« Condo of the Day: 1 Northside Piers, #15D Streetlevel: Fresh Fanatic Opens Tomorrow »
August 10, 2009
House of the Day: 66 Clifton Place
The four-story brownstone at 66 Clifton Place was purchased in 2006 for $1,265,000 and was subsequently renovated quite thoroughly and nicely (recessed lighting notwithstanding!). Unfortunately for the owner, timing is everything and it's hard to see how she's going to get her money back now that she's decided to sell. Since we live just a couple of blocks away, we'll be thrilled if she can get the asking price of $1,595,000 but it's hard to see how a house on that block fetches that high a price in this market. Agree?
66 Clifton Place [Brown Harris Stevens] GMAP P*Shark
One Reader's Comparison Shopping in Clinton Hill [Brownstoner]
Trackback Pings
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.brownstoner.com/mte/mt-tb.cgi/10919
Comments
wow, it looks a ton different and nicer than when I saw it back then. location works against them. a renovated house(albeit not as nice as this) closer to St James Pl sold for under 1.3M so it'll be tough for this to get the 1.6M ask.
Wonder how much they spent re-doing everything
Posted by: more4less at August 10, 2009 1:24 PM
Love everything about the master suite. Nothing short of drool-worthy house porn.
(Incidentally, where is What? It seems Mr. B. *does* post listings in his own hood. And damned pretty ones at that!)
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at August 10, 2009 1:26 PM
What's wrong with recessed lighting?
Posted by: adrock25 at August 10, 2009 1:30 PM
This looks like a top notch renovation. The fcade looks like it's been redone and the entranceway is magnificent. Yard is very nice and doesn't seem to have any idiosyncracies that turn some people off.
The master suite is fantastic. That gets top praise for the incredible master bath.
Recessed lighting is fine in its use here. It doesn't seem to be present on the "restored" parlour floor.
$1.3 MM
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at August 10, 2009 1:30 PM
Someone is going to get a pretty awesome house for the money. These people made excellent choices for the renovation. Don't know the block, but this is one of the best -looking interiors we've seen on this site for a while.
Posted by: homey at August 10, 2009 1:34 PM
*drool*
This is one sweet looking house. Kudos to those making and executing those renovation decisions.
Posted by: TownhouseLady at August 10, 2009 1:34 PM
quote:
What's wrong with recessed lighting?
i think brownie thinks it's too suburban or something, yet fails to realize that most houses renovated/decorated in nyc these days are more suburban than the suburbs!
*rob*
Posted by: PitbullNYC at August 10, 2009 1:35 PM
It's got central air so the appearance of the vents will be more diseturbing than any recessed lighting, which all looks to be very small lights and not those big cans anyway.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at August 10, 2009 1:40 PM
No way this house hold's it's 2006 value going forward. I guess that would be peak.
Market bottom price: $0.65M. Anybody spare that much to lose?
***Bid half off peak comps***
Posted by: Brownstones Half Off at August 10, 2009 1:41 PM
Love this house! Now, if only I were to hit the lotto . . . .
Posted by: Brooklynista at August 10, 2009 1:42 PM
mega million drawing is now 124 Millionnnnnnnn Dollars! a $1 and a dream
Posted by: more4less at August 10, 2009 1:44 PM
Market bottom price: $0.65M. Anybody spare that much to lose?
***Bid half off peak comps***
Posted by: Brownstones Half Off at August 10, 2009 1:41 PM
This is your brain on drugs.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at August 10, 2009 1:47 PM
oooh is it that high? im so buying a ticket. if i win im so buying the clock tower penthouse and turning it into an upscale brothel.
*rob*
Posted by: PitbullNYC at August 10, 2009 1:48 PM
Lovely house - not sure of the final price. But I too can't see, with that renovation, how they can avoid losing money.
Posted by: Miss Muffett at August 10, 2009 1:49 PM
The owners have great taste, this is almost as pretty as that gorgeous house in Boerum Hill. The location and the market are going against them though. I would be surprised if they got more than what they paid in 2006, perfect reno notwithstanding.
Posted by: Maly at August 10, 2009 1:50 PM
Wow I am surprised that there aren't any comments about the lack of original details....
Besides that this house is LOVELY and I must agree the renovation is excellent I am downloading pics of this house for my reference!!! The seller should get get 1.5.
Posted by: mysideofstuy at August 10, 2009 1:53 PM
DIBS--I put in 1.3 as well. I think that's a pretty nice location and a great looking house. Love the garden too. Definitely not going to get ask but 1.3 or 1.4 should get it done.
Posted by: wasder at August 10, 2009 1:54 PM
Looks like the fireplaces are original or at least period. Not sure if the crown moldings are. As far as decorating taste though, those bookcases in that dining room are hideous.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at August 10, 2009 1:54 PM
Loving the garden and the master bath.
Posted by: CarrollGardened at August 10, 2009 2:05 PM
Like the reno but those bookcases are dispiriting and from the photos looks like they are either holding encylopedias or all of the same books.
Posted by: DeLepp at August 10, 2009 2:10 PM
This is a great looking house.
Posted by: chillmama at August 10, 2009 2:12 PM
It's interesting to read the 2006 post from Minerva about the choice between this house and a grand pad in a mansion on Clinton avenue. There is a 3 bedroom floor through with a deck and backyard in a mansion on Washington for sale at 950k. It's a big premium for basically a separate dining room and a den. The other issue is that this house is not in the historic district, so while it is very pretty, you're close to the crenellated craptacular construction at the end of the block.
Posted by: Maly at August 10, 2009 2:23 PM
Maly...what are the real estate tax comparisons between the two? I suspect this house is a lot less.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at August 10, 2009 2:27 PM
RE Taxes only $3,074.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at August 10, 2009 2:31 PM
> crenellated craptacular construction
Try saying *that* five times fast.
Posted by: DitmasSnark at August 10, 2009 2:35 PM
DIBS, dont think those fireplace mantels were the ones I saw or if there was any mantel at all
Posted by: more4less at August 10, 2009 2:35 PM
BHO, if you think that, buy it now for 1.2, and then I'll buy it from you for the .65m. That way you prove your point and we both win.
Posted by: infinitejester at August 10, 2009 2:36 PM
Dave, the maintenance charges for the condo are $279, and the taxes for the lot are $8,000, split between 5 more or less similar units. So maybe $1,800-$1,900 tax per year?
It's a wash.
Posted by: Maly at August 10, 2009 2:44 PM
Condo maintenance at $279 per month would add up to $2325 and with another $1,800, that's $4,125. Not a wash but close. If the condo conversion is new I'd be wary of the taxes staying at $8,000.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at August 10, 2009 2:55 PM
the house was purchased renovated in 2006. this owner didn't do the reno. the house is beautiful but the block is shady. she needs to stay & wait it out.
Posted by: bkny at August 10, 2009 3:03 PM
Sure, but the maintenance includes water and trash, which you would have to pay anyway for the house. That's why I think it's a wash. And taxes can increase by similar amounts in both places, I doesn't look like there is any abatement currently.
There is definitely a premium for a house, but in this case the mansion condo has 4 exposures, it's the parlor floor and a block away from one of the best playgrounds in the city (Underhill.)
Posted by: Maly at August 10, 2009 3:04 PM
Yum, I really like that house. If I could afford it, I would buy it. If I had it like that, I think I'd believe it was a good value at 1.3, especially b/c I'd be buying for the long haul. This is the really one of the best renos ever posted here.
Posted by: southbrooklyn at August 10, 2009 3:17 PM
nice but narrow
Posted by: ontheparkway at August 10, 2009 3:44 PM
18 feet is narrow? where do you live in a 25 footer?
Posted by: bkny at August 10, 2009 3:49 PM
20 feet wide is the standard, so 18 feet is officially "narrow."
Why do people like the reno so much? The kitchen and master bath are cookie-cutter, McBoring, standard-sissue WBurg condo, characterless reproductions. If that is what you want, you can it get it half-off at any number of highrise condos all over the city. Or in any McMansion in the burbs for that matter.
Posted by: shillstoner at August 10, 2009 4:01 PM
"they" always say 20 feet is standard but the majority posted here as well as where most folks i know live is between 17-20ft. most averaging 18.5 feet.
i used to live in a 20x100 and there is really not much difference in a 18x100. depending on the layout - it can pretty much feel the same.
Posted by: bkny at August 10, 2009 4:22 PM
"The kitchen and master bath are cookie-cutter, McBoring, standard-sissue WBurg condo, characterless reproductions. "
Show us some condos with this quality.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at August 10, 2009 4:25 PM
Hardly condo standard issue. The master bath alone is heads above most new construction.
Posted by: tinarina at August 10, 2009 4:32 PM
"Hardly condo standard issue. The master bath alone is heads above most new construction."
Don't see it at all. But seen one boring kitchen, seen em all.
Posted by: shillstoner at August 10, 2009 4:42 PM
Oh, for heaven's sake. Please, PLEASE show me one condo with a master suite that nice and that large. PLEASE! If this is cookie cutter I'm not black dammit.
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at August 10, 2009 4:48 PM
I dunno...I'd rather have a smaller bathroom and have two bedrooms on that master suite floor. Is that crazy? It just seems like a huge waste of space.
Posted by: bkrules at August 10, 2009 5:04 PM
It's called decadence, bkrules. If you can achieve it at $1.2 MM I say it's a pretty good deal, especially with two more bedrooms upstairs!!!! I think for this price, this place has all the bells & whistles.
I'd just like to see how difficult it is to serve the formal dining room from the kitchen. Is there a dumb waiter?? Are the stairs that much of a pain??
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at August 10, 2009 5:11 PM
wow I like this house, I might actually check it out if it goes under a million.
Posted by: brickoven at August 10, 2009 5:16 PM
BO, you pulling our chain?
Posted by: more4less at August 10, 2009 5:27 PM
Kitchen --Ikea?
Posted by: Whuh at August 10, 2009 5:51 PM
This house is staged to the hilt. I have no idea what you folks are talking about. It's far from one of the nicest houses posted on this site. The kitchen is ultra modern and cheap looking.
It does look like a complete gut, but other than that, without the professional furniture staging (I realize it's probably the owner's stuff), not one of those photos, except the photo of the big shower, impresses me.
We've seem kitchens a hundred times nicer in previous posts. I'm renovating my kitchen right now. When I'm finished, maybe I'll post it on this site. It blows this kitchen out of the water and it's not even "all that."
I'd much rather pay less and have the renovation done my way.
Next!
Posted by: IronBalls at August 10, 2009 6:08 PM
Wow, the renovation does seem very well done, but it's not my style at all. Too much like the W hotel or the cover of one of those free luxury magazines. Good thing, ha ha ha, since I could never afford it in a million years.
Posted by: mopar at August 10, 2009 7:54 PM
when i had a brownstone, our layout was very similar. found ourselves mostly on the ground or 3rd floor. did do dinner parties on the parlor, and just carried it up. it's a pain. i have no problems with this renovation and the central air is nice, but the up and down and living on the ground floor kinda blows.
one advantage to an apartment is that you can get the space on just one or maybe two floors if you have a duplex. it's always best to have your main day to day living space on the biggest ceiling'ed floor, in this case the parlor.
take away renovations, decorating, etc.. i prefer my current space of just 2 floors for ease and enjoyment of living in my condo. it's part of the inherent issue of having the whole brownstone. lots of space, but you can't do much about it spread over 4 floors. lots of stairs.
Posted by: wine lover at August 10, 2009 8:00 PM
Yes, agree with winelover about unpleasantness of four floors, esp. with kitchen on the garden floor. Never lived in one, but did spend a lot of time in one many years ago when my friend was the family's nanny.
Kitchens were originally down there because they were things neither to be heard nor seen. Not so anymore.
@bkrules: "I dunno...I'd rather have a smaller bathroom and have two bedrooms on that master suite floor. Is that crazy? It just seems like a huge waste of space."
I have always been creeped out by huge bathrooms. I know they are luxurious like Dave says, but they just give me the willies.
(Digression: Was anyone here a regular at The Bagel on West 4th in the Village? They had the smallest bathroom with a sink in all of NY. The sink was literally in your lap when you were seated on the toilet . . . That was TOO small. I miss that place.)
Anyway, I think this renovation is beautiful, despite my personal objects, and am sorry to see that the owner will likely loose money.
Posted by: Nomi at August 11, 2009 12:39 AM
I wasn't a regular at the Bagel, but I agree, that place was awesome. Old New York at its best. . .
Posted by: IronBalls at August 11, 2009 9:51 AM
Nomi - the owner will clear 200k if this sells for ask, after the broker fee. she did not do the reno. the house was purchased renovated in 2006 - is anyone listening to me! ugh...
Posted by: bkny at August 11, 2009 11:54 AM
Latest Restaurant Additions
-
Le Barricou
added November 20, 2009 12:00 PM in Williamsburg -
Der Schwarze Kölner
added November 19, 2009 12:00 PM in Fort Greene -
Oak Wine Bar & Café
added November 18, 2009 12:00 PM in Williamsburg -
Mr. Wonton
added November 17, 2009 12:00 PM in Park Slope -
Casa Rosa
added November 16, 2009 12:00 PM in Carroll Gardens -
Cousin John's Café & Bakery
added November 13, 2009 12:00 PM in Park Slope -
Elote
added November 12, 2009 12:00 PM in Williamsburg -
Miracle Grill
added November 11, 2009 12:00 PM in Park Slope -
Phoebe's Cafe
added November 10, 2009 12:00 PM in Williamsburg -
Ruthie's
added November 9, 2009 12:00 PM in Clinton Hill, Downtown Brooklyn
Post a comment
Please be patient while your comment is published. It may take a moment.