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September 28, 2009

House of the Day: 59 St. Marks Avenue

59-St-Marks-Avenue-0909.jpg
This new brownstone listing at 59 St. Marks Avenue in Prospect Heights is chock full o' original details and bound to get a close look from those in the market. The two-family, which is asking $1,595,000, has only one drawback from where we sit: It's only three stories. Still, with this location, charm factor and move-in-readiness, we don't think the price is much of a stretch.
59 St. Marks Avenue [Warren Lewis] GMAP P*Shark





Posted by Brownstoner at 1:14 PM | Comments (39)
Categories: HOTD, Park Slope

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Comments

if curb cut goes in, this requires at least 25% off. not paying this price to live on blk with curb cut.

Posted by: more4less at September 28, 2009 1:19 PM

Why is three stories a drawback. Who has more than one or two kids anymore??? This has four bedrooms. True, only two of them are very large but you can put a few rugrats in the smaller ones (those ridiculous small Victorian rooms that shillstoner says should always remain). Looks like they made a real nice LARGE bathroom by cutting out that closet that's usually shared by the two large bedrooms.

This has a rental unit on the first floor, where it should be. The owners get a full two floors (about 1,600 sf) and a tenant to subsidize the mortgage.

This thing will go fast and close to ask

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at September 28, 2009 1:22 PM

Gorgeous house, dream location. I'm in love.

Posted by: iz at September 28, 2009 1:23 PM

I know the more white lab kitchen types won't like this one, but I do - the kitchen in this house is great.

Posted by: Montrose Morris at September 28, 2009 1:27 PM

where's the fireplace mantels?

Posted by: more4less at September 28, 2009 1:27 PM

MM I totally agree, the kitchen's out of Brooklyn Modern. LOVELOVELOVE.

Posted by: iz at September 28, 2009 1:28 PM

Mr B, that house appears to be on the Park Slope side of Flatbush.

Posted by: DitmasSnark at September 28, 2009 1:30 PM

The lot is only 40'. *That* is the serious flaw IMO at this price. I don't want to pay this much to have no garden.

Posted by: Miss Muffett at September 28, 2009 1:30 PM

And 1.5 baths for a 4 BR triplex seems like bad planning. Sorry, but this house, despite some charms, has some serious other drawbacks that the bull cheerleaders are conveniently overlooking.

Posted by: Miss Muffett at September 28, 2009 1:33 PM

Miss Muffett, have a gander at the floorplans...there's a large "landscaped garden."

Have you been mispricing places for this long??? :)

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at September 28, 2009 1:33 PM

I agree with Miss Muffett: the short lot is a drawback. Also, the proximity to noisy Flatbush Ave is another problem.

Posted by: infirm at September 28, 2009 1:34 PM

Wow...that's the perfect place and location. Nice kitchen...not a fan of the red cabinets BUT I still like it.

Posted by: A CrownHeightsLady at September 28, 2009 1:35 PM

DIBS - I was going by Property Shark - your point is well taken though and I guess whoever looks at this house should clarify the lot question.

Posted by: Miss Muffett at September 28, 2009 1:42 PM

Agreed with those that say this will go at ask. Its in North Slope, it appears to be nicely renovated. It has a family friendly lay out in the upper duplex with solid rental potential in the garden. Hard to quibble with house or asking price.

Posted by: wasder at September 28, 2009 1:49 PM

'Brownstone Formality' should have never married 'Country Charm'!!
Thank God when this seperatedfrom it's cirrent owner, they'll take their wicker with them.

Minus the firniture, nice house overall.

Posted by: Expert Textpert at September 28, 2009 1:51 PM

One other point: don't sellers pretty much expect a minimum 10% discount in this market? This location is convenient to transportation, but the school district is not great (and most commenters are mentioning the "family friendly" vibe). I would not take as a given private school as an option in this price range. Plus, being so close to Flatbush is not exactly a positive for everyone.

Posted by: Miss Muffett at September 28, 2009 1:54 PM

I would not take private school as a given at any price range -- just because you have the money to buy a $3 million house doesn't mean you can get into the school you prefer. (Anyway, isn't PS 282 pretty good but not the lovey doveyr feel of 321?)

According to the tax map, the lot is 65' feet deep. The only way the garden is 43' deep as claimed is if the deck (or patio under the deck) is included.

I might consider trurning one of the small bedrooms upstairs into a second bathroom for the kids.

I think it's a pretty good price for the location and the layout -- assuming the physicial structure is in good shape. Does anyone have thoughts about the amount of ivy on the front of the building? It's dramatic looking but alos perhaps too intense in a kind of I am Legend sort of way.

Posted by: Boerumresident at September 28, 2009 2:13 PM

Too close to Flatbush, too small a yard. I'll be surprised if this clears $1.3m.

Posted by: DitmasSnark at September 28, 2009 2:14 PM

How could they have that garden in the plans if the lot is only 40ft?

Anyway, I think this is lovely. I LOVE that red/orange in the kitchen. Think it will sell close to ask too.

Posted by: Nomi at September 28, 2009 2:14 PM

Wow, five people so far have put "appraised" this at 996K. That's just disingenuous.

Posted by: Nomi at September 28, 2009 2:16 PM

Isn't the ivy on the house next to it? There's no ivy at all showing in the front windows and door of the interior pix.

Posted by: Nomi at September 28, 2009 2:18 PM

Very nice house. We put an offer on it, but it won't be enough. I bet it will go close to ask.
The lot next door is a wild area, strangely missused by a nearby building. The people who live there have very nice art everywhere. The deck is old and requires maintenance.
The rental looks like it could use some help though. Not up to the standard of the rest of the house.
The lot is definitely deeper than 40, but the shape is triangular at the end, given the presence of a building parallel to Flatbush. Tall building, not great but shields from the noise.

Posted by: spqrxxi at September 28, 2009 2:21 PM

Acording to the maps, this lot is the one closest to the intersection, and if you look at Streetview that is the one wiht the Ivy.

Posted by: Boerumresident at September 28, 2009 2:22 PM

Nomi:
ivy is on the house. They seem to trim it just so it does not get in the way of the window. Plenty of light in that house.

Posted by: spqrxxi at September 28, 2009 2:23 PM

Spgrxxi -- The maps indicate a rectangular lot. Do you think this house has an (unofficial perhaps) easement on the lot that faces Flatbush?

Posted by: Boerumresident at September 28, 2009 2:25 PM

"Nomi:
ivy is on the house. They seem to trim it just so it does not get in the way of the window. Plenty of light in that house."

Yes, you must be right. I just realized the orientation of the door to the windows is only right for the ivy house. But must have been trimmed after exterior picture and before interior: In the exterior photo, it's definitely covering some of the windows.

Posted by: Nomi at September 28, 2009 2:29 PM

Oh, spqrxxi, didn't read your previous post. Didn't realize you'd seen the house!

Posted by: Nomi at September 28, 2009 2:30 PM

I didn't even realize this was the house with the ivy until it was pointed out. It's like the darkness of the leaves automatically drew my eye to the house next door. I'm all for a little ivy to add whimsy and whatnot but i think this is overkill and makes me hate it actually. I love the inside picks though it's really cute but the ivy is just way to much for me.

Posted by: Tdeezy at September 28, 2009 2:38 PM

Cute house. For those who are citing Flatbush proximity as a problem, you'd be surprised how much a 1 block cushion makes.--I live on Carlton btwn St Marks and Prospect Pl and our street is super quiet--you'd never know there was a major thoroughfare just a block away. Plus it's nice to be close to all the amenities (hardware store, pharmacy, grocer) on Flatbush when you need them.

Posted by: bklynrosie at September 28, 2009 2:44 PM

Yes, saw the house and liked it very much. Not perfect, but with a strong personality is how I would describe it.

Boerumresident: I don't know the answer to your question. The broker said the lot extended out, did not mention an easement.

Posted by: spqrxxi at September 28, 2009 2:44 PM

We went to the open house and the ivy on the front has grapes. No joke. It has a huge vine with grape shaped fruit hanging from it.

Posted by: myplace at September 28, 2009 3:14 PM

Maybe there is vinyl siding or stucco under the ivy.

Posted by: Brokedeveloper at September 28, 2009 3:28 PM

My house is only three stories and somehow I manage without any strife.

I'd love it more if it were a single family but it really is one great house.

Posted by: TownhouseLady at September 28, 2009 3:51 PM

What's the deal w/ the water bill? Mine's not even half that.

Posted by: Arkady at September 28, 2009 3:59 PM

They crank the heat and run the water all day!

Posted by: tybur6 at September 28, 2009 4:18 PM

> What's the deal w/ the water bill?

I think we've solved the lush ivy mystery.

Posted by: DitmasSnark at September 28, 2009 4:45 PM

No, I think the ivy demands far more investigation . . .

Yeah, I wanted to stick up for the three floor house as well. I don't really understand the statement that the house "has only one drawback from where we sit: It's only three stories."

It's only a "drawback" if you want more space. As a couple with no children, my husband and I would be much more likely to be looking at a three story house, or even a two, if there were no rental.

Posted by: Nomi at September 28, 2009 10:37 PM

I like the kitchen, but that is all I like. What's with all the folding closet doors? And white with burgundy?

Posted by: mopar at September 28, 2009 11:28 PM

Would you have preferred purple moldings & casings with that burgundy, mopar????

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at September 29, 2009 8:22 AM

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