Brownstoner is Brooklyn's most read
website about real estate, renovation
and neighborhood news. Read More»
Brooklyn Well-Represented in List of Indie Boutiques
Shopping blog Racked came out with its list of the 38 Top Independent Boutiques in New York City this week and Brooklyn appears to have held its own. Thirteen Brooklyn spots made the cut, with the lion’s share of those being in Greenpoint and Williamsburg. In addition to North Brooklyn staples like Bird and In God We Trust, Fort Greene stalwart Stuart & Wright were highlighted as well as a handful of places on Smith Street like Epaulet and Dear Fieldbinder.
05/25/2012 11:45 AM
Comment
Condo of the Day: 60 Broadway, #8M
This eighth-floor unit at the Gretsch at 60 Broadway is one of the less sexy units we’ve seen in this building but it’s still a large, attractive one-bedroom in an increasingly popular section of Williamsburg. There may be no outdoor space but there are great views along with high ceilings and attractive, modern finishes in the bathroom and kitchen. Asking price for the 979-square-foot pad? $750,000. For context, it sold back when the building went condo in 2005 for $640,479.
60 Broadway, #8M [Corcoran] GMAP P*Shark
05/24/2012 12:57 PM
Comment
385 Union Avenue Sells for $20 Million
Sometimes real estate is just darn weird: City records filed last week show that the building at 385 Union Avenue, in Williamsburg, sold for $20 million. The new development, which is a rental, has some units available, according to StreetEasy. What’s odd about this deal is that the city deed shows the property selling as “INDUSTRIAL BUILDING,” and a check of Department of Buildings records doesn’t show a certificate of occupancy for residential use. Is this because city records are not up to date, or is something else going on here? Who knows.
385 Union Avenue 25% Rented [Brownstoner] GMAP
05/21/2012 12:37 PM
Comment
Walkabout: America’s Best Bad Actor, Corse Payton, 2
(Corse Payton, Etta Reed Payton and servant, backstage at their theater, 1903. Photo: Museum of the City of New York)
In our last post, we met Corse Payton, self-billed as “America’s Best Bad Actor.” He enjoyed an extremely popular stage career at the end of the 19th century, working well into the Depression years. Like many New York City success stories, Payton’s began in the Midwest, as a county sheriff’s wayward son, in a town called Centerville, Iowa. For more of his early exploits, please see Part One of our story.
After many years of successfully touring Midwestern states and cities, Corse Payton, along with his wife and leading lady, Etta Reed, turned their sights to New York, specifically Brooklyn. The Great White Way of Manhattan’s theater district was legendary, but so too was Brooklyn’s huge collection of theaters, spread throughout the city. Downtown Brooklyn was one large theater hub. Another was Williamsburg, and it was here that their company put down roots. From here they could take all of New York by storm. (more…)
05/17/2012 10:30 AM
Comment
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
Comment
Walkabout: America’s Best Bad Actor, Corse Payton
Does anyone remember the Saturday Night Live sketches by Jon Lovitz featuring his “Master Thespian”? Mr. Thespian was an outrageous ham, over enunciating everything, indicating broadly, affecting a bad upper-crust accent, and in general, being everything that anyone could possibly want in a bad actor, all wrapped up in a dapper smoking jacket. Corse Payton was the living embodiment of the Master Thespian. Between 1900 and 1915, he operated his own theater in Brooklyn, called Corse Payton’s Lee Avenue Theater, in Williamsburg. He made a career out of bad acting, and probably cut a fine figure in a smoking jacket as well. He would be the first to tell you so, too. But backstage, the ultimate ACT-tor was a brilliant business mind and a keen observer of popular culture. This is his story. Like many contemporary Brooklyn stories, it begins, most auspiciously, on a farm in Iowa. (more…)
05/15/2012 10:30 AM
Comment
Past and Present: 89 Gerry Street
A Look at Brooklyn, then and now.
From the collection of the Museum of the City of New York comes this wonderful photograph of small business in Brooklyn, from 1924. The photograph is of the White Silver Wet Wash Laundry Company, of 89 Gerry Street, in Williamsburg. The business was housed in a former stable, which is at the time, still a handsome building. According to old city maps, the stable was there from at least 1887, a wonderful Romanesque Revival brick structure, sandwiched between two wood framed mixed-use tenement buildings. From the look of the bags of laundry, and the burly men in the photograph, it seems likely that the White Silver Wet Wash did bulk commercial laundry, perhaps restaurant work, hotel, or hospital. This does not look like the place a lady would send her dainties. (more…)
05/11/2012 10:30 AM
Comment
Now Renting in Williamsburg: 227 Grand Street
Rental units are now on the market at 227 Grand Street, the formerly stalled Karl Fischer project in Williamsburg. Aptsandlofts.com is marketing one-, two-, and three-bedroom units priced between $3,300 and $5,000 per month. Apartments will be ready for occupancy in June. Based on the photos, the units appear to have big windows, nice light and attractive modern kitchens. Think they’ll be able to pull off those prices?
227 Grand Street Listing [Aptsandlofts.com]
Years-in-the-Making Williamsburg Build Comes Into Focus
Development Watch: 227 Grand Street [Brownstoner]
Development Watch: 227 Grand Street [Brownstoner]
Development Watch: 227 Grand Street [Brownstoner] GMAP DOB
Development Watch: 681 Driggs Avenue [Brownstoner]
05/10/2012 11:00 AM
Comment
Pat Kiernan’s Upper West/Williambsburg Arbitrage
Remember last week when we broke the news that Pat Kiernan had bought a house on Bedford Avenue in Williamsburg? Well, today, The Times gets the NY1 anchor to expound on the decision to move his family to a 2,600-square-foot home in the land of the hip. “We’re under no illusions that it could be confused with a trophy property from the front,” he tells the paper of record. “We’re not trying to build a showy property. We just want a comfortable place to live with our family.” The $2,025,000 price was the highest ever in the ‘Burg, says The Times. And just in case the recent renovations done on the house aren’t up to snuff, Kiernan should have enough loose change after the roughly $4 million sale on his Upper West Side penthouse.
Brooklyn Neighborhood Gets an ‘I Know You!’ Moment [NY Times]
Pat Kiernan Solidifies Hipster Cred with Big ‘Burg Buy [Brownstoner]
05/08/2012 9:00 AM
Comment
Argentinian Celebs Buy Northside Piers Penthouse
Nicolás Repetto, an Argentinian newscaster, purchased a penthouse unit at Northside Piers, according to public records filed on Friday. Repetto is one half of a Buenos Aires power couple, as his wife, Florencia Raggi, is a well-known actress. Un pied-à-terre en caliente Williamsburg, puede ser? StreetEasy is showing very few active listings at either of the Toll Brothers-developed Northside Piers towers. Repetto paid $2.7 million for the spread.
05/07/2012 10:30 AM
Comment
There is no ‘War on Brunch’ in Williamsburg
For the past month or so, a couple newspapers owned by some Australian dude have been publishing stories about how there is a “War on Brunch” in Williamsburg and Greenpoint, a tet offensive that was reportedly launched at the behest of Community Board 1 because of residents complaining about how outdoor seating and people lined up outside cafes on weekends is clogging up sidewalk space. However, according to Tom Burrows, the chair of the Community Board 1 public safety committee, which covers sidewalk café permits in addition to criminal matters, “there is no war on brunch in Williamsburg and Greenpoint—this is a way of selling papers.” About a month-and-a-half ago, Burrows noted at a committee meeting that some residents were complaining about patrons of Five Leaves—which is located on the corner of Bedford and Nassau—taking up a lot of sidewalk space on weekends. However, Burrows wasn’t looking to target just one establishment and says, “this is not a war, it’s about everyone following the rules.” Burrows says the Department of Consumer Affairs should fairly enforce the law and, “I know everyone breaks the rules but, if that’s the case, then let’s get rid of the rules.” According to Mieszko Kalita, the owner of Beata Delicatessen and a small-business owner in Greenpoint for more than two decades, “the Brooklyn Paper published a story that was made up.” Kalita adds: “The people who want to change rules about sidewalk cafes can contact their elected officials….I’ve been in this business for 24 years and 5 days, and I understand that the neighborhood has changed greatly during that time.” There is, perhaps, a larger issue at play here, as there are several establishments in North Brooklyn that have outdoor seating without even having permits for them. Pictured above, a crowd outside Five Leaves yesterday; a manager who answered the phone at the establishment yesterday said he could not comment on the matter.
05/07/2012 10:00 AM
Comment
373 Wythe Avenue Still Chugging Along
Here’s an update on a never-ending, Karl Fischer-designed project at 373 Wythe Avenue in Williamsburg. Construction workers demolished the one-story commercial building previously there in 2009. Then, construction stalled. About seven months ago, Curbed noted that construction picked back up again and DOB green-lit plans for a 13-story, 84-unit building. Signage on the building says work should last until next year. Click through for a (possibly outdated) rendering of the build.
Development Watch: 373 Wythe Avenue [Brownstoner] GMAP P*Shark DOB (more…)
05/04/2012 2:41 PM
Comment
80 Met in Williamsburg is Officially Sold Out
It took some price cuts, but the Steiner-developed 80 Met condo in Williamsburg is now officially sold out, according to a press release sent out today. As of March, the 123-unit development was 90 percent sold out and only one of its nine townhouses remained. Meanwhile, its sister development, 58 Met, is 95 percent sold. Via the press release: “‘We’re very happy with what we have accomplished at 80 Metropolitan,’ said Doug C. Steiner, Chairman of Steiner NYC. ‘We successfully created a beautifully designed building with spectacular views, incredible amenities, and expansive homes, built with same star-quality craftsmanship that we perfected at Steiner Studios. We’re thrilled with the great response to our work, and to have completed such a strong sell-out of the building. Congratulations as well to the sales team at Halstead Property Development Marketing on a fantastic job.’”
05/03/2012 2:54 PM
Comment
A Big Domino Falls as Katan Loses Out in Williamsburg
Developer Isaac Katan may soon be out of the picture when it comes to the redevelopment of the Domino Sugar complex in Williamsburg, according to a story in yesterday’s New York Observer: “The developer of the Domino Sugar Factory failed to receive an injunction in State Supreme Court Tuesday to block its partner from recapitalizing the proposed $1.5 billion project. The decision appeared to clear the way for the Community Preservation Corporation [CPC], a joint owner of the site, to proceed with a deal to hand the majority stake to the project’s senior lender, Pacific Coast Capital Partners, LLC. Isaac Katan, who has been a fifty-fifty partner with CPC in the 11-acre former factory, had launched the suit in March seeking an injunction on the restructuring deal because it would significantly dilute both his and CPC’s interest in the project, which sits along the Brooklyn waterfront in Williamsburg.” CPC and Katan have made the news recently for being at odds with each other over plans for the redevelopment of the huge, waterfront property. Katan vows to fight on, so Williamsburg’s biggest would-be development may be on ice for quite a time to come.
Court Swats Down Lawsuit At Domino Factory Paving Way For Ownership Shakeup [NYO]
Photo by Dan Nguyen
05/03/2012 9:30 AM
Comment
A Tour of the Wythe Hotel, Open Today
Today is the grand opening of Williamsburg’s Wythe Hotel, the $32 million dollar project to transform a historic industrial building into an upscale hotel. It’s also the grand opening of Andrew Tarlow’s highly anticipated restaurant on the ground-floor, named Reynards. The 72 hotel rooms come in eight different variations, outfitted with locally-made furniture, custom wallpaper from Flavor Paper, 13-feet high exposed ceilings, and exposed brick. Rates range from $179-$495. Some of the rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows, which have pretty fantastic views of the skyline. Rooms without views of Manhattan look out onto artwork commission by the hotel, painted on the neighboring building. The upper-floor hotel units, sixth floor bar/outdoor terrace, and downstairs movie theater will finish construction in about a month. (The restaurant, bar, and theater will be open to hotel guests and the public.) The restaurant will focus on seasonal cuisine and “whole-animal, wood-fired cooking.” There are two large dining areas and outdoor seating, which connects to an outdoor terrace outside a private events room. Click through for the full tour and more details!
Wythe Hotel [Main Site]
Wythe Hotel Opening May 1st for Sure [Brownstoner] GMAP (more…)
05/01/2012 2:45 PM
Comment
Rental of the Day: 300 Graham Avenue
This studio apartment at 300 Graham Avenue has the feeling of an artist loft, without the price tag to match. The exposed brick and beams are matched with some newer finishes, as well as amenities like a gym, laundry room, and roof deck. But a studio off the Graham L stop, even a nice one, asking $2,800/month rent? Dunno. What do you say?
300 Graham Avenue [Gloveman LLC] GMAP P*Shark
05/01/2012 12:30 PM
Comment
Last Week’s Biggest Sales
1. COBBLE HILL $2,950,000
30 Strong Place GMAP P*Shark
This home was asking $2,800,000 when it was HOTD this January. At 17-feet, it’s narrow, but overall we called it “a lovely house in a great location.” Apparently a few others agreed with us! Entered into contract on 1/12/12; closed on 4/4/12; deed recorded on 4/23/2012.
2. BROOKLYN HEIGHTS $2,700,000
9 College Place, #4E GMAP P*Shark
Not much info on this condo sale at the Love Lane Mews. Entered into contract on 5/3/12; closed on 3/23/12; deed recorded on 4/25/2012.
3. WILLIAMSBURG $2,025,000
135 Bedford Avenue GMAP P*Shark
This sale made big news last week, as NY1 anchorman Pat Kiernan made this Burg purchase. As a broker said: “The sale price is unprecedented in that $2,025,000 is the highest price ever paid for a single family home in Williamsburg.” Here’s a video of the home interior. Entered into contract on 12/13/12; closed on 4/9/12; deed recorded on 4/25/2012.
4. BOROUGH PARK $1,900,000
1615 52nd Street GMAP P*Shark
No details on this three-family home. Entered into contract on 2/24/12; closed on 3/23/12; deed recorded on 4/27/2012.
5. MIDWOOD $1,900,000
942 East 9th Street GMAP P*Shark
No details on the sale of this one-family home. Entered into contract on 4/3/12; closed on 4/3/12; deed recorded on 4/27/2012.
Honorable Mention: 221 Clinton Avenue, HOTD in August 2011, asking $2,200,000, sold for $1,870,000.
05/01/2012 11:30 AM
Comment
Mario Batali Hits, Hearts Smorgasburg
The 2012 Smorgasburg season was already off to a great start this year (4-for-4 on sunny days hasn’t hurt!) but the weekly food market on the Williamsburg waterfront got an extra jolt of electricity when Mario Batali showed up on Saturday with his wife and kids to sample as much as he could of the hundred vendors. How’d he like it? Immensely, judging from his Tweets. “HFS. Smorgasburg may be the greatest thing I’ve tasted in NYC!” went his first Tweet. (HFS= Holy F’ing S#!+.) Another: “We did not have one unbrilliant bite!! Go wild!!” And lastly: “It was gustatory genius!! Thanks!!”
Photos by eat-everywhere.com and eatsdirt
04/30/2012 11:00 AM
Comment
Louver House, ID390 Hit 80 Percent in Williamsburg
Here’s some intel on the Williamsburg condo front: ID390, the 28-unit building at 390 Lorimer Street, and the Louver House, the 13-unit building at 9193 Metropolitan Avenue, have both reached the 80 percent sales mark. Sales launched at the ID390 (pictured left) last June with studio, one and two bedrooms ranging from $380,000 to $599,000. 9193 Metropolitan Avenue relaunched as the Louver House last September after a previous sales run. In the second time around, prices ran between $619,000 for a 735-square-foot one bedroom to $765,000 for a 1,048-square-foot two bedroom. The building now only has five units remaining.
04/26/2012 11:00 AM
Comment
Auction Site on Kent Finally Ready for RFP?
Five years ago, while on a tour of the Navy Yard, we learned of a plan to ultimately turn the city auction site on Kent Avenue into “a series of multi-story building with a mix of commercial, industrial and…retail fronting along Kent Avenue.” At the time, Navy Yard brass was predicting an RFP within the next year. Then the great recession happened and, we can only conclude, the plan was put on ice. On a recent bike ride recently, however, we noticed that the site had been cleared of all cars and other signs of auction activity which leads up to believe some kind of announcement could be in the offing. At the time, there was discussion of filling in the channel that comes in behind the salt pile. Wonder if that’s still part of the plan.
04/26/2012 10:00 AM
Comment
466 dad
May 21, 2012 | 02:16 PM