Priciest Brooklyn Sale of '09 is in Gravesend!

DIBS;

I really think you should take a look at this area in person before you make the above comments. I know this area very, very well. I grew up not too far from this home (on the much, MUCH more modest west side of Gravesend) and my folks still live there. The area between Kings Highway and Ave U., from McDonald Ave to Ocean parkway, is trully magnificant. The home pictured here is not the best one in that area, BY FAR.

Posted by: benson at September 28, 2009 10:42 AM

Between this thread and the one about the Meier building, I think there is alot of envy running through Brownstoner today.

Posted by: benson at September 28, 2009 10:50 AM

"Where's the envy?"

You asked, I'll reply.

I'd like folks to find FIVE posts in the entire history of Brownstoner that spoke admirably of a house that is outside the Brownstone Brooklyn area. Name a wealthy area in Brooklyn that is outside of the Brownstone Belt - Gravesend, Mill Basin, Dyker Heights or Bay Ridge - and show me where there isn't an insinuation that:

a) the folks who bought the property must be some type of whacko for paying for a home that is tasteless, taste being defined as ONLY a home that approximates an 1860 era brownstone;

b) their low level of taste is proof that they must be a mafioso of some sort, be it the original Italian mafia,or a version of it that applies to other ethnic groups.

This attempt at ridicule masks the true emotion at play, which is envy.

Posted by: benson at September 28, 2009 11:13 AM

Park Sloper and all;

I think I know the difference between folks making comments akin to "this is not my cup of tea" and comments that deride a house and its inhabitants.

Think I'm making it up? Just go to the recent thread of the house in Bay Ridge. Comments about "Tony Soprano" and bullet-proof glass. When it was revealed that the owner was Greek, the jokes shifted gear.

Posted by: benson at September 28, 2009 11:31 AM

Pete;

All of the factors you talked about in your post -"Too close to this, too far from that, too much traffic, not the right layout, too narrow, awful kitchen" are legitimate real estate pricing issues.

That is a far cry from being incredulous that other forms of real estate could fetch a pretty penny, and then impugning the owner.

CHL;

You seem like a nice person, and I'm sure you mean what you write. However, I'm not convinced of what you say. I'll draw on my own experience (and perhaps that is not applicable to everyone else). When I have no interest in a type of real estate, I do not study its pricing, and therefore I don't feel qualified to make a comment on it. For instance, you'd have to put a gun to my head to buy a brownstone (sorry folks, that's the way I feel). As such, you will never see me commenting on the price of brownstones on this site.

Posted by: benson at September 28, 2009 11:55 AM

Moreteasir;

Not at all. I like breaking the balls of the smug!

Posted by: benson at September 28, 2009 12:07 PM

"Some of our fellow posters may be accused of being snooty or ignorant or chauvenistic towards their own little enclave, but I don't see the envy. "

Minard;

OK, point taken. Yes, snootiness, ignorance and chauvenism(sp?) are what we see on the surface of these posts. With the charge of envy,I'm speculating as to the "root cause" of this behavior. Hey, I can play armchair psychologist, can't I?

Posted by: benson at September 28, 2009 12:21 PM

PS'er:

How about envy over the fact that a house like THAT could fetch $10M?? Perish the thought....

As to your question: I have an interest in Brooklyn real estate, of all types.

Posted by: benson at September 28, 2009 1:39 PM