Open House Picks

Well, you know I'm going to see the Crown Heights house. It's on one of the prettiest blocks of Crown Heights, and I've long wondered what it looked like inside. It's closer to NY Ave than Nostrand, which is quiet and has beautiful houses around it, and across the street.

It's 30 feet wide, and has a garage. It's always been well kept on the outside, so I hope the interior is a keeper. Unless it's a total wreck, I'm going to go out on a limb and break my nothing over a million opinion on this one. It may make asking.

Posted by: Montrose Morris at September 12, 2008 1:30 PM

Biff, you are correct. Children's Museum is a block away. they are getting ready for their grand re-opening on Sept 20. And this particular block is gorgeous.

Please come to the Crown Heights North house tour on Oct 4th. One of the houses that will be on the tour is on this block, coincidentally.

Posted by: Montrose Morris at September 12, 2008 1:58 PM

Pierre, when the LPC did their initial survey of Crown Heights North in 1976, this block was part of the proposed land marked area. By 2007, the area to be designated was deemed too large for one fell swoop, so CHN was divided into 4 phases. This block is in phase II. Ironically, almost all of the local people who founded the Crown Heights North Association, which got the ball rolling, ended up in Phase II, which has some truly magnificent architecture. The other phases are now on LPC's long waiting list. Hopefully soon, it will be landmarked.

All that to say I don't know who the architect is. It could very well be Montrose Morris, or George P. Chappell, J.C. Cady, Axel Hedmen, or a number of other prominant Bklyn architects who did a lot of work in brownstone Brooklyn. Maybe I'll find out at the open house. I certainly will post a report on the open house, in any case. I'm looking forward to seeing another potential dream house.

Posted by: Montrose Morris at September 12, 2008 5:08 PM

I saw the Crown Heights house. I was somewhat disappointed, but it still has great potential. With the exception of the entry hallway, and scattered detail, mostly on the parlor floor, there is not much detail left in what was a finely appointed house. For a 30' house, it felt very enclosed, and that is because each floor has been cut up into a warren of rooms, with bathrooms and closets in places that would have originally been opened up. There are two bathrooms on each floor. Some of the ceilings have been dropped, and/or are covered with acoustic tiles.

The house has not been upgraded since Ike was president. It needs a complete electrical and plumbing overhaul. It is a legal 4 family, but the 4th apt is in the English basement. We could not get in there, because of the tenant. There is a fire escape on the unattached side of the building.

Positively, it is a lot of house, and with some good planning, and a big pile o money, it could be a showplace. The rooms are large and airy, even on the top floor. All of the floors have an outdoor space in the form of either a side porch,which look original, or a roof deck. They are all a decent size, and could be quite nice. I would tear down some walls and open the place up, even in a rental unit. As it is now, you don't get the use of the width of the building, which is one of the best things about it.
The exterior is is excellent shape. The backyard is quite large, even with the garage, which is a keeper, with room for one car and a side door which I presume leads to a small storage area. The brick garage has decorative carved keystones. It doesn't look as if anyone's been in there in years.

The house next door is a huge, freestanding brick Arts and Crafts chalet, and the houses behind it on St. Marks are also free standing with large backyards, so the sense of space and roominess is really nice.

Long story long, if I could, I'd pay under a million, would sink another $700K into it, and be happy for the long haul. Because this is one of the gems of a really beautiful block that will certainly appreciate in time. I can see this place again being a beauty, both inside and out.

Posted by: Montrose Morris at September 14, 2008 5:16 PM

Biff, right now, I'm just thankful I can pay my mortgage on the home I have. It's fun to engage in fantasy homebuying and renovating. It costs nothing. I would love to be able to buy my ultimate brownstone, I have it picked out, and someday, who knows? I enjoy looking, and I actually learn more about architecture, construction and renovation in each house, as each place has its own set of positives and negatives. That will help me with my current place, and any other I may someday have.

Posted by: Montrose Morris at September 15, 2008 10:30 AM