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House of the Day: 930 President Street
This Park Slope brownstone is lavish and large, with three floor-through apartments over a 2,700-square-foot owner’s duplex. The triple parlors have 12 foot ceilings, 10-foot-tall fireplace mantles, and a second staircase going down to the garden floor, plus oodles of Victorian detail such as a built-in china cabinet, inlaid and parquet floors and elaborate wood work, including oak panelling and a screen. The house is close to the park too. How do you like it and the ask of $5,800,000?
930 President Street [Betancourt] GMAP P*Shark
05/21/2013 1:30 PM
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Co-op of the Day: 401 8th Avenue, #62
We love how open the living and dining spaces feel in this new listing at 401 8th Avenue in Park Slope. The three-bedroom co-op has 1,600 square feet of space, including a recently renovated kitchen and two full baths. The monthly maintenance is $1,136 and the asking price is $1,400,000. Thoughts?
401 8th Avenue, #62 [Corcoran] GMAP P*Shark
05/21/2013 12:57 PM
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Last Week’s Biggest Sales
1. FORT GREENE $1,930,000
256 Adelphi Street GMAP P*Shark
A pre-Civil War three-story home. Here’s the old listing. It hit the market in March for $1,750,000, then went up to $1,800,000 later that month. Deed recorded on 5/15/2013.
2. PARK SLOPE $1,650,000
309 Third Street, #1J GMAP P*Shark
A two bed, two-and-a-half bath condo unit in a newish Park Slope build. It sold for $968,857 back in 2009 and was listed for $1,650,000 this February. Deed recorded on 5/14/2013.
3. CARROLL GARDENS $1,650,000
34 Second Place, #1 GMAP P*Shark
A duplex condo unit in a Carroll Gardens brownstone. It hit the market in January for $1,650,000 and entered contract less than a month later. Deed recorded on 5/16/2013.
4. DITMAS PARK $1,575,000
1717 Ditmas Avenue GMAP P*Shark
Here’s the listing for this impressive home, which is listed as a one- to three-family with a store or office space. It was asking $1,595,000.Deed recorded on 5/13/2013.
5. WILLIAMSBURG $1,513,400
60 Broadway, #9G GMAP P*Shark
A two-bedroom unit at the Gretsch building with a tenant in place until next year. (According to the listing, the rent brings in $6,500 per month.) It was listed in November for $1,500,000. Deed recorded on 5/13/2013.
05/21/2013 11:30 AM
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House of the Day: 98 6th Avenue
Of this Park Slope brownstone’s many stunning features, the best might just be the garage with parking for four cars. It also has an owner’s duplex with a nicely redone kitchen, a pretty bay window on the side, and a deck. Above are three floor-through apartments with three bedrooms each. The back wall of the building, the boiler, and the roof are new. It will be delivered vacant, according to the listing. How do you like the house and the ask of $3,300,000?
98 6th Avenue [Corcoran] GMAP P*Shark
05/20/2013 1:30 PM
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Open House Picks
Prospect Heights
204 Park Place
Donawald Realty, Inc
Sunday, 12:00-2:00
$3,900,000
GMAP P*Shark
Boerum Hill
442 State Street
Brown Harris Stevens
Sunday, 12:00-1:30
$3,500,000
GMAP P*Shark
Park Slope
98 6th Avenue
Corcoran
Sunday, 2:00-4:00
$3,300,000
GMAP P*Shark
Williamsburg
267 Ainslie Street
Aptsandlofts.com
Sunday, 12:00-2:00
$1,595,000
GMAP P*Shark
05/17/2013 1:04 PM
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Residential Tower Going Into 4th Avenue Space?
DNAinfo has a few more details on the story we broke yesterday about the huge development slated for the corner of 4th Avenue and 11th Street. Unsurprisingly, it will be a residential high rise, according to one of the homeowners whose house is one of five, above, slated to be demolished to make way for the build. But JBS Project Management, which is managing the project, had no comment. Interestingly, it seems the developer picked up the large corner lot first, then approached each homeowner to sell. DNAinfo profiles one holdout, 90-year-old Lillian Striano, who initially didn’t want to leave her home of 43 years, until her son convinced her she wouldn’t want to live next door to all the construction noise and dirt. As we reported yesterday, most of the homeowners got just under a million for each of their properties, except for 239 11th Street, which cost the developers $2,500,000. Striano, whose sale has not yet hit public records, said she can’t afford to buy another property in the area and is moving to Staten Island.
90-Year-Old Widow Last to Move out at 4th Avenue Development Site [DNAinfo]
05/17/2013 9:15 AM
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Demo for Nine Buildings on 4th Avenue and 11th Street
Something huge is brewing on the west side of 4th Avenue between 10th and 11th streets. A few tipsters wrote in to say that the structure once housing Cafe 454 was demolished (the cafe closed in late February) and it turns out demolition is in store for all the buildings, residential and commercial, on that corner. The Cafe 454 building is actually on the same lot as the residential building on the corner, 243 11th Street. The development group Fourth Eleventh Development, LLC picked up the lot this December for $5,053,000. The sale also included the old Urban Spaces storefront at 472 4th Avenue and the laundromat at 470 4th Avenue. The DOB approved demo permits for those two commercial buildings as well. What’s surprising is that five more townhouses along 11th Street will be demolished. The DOB approved demo permits for 241 11th Street (which cost the developers $999,000), for 239 11th Street ($2,500,000), for 237 11th Street ($999,000), for 235 11th Street (which shows no recent sale), and 233 11th Street (also $999,000). We also hear that at least three of those townhouses appear to be already vacant. You can click through to see an outline of the lot, and of all the townhouses set to be demolished. Information behind the development LLC is scarce and they have not filed any new building permits yet, leaving the scale of the new development unknown. There’s about 120 feet of frontage on 4th Avenue and a little more than 100 feet of frontage along 11th Street. The current buildings are built up to a floor area ratio of around 1; the current zoning allows a building with a FAR as large as 6. Have any details on this big, soon-to-be-empty lot? Send them to the tipline… (more…)
05/16/2013 2:40 PM
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Ideya Soho Is Moving to Prospect Heights
Ideya Latin Bistro, formerly located in SoHo, is opening a new location at the old Carlton Park space, on the corner of Park Place and Flatbush Avenue. Dubbed Ideya Brooklyn, it will open by mid-June, the owner estimates. She says you can expect the same menu as in SoHo with some tweaks — the original chef will be cooking at the new spot. There will be an emphasis on Caribbean food such as jerk, salt cod, and curry dishes. The restaurant is also known for its mojitos, which will be served from the restaurant bar. Ideya just received approval from the community board and is working on cosmetic changes at the new space. Nice addition for the summertime! GMAP
05/16/2013 2:00 PM
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House of the Day: 267 6th Avenue
Do a lot of entertaining? Need a house with a 90-foot-long ballroom, billiard room, bowling alley, and lounge with a 15-foot-long cocktail bar? Look no further. Built in the 1870s, this Park Slope townhouse was used by the Swedish American Athletic Club from about 1912 to 1970. Now it is set up as a triplex over a three-bedroom rental. An open house is scheduled for Sunday, May 19. How do you like the property, and the ask of $6,500,000?
267 6th Avenue [Halstead] GMAP P*Shark
05/16/2013 1:30 PM
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Park Slope Conversion Finished
The conversion at 392 Dean Street that we have been following is all done, an open house was held on Mother’s Day, and photographs of the interior are now available and posted on the listing. Even though the townhouse is basically a brand-new build on an old foundation, the exterior and interior details such as the doors, moldings, windows, and salvage fireplaces are historically appropriate for this mid-19th century dwelling and its neighbors. The kitchens and baths are more modern in style and, as noted before, have book-end matched walnut and lacquer cabinets, and Carrara marble tile. Or, as developer Seth Brown put it, the unit for sale for $1,995,000 is a “mix of new and old, with a traditional parlor and working fireplace in keeping with a 150-year-old house, but with a very modern kitchen, home automation, ultra-efficient mechanicals, etc.” We think the whole thing turned out very well. What’s your opinion?
05/16/2013 11:00 AM
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Girl Scouts Make Video to Save Pacific Library
Girl Scout Troop 2657 made this video to save the Pacific Street Library, a property the Brooklyn Public Library plans to sell off. They also started a petition in April, which they read at a press conference on the steps of City Hall. The 17-member troop started advocating for this library because they use its community meeting room every Wednesday. BPL plans call for moving the branch into the new Two Trees development off Fulton Street. The BPL is facing budget cuts and said it cannot afford the $11 million renovation that the building requires. (The BPL also recently put this pop up on their website for Brooklynites to speak out against coming budget cuts.) The proceeds from the building sale would go toward the new branch at the Two Trees site.
05/15/2013 12:00 PM
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Citi Bike Moves Rack in Heights
The city has relocated one Citi Bike docking station in Brooklyn Heights after residents of nearby co-op building 60 Remsen Street complained. The station, initially on Remsen Street just east of Hicks, was moved to Hicks Street just north of Remsen, according to The New York Daily News. (That’s the new station pictured at right.) Officials did not give a specific reason for the move, although the Daily News heard from a source that the docking station “logistically didn’t fit… [The street] was too small for when the bikes were going to come in.” An informed source tells us that the docking location did not conform to DOT’s own standards for pedestrian clearance. Nearby co-op building 130 Clinton Street sued the city for a docking station placed in front of the building; there’s no word whether or not that station will be moved as well. Citi Bike officially launches May 27. DNAinfo noted this morning that Park Slope just got its first docking station, on the corner of Dean Street and 4th Avenue.
Another CitiBike Rack Bites the Dust in Brooklyn Heights [NY Daily News]
Park Slope Gets First Citi Bike Station [DNAinfo]
Photo by Reuven Blau for NY Daily News
05/15/2013 10:00 AM
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Rental of the Day: 49 Montgomery Place
Not much to complain about when it comes to this fully furnished townhouse rental at 49 Montgomery Place, in Park Slope. It’s a beautiful house a half block from the park. Along with many well-kept historic details, it also comes with a restored antique billiards table. The home is available this August and only available to rent for a year. The monthly cost is $13,500.
49 Montgomery Place [Brown Harris Stevens] GMAP P*Shark
05/14/2013 12:30 PM
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Last Week’s Biggest Sales
1. BOERUM HILL $3,200,000
118 Wyckoff Street GMAP P*Shark
Here’s the listing for this Boerum Hill one family, which was owned by Corcoran senior vice president Deborah Rieders. According to the Real Deal, Rieders purchased the home for $999,000 in 2005. It was asking $3,200,000. Deed recorded on 5/10/2013.
2. PARK SLOPE $2,800,000
592 3rd Street GMAP P*Shark
Here’s the old listing for this one family. It was listed in December 2012 for $2,850,000 and entered contract by March. Deed recorded on 5/8/2013.
3. FORT GREENE $2,775,000
11A South Elliott Place GMAP P*Shark
An Open House Pick in March. It was listed in February for $2,750,000. The home’s a looker, check out the old listing here. Deed recorded on 5/9/2013.
4. WILLIAMSBURG $2,316,518.75
20 Bayard Street, PHB GMAP P*Shark
Here’s the listing for this three bed, two-and-a-half bath condo unit. It was listed in January for $2,250,000. The new owner got a parking space in the deal. Deed recorded on 5/7/2013.
5. COBBLE HILL $2,150,000
253 Pacific Street, #1 GMAP P*Shark
This is the last unit to sell at the modern build 253 Pacific Street. It went right at ask. The other two units sold for $2,495,528 and $2,647,450. Deed recorded on 5/7/2013.
05/14/2013 11:30 AM
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4th Avenue/9th Street Station Work Almost Done
Apparently this is the season of good subway news. According to a notice from Community Board Six the refurbishment of the 4th Avenue/9th Street subway station will be completed this month. The two year project included exterior brick work, replacement of lighting and restoration of entrance globes and entrance doors. The MTA also promised to reopen the east side entrance to the station, which they did in February of last year. Perhaps the biggest news is that commercial tenants will occupy the storefront spaces under the elevated station within a matter of months. No word on what kind of tenants are coming. Community Board Six also announced that the remaining work on the $275.5 million Culver Viaduct reconstruction project should be finished by the end of the year.
More Details Emerge on 4th Ave. Subway Reno [Brownstoner]
05/09/2013 11:00 AM
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Serious Flooding in Gowanus Today
All the rain today brought flooding into Gowanus and parts of the Slope. Weather.com posted photos of severe flooding at Fourth Avenue and Carroll Street (pictured above) and 9th Street between 2nd and Smith. South Slope News nabbed photos of crazy flooding on 4th Avenue between President and Garfield and minor flooding along 7th Avenue. What’s the situation over in Gowanus now, since the rain’s calmed down a bit?
Twitter photo via Weather.com
05/08/2013 2:40 PM
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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.
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05/08/2013 10:44 AM
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Building of the Day: 99-109 Berkeley Place
Brooklyn, one building at a time.
Name: Flats buildings
Address: 99-109 Berkeley Place
Cross Streets: Sixth and Seventh Avenues
Neighborhood: Park Slope
Year Built: 1888-89
Architectural Style: Romanesque Revival
Architect: C.P.H. Gilbert
Other Work by Architect: In Brooklyn, most of Montgomery Place, as well as houses on Carroll between 8th and Prospect Park West, Adams house on Carroll and 8th, and others in Park Slope.
Landmarked: Yes, part of Park Slope HD (1973)
The story: According to the Brooklyn Eagle in 1889, “it was freely predicted that flats would soon forfeit popular favor, but the continual additions to their number seem to contradict the theory.” In 1888, architect C.P.H. Gilbert was hired to design six adjoining flats buildings in Park Slope for developer S. F. Hill. Gilbert was only twenty-seven at the time, but was already in demand. The same year he designed this building, he wowed the gentry with his design of the Adams House, on Carroll and Eighth Avenue. His career would take off in Brooklyn, with his commissions for the fine houses on Montgomery Place, Carroll Street and elsewhere to soon follow. It’s a good thing he got these flats buildings out of the way first, because they are gems, as well, and should be as appreciated as his fine houses.
One look at these flats buildings, and you know someone very good, who knew the style backwards and forwards, was responsible for these buildings. Brooklyn was graced with some amazing Romanesque Revival architects, and Gilbert was certainly one of the best. He began by pairing up the six buildings, creating large arched entryways that spanned two buildings. The six buildings now look like three very large and expensive manors. (more…)
05/07/2013 3:30 PM
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Last Week’s Biggest Sales
1. PARK SLOPE $3,750,000
174 Garfield Place GMAP P*Shark
A developer totally renovated this crumbling Park Slope brownstone last year. They paid $975,000 for the home in 2010. It was on the market for a decent while priced at $3,990,000. Not a bad flip at all. Deed recorded on 5/3/2013.
2. GRAVESEND $3,350,000
2228 East 4th Street GMAP P*Shark
No details about this one-family home. Deed recorded on 4/29/2013.
3. FORT GREENE $2,750,00
81 Willoughby Avenue GMAP P*Shark
A HOTD this February. We noted, “Except for the new wood floors on the parlor floor, this two-family house at 81 Willoughby Avenue looks chock full of old-timey goodness along with the right touches of modernization. The corner house also has an unusually large front yard for Fort Greene as well as a side yard and side exposure.” It was asking $2,250,000. Deed recorded on 5/3/2013.
4. DUMBO $2,090,000
100 Jay Street, #28A GMAP P*Shark
Here’s the old listing for the three bed/two-and-a-half bath condo at the J condo building. It last sold in 2007 for $1,507,090, then was listed early this year for $2,100,000. Deed recorded on 5/2/2013.
5. PROSPECT HEIGHTS $1,815,000
181 Park Place GMAP P*Shark
A four-story, multi-family building right off Flatbush Avenue. It was listed in May of last year for $2,000,000. Deed recorded on 5/1/2013.
05/07/2013 11:30 AM
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The Real Estate-Schools Connection
Over the weekend, the Times examined the relationship between real estate and school zone. Securing a place at a good public school has become more difficult recently, according to the paper; overcrowding and rezoning mean parents can’t count on admittance to certain schools based on where they live. (The recent rezoning of Park Slope’s P.S. 321, above, was cited as a prime example.) The paper offers several methods of coping: Rent until a child is admitted, then move; find an as-yet-undiscovered but good school; move into a developing neighborhood and either send the kids to a school several neighborhoods over or wait or help the local schools to change; move into cheaper housing and send the kids to private. The story related the experience of an editor and music booker who moved from a rental in Prospect Heights to buy an apartment in Crown Heights and were pleasantly surprised by the quality of a new school in their zone. Have any of these methods worked for you?
The Get-Into-School Card [NY Times]
Photo by DNAinfo
05/06/2013 9:00 AM
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davfgreene
May 21, 2013 | 09:56 AM