Cobble Hill
February 8, 2010
Development Watch: Window Time at Strong Place
The Strong Place Church conversion has been going on since 2006 at this point and it still looks far from done. (Hopefully this indicates it will be a high-quality development.) Right now workers are prepping to install new windows into the building and have already put in some of the smaller ones. It is supposed to have 24 condos when finished. Click through for another pic.
Strong Place Church Construction Update [Brownstoner]
Strong Place Church Conversion: Slow ‘n’ Steady [Brownstoner] GMAP DOB
Strong Place Church Conversion In Full Swing [Brownstoner]
Strong Place Church: Next Step, Scaffolding [Brownstoner]
Continue reading "Development Watch: Window Time at Strong Place"
Norah Jones' Windows Coming In
As a reader pointed out, workers have started the process of putting in those controversial windows on the side of Norah Jones' Cobble Hill house. That's it, there goes the neighborhood!
Norah Jones Cuts Back on Her Windows [Brownstoner]
Cobble Hill Neighbors Irked by Norah Jones' Windows [Brownstoner]
What's Up with Cafe on Clinton?
Has long-time Cobble Hill bistro Cafe on Clinton fallen on hard times? Three weeks ago a Forum post asked what was up with the recent non-activity and at the end of last week a reader sent in this photo of the suspended-in-time storefront. Evidently the tables are all set but the doors haven't been open for close to a month now. Anyone know what's going on?GMAP
February 4, 2010
Streetlevel: Blue Marble Expanding to Court Street
Good news for Cobble Hill sweet tooths! Blue Marble will be opening its third retail location at 196 Court Street at Wyckoff. The big news is that, in addition to its trademark small-batch, grass-fed ice cream which it makes upstate, Blue Marble will be introducing a new line of soft serve ice cream when the new location opens on February 14th. (The company currently has two other stores in Brooklyn and is in the process of opening non-profit store in Rwanda.) You'll also be able to pick up Nunu Chocolates and Nunu-based hot chocolate at the new location. Sweet. Check out an interior photo, complete with a Taylor Company soft serve machine, on the jump. GMAP
Continue reading "Streetlevel: Blue Marble Expanding to Court Street"
House of the Day: 11 Wyckoff Street
The location of this new townhouse listing at 11 Wyckoff Street in Cobble Hill is great and it's a 25-footer, but, from the looks of it, the interior's going to need a lot of love. Given that, we have a hard time seeing how this baby can fetch it's asking price of $2,300,000. Do you?
11 Wyckoff Street [Smith Hanten] GMAP P*Shark
Co-op of the Day: 175 Amity Street, #C3
This new listing at 175 Amity Street is a little hard to evaluate without a floorplan, but the main room of the one-bedroom co-op looks nice enough and it has access to a common roofdeck. The kitchen is lacking in character and, in the absence of photos or dimensions, we're a little worried about what the bedroom might be like. The asking price is $410,000 with a $791 monthly maintenance. Realistic?
175 Amity Street, #C3 [Corcoran] GMAP P*Shark
February 2, 2010
House of the Day: 229 Baltic Street
This townhouse at 229 Baltic Street in Cobble Hill just hit the market and it's a doozy. The good news is that it's a gorgeous place—lots of original detail and recently the subject of a top-notch renovation. The bad news? The asking price is $4,200,000, definitely at the high end of the range for something to the south of Atlantic Avenue. (Heck, it's even quite a bit of dough in Brooklyn Heights these days.) Still, for some lucky bonus recipient looking for a beautiful house to move right into, this might just be the ticket.
229 Baltic Street [Brown Harris Stevens] GMAP P*Shark
February 1, 2010
House of the Day: 293 Clinton Street
This four-story brownstone at 293 Clinton Street in Cobble Hill just hit the market asking $2,000,000. It's a four-family house and, unfortunately, the interiors have suffered from the usual effects of subdividing. The exterior of the house is great, as is the location; we just think that, given the amount of dough it will take this to bring back to a one- or two-family, the asking price isn't realistic.
293 Clinton Street [Brownstone RE] GMAP P*Shark
January 25, 2010
243 Kane Street Finally Sells
After a year and a half and a roller coaster ride of price increases and cuts, the recently renovated townhouse at 234 Kane Street in Cobble Hill finally sold last week for $3,200,000, more than its original asking price of $2,950,000 but well south of its peak ask of $4,075,000. Not surprisingly, the average widget appraisal came in at about 11 percent less than the selling price.
House of the Day: 243 Kane Street [Brownstoner] GMAP
January 14, 2010
Condo of the Day: 44 Cheever Place, #502
This one-bedroom condo at 44 Cheever Place just hit the market with an asking price of $549,000. The 960-square-foot pad looks feels like it hasn't had any TLC since the mid-Eighties, but it has nice bones, good light and a deeded parking space. In addition, the combined monthly charge of $691 is quite reasonable. You liking it?
44 Cheever Place, #502 [Brooklyn Heights RE] GMAP P*Shark
January 8, 2010
Norah Jones Cuts Back on Her Windows
There's peace in Cobble Hill. The platinum-selling singer Norah Jones, who got the neighborhood in quite a tizzy at the end of the year when she received approval from the Landmarks Preservation Commission to pop in ten new windows along the western wall of her recently purchased townhouse, took a voluntary step at a compromise. According to The Brooklyn Paper, which broke the news, Jones has amended her LPC application to include only seven windows instead of ten--three on the top floor and four on the bottom floor. The president of the Cobble Hill Association, which has weighed in with the concern that the side windows are not historically consistent, expressed mixed feelings about the news: “I’m still concerned that this sets a precedent,” said Roy Sloane, the president of the Cobble Hill Association. “But I’m always in favor of a compromise, if that’s what happened here.” One concern that is not raised by either The Brooklyn Paper or The Post, which also covered the story, is whether the seven-window layout might actually look less natural than the original ten-window layout. Any thoughts on that?
Compromise in Norah Jones’ Windowgate Plan [NY Post]
Windows 7 was Norah Jones’s Idea [NY Post]
Cobble Hill Neighbors Irked by Norah Jones' Windows [Brownstoner]
January 6, 2010
Still No Takers For Big Green Space on Baltic
It ain't easy being green. When we last heard from the Green Giant of Baltic Street back in September, the newly constructed commercial space was still sitting empty. Yesterday Lost City checked in with the wallflower and, sure enough, it's still available. The blog takes issue with some of the marketing verbiage though. Rather than calling it "the most architecturally alluring storefront in Cobble Hill," as the listing from Vespa Reality does, the blog suggests a rewrite: "I'll give them this: It's the most architecturally singular storefront in the neighborhood." The blog also offers up a couple of more reasons why the space hasn't found a taker yet: "It must be a bitch to heat in the winter and probably becomes a sauna in the summer. Not to mention the window-washing bills."
Big Green Thing on Baltic Still Sits There [Lost City]
Streetlevel: Big Green Space on Baltic Now for Rent [Brownstoner] GMAP
Large Restaurant Space Rising on Baltic [Brownstoner]
December 31, 2009
Brooklyn's Biggest Residential Deals of '09
Here they are, the five biggest sales recorded in public records this year. It's worth noting that the One Brooklyn Bridge Park and Cobble Hill sales went into contract before '09, and Cobble actually closed in 2008 but the deed didn't hit public records until this year. The highest-end sales recorded in '08, were, unsurprisingly, pricier than this year's batch. They included a $10.8 million sale on Remsen Street, the highest price on record for Brooklyn Heights; the sale of Jennifer Connelly's old Prospect Park West digs for $8.45 million; and the $7 million sale of a Dumbo condo, the most expensive condo trade in Brooklyn on record. Still, there were plenty of properties that sold this year that 99.9 percent of us could never afford to buy!
1. GRAVESEND $10,260,000
2111 East 2nd Street GMAP (top left)
The trade of this 8,206-square-foot one-family was, as expected, the biggest sale in Brooklyn this year, and one of the highest-priced houses ever to sell in Kings. Entered into contract on 9/16/09; closed on 9/16/09; deed recorded on 9/25/09.
2. BROOKLYN HEIGHTS $6,322,711
One Brooklyn Bridge Park, Unit 1214 GMAP (top right)
Early this year, Elizabeth Stribling closed on her purchase of a penthouse at One Brooklyn Bridge Park. The pad sprawls over 3,442 square feet (with 1,900 square feet of outdoor space), according to a Real Deal article. The purchase price recorded in public records is a few hundred thousand below the $6.6 million Stribling was reportedly paying for the unit plus a parking spot. Entered into contract on 3/29/07; closed on 1/29/09; deed recorded on 2/5/09.
3. COBBLE HILL $5,400,000
155 Warren Street GMAP (bottom left)
This 7,000-sf, 25-foot-wide Greek Revival house hit the market in October '07 with an $8.75 million asking price. The price was reduced several times, ending up at $5.9 million in late September, according to StreetEasy. Is this the highest price ever paid for a house in Cobble Hill? Probably. Entered into contract on 11/14/08; closed on 12/16/08; deed recorded on 1/13/09.
4. BROOKLYN HEIGHTS $5,309,390
One Brooklyn Bridge Park, Unit 1220 GMAP (top right)
3-bedroom, 3-bath condo has 3,456 square feet of indoor space and 1,903 square feet of terrace space. Sale included a parking spot. Entered into contract on 6/15/07; closed on 3/25/09; deed recorded on 4/1/09.
5. GRAVESEND $5,002,000
2021 East 5th Street GMAP (bottom right)
Property Shark says it's a 2,016-sf one-family. Entered into contract on 3/16/09; closed on 9/24/09; deed recorded on 10/6/09.
Photos from Property Shark.
December 22, 2009
Union Market Opens Today on Court
And the answer to the question, "Will we get a Union Market for Christmas?" is a resounding "Yes!" The signage for the Cobble Hill outpost of the Park Slope-based gourmet market went up yesterday and the store opens today. If you happen to pop your head into the newly renovated 4,000-square-foot space (which is in the running for a LEED Gold rating) this morning please send us a photo! Update: A reader who was a little surprised by the LEED rating sent us a photo from a few nights ago in front of the store. Check it out on the jump. Also, check out photos from the opening on Pardon Me For Asking. Looks great!
Will Union Market Open Before the New Year? [Brownstoner]
Union Market Coming to Court Street! [Brownstoner] GMAP
December 15, 2009
Will Union Market Open Before the New Year?
It's been more than five months since we broke the news that Union Market was going to be taking over the former Blockbuster space at 288 Court Street. The store's website has been projecting a December opening and yesterday Cobble Hill Blog wondered aloud about the situation: "Despite what some may consider slow progress, the windows are decorated with holiday lights and posters of people with Santa hats. Will we get a Union Market for Christmas?" GMAP
December 14, 2009
Condo of the Day: 335 Warren Street, #102
If StreetEasy is to be believed, this duplex at 335 Warren Street was initially priced at $975,000 when the new development hit the market back in 2007. By now, the other seven units in the condo have been sold and it looks like the developer just wants to sell this thing and be done. The oddly-configured apartment (one bedroom, three bathrooms, a separate studio space) has almost 2,500 square feet of indoor space plus a decent-sized terrace and, as of last week, is now asking just $699,000. It's not for everyone, clearly, but seems to be a decent value at this price. Do you agree?
335 Warren Street, #102 [Brooklyn Heights RE] GMAP P*Shark
Checking In On The Warren Lofts [Brownstoner]
December 9, 2009
Streetlevel: New Darn-and-Dine on Smith
La Casita, a new yarn-shop-cum-cafe, just held its soft opening on Sunday in its new storefront space at 253 Smith Street. If you're into this sort of thing, you can take a class, follow along on the shop's Facebook Fan Page or just check out their website. Anyone been in yet?
GMAP
December 8, 2009
Barney's Looking for Co-op Space in Cobble Hill
The first thing we thought about when we read the opening paragraph of yesterday's Crain's article dropping the big news that Barney's was eyeing Cobble Hill for its first Brooklyn location of the Barney's Co-Op was the new Two Trees rental building at 200 Atlantic Avenue. And then, sure enough, further down in the piece: "The company would not provide details, but real estate insiders speculate that Barneys will take space on Atlantic Avenue, the thoroughfare that is already home to upscale clothier Steven Alan and home decorator Jonathan Adler." The retail space at 200 Atlantic would make perfect sense, in our humble opinion. Or maybe they'll take over the lease from Urban Outfitters, which clearly ain't working out too well.
Making Book on Barneys [Crain's]
December 4, 2009
Exterior Renovation Work Underway at 370 Clinton
A reader dropped a line to say that "on the corner of Clinton and Degraw there is massive scaffolding up around what had looked to be an abandoned brownstone. It was oddly out of place in the well-kept area with broken windows and no obvious maintenance. Good news that it looks like they are finally going to fix it up." The building in question is 370 Clinton Street, whose owner sold a half interest in the property over the summer.
Half-Stake in 370 Clinton Sells—For Half the Listing Price [Brownstoner]
House of the Day: 370 Clinton Street [Brownstoner] GMAP
December 2, 2009
House of the Day: 227 Clinton Street
227 Clinton Street, a 25-foot-wide brownstone in Cobble Hill, hit the market in mid-September for $3,400,000 and by the end of October was listed on StreetEasy as being in contract. Apparently, though, things didn't work out, as the gorgeous double-duplex house has been back on the market for a couple of weeks now. Man, is that parlor floor to die for or what!
227 Clinton Street [Brown Harris Stevens] GMAP P*Shark
December 1, 2009
House of the Day: 19 Cheever Place
19 Cheever Place was on the market briefly this summer with a local broker before making the leap to Corcoran back in October. The Cobble Hill two-family house is missing a cornice but the interior has some nice original detail as well as an attractively renovated kitchen. The asking price is $2,275,000. What do you make of that?
19 Cheever Place [Corcoran] GMAP P*Shark
More on Cobble Hill's Windowgate
The Brooklyn Paper reports new developments in the Norah Jones' great window scandal of 2009. First, it turns out that the famous singer's designer originally applied to punch three new windows in the brick side wall but that it was Jones herself who pushed to modify the Landmarks application to add a total of ten windows. Second, the Cobble Hill Association, which has been up in arms over the LPC's approval of the request since it was made public, has counted up the number of similar houses with windowless side walls that it says are all vulnerable if the Jones precedent is allowed to stand. The tally? 70.
Windows 7 was Norah Jones’s Idea [Brooklyn Paper]
LPC Will Not Reconsider Norah Jones Decision [Brownstoner]
Cobble Hill Neighbors Irked by Norah Jones' Windows [Brownstoner]
Photo by Stephen Brown for The Brooklyn Paper
November 30, 2009
Neighbors Pitch In to Help Smith St. Fire Victims
The Daily News brings word of Kyung Dong Oh and Kyung Ja, the couple that used to run Trusting Cleaners in Cobble Hill and whose home was destroyed by last week's fire on Smith and Warren. Neighbors have banded together to try to find a new apartment for the couple, and St. Paul & St. Agnes Church on Congress Street has set up a fund for them. According to the article, "Kyung Ja Oh said she's grateful for the support and the couple were insured. But they are still worried about finding a place the pair can afford, especially because they cannot bear to leave the neighborhood. 'Now, my husband and me, we don't have a job. We are old. What can we do?' she said. 'Our neighborhood is really, really wonderful. ... Everybody's like family.'"
Brooklyn Couple Lost Their Home to Fire [NY Daily News]
BREAKING: Fire on Smith and Warren [Brownstoner] GMAP
Photo by Matthew Morettini
November 19, 2009
LPC Will Not Reconsider Norah Jones Decision
November 17, 2009
StreetLevel: Gardening Supply Store Opening on Hicks
A gardening supply store called Brooklyn Farms is coming to the corner of Hicks and Degraw. A neighbor says workers have been busy fixing the space up and that it's slated to open soon. GMAP
Latest Restaurant Additions
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Bridgeview Diner
added February 9, 2010 12:00 PM in Bay Ridge -
222 Franklin Street
added February 8, 2010 12:00 PM in Greenpoint -
La Petite Provence
added February 5, 2010 12:00 PM in Carroll Gardens -
Purple Yam
added February 4, 2010 12:00 PM in Ditmas Park -
Kasia's Restaurant
added February 3, 2010 12:00 PM in Williamsburg -
myThai
added February 2, 2010 12:00 PM in Bay Ridge -
Vinnie's Pizzeria
added February 1, 2010 12:00 PM in Greenpoint, Williamsburg -
Vesuvio
added January 29, 2010 12:00 PM in Bay Ridge -
Sue Perette
added January 28, 2010 12:00 PM in Carroll Gardens -
Radegast Hall & Biergarten
added January 27, 2010 12:00 PM in Williamsburg