, I know better.

Posted by: guest at June 5, 2008 3:03 PM

I'm da crazy slopejacker, I jacked your slope
I'm pushin' da bugaboo and ma baby is dope.

Posted by: guest at June 5, 2008 3:05 PM

Where is Carroll Gardens? I'm from Manhattan and am looking to trade up to a house. Thx much!

Posted by: guest at June 5, 2008 3:05 PM

This house has a contract out to a prospective buyer. The reason it has not been signed is because there are two tennants, one if which has a lease and they are trying to sort it out.

Posted by: guest at June 5, 2008 3:12 PM

2:47 LOL I would have fallen for it a few months ago, but being now a long time brownstoner addict, I know better.

Posted by: guest at June 5, 2008 3:17 PM

3:05 - Carroll Gardens is south of Brooklyn Heights, adjacent to Boerum Hill and Cobble Hill, 4 stops into Brooklyn on the F.

Posted by: guest at June 5, 2008 3:39 PM

Love this house a lot. Beautiful exterior. For the comment about being near the BQE that is the stupidest thing i ever heard. Henry street is one of the best and nicest blocks in NYC and being near the BQE did that ever stop Bklyn Heights Nope.

Posted by: guest at June 5, 2008 3:41 PM

3:05 - Carroll Gardens is south of Brooklyn Heights, adjacent to Boerum Hill and Cobble Hill, 4 stops into Brooklyn on the F.

Posted by: guest at June 5, 2008 3:42 PM

3.01 - limestone is no more of a "veneer" than brownstone is - you know that right?

Posted by: guest at June 5, 2008 3:53 PM

how does halvsies work on something like this? who polices how much each family spends on renovation? it seems like a race to the bottom b/c the less you spend, the bigger your profit when you take half on the sale. would the upper duplex put half even though the lower duplex is more desirable? also, the contract to do that would be a pain and you would have to HAVE $1mn each b/c no bank would finance an arrangement like that. maybe you're a litle too creative on real estate, no?

Posted by: guest at June 5, 2008 3:56 PM

For those that don't like Carroll Gardens i Guess you dont like cobble hill either because they are the same exact thing.

Posted by: guest at June 5, 2008 3:58 PM

I don't think the facade would have been limestone from that period. I think it is marble. Marble was sometimes used in both houses and churches in the 1870-1899 period, but it was rare. The marble would indicate an unusually pretentious house.
It is enormous, so if you always wanted an enormous marble palazetti now is the time to sell that 2-bedroom co-op in the Upper West Side.
There is something peculiar going on at the cornice level too, but it can be fixed. It all can be fixed, doesn't matter if the bathrooms are from the 1950's or the 1980's they would all hve to go. sometimes the less work a house has had the easier and cheaper to update it.

Posted by: guest at June 5, 2008 4:03 PM

Wrong. They are not the same thing. The buildings and complete "look" of Cobble Hill is completely different from that of CG.

Posted by: guest at June 5, 2008 4:12 PM

3:01 - whatever. the point is it's hideous.

Posted by: guest at June 5, 2008 4:36 PM

Wow, amazing how many people don't know Carroll Gardens but still want to make comments that demonstrate their lack of knowledge. It's embarrassing for them.

This is one of the prime locations in Carroll Gardens, and the blocks between Clinton and Henry are arguably the best in the neighborhood (some may prefer Clinton/Court). The BQE really isn't a factor here like it is another block down, because Henry Street is a giant barrier. President St. is nice because it's a short walk to the F Train from here. There are lots of places advertised as Carroll Gardens that are in really crummy locations, but this is definitely not one of them.

$1.9 million is pretty expensive for a house that needs so much work. I'd guess to restore it would bring your purchase price up to $3 million which is way beyond my means anyway. But I have to agree with a poster above that this house seems like a much better deal than a $900,000 2 bedroom floor through, which is what I see advertised (although not necessarily getting) in the neighborhood.

Posted by: guest at June 5, 2008 4:37 PM

4:12 thats funny because if you look closely CG has more Brownstones than CH My Great grandfather actually built some of the houses on Clinton st and they built the same houses In both nabes. I would like to know are the blogers on here that bash everything but Park Slope getting paid?

Posted by: guest at June 5, 2008 4:47 PM

How do you folks figure $700K-$1.1M for a restoration of this property? Are you using goldleaf on every surface? Get real.

Posted by: guest at June 5, 2008 5:05 PM

I think the Federal Brick is the Most attractive of the styles but this Limestone is very nice too

Posted by: guest at June 5, 2008 5:21 PM

I think the Federal Brick is the Most attractive of the styles but this Limestone is very nice too

Posted by: guest at June 5, 2008 5:21 PM

4:12 - the point is, if you live in this area you know that you are in every (micro)neighborhood every day. The whole area of "bococa" is smaller than north and center slope combined so it is sort of crazy that people draw such huge distinctions. I personally think Carroll Gardens is more fun if you have children, because the park provides a wonderful central public space like an Italian piazza that brings people together and creates a very rich neighborhood atmosphere.

Posted by: guest at June 5, 2008 5:23 PM

carroll gardens is awesome if you love old, racist people.

Posted by: guest at June 5, 2008 5:31 PM

all of you making comments about the bqe noise here obviously don't know this block and don't know carroll gardens. i lived on this block for years (before moving to ps) and you absolutely do not hear the bqe. you don't even notice that it's a couple of blocks away.

it's a beautiful block. uninformed, incorrect comments notwithstanding

Posted by: guest at June 5, 2008 5:32 PM

3:56 you really need to learn a thing or two about real estate before posting. many many many people have bought brownstones together and turned them into coops. I know quite a few of them myself. and no one needs to keep track of someone else's renovation because each unit belongs to its particular owner, only common areas are of common interest (besides obvious safety issues in individual apts.)

banks easily give loans to qualified buyers in these cases - there was a big article in the times about it becoming more and more common a few years back.

also - post @ 5:05 is dead right. a very general average on big renovation is $100k per floor - maybe more if its only one floor, but always getting cheaper as you add floors. I did a very nice gut reno of two floors for $175K

Posted by: guest at June 5, 2008 5:36 PM

4:12 - the point is, if you live in this area you know that you are in every (micro)neighborhood every day. The whole area of "bococa" is smaller than north and center slope combined so it is sort of crazy that people draw such huge distinctions. I personally think Carroll Gardens is more fun if you have children, because the park provides a wonderful central public space like an Italian piazza that brings people together and creates a very rich neighborhood atmosphere.

Posted by: guest at June 5, 2008 5:37 PM

5:31 - who's the one who's racist? I'm not sure if you people are aware of it, but this country has quite an impressive record of discrimination against Italians - something that is clearly still alive and well on this blog. Meanwhile, I much prefer the italians to the sea of dullards in park slope and brooklyn heights. at least the neighborhood still has some character, not to mention fabulous food stores.

Posted by: guest at June 5, 2008 5:45 PM

The pictures look awful. They've got to be kidding. Would ya please paint the walls off white. It may save you 50K. I'm all about the Red, White and Blue but Come On!

Posted by: guest at June 5, 2008 6:14 PM

Are you selling a house or an American Flag?

BTW- Great Location and Space
But Please Paint Me!

Posted by: guest at June 5, 2008 6:17 PM

I live one block East of this house and walk past it often. It's one of a trio of marble-faced houses and very pretty. One of them suffered the loss of its marble stoop a couple of years back, don't know if this is the one. The owners smashed the marble steps (too slippery perhaps) and replaced them with stone and cheap brick. The block is quiet, not noisy, though at night the sound of the BQE is detectable as a kind of constant surf sound in the distance if you have your windows open.

Posted by: guest at June 5, 2008 6:33 PM

the hideous facades that the know-nothings think should be painted are made of white marble.

Posted by: guest at June 5, 2008 7:07 PM

CarrollGardener here.

Live around the corner. Saw the first open house at this place some weeks back.

The facade IS marble, as someone else speculated.

A fair amount of original detail, and the shell is lovely. But the inside of the building is a total, complete wreck inside.

Didn't measure, but the lot seems sort of shallow. May be that the house opposite the rear is built out extra deep.

Maybe this works for a condo developer.

Posted by: guest at June 5, 2008 7:11 PM

5:23 I agree It is much more Family friendly. Good point.

Posted by: guest at June 5, 2008 7:20 PM

5:45 Dullards LMAO. Thats so true.

Posted by: guest at June 5, 2008 7:56 PM

oh my god, prime carroll gardens, huge marble-fronted mansion, what is there not to love?

Posted by: guest at June 5, 2008 8:03 PM

i'm not into carroll gardens.

for 2-3 million, i want to at least be near prospect park.

the architecture in cg has been RAPED of cornices and outside details. so depressing. this house is hideous.

Posted by: guest at June 5, 2008 8:05 PM

How iin the world can you say this house is Hideous? you are on crack. For 2-3 million you want to be near Prospect park you will get Raped there Buy the People that Lurk in the Dark they might even have that Cornice you talk of, to stick it Up your A$$. Paid Bashers at it again always from park slope.

Posted by: guest at June 5, 2008 9:36 PM

9:36, are you that homeless guy that hangs out on the corner of 7th avenue and berkeley place?

Posted by: guest at June 5, 2008 10:48 PM

2 points: We considered buying a brownstone with close, long time friends. We just couldn't get our act together to make it work (kids, job changes etc.), but I think it can be done. Definitely want to condo or co-op it, though.

As for this house, if it's anywhere close to 5k feet, it's not a bad asking price. If the seller is "motivated," as the ad says, I'm sure you could offer around 1.75 and nab it. Obviously you'd want a thorough engineer's report before signing anything...

Posted by: guest at June 6, 2008 12:07 AM

I lived in this house.

TLC is a serious understatement

it is falling apart, in a big way. There is almost no detail in the upper two floors. The roof is separating from the structural walls. and the building leans very heavily to one side.

I think it is priced right to be negotiated, but is most def a major gut reno.

And for people who live near here, there is one of the most notorious families in CG that live a few doors down. they broke into the apartment twice from the roof and stole a laptop and change. They are heroin users.

have fun in this new 'hot' house.

Posted by: guest at June 6, 2008 1:38 AM

The person posting above could not be more correct about the heroin-using neighbors.

Caveat Emptor. Trust me.

Posted by: guest at June 6, 2008 9:33 AM

The building is over priced specially in the current economic conditions. It need at the minimum 500-700 K of renovation. And since potential buyer of buildings such as need to put down 25% down at the minimum the building is very CASH RICH. I have done a few gut reno and this one is a BIG Job.

Morgan

Posted by: guest at June 7, 2008 12:44 AM

If there are infact structural issues, they need to be evaluated by a professional and can be used for substantial bargaining power. No doubt this house is for the deep pockets to fund a substantial reno and alternative living arrangements - you probably wouldn't want to live there with small children while maintaining your livelihood and family life.

That said the scale of the building is magnificent and truly unique. The block is quiet I hear despite the above. Lock your roof and windows (and cellar) on any block including small towns in CT.

Posted by: guest at June 7, 2008 8:23 AM