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House of the Day: 488 13th Street
This two-family house at 488 13th Street just hit the market with an asking price of $2,695,000. The interiors are in great shape with lots of original detail and custom built-ins that will appeal to a traditionalist; there’s also a nice rear deck and modern bathroom. And the location on a park block ain’t too shabby either. The only question is whether, at just three stories, the house is big enough to pull off its asking price.
488 13th Street [Corcoran] GMAP P*Shark
05/16/2012 1:25 PM
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Co-op of the Day: 140 8th Avenue, #6E
This new co-op listing at 140 8th Avenue in Park Slope has great prewar bones and lots of natural light. Combined with its central Park Slope location and family size (three bedrooms), it’s bound to attract a lot of interest from buyers. We’re a little less jazzed by the recent renovation that created kind of an awkward foyer/dining/kitchen configuration, but we don’t think that’ll hurt the apartment’s chances. The asking price is $1,395,000.
140 8th Avenue, #6E [Brown Harris Stevens] GMAP P*Shark
05/16/2012 12:57 PM
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Co-op of the Day: 40 Prospect Park West, #6C
The sixth-floor co-op unit at 40 Prospect Park West just hit the market for $749,000 three years after selling for $650,000. It’s a nice, solid prewar apartment with nice views over the tree tops of the Prospect Park. The second bedroom looks more like an annexed breakfast nook but has good windows and is big enough for a small child. The kitchen looks newly renovated but not extravagantly so.
40 Prospect Park West, #6C [Douglas Elliman] GMAP P*Shark
05/15/2012 12:58 PM
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Shots of the Shiny New JJ Byrne Park
We finally made our way over to the newly renovated JJ Byrne Park, which opened this past Friday off Fifth Avenue in central Park Slope. The playground now boasts lots of waterworks, new playground equipment for younger kids, a seating area for adults, and new benches and plants. Some equipment features artwork relating to the Old Stone House. It’s all the culmination of about a year of renovation work. Click through for lots more pictures. GMAP (more…)
05/15/2012 12:00 PM
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Last Week’s Biggest Sales
1. PARK SLOPE $2,600,000
587 5th Street GMAP P*Shark
We liked this limestone home when it was HOTD back in September 2011. We said: “The parlor floor is gorgeous and the two-story extension results in a very generous layout. Only negative is the kitchen which feels a little tired. But if you can swing the $3,150,000 asking price, you can probably pony up another $100,000 to tune that up.” This house had been in the same family since the 40s! Entered into contract on 2/10/12; closed on 4/18/12; deed recorded on 5/9/2012.
2. COBBLE HILL $2,020,000
171 Warren Street GMAP P*Shark
Another HOTD pick. The house has charm, but the listing wasn’t showing many pictures. We felt it was “hard to weigh in with much confidence on the asking price of $2,500,000 but our gut’s telling us that, despite the great Cobble Hill location, the renovation price tag will be enough to make it tough sell at that number.” Guess someone fell in love with this house. Entered into contract on 2/2/12; closed on 4/26/12; deed recorded on 5/9/2012.
3. WILLIAMSBURG $1,985,587.50
22 North 6th Street, #27KL GMAP P*Shark
The listing was pulled on this Edge condo sale. Entered into contract on 2/24/12; closed on 4/11/12; deed recorded on 5/11/2012.
4. BOROUGH PARK $1,850,000
1644 52nd Street GMAP P*Shark
A 4,420-square-foot, three-family house. Entered into contract on 11/23/12; closed on 4/27/12; deed recorded on 5/10/2012.
5. CARROLL GARDENS $1,800,000
564 Henry Street GMAP P*Shark
This home was asking a hefty $2,300,000. We noted, “If the sellers, who’ve owned the four-story house for 35 years, had just left it alone it would probably be having more luck than it is now, but let’s just say that some of the interior design decisions they made are probably working against it.” Entered into contract on 1/30/12; closed on 4/24/12; deed recorded on 5/10/2012.
05/15/2012 11:30 AM
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A Modern Rehab in the South Slope
A reader sent us the picture at right of 605 6th Avenue, the very modern renovation of a multi-family Slope building. Our tipster noted that the renovation’s been going on for awhile now. One of the most interesting details? The siding of blue corrugated metal, which our tipster guesses to be aluminum or steel. Check out a close-up after the jump. GMAP P*Shark (more…)
05/14/2012 11:00 AM
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Open House Picks
Park Slope
33 Montgomery Place
Corcoran
Sunday, 1:00-3:00
$3,650,000
GMAP P*Shark
Park Slope
92 Garfield Place
Warren Lewis
Sunday, 11:30-1:00
$2,650,000
GMAP P*Shark
Boerum Hill
200 Wyckoff Street
Halstead
Saturday, 11:00-1:00
$1,600,000
GMAP P*Shark
Ditmas Park
241 Stratford Road
Brooklyn Hearth
Saturday, 12:00-1:30
$1,275,000
GMAP P*Shark
05/11/2012 1:05 PM
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The Insider: Nordic Edge in Park Slope
This is The Insider, Brownstoner’s every-Thursday look at a recent interior design/renovation project in the borough of Brooklyn. It’s written and produced by design journalist/blogger Cara Greenberg. who also writes The Outsider, Brownstoner’s new garden series, Sundays at 8AM.
SOMETIMES IT TAKES a view from the other side of the world to shake things up a little. In Brooklyn, with our wealth of historic architecture, interior design often veers toward the [yawn] traditional. In this 5-bedroom triplex, created from two apartments in a modern building, native Norwegians Anna Cappelen and Nina Wolff, founders of the SoHo-based design firm Curious Yellow, have introduced “a rock’n'roll aesthetic” to the proceedings, says Victoria Arnan-Fretheim, a designer in the four-woman shop. (The company’s name comes from a 1967 Swedish film that broke ground for its sexual candor.)
Their trademark blend of unusual materials, rich textures, and wide-ranging styles is evident. Romantic elements bump up against hard-edged ’70s, graphic patterns against all-white Scandinavian practicality. “We like to mix it up, cross borders, balance eras and idioms,” says Victoria Arnan-Fretheim, a designer in the four-woman shop (the fourth member of the team is Chloe Pollack-Robbins).
The architectural design, including a breakfast area with angled plywood walls, a mudroom fitted out with storage, and all other built-ins throughout, are the work of architect Ole Sondresen.
See and read more after the jump.
Photos: Margrethe Myhrer
05/10/2012 11:30 AM
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Building of the Day: 86-94 Garfield Place
Brooklyn, one building at a time.
Name: row houses
Address: 86-94 Garfield Place
Cross Streets: 5th and 6th Avenue
Neighborhood: Park Slope
Year Built: 1892
Architectural Style: Queen Anne transitioning into Renaissance Revival
Architect: Philemon Tillion
Other Buildings by Architect: Tillion & Son, Tillion & Tillion – Industrial Home for the Blind, Greenpoint Masonic Temple, both Greenpoint, Trinity Baptist Church, Crown Heights North
Landmarked: No, but should be.
The story: Brooklyn’s housing stock was mostly built on spec. This is pretty much common knowledge. Some of the builders and architects were simply adequate, some pretty good, and some had moments of true design greatness. Some firms and individuals worked a lot, and their names appear over and over in historic designation reports and here, in my BOTDs. And some show up once in a while, here and there, over the course of years, making you wonder what they were up to that we don’t know about. The Tillion’s were one of those firms. (more…)
05/09/2012 3:30 PM
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Co-op of the Day: 25 Plaza Street West, #2H
This two-bedroom at 25 Plaza Street West in Park Slope may only be on the second floor, but it’s tree-level views are actually quite pleasant. At least at this time of year. As for the apartment itself, it’s quite big at 1,300 square feet and has two good-sized bedrooms and bathrooms to boot. And there’s a sunken living room if that’s your bag. Price: $1,080,000.
25 Plaza Street West, #2H [Corcoran] GMAP P*Shark
05/09/2012 12:56 PM
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Last Week’s Biggest Sales
1. PROSPECT HEIGHTS $5,100,000
1 Grand Army Plaza, #PH16S GMAP P*Shark
The most expensive unit to sell at OPP! And on of the most expensive condo sales in the entire borough. We wrote a post about it last week. The buyer was anonymous, but rumor was they already own a unit in the building. Entered into contract on 3/28/12; closed on 4/18/12; deed recorded on 5/2/2012.
2. PROSPECT HEIGHTS $4,900,000
1 Grand Army Plaza, #PH16N GMAP P*Shark
And the second most expensive sale in the building, and again one of the most expensive condo sales in Brooklyn. No word on this buyer either. The listing says this unit is 3,274 square feet. It was asking $4.9 million. Entered into contract on 3/28/12; closed on 4/18/12; deed recorded on 5/1/2012.
3. BROOKLYN HEIGHTS $4,075,000
142 Willow Street GMAP P*Shark
This looks like an internal sale, as no listing went online. Entered into contract on 2/8/12; closed on 4/18/12; deed recorded on 4/30/2012.
4. PARK SLOPE $3,410,000
833 President Street GMAP P*Shark
A HOTD in February. The ask was $3,450,000, but we said “It’s a nice place to be sure but ultimately we think the configuration–which includes the placement of the small kitchen on the second floor–is going to make that difficult.” Entered into contract on 3/9/12; closed on 4/18/12; deed recorded on 5/2/2012.
5. CLINTON HILL $3,000,000
410 Waverly Avenue GMAP P*Shark
This is a double-wide carriage house with plenty of exposed beams to show for itself! We thought, “Some of the bedrooms feel a little small given that the building itself is 6,400 square feet large but otherwise the $2,995,000 listing looks very nice.” Apparently others thought so, too. Entered into contract on 12/20/12; closed on 4/10/12; deed recorded on 5/1/2012.
05/08/2012 11:30 AM
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Closing Bell: The Slope Show
We had a knee-jerk, “Wow, this is really wrong reaction” to this business card when we saw it in a local coffee shop. Then we went to the website!
The Slope Show [Official Site]
05/07/2012 4:00 PM
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Co-op of the Day: 18 Lincoln Place, #4L
If you like ‘em long and skinny, you may have found your match. This FSBO at 18 Lincoln Place is over 60 feet long, if our math’s correct, and only about 13 feet across at its widest point. As for the finishes, the apartment is in nice shape but lacks any wow factor in either the modern or traditional sense. A big selling point is the private roof deck and the “additional roof rights” (which we’re not sure means the ability to build a penthouse or just expand the deck area). The asking price is $668,000 and the maintenance is $833, both of which seem reasonable.
18 Lincoln Place, #4L [FSBO] GMAP P*Shark
05/07/2012 12:57 PM
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Open House Picks
Park Slope
501 4th Street
Brown Harris Stevens
Sunday, 2:30-4:00
$2,995,000
GMAP P*Shark
Park Slope
409 8th Street
Corcoran
Sunday, 3:30-5:00
$2,995,000
GMAP P*Shark
Fort Greene
294 Cumberland Street
Brown Harris Stevens
Sunday, 12:00-1:30
$2,395,000
GMAP P*Shark
Bed Stuy
314 Jefferson Avenue
FSBO
Saturday, 1:00-4:00, Sunday, 1:00-4:00
$1,500,000
GMAP P*Shark
05/04/2012 1:04 PM
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Closing Bell: PS 321 Spring Auction Underway
Yesterday the PS 321 Spring Auction went live with over 400 products, events and gift certificates. Bidding will last through May 16th. Here are a few auction highlights: Rock-climbing by the Gowanus, a month of drum lessons, a pair of VIP tickets to The Colbert Report, an overnight trip to the American Museum of Natural History, lots of restaurant gift certificates, and tickets to Annie the Musical. All proceeds go toward the PS 321 students. Bid here!
05/02/2012 4:00 PM
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Congregation Beth Elohim Sanctuary Vies for PIP Grant
Since the announcement of the Partners in Preservation Grant, which will go to the four NYC projects that receive the most votes, Park Slope’s Congregation Beth Elohim, a nominated project, is stepping up its game. CBE is asking for a grant for a comprehensive repair/restoration of the roof, parapets, dome, and stained glass in the main sanctuary. They’ve posted some pictures of the windows in the current state on Facebook. As part of CBE’s participation in the contest, there will be an open house this weekend. The architects Henry Grosman and Babak Bryan are creating an art installation in the sanctuary that will also be a musical instrument. There will also be about a dozen musical acts from all over Brooklyn, and students in the synagogue’s many children’s programs will be invited to play the installation as well. It’ll be this Sunday, May 6th, from 2-5 pm. Competition is getting fierce! The top two nominees so far are the Brooklyn Public Library and the Congregation Beth Elohim. Vote for your favorite project right here.
Vote to Preserve NYC Historic Places [Brownstoner]
05/02/2012 10:30 AM
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Delays for the Flatbush Avenue Streetscape Project
Looks like the Flatbush Avenue Capital Streetscape project, first presented by the DOT in 2010 but not heard much of since then, has been delayed while waiting for approval from the Public Design Commission. (Sound familiar?) According to an email from the North Flatbush Avenue BID, the PDC first considered the project last April and requested minor changes. The proposal is expected to go back to the PDC before the end of this month. You can view the scope of work here; it includes major upgrades for all the Flatbush Avenue “triangles” at at 6th, 7th and 8th avenues, as well as improved crossings, more open space, more trees and plants, and more cafe tables and chairs. The next meeting on the matter with the DOT and the North Flatbush Avenue BID is scheduled for Wednesday June 6th from 6:30pm to 8:30pm.
Flatbush Triangles To Get Made Over [Brownstoner]
05/02/2012 9:30 AM
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House of the Day: 609 6th Street
As we reported at the time, 609 6th Street sold back in 2006 for $2,225,000. Now the lovely limestone house is back on the market and is asking $2,795,000. Given all the beautiful original detail and how hot the market is right now, this seems quite achievable to us. You?
609 6th Street [Brown Harris Stevens] GMAP P*Shark
05/01/2012 1:25 PM
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Co-op of the Day: 195 Garfield Place, #1O
This new listing at 195 Garfield Place looks like a pretty good bang for the buck. It’s two good-sized bedrooms, and open kitchen/dining/living space and lots of windows. (Floorplan here.) The only downside? It’s on the ground-floor facing the street. Do you think $699,000 is a reasonable price for this?
195 Garfield Place, #1O [Corcoran] GMAP P*Shark
05/01/2012 12:54 PM
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Hooters in Park Slope? Residents Say ‘Fuggedaboutit!’
Well now! “A move by Hooters to open near the new Nets arena has gone bust so far — but brownstone Brooklyn is melting down at the very thought of the risque restaurant invading their neighborhood. Hooters reps have been trolling through the stroller-friendly neighborhoods of Prospect Heights and Park Slope for a possible storefront — but local moms say they are ready for battle.” So begins a Daily News story about how Hooters, which has three other outposts in the city but none in Brooklyn, has been on the hunt for a space to open in Park Slope or Prospect Heights, near Barclays Center. The North Flatbush Business Improvement District says Hooters ain’t gonna happen in the ‘hood. But let’s have some more quotes from Park Slope residents! “Phoebe McGraw, 62 — who has lived on Bergen St. for more than four decades — described the eatery as ‘trash traffic.’ ‘From here they’ll go to strip joints,’ she said. ‘It’s heartbreaking. They’re destroying something special.’”
BOUNCED! Brooklyn Folks Around Nets’ New Home Say Bra Humbug to Hooters [NY Daily News]
Photo by Elitist Czar
05/01/2012 11:00 AM
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panyl
May 21, 2012 | 02:16 PM