Fort Greene House Sells in 4 Weeks, May Break Record!

We’re hearing from sources in the brokerage community that Fort Greene’s 31 South Elliott Place, which was a House of the Day in late February, went into contract in four weeks and, furthermore, it may be the highest price ever paid for a townhouse in Fort Greene under 20-feet wide. Here’s what we had to say about the “handsome house,” which was asking $2,375,000, in our HOTD writeup on it: “After buying this 17-foot-wide brownstone at 31 South Elliott Place in 2006 for $1,700,000, the new owner proceeded to do a head-to-toe renovation that preserved the house’s original details while giving a modern makeover to the kitchen and bathrooms.”
House of the Day: 31 South Elliott Place [Brownstoner]
31 South Elliott Place [Rutenberg Realty] GMAP
Condos for Sale at Vinegar Hill’s 185 York

The condo at 185 York Street, a small development across the street from the Farragut Houses, quietly hit the market very recently. Streeteasy lists all 17 studio, one- and two-bedrooms priced from $375,000 to $845,000. You can see some interior images after the jump. Wonder if this development will have more luck than nearby 109 Gold Street, which ultimately sold to another developer after trying its luck with individual condo sales. This particular building at 185 York has been under construction since 2009.
185 York Nearing Completion [Brownstoner]
Development Watch: 185 York Street [Brownstoner] GMAP P*Shark
Development Watch: 185 York Street [Brownstoner] DOB (more…)
Prospect Heights Warehouse Sells, May Go Residential

A Prospect Heights warehouse at 363-371 Prospect Place, between Underhill and Washington avenues, sold to a Manhattan-based developer for $4.2 million. The warehouse has frontage on both Prospect Place and St. Marks Avenue. According to Property Shark, the lot is 16,000 square feet and the building 30,000 square feet. In December 2011, DOB disapproved plans for a residential conversion and two-story addition to the existing building, with 44 proposed units. The building has been under contract since June 2011 so those plans may still be in the cards. Click through to see a map of the building footprint. GMAP (more…)
Last Week’s Biggest Sales

1. PARK SLOPE $4,000,000
178 Garfield Place GMAP P*Shark
This is J. Crew Creative Director Jenna Lyon’s much-talked about Park Slope townhouse. As a HOTD, we noted: “Beautiful place, great location, nothing not to like, really, except maybe the price, which weighs in at a hefty $3,750,000. Who knows: It’s definitely the kind of place someone with dough could fall in love with and just have to have.” Entered into contract on 12/2/11; closed on 2/06/12; deed recorded on 3/26/2012.
2. DUMBO $3,000,000
30 Main Street, #11G GMAP P*Shark
A Condo of the Day in December: “This 2,500-square-foot corner loft in Dumbo’s Sweeney Building at 30 Main Street is pretty darn sweet and the owners know it, which is why they’ve floated a $3,100,000 asking price.” #11G was the most expensive on a per-square-foot basis than any of the four other units currently on the market in the building. According to the Real Deal, this unit was actually sold by Vince Clark, a musician and songwriter who purchased Jenna Lyons home above! Entered into contract on 2/6/12; closed on 3/22/12; deed recorded on 3/30/2012.
3. MANHATTAN BEACH $2,900,000
39 Exeter Street GMAP P*Shark
The listing says: “Huge open floor plan. Rooms could be used as is or divided. Beautiful EIK, top of the line SS appli, granite counters, tile back splash & floors, sliders to rear patio & yard.” The home was asking $2,950,000. Entered into contract on 1/1/12; closed on 3/15/12; deed recorded on 3/29/2012.
4. DUMBO $2,672,906.25
192 Water Street, #PH5 GMAP P*Shark
A three bed/two-and-a-half bath penthouse unit. Square footage: 2,470, asking price: $2,700,000. Entered into contract on 5/1/11; closed on 3/16/12; deed recorded on 3/30/2012.
5. DUMBO $2,494,712.50
192 Water Street, #PH4 GMAP P*Shark
Another three bed/two-and-a-half bath penhouse unit. Square footage: 2,808, asking price: $2,450,000. Entered into contract on 10/17/11; closed on 3/08/12; deed recorded on 3/29/2012.
Honorable Mentions
496 2nd Street, sold for $2,371,200.00
451 8th Street, sold for $2,300,000.00
Last Week’s Biggest Sales

1. GRAVESEND $2,728,000
400 Avenue U, #PH6E GMAP P*Shark
There wasn’t an exterior photo for this building on Property Shark and there also isn’t a listing on Streeteasy, but this sale is listed on ACRIS as a “single residential condo unit.” Entered into contract on 12/12/11; closed on 3/07/12; deed recorded on 3/23/2012.
2. PARK SLOPE $2,200,000
117 Lincoln Place GMAP P*Shark
As a HOTD, we thought this home was “in such nice shape that the asking price of $2,200,000 doesn’t seem aggressive given the prime location.” The only drawback noted was that the house is only 17 feet wide, but that obviously didn’t deter this buyer. Entered into contract on 11/14/11; closed on 2/09/12; deed recorded on 3/22/2012.
3. SHEEPSHEAD BAY $2,200,000
1930 East 14th Street GMAP P*Shark
A one/two family house with either a garage or vacant land. Sold at $684 per square foot. Entered into contract on 12/10/11; closed on 3/09/12; deed recorded on 3/21/2012.
4. DUMBO $1,832,850
192 Water Street, #2E GMAP P*Shark
One of the first units that’s closed at the new Dumbo condo building. This particular unit is a three bed/two-and-a-half bath. It’s ask was $1,795,000. Entered into contract on 1/30/12; closed on 3/02/12; deed recorded on 3/19/2012.
5. FORT GREENE $1,775,000
185 Lafayette Avenue GMAP P*Shark
No listing for this two-family home. Sold at $732 per square foot. Entered into contract on 10/31/11; closed on 3/05/12; deed recorded on 3/19/2012.
Troubled Vinegar Hill Condo 109 Gold Sells for $14.5M
There may yet be hope for the 33-unit Vinegar Hill condo building 109 Gold Street. The Real Deal reports that the Praedium Group, a real estate investment firm representing under-performing and undervalued assets, purchased the site for $14.5 million. This development saw its share of trouble from the get-go (most notably, the illegal demolition of an old church at the site in 2008). After that there was a switch in brokers that didn’t translate to closings, and the entire building was put up for sale late last year. Prices previously ranged from $319,000 up to $999,000. We’ll see how it fares on the market this time! Update: The Real Deal just posted a follow-up story saying the building will be turned into a rental and listings should pop up within a month, although asking rents aren’t being disclosed at the moment.
109 Gold Street sells to Praedium for $14.5M [The Real Deal]
109 Gold Developers Throw in the Towel [Brownstoner]
109 Gold: Ready for Move-ins, but are Buyers Biting? [Brownstoner] GMAP
109 Gold Officially on the Market [Brownstoner]
109 Gold Listings Trickle In [Brownstoner]
109 Gold Fully Glassed [Brownstoner]
109 Gold Gets Windows [Brownstoner]
Glacial Pace at 109 Gold [Brownstoner]
Catholic Church Sells Landmark Fort Greene Building
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn has sold off another one its holdings, 382 Clermont Avenue, which is on the corner of Clermont and Greene. The purchaser, a Manhattan-based firm that wasn’t named in the deed document, paid $5.84 million for the structure in a deal that was recorded in city records on Friday. Property Shark pegs the building as 28,350 square feet. The same buyer also purchased an empty, adjacent lot for $1.99 million. We can only assume that a residential conversion’s in the cards here. Here is the description of 382 Clermont from the LPC Fort Greene Historic District designation report: “The seven-story comer building is the Chancery of the Roman Catholic Dipcese of Brooklyn and was erected in 1930. The building is divided into three sections and is ornamented with decorative forms that are.basically Colonial Revival in feeling. The first two floors on both the Greene and Clermont Avenue facades are articulated by brick pilasters with stylized stone capitals that support a molded stone beltcourse. The rectangular first floor windows are recessed within shallow blind brick arches and are ornamented with bricks splayed lintels, splayed stone keystones and rectangular stone and blocks. On Greene Avenue the entrance way is enframed by a pair of fluted half columns with stylized Corinthian capitals supporting a broken segmental-arched pediment. The narrow Clermont Avenue entrance is ornamented with attenuated stone pilasters supporting a window enframement flanked by volute panels. A stone beltcourse separates the fifth and sixth floors, and a balustrade tops the building. The fifth and seventh floor windows are ornamented by splayed keystones. Brick quoins ornament the corners of the building.” GMAP
Sales Reach Halfway Point at Huge ENY Condo Conversion
It’s been years since we checked in at the sprawling East New York condo conversion MeadowWood at Gateway, but a press release just announced that the complex is half sold. According to the release, “MeadowWood at Gateway, located at 12205 Flatlands Avenue, has surpassed the ever-important 50 percent-sold milestone with 635 out of 1,152 condominium homes now sold or in contract. Fillmore Real Estate, the exclusive sales agent for MeadowWood at Gateway, attributes the success of this condominium development to the combination of a high quality product at surprisingly attractive prices – starting at $120,900 for the fully renovated, spacious studio to four bedroom homes for just over $300,000.” Before the conversion, the 19-building complex, known as the Fairfield Towers, housed rental units. An investment company purchased the buildings in 2006 and earmarked $40 million for their rehabilitation. Despite condo prices going up here in 2008, sales have remained steady during its almost-five years on the market.
Affordable Housing: A Bright Spot? [Brownstoner]
Sales Hummin’ at Huge East New York Conversion [Brownstoner]
Sales Begin at Brooklyn’s Biggest Condo Conversion [Brownstoner] GMAP
Photo from MeadowWood at Gateway site.
$1M+ Closings Recorded at Dumbo’s 192 Water Street
Last month, Dumbo condo building 192 Water Street sold out. This month, closings are coming through. According to StreetEasy, this 2,423-square-foot three bedroom sold for $1,832,850 (asking $1,795,000), this 2,423-square-foot two bedroom sold for $1,934,675 (asking $1,900,000) and this 2,483-square-foot two bedroom went for $1,960,131 (asking $1,995,000). Pretty strong numbers!
192 Water Street Listings [StreetEasy]
192 Water Street Sells Out [Brownstoner]
A Strong Sales Start for 192 Water Street [Brownstoner] GMAP
Last Week’s Biggest Sales
1. BROOKLYN HEIGHTS $3,507,871.25
360 Furman Street, #206 + #TI4 GMAP P*Shark
This is a combined unit, but we couldn’t find a previous listing. Entered into contract on 10/17/11; closed on 1/19/12; deed recorded on 3/16/2012.
2. MIDWOOD $3,100,000
984 East 8th Street GMAP P*Shark
A one-family home with 2,990 square feet. Entered into contract on 4/19/11; closed on 2/14/12; deed recorded on 3/12/2012.
3. CARROLL GARDENS $3,000,000
32 3rd Place GMAP P*Shark
A HOTD in September 2011. We noted, “The plethora of recessed lighting, non-period windows and lack of original flooring are downers for us, but the clearly someone has pumped a lot of dough into this place and it looks very comfortable, even luxurious.” Ask was $3,200,000. Entered into contract on 12/30/11; closed on 2/28/12; deed recorded on 3/12/2012.
4. PARK SLOPE $2,600,000
250 Garfield Place GMAP P*Shark
We loved this large, two-family home in the Slope. It was asking $2,750,000. Entered into contract on 11/28/11; closed on 2/17/12; deed recorded on 3/13/2012.
5. PARK SLOPE $2,450,000
395 6th Avenue GMAP P*Shark
The listing touts this as “a builder and designer’s personal home that is offered with all amenities.” It sold in 2006 for $1,200,000, then came to market this January for $1,995,000. It entered contract one month later. Entered into contract on 2/10/12; closed on 2/29/12; deed recorded on 3/12/2012.
Honorable Mentions:
239 Sackett Street, sold for $2,350,000.
298 State Street (HOTD), sold for $2,329,000.
192 Water Street, #4W, sold for $1,960,131.25.
PLG House Sells for $1.65 Million!
A reader got in touch to tout the strength of the Prospect Lefferts Gardens housing market these days. He mentioned 20 Midwood Street, shown above, which we featured as a House of the Day last month: The dreamy limestone sold quickly for $1.65 million after being listed for $1,780,000, which our reader says is the second-highest sale ever in the neighborhood, following the $1.665 million sale of 52 Midwood Street. In fact, he’s calling it the highest PLG sale in five years! Meanwhile, our tipster also notes that a House of the Day we featured a couple of years ago, 136 Hawthorne Street, is back on the market and asking $1,150,000. Back in ’09 it was listed for $995,000. As our tipster notes: “The house is turnkey and beautifully renovated, though a bit small. If it can get that price it’ll be a strong indicator for PLG outside the historic district.” All of this talk of gorgeous PLG real estate is making us eager for the neighborhood’s annual house tour, which should only be a few months away at this point.
House of the Day: 20 Midwood Street [Brownstoner] GMAP P*Shark
Clinton Hill’s 940 Fulton Street All Spoken For
Nine months after condos hit the market at 940 Fulton Street, a.k.a. The Fulton Street Lofts, the building has completely sold out and closing have begun. Aptsandlofts.com listed studios starting at $269,000 and one-bedrooms the started at $415,000. According to StreetEasy, there were no price bumps or cuts before units entered contract. Surprised these 12 units went so quickly?
940 Fulton Hits The Market [Brownstoner]
Gut Reno Time at 940 Fulton [Brownstoner] GMAP
Customize 580 Carlton Avenue for $2 Million
An eagle-eyed reader spotted this listing for the rundown wood-frame home in Prospect Heights at 580 Carlton Avenue, now on the market for $1,999,999. Turns out the house has its own website, too! Here’s what the owner promises: “This historical re-creation of one of the oldest homes built in the Prospect Heights Historical District will feature cedar clapboard, moldings, & windows inspired by the original fenestration resurrecting its 160 year old character. Pick all your own finishes including: kitchen cabinets, appliances, countertop and backsplash, floors, bathroom tile & fixtures, lighting design & fixtures, moldings and paint.” Construction should last until this October. What do you think? There’s a lot of work to be done to get this building back in shape. It previously sold for $480,000.
580 Carlton [Official Site]
Renovations Planned for 580 Carlton Avenue [Brownstoner]
Something’s Afoot at Dilapidated Prospect Heights Home [Brownstoner]
HOTD: 580 Carlton Avenue [Brownstoner] GMAP P*Shark
Last Week’s Biggest Sales
1. PARK SLOPE $3,100,000
129 Lincoln Place GMAP P*Shark
An Open House Pick we noted went into contract this January. The listing says: “Built in 1885 this magnificent 20′ wide brownstone is situated on a highly coveted 133′ lot which provides an incomparable 80′ garden. This jewel of a garden is a delight with seasonal plantings, stone walkways and is fully irrigated.” Ask: $3.3 million. Entered into contract on 1/3/12; closed on 2/29/12; deed recorded on 3/9/2012.
2. BROOKLYN HEIGHTS $2,275,000
9 College Place, #1E GMAP P*Shark
This is a three bed/three bath unit at the Love Lane Mews. It was listed for $2,965,000, then bumped up to $2,668,500 before entering contract. Entered into contract on 11/18/11; closed on 2/22/12; deed recorded on 3/9/2012.
3. WILLIAMSBURG $2,175,000
85 North 3rd Street, #302 + #303 GMAP P*Shark
A combined unit sale at Williamsburg’s Mill Building. Two bed/two bath, 2,911 square feet. The ask was $2.5 million. Entered into contract on 12/28/11; closed on 2/16/12; deed recorded on 3/7/2012.
4. CARROLL GARDENS $1,985,000
84 Woodhull Street GMAP P*Shark
An Open House Pick in October 2011. The listing says its configured as “a 1900 sq ft owners duplex with 2 large bedrooms, 2 full baths and a den.” It was asking $2.275 million. Entered into contract on 11/21/11; closed on 2/23/12; deed recorded on 3/7/2012.
5. WILLIAMSBURG $1,883,762.50
22 North 6th Street, #PH4F GMAP P*Shark
A sale at the Edge’s South Tower. No details on the unit itself. Entered into contract on 1/4/12; closed on 2/17/12; deed recorded on 3/9/2012.
Honorable mentions: Unit 7G sold at 1 Grand Army Plaza for $1,765,000.
Park Slope brownstone 371 6th Avenue sold for $1,750,000.
And OHP pick 411 8th Street sold for $1,610,000.
Another $2 Million Deal on Cambridge Place
Wow. After less than three weeks on the market, 91 Cambridge has gone into contract at “well over $2 million,” according to The Local, which spoke with Douglass Elliman broker Jerry Minsky about the deal. As you may recall, Minsky sold 87 Cambridge at the end of last year for $2,160,000. Number 91 had been asking $2,050,000. “It’s the $2 million block,” Minsky told the New York Times blog. “I made $4 million worth of sales in three months here.” Amazing. Does this say something larger about the desirability of houses in Clinton Hill in general or are these two architecturally distinctive houses exceptions to the rule?
Another $2M-Plus Sale Puts Cambridge Place on Brokers’ Map [The Local]
Clinton Hill Townhouse Fetches Near-Record $2.16M [TRD]
House of the Day: 91 Cambridge Place [Brownstoner]
40-Unit Clinton Hill Apartment Building Sells for $11.3M
Commercial brokerage Massey Knakal reports that the firm handled the sale of the multi-family building at 83 Clifton Place in Clinton Hill. The building, which is between Grand and Classon, has 40 apartments and was converted from a warehouse into affordable housing in 1999. Here’s how Massey is spinning the upside potential in a press release: “‘Onerous regulatory agreements associated with the property made this a complicated transaction and created a buyer pool of specific clientele. While the building faces an immediate substantial tax burden as the J-51 expires in a few years, the end result for the investor will be the opportunity to convert to condominiums,’ said Massey Knakal Director of Sales Stephen Palmese.” GMAP
392 St. Marks Avenue Sells for $3.6 Million
The development at 392 St. Marks Avenue, which has been stalled for several years, may finally be completed. A deed that just showed up in public records shows it sold for $3.6 million to a Brooklyn-based developer. A little work started up at the property last summer, but then it was was put up for auction in December. When we stopped by yesterday work had resumed, with some of the windows already installed. The Scarano-designed building is going to have 24 units.
Stalled Crown Heights Build Heading to Auction [Brownstoner]
Development Watch: 392 St. Marks Avenue [Brownstoner] GMAP
Last Week’s Biggest Sales
1. GRAVESEND $6,052,000
409 Avenue T GMAP P*Shark
A one-family, 2,780-sqaure-foot home. Oddly sold in May 2011 for $370,000, according to Streeteasy. Entered into contract on 1/18/12; closed on 2/10/12; deed recorded on 2/28/2012.
2. CARROLL GARDENS $2,325,000
122 Carroll Street GMAP P*Shark
A HOTD in October 2010. We wrote: “This house at 122 Carroll Street in Carroll Gardens just hit the market with the absurd asking price of $3,500,000. Clearly part of the reason for the big ask is that the owner recently spent some dough on a renovation either the pictures aren’t very good or the renovation itself doesn’t have much of a wow factor. Could this place even fetch $2 million?” The price dropped to $2,350,000 in October 2011. Entered into contract on 11/1/11; closed on 2/1/12; deed recorded on 2/29/2012.
3. COBBLE HILL $1,600,000
318 Sackett Street GMAP P*Shark
No listing for this three-family home. Entered into contract on 11/17/11; closed on 2/15/12; deed recorded on 3/1/2012.
4. GRAVESEND $1,500,000
2109 Ocean Parkway GMAP P*Shark
Here’s what the listing says: “Situated on beautiful Ocean Parkway, this well-maintained home sits on a 26.5×130 lot with a private multi-car driveway, as well as a detached garage.” Asking $1,695,000. Entered into contract on 12/8/11; closed on 2/13/12; deed recorded on 2/27/2012.
5. WINDSOR TERRACE $1,405,000
238 Windsor Place GMAP P*Shark
A HOTD way back in November 2009. We opined, “This two-family house at 238 Windsor Place in Windsor Terrace may have a slightly odd mix of old-school and 80s-contemporary aesthetics going on, but at its core it looks like a lovely old house and given that it’s got over 3,000 square feet of living space, the price tag of $1,125,000 looks reasonable to us as well.” Entered into contract on 12/2/11; closed on 2/9/12; deed recorded on 2/27/2012.
New Broker for 580 Carroll Street; 10 Units Left to Sell
A Corcoran sign has appeared in front of Park Slope condo building 580 Carroll Street, and it turns out the firm will be taking over sales at the building from Brown Harris Stevens. Corcoran broker Jessica Buchman says listings should reappear around April 1st. And although it looks like there’s only one unit left on StreetEasy, 10 units actually remain. When we checked in on how sales were going last April, four units had closed and six were in contract through Brown Harris Stevens. It seems that not all those contracts translated into closings since the Enrique Norten-designed building only has 17 units total.
10 Units Spoken for at 580 Carroll [Brownstoner]
Checking in On 580 Carroll [Brownstoner]
580 Carroll Prices Going Up [Brownstoner] GMAP
Big 4th Avenue Development Site Sells
The development site on the northeast corner of 6th Street and 4th Avenue, 363 4th Avenue, just sold for $10.7 million. It was on the market for $14 million. A listing for the site said there were approved plans for a 106-unit building with 43 parking spots, which is depicted in the (possibly out-of-date) rendering at left. It appears the buyer is the firm the Elad Group, although a call for confirmation wasn’t returned. Naftali Group. The broker in charge of the sale told us this: “The purchaser is already in the ground and the project should be complete in about 18 months give or take. I’m already in talks with multiple retails tenants that have showed interest in the retail component of the project. I believe the completed project will be a great enhancement to the neighborhood and surrounding area.” UPDATE: An Aptsandlofts.com rep tells us the developer is actually the Naftali Group, and Aptsandlofts.com will be representing the project once it hits the market.
Battle of the 4th Avenue Development Offerings [Brownstoner] GMAP
May 29, 2012 | 11:02 AM