Brownstoner is Brooklyn's most read
website about real estate, renovation
and neighborhood news. Read More»
House of the Day: 81 2nd Street
If you don’t need a lot of interior historic detail to be happy, this 1,704-square-foot three-story, two-family house gets you into Carroll Gardens for not a lot of scratch. (The listing puts it at 1,800 square feet; PropertyShark says it’s 1,704.) The ask is $1,400,000. Do you think it’s a good price for the amount of space?
81 2nd Street [Florenza LoVerme] GMAP P*Shark
05/13/2013 1:30 PM
Comment
Open House Picks
Boerum Hill
230 Bergen Street
Corcoran
Sunday, 2:00-3:30
$2,800,000
GMAP P*Shark
Carroll Gardens
12 3rd Place
Realty Collective
Saturday, 1:00-3:00
$1,799,000
GMAP P*Shark
Ditmas Park
271 Stratford Road
Brooklyn Hearth Realty
Sunday, 2:00-4:00
$1,645,000
GMAP P*Shark
Bed Stuy
16 Stuyvesant Avenue
Douglas Elliman
Saturday, 12:00-2:00; Sunday, 2:00-4:00
$625,000
GMAP P*Shark
05/10/2013 1:06 PM
Comment
Open Houses Tonight in Brooklyn
Even though it’s a Wednesday, there are several open houses going on tonight. Below are listings from the Marketplace (complete with their verbatim broker babble) that will be opening their doors open later tonight.
(more…)
05/08/2013 10:44 AM
Comment
Residents Object to EPA’s Gowanus Cleanup Plan
The New York Times yesterday took a look at the controversy over just how to rid the Gowanus Canal of its toxic sludge. If you’ve been following along, none of this will be news to you, but in brief: One group opposes the plan to shut down the Double D swimming pool to locate an overflow tank underneath it, while others don’t want the toxic sludge processed in Red Hook or encased in cement and used as landfill in Red Hook. The paper didn’t mention a new group that has formed to champion local processing on the grounds that it might bring jobs to Red Hook. In any case, the EPA has repeatedly said it’s open to shipping the toxic sludge out of state for processing, a more expensive remedy.
Neighbors Resist a Plan to Clean a Toxic Canal [NY Times]
05/06/2013 9:45 AM
Comment
Restaurant, Bakery Back on Track for 250 Smith Street?
Work has resumed and permits have been renewed at a trio of long-shuttered storefronts at 250-254 Smith Street, Pardon Me For Asking reported. Just weeks ago, the buildings received X’s from the Fire Department warning of structural damage inside, said Carroll Gardens Patch. All three buildings were emptied for construction about seven years ago, which was then halted by the DOB for lack of permits. The stores have been empty ever since, according to PMFA. In April of 2011, permits were issued for the owner to convert the first floor and cellar at No. 250 into a bakery and restaurant, as we reported at the time.
New Permits (and Hope?) for 250 and 252 Smith Street? [PMFA]
Bakery Planned for 250 Smith Street? [Brownstoner] GMAP
Photo by Nicholas Strini for PropertyShark
05/03/2013 2:00 PM
Comment
Open House Picks
Park Slope
208 8th Avenue
Douglas Elliman
Sunday, 12:00-1:00
$3,150,000
GMAP P*Shark
Carroll Gardens
455 Sackett Street
Corcoran
Sunday, 4:00-5:00
$2,995,000
GMAP P*Shark
East Williamsburg
47 Orient Avenue
Corcoran
Sunday, 2:30-4:00
$1,799,000
GMAP P*Shark
Bed Stuy
687 Monroe Street
Bedford Brownstone Realty
Sunday, 1:00-4:00
$869,000
GMAP P*Shark
05/03/2013 1:03 PM
Comment
Another New Townhouse Development Is in the Works
It seems brand new row houses in a traditional style are becoming a trend in brownstone Brooklyn! Pardon Me For Asking spotted the above rendering for four four-story townhouses on a former parking lot on Degraw Street, between Hoyt and Bond streets. The developers are H Holding Group. As PMFA notes, there’s no ETA for construction or word yet on whether they will be one-family homes or multi-unit condos. From the sound of the addresses, though, perhaps they are single family houses. Anybody got more intel on this one? Other recent townhouse developments nearby are Nine Townhouses on State Street and the Pacific Street townhouses.
Four New Townhouses in the Works for Degraw Street [PMFA] GMAP
05/03/2013 10:00 AM
Comment
Gowanus Cleanup Plan Uncovers Nasty Stuff
Remember the bizarre-seeming proposal by cement manufacturer John Quadrozzi to encase poisonous sludge from the Gowanus Canal in lumps of concrete and then use this as landfill to expand the size of one of his Red Hook shipping docks? Well, this idea was adopted by the Environmental Protection Agency as part of its official plan to clean up the Gowanus Canal, and now the proposal is pitting residents of different neighborhoods against each other, Gothamist reported. “The Gowanus Canal runs through Carroll Gardens,” shouted third-generation Red Hook resident Brian Melton at a recent EPA meeting at the South Brooklyn Community High School. “Put the stuff there!” A group called NoToxicRedHook has formed to fight the Red Hook portion of the EPA’s plan. ”We do not want toxic wastewater processed in our neighborhood,” said group co-founder Carly Yates. Meanwhile, supporter Marlene Donnelly, an environmental activist who owns a house near the canal in Carroll Gardens, said she believes the opposition to the Red Hook part of the cleanup plan is “an orchestrated campaign to discredit the Superfund” by developers, the City, and National Grid. A resident of Red Hook said she thought the plan to remove toxic chemicals from wealthier areas and put them in Red Hook had a “race aspect.”
Environmental Racism? Toxic Gowanus Sludge Is Heading for Red Hook [Gothamist]
Photo by wallyg
04/29/2013 10:30 AM
Comment
The Smith and 9th Street Station Is Finally Open!
Finally! After two years of reconstruction, the Smith and 9th Street subway station is up and running again. Marty Markowitz came out for the ribbon cutting, held at 11 am today. This subway station, the only one for residents of lower Carroll Gardens and Red Hook, is now sporting an expanded street-level control house, a new metal escalator enclosure, rehabilitated stairs and platforms, new lighting, closed-circuit television and a fancy PA system. After the jump, check out lots of photos and details of the new artwork gracing the station. It was all designed by artist Alyson Shotz, a Red Hook resident who was inspired by local maritime history. Above is pictured the art piece surrounding the entrance to the station, which is actually the highest station in New York City. The design is based on the design of a boat hull.
Ribbon cutting photo via Twitter (more…)
04/26/2013 2:00 PM
Comment
$3M-Plus Townhouses Selling at Sackett Union
The townhouses are getting snatched up at Sackett Union, now that all 32 condo units are spoken for. A sales rep reports that five of the 11 townhouses have already sold. The homes range from a five-bedroom asking $3,300,000 to a six-bedroom priced at $4,025,000. You can view floor plans of the remaining seven townhouses at the developer’s website and check out renderings here. The condos, priced from $1,105,000 to $3,100,000, sold out in February. As you can see, the facade on the condo portion of the building is almost complete. Buyers are expected to be able to occupy the development this fall.
Sackett Union Sells out, Plus New Townhouse Renderings [Brownstoner]
Renderings and Listings Appear for the Sackett Union [Brownstoner]
Sackett Union Condos Are Selling Fast [Brownstoner]
04/25/2013 11:30 AM
Comment
Inside Carroll Gardens Cafe Teaffee
About three weeks ago, two brothers opened up a cafe and tea room called, appropriately enough, Teaffee. The spot at 517 Court Street, on the corner of West 9th Street, serves over 80 varieties of loose-leaf teas in addition to unsweetened iced teas and Dallas Brothers coffee. Also available is merchandise for both tea and coffee drinkers. Teafee is experimenting with tea varieties and coffee types and is very responsive to any requests from patrons. The brothers got the idea for this hybrid cafe after a trip to Portland; they picked the lower end of Carroll Gardens to settle in because of the growth in the neighborhood and in anticipation of the Smith and 9th Street subway station reopening. (It’s happening this Friday!) Click through for lots of pictures of the interior… GMAP (more…)
04/23/2013 2:00 PM
Comment
Open House Picks
Carroll Gardens
123A 2nd Place
Realty Collective
Saturday, 1:00-3:00
$2,750,000
GMAP P*Shark
Clinton Hill
116 St. James Place
Corcoran
Sunday, 2:00-3:30
$2,400,000
GMAP P*Shark
Carroll Gardens
81 2nd Street
FSBO
Sunday, 2:00-4:00
$1,400,000
GMAP P*Shark
Kensington
106 East 8th Street
Douglas Elliman
Sunday, 1:30-3:00
$849,000
GMAP P*Shark
04/19/2013 1:00 PM
Comment
House of the Day: 274 Carroll Street
This single-family Carroll Gardens brownstone at 274 Carroll Street has retained most of its original grandeur, with 12-foot-high parlor ceilings, a wood burning fireplace, etched glass doors, moldings, and so on. There are at least four bedrooms and a deep front garden. The listing notes there are “additional kitchen facilities” in an “upstairs playroom,” but does not show them on the floor plan. How do you like it for $3,100,000?
274 Carroll Street [Brown Harris Stevens] GMAP P*Shark
04/17/2013 1:30 PM
Comment
Condo of the Day: 661 Carroll Street #1
This 1,700-square-foot brownstone duplex apartment at 661 Carroll Street in Carroll Gardens just hit the market with an eye-popping asking price of $1,575,000. It’s always hard to know what kind of discount to put on dug-out basements that have been converted into rec room space, but it doesn’t seem like there was much of discount at all in this case. The main living level has nice original floors and moldings, but some of the newer touches like the fireplace in a bedroom seem a little questionable. We wish the listing included some photos of the outdoor space. What do you make of it all?
661 Carroll Street #1 [Corcoran] GMAP P*Shark
04/15/2013 1:00 PM
Comment
Building of the Day: 440 Clinton Street
Brooklyn, one building at a time.
Name: John Rankin House, now F.G. Guido Funeral Home
Address: 440 Clinton Street
Cross Streets: Corner of Carroll Street
Neighborhood: Carroll Gardens
Year Built: 1839-1840
Architectural Style: Greek Revival
Architect: Unknown
Landmarked: Yes, individual landmark (1970), National Register of Historic Places (1978)
The story: In our densely packed city today, it’s hard to imagine that from the windows of this house, its owner, John Rankin, could look out and see the picturesque vista of the bay, with sailing ships entering the harbor. The house, at that time, sat alone amidst the fields and gentlemen farms of the area, a suburban retreat from the hustle and bustle of Manhattan commerce and trade.
John Rankin was a very successful and wealthy merchant, but we don’t know anything more about him, other than he had money and good taste. His house was constructed at a time when the Greek Revival style of architecture was favored as the choice for substantial houses like this. Carroll Gardens and Cobble Hill were considered Southern Brooklyn during this time, and were not very developed. The street grid had been established, but still ran around the estates of the other wealthy landowners who lived here. This was practically “the country” then, and this house was a country estate. (more…)
04/11/2013 3:30 PM
Comment
Looking Good at the Smith and 9th Street Subway Station
The reopening of the Smith and 9th Street subway station is less than two weeks away. Above, a photo from a reader of the almost-finished entrance. Last month the MTA announced that the station would reopen on April 22 after closing in 2011. Once it’s open, the $32.3 million restoration will boast new lighting, an enclosed escalator, and a 14-foot-tall mosaic.
Smith and 9th Streets Stop to Finally Open April 22 [Brownstoner]
Smith-9th Streets Station Closed Until April! [Brownstoner]
Bummer: Smith-9th Station Reopening Delayed [Brownstoner]
04/10/2013 10:30 AM
Comment
Rental of the Day: 84 3rd Place #1
Carroll Gardens is highly desirable these days, but this two-bedroom duplex has received some questionable “upgrades.” What is going on with that step down from the hall into the living room? We expect a sunken living room in a 1930s apartment, but not in a brownstone. The kitchen, shutter doors, and pineapple chandelier aren’t winning us over either. But this duplex has space for a family and a backyard. Think the ask of $6,500 a month will fly?
84 3rd Place #1 [Douglas Elliman] GMAP P*Shark
04/08/2013 12:30 PM
Comment
House of the Day: 86 3rd Place
This mid-19th century Italianate brownstone has a wood-burning fireplace, new kitchen, central air on two levels, and plenty of drool-worthy original details. It’s also on a desirable Place block with a deep front garden. On the downside, the single-family home is narrow at 12.5 feet, but has a center stair so rooms front and back run the full width of the house. Do you think the home is well priced at $2,750,000?
86 3rd Place [Brown Harris Stevens] GMAP P*Shark
04/03/2013 1:30 PM
Comment
Last Week’s Biggest Sales
1. PARK SLOPE $3,780,000
43 8th Avenue GMAP P*Shark
A brownstone listed for $3.8 million. As the listing says, “Built for Park Slope’s elite in the late nineteenth century, this small stretch of 8th Avenue is now home to an extraordinary, updated residence of classic proportions and museum quality detail. A 23′ wide classic brownstone, on a full 100′ lot, No. 43 affords the space and room size for gracious living.” Entered into contract after one month on the market. Deed recorded on 3/28/2013.
2. FORT GREENE $3,750,000
32 South Portland Avenue GMAP P*Shark
No listing for this two-family home. The Observer says this is one of the most expensive home sales in Fort Greene. The buyer is an indie production designer. Deed recorded on 3/26/2013.
3. PARK SLOPE $3,000,000
630 3rd Street GMAP P*Shark
A HOTD in November. We said: “The relatively late Arts & Crafts architecture makes this a fairly modern, open plan house, and it appears to be in move-in condition, both of which will suit a lot of buyers.” It was asking $3,350,000. Deed recorded on 3/27/2013.
4. WILLIAMSBURG $2,423,435
34 North 7th Street, PH2D GMAP P*Shark
A penthouse sale at The Edge. The listing’s been pulled for this one. Deed recorded on 3/25/2013.
5. CARROLL GARDENS $2,380,000
305A President Street GMAP P*Shark
An Open House Pick in January. The listing makes it seem like the interior needs a lot of work. Ask: $2,400,000. Deed recorded on 3/28/2013.
04/02/2013 11:30 AM
Comment
Floor Plan Available for 364 Union Street Conversion
Click to enlarge!
Floor plans are now available for the three-bedroom condo unit at 364 Union Street, a Carroll Gardens condo conversion now under construction. The building will consist of four three-bedroom units and and one garden duplex, with prices ranging from $1.15 to $1.6 million. Halstead will be marketing the development this spring, and the building will be ready for occupancy this winter. There’s currently a placeholder site up, but no renderings of units yet. The building is being renovated by East River Partners, a firm that buys up multifamilies in Park Slope and Carroll Gardens and converts them into small condo developments.
Brownstone Conversion Coming Soon to Carroll Gardens [Brownstoner] GMAP
03/27/2013 11:00 AM
Comment
bobmarvin
May 16, 2013 | 09:04 AM