Building of the Day: 247 Hancock Street
The BOTD is a no-frills look at interesting structures of all types and from all neighborhoods. There will be old, new, important, forgotten, public, private, good and bad. Whatever strikes our fancy. We hope you enjoy. Address: 247 Hancock Street, between Marcy and Tompkins Avenues Name: John C. Kelley House Neighborhood: Bedford Stuyvesant Year Built:…
The BOTD is a no-frills look at interesting structures of all types and from all neighborhoods. There will be old, new, important, forgotten, public, private, good and bad. Whatever strikes our fancy. We hope you enjoy.
Address: 247 Hancock Street, between Marcy and Tompkins Avenues
Name: John C. Kelley House
Neighborhood: Bedford Stuyvesant
Year Built: somewhere between 1885 and 1889
Architectural Style: Neo-Renaissance with Romanesque Revival features
Architect: Montrose Morris
Landmarked: No
Why chosen: When I first moved to Bed Stuy, we looked at this house. The owner wanted $100K more than what anything else was going for in the neighborhood, at the time, so we passed, even though we loved it. Oh, the regret!! Montrose Morris designed this house, right across the street from his own home, for John C. Kelley, an Irish immigrant who made a fortune with his invention of a water meter. Technically, it’s a palazzo style brownstone centered in a huge 81′ lot. The stone is spalling on the façade, and needs attention, but the current owner has done extensive renovations inside, and it’s now a B&B. I recently saw a photo in the Bklyn Historical Society, from the 1940’s, showing the house painted white. The horror! This house, and the surrounding blocks should have been landmarked years ago, and as part of the Bedford Corners HD, is being considered by the LPC.
Also, Dave, the house was a mess. There had been water damage, and many of the floors had buckled. No one was living there, and it needed a total upgrade all the way around. The bar was in the basement, though, I distinctly remember that. It is an amazing house.
Yeah, really DIBS. There is more to Bed Stuy than over where you are. You are going to lose your Bed Stuy card.
Please report on the new Peaches outlet. I’ve been meaning to get over there.
We looked at the house in ’82 or ’83. They wanted $200K, when a 20′ brownstone in the neighborhood, with full period details averaged $85K to $100K.
Michael, you won’t be seeing those signs anytime soon. The area has not even been calendared yet. Hopefully that happens this year. BTW, you have to buy the signs now, the city no longer puts the brown signs in gratis. They cost $58 each. We’re working on getting ours for CHN, and will be having fundraising events. You don’t get nothin’ no more.
anyone know rate per night charge for the b&b rooms?
Is this a one unit building? You’ve got to be kiddding me.
Only two rooms are available as the B&B, so, esentially, most of it is their home.
And, who doesn’t want to sit on a sofa that used to belong to Imelda Marcos’ 🙁
DIBS, how the heck did you NOT know about this house? please note, your BedStuy card membership is currently under review
i kinda think that building would look cool painted white. do you have a picture of it when it was painted white?
*rob*
What a home!
Anyone know how the Bedford Corners Historic District is progressing? When will we be seeing those brown street signs?