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July 23, 2008

Houses of the Day: Head-to-Head in The Heights

Douglas Elliman currently has a pair of similarly-priced Brooklyn Heights 25-footers on the market that begs side-by-side comparison. At left is 118 Willow Street, a 7,200-square-foot brownstone asking $7,300,000; at right is 13 Cranberry Street, a 5,200-square-foot brick house listed at $7,390,000. Which do you think is a better deal?

118 Willow Street [Douglas Elliman] GMAP P*Shark
13 Cranberry Street [Douglas Elliman] GMAP P*Shark

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Comments

I voted for Cranberry Street because it's already a single family house and you don't have to tear out kitchens and rearrange things. When the prices get this high it completely changes who the buyer is. People I know in Manhattan with townhouses at or a bit above this price range don't have tenants and never would.

Posted by: traditionalmod at July 23, 2008 1:38 PM

I cant decide.
I would live on any st in the heights named after a tree, berry or fruit.

They're all so cute!

Posted by: CobbleHilller at July 23, 2008 1:42 PM

Agree with tradmod. Who at this price range wants a two-family? I love that Cranberry still has tons of original details combined with modern interiors.

Posted by: tinarina at July 23, 2008 1:49 PM

118 Willow was first listed last year with BHS for $8 million. Elliman (and the broker/owner) took it back in January 2008 and started it out at $7.995 before reducing it to its current price of $7.3 million.

13 Cranberry too started out at $8 million in January before being reduced in April. It's also available for rent at $25K.
The owner is a fashion photographer or something.

Posted by: abcdz at July 23, 2008 1:50 PM

118 Willow Street is plagued with the apparently much-dreaded recessed lighting, so obviously 13 Cranberry wins by default.

Posted by: SnarkSlope at July 23, 2008 2:06 PM

hey you....yeah you - CobbleHilller...you stole my name! when did this happen!

I love them both to death...great houses, pretty blocks, lots of space...sigh.

Posted by: cobblehiller at July 23, 2008 2:09 PM

the reason the cranberry house goes for so much is because it was the house used in the filming of Moonstruck with Cher and Nicolas Cage (excellent movie for brooklyn lovers). It's a three family house with historical and theatrical credits. I'd live there...now where can i get $7 million?

Posted by: shamrocker86 at July 23, 2008 2:15 PM

Willow wins due to proximity to subway and other amenities. It's a bit of a schlep to get anything up in the Heights 'fruit salad' district.

Also I am no fan of the the re-bricked up facade on Cranberry. I don't think it's proper to call that building a brownstone now.

Posted by: Knickerbocker at July 23, 2008 2:15 PM

Knickerbocker, I hardly think the three very short blocks from Cranberry to Clark give Willow a significant edge in terms of "proximity to subway and other amenities". Granted, it's slightly closer to Montague and Borough Hall, but for anyone even slightly in shape, it's not a schlep.

However, I do agree with you re: the facade on Cranberry. While I prefer that home based on the interior, I'm not a fan of the re-bricked facade and much prefer the facade on Willow.

Posted by: Biff Champion at July 23, 2008 2:21 PM

Shamrocker -- If it was in Moonstruck, then you know the plumbing is the best there is.

Posted by: slopefarm at July 23, 2008 2:22 PM

if you can afford 7 million, you don't schlep...you have schleppers!

Posted by: cobblehiller at July 23, 2008 2:23 PM

Actually the Moonstruck house is at 13 Cranberry.

http://www.brownstoner.com/brownstoner/archives/2006/02/house_of_the_da_124.php

Posted by: ftgreene at July 23, 2008 2:24 PM

cobblehiller, well said!

Posted by: Biff Champion at July 23, 2008 2:25 PM

Yes, I'm sure it has wonderful copper plumbing slopefarm ;)! By the way ftgreene...the house above is 13 Cranberry.

Posted by: shamrocker86 at July 23, 2008 2:27 PM

Shamrocker...it isn't the Moonstruck house...here's the listing for that one

http://www.corcoran.com/property/listing.aspx?Region=NYC&ListingID=851157

4,160 sq. ft. for $3.95 MM!!!! and a corner at that!!!!

Looks like they have the exact same facade but the MS house is a corner house and this one isn't.

The MS house was featured on brownstoner back in January 30, 2006.

No, I don't retain all of this...it was a quick google.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at July 23, 2008 2:28 PM

Correction to my post: 19 Cranberry.

Posted by: ftgreene at July 23, 2008 2:32 PM

Oh wow, you're right. My mistake everyone! Sorry. Hey it is much cheaper. Guys, forget 13 Cranberry and go for 19 Cranberry...its much cheaper!

Posted by: shamrocker86 at July 23, 2008 2:35 PM

Dave's link indicates 19 Cranberry is in contract, so it's too late to scoop up that one.

Posted by: Biff Champion at July 23, 2008 2:39 PM

The MS house was sold in 2006 (19 Cranberry) That is a very old link.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at July 23, 2008 2:41 PM

Nothing priced at 7 million dollars can be considered a good deal.

Posted by: wasder at July 23, 2008 2:51 PM

I'd take either, but still have managed to live on Willow for a lot less.

The MS house was on the market for 18 months or more. Great corner location. Parking to boot.

Directly across from #19, a brief exterior night scene from The Verdict shows Paul Newman going to see a judge. Looks just like Beacon Hill in the film.

Posted by: buttermilk channel at July 23, 2008 3:02 PM

Stoner, can you please feature more affordable homes? Houses like this seem really unusual, and totally beyond the price of most, if not all the people reading this blog. Also, it's annoying how you seem to feature the houses that distort the picture of the NYC real estate market...

Posted by: Miss Muffett at July 23, 2008 3:06 PM

Why is it that every house for sale in Bklyn heights always seems to be the house MOONSTRUCK was filmed in?

Posted by: billyboomer at July 23, 2008 3:07 PM

"Also I am no fan of the the re-bricked up facade on Cranberry. I don't think it's proper to call that building a brownstone now."

Who said it's been re-bricked? That's the original facade. Of course it's not proper to call it a brownstone - it never was. It's a federal style brick house, built before brownstone came into favor.

Posted by: NorthHeights at July 23, 2008 3:24 PM

I'm with Miss Muffet, more affordable houses should be featured. That's why I haven't said a word about these, cause they're out of my league and frankly I don't care about them. Sure it would be nice to live in either, but that's a dream for another life.

What I will say is Willow Street listing essentially has one picture of the interior. It's the same room from different angles.
And floor plans for both listings are too blury to fully comprehend.

Posted by: bayridgegirl at July 23, 2008 3:30 PM

Exactly NorthHeights...like most Philadelphia houses of the 1800-1845 era. Very few actual brownstones down there either. Just a few around Rittenhouse Square...which is further from the river than Society Hill (the oldest section) and therefore slightly newer on some blocks.

And the really small older ones are called "trinity" style.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at July 23, 2008 3:32 PM

There's a few real brownstones in West Philly too. On Pine street near the seminary.

Philly real estate makes me cry it's so affordable.

Posted by: Heather at July 23, 2008 4:07 PM

it's good to have a range of prices in the house of the day feature, including homes at the very top echelon. as i understand it, the purpose is to highlight properties that are interesting for some reason or another, not to highlight properties that miss muffett and bayridgegirl can afford. if you're looking to buy, do your own research. it's easy!

Posted by: z at July 23, 2008 4:08 PM

Heather...we are trying to put together a group dinner at Peaches next Wednesday...Biff's coming too as well as MM

email me at bklynsocialclub@yahoo.com

we should talk more about Philly RE if you're interested

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at July 23, 2008 4:11 PM

bayridgegirl, I initially thought the same thing. However, if you click on "View All Photos" on the Elliman site, you can see more.

Posted by: Biff Champion at July 23, 2008 4:16 PM

z...I agree with you about having a range of prices in the house of the day. I don't think that's happening.

I went back to the last 10 HOTD.
Today - B Heights - 7.3m
07/22 - P Slope - 2m
07/21 - P Slope - 3m
07/17 - C Hill - 1.26m
07/16 - Crown Heights - 1.25m
07/15 - C Hill - 2.275m
07/14 - C Gardens - 3.9m
07/09 - 2.3m
07/08 - Crown Heights - 595k

While at first glance these appear to be varied in price, many have been debated to be overpriced, with the exception of I belive 2 (I don't have that much time to scan all the posts).

If they were all in the same neighborhood, than we can say they are varied. I'm beginning to think that Brownstoner, only knows one tune - Showcase Overpriced Houses in only a few neighborhoods.

Posted by: bayridgegirl at July 23, 2008 4:54 PM

Biff...thanks.

I hate that 'gold' color on the moulding, any historical precedent for that?

Posted by: bayridgegirl at July 23, 2008 4:57 PM

bayridgegirl...things have been gilded in bad taste since Moses came down from the mountain.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at July 23, 2008 5:03 PM

Judging-Book-Cover

Posted by: James Patience at July 23, 2008 5:05 PM

and speaking of gilded in bad tase...no comments on the lipstick on that broker for 118 Willow???

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at July 23, 2008 5:06 PM

so there is precedent...it goes back to the bible.

Posted by: bayridgegirl at July 23, 2008 5:06 PM

118 Willow broker...Betty Page as a Broker.

Posted by: bayridgegirl at July 23, 2008 5:10 PM

bayridgegirl, your comments are cracking me up. And I completely agree re: the gilding. Bible schmible, I don't like it. Regarding the lipstick, yesterday's Condo of the Day at 44 Cheever Place could have used a splash of that on the walls to add some much needed color.

Posted by: Biff Champion at July 23, 2008 6:13 PM

New topic 'Broker of the Day' - where we over analyse the broker; appearance, personality, listings, etc.

Posted by: bayridgegirl at July 23, 2008 6:43 PM

I want in on "Broker of the Day". Speaking of which, I was just commenting on how these brokers take the dumbest pictures. If this were my $7M listing, and the broker was displaying it using half of these crappy pictures, I'd be pissed!

Posted by: seahag21 at July 23, 2008 7:55 PM

I voted for the Cranberry st. house- not because I know if it's a better deal or not, I just like the house better. Since I can't afford either it doesn't matter anyway.

Dave- find a book called "the Gilded Era"- if you want to see bad taste in gilding, it's in there. That little gold strip of molding is nothing!

Posted by: bxgrl at July 23, 2008 8:05 PM

Take a gander at the second to last photo of Cranberry street.

Looks like a shot out of CSI Las Vegas. Not of the Strip or of oblivious lads and ladies lounging poolside but, rather, of a morgue.

I guess that's what 7 mill gets you these days in the Heights: eternal rest in that "Special Light" touted by the broker!!

Posted by: Woofer Plantation at July 23, 2008 9:43 PM

ur right heather,there are brownstones in west philly.but u aint going thought there with out a gun.trust me.

Posted by: buckfast at July 23, 2008 10:29 PM

bayridgegirl, the broker analysis has been done before, albeit not on a regular basis. I think it would generate more interest and get far more posts than the Third and Bond feature. And what a cathartic way to get back for all of our nightmare experiences dealing with NYC real estate brokers!

Posted by: Biff Champion at July 24, 2008 8:53 AM

"Who said it's been re-bricked? That's the original facade. Of course it's not proper to call it a brownstone - it never was. It's a federal style brick house, built before brownstone came into favor."

Thank you, NorthHeights! I was baffled by the same comments you were responding to. The federal style brick houses in Brooklyn are favorites of mine. I'd personally prefer one over a brownstone. And on the Willow Street house aren't those brownstone blocks? Not a solid uninterrupted brownstone facade. Not liking it. I definitely prefer the brick over the two. I also prefer the clean modern renovation of Cranberry too. Really nice transitional interior. Interesting to read all the comments but I'd still pick Cranberry weighing all things.

Posted by: traditionalmod at July 24, 2008 10:02 AM

I also love the Federal style most of all. So perfectly proportioned and understated.

Posted by: Carol Gardens at July 24, 2008 11:01 AM

« Foreclosure of the Week: 445 East 19th Street Development Watch: 388 Bridge Street »

July 23, 2008

Houses of the Day: Head-to-Head in The Heights

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