High-End Living on Hancock Street
Just down the block on Hancock Street from the group of Montrose Morris buildings we looked at yesterday lie a set of four integrated houses, numbers 246, 248, 250 and 252, also designed by Morris. The bases of the houses are rock-faced limestone while the upper floors are made of Roman brick. As you can…
Just down the block on Hancock Street from the group of Montrose Morris buildings we looked at yesterday lie a set of four integrated houses, numbers 246, 248, 250 and 252, also designed by Morris. The bases of the houses are rock-faced limestone while the upper floors are made of Roman brick. As you can see, the line-up includes only two stoops, each of which services two houses. Across the street is number 237. We don’t know anything about its history, but it looks like it may have been built as apartments instead of as a large house. Anyone know? Still more Hancock action to come tomorrow. GMAP
242 Hancock Street is for sale if anyone is interested
I heard the current owner lucked this beauty at a HUD auction.
For those of you wondering about landmark status in the area, I did some snooping on DOB site, because I’ve noticed for awhile that our property has been listed as “Calendared” under “Landmark” status on the site for the past year at least. Turns out that designation applies to all properties on Macon Street between Throop and Malcolm X, and Halsey (one block south of Hancock) between Sumner and Malcom X. These stretches lie just north of the current landmark Heights district.
SBB,
If you could afford to really do it right –
Assuming you get the building empty of tenants, and there are many there now, you would need to have it thoroughly inspected by a housing inspector who specializes in old houses. (This should be done before you buy, actually.) Joe House Inspector, who doesn’t know old houses, or worse yet, doesn’t like them, is not the person you need. Get an old house specialist. If the place is just run down, but sound, and you are going for a restoration, not just a renovation – hire either an architect or restoration company that specializes in old house restoration. They will be able to tell you what needs to be done to bring the grand lady into the 21st Century without sacrificing the architectural detail, and will work to restore and repair whatever damage may have occurred over the years.
I would imagine we are talking about removing a lot of kitchens, bathrooms, new walls, closets and doorways, and opening the house back up. Large rooms may have been subdivided. The place probably needs all new electric and plumbing. You would need to put in an entirely new kitchen, and probably at least 2 or 3 new bathrooms. If old bathroom fixtures are still there, great! Iffy, they usually get taken out, and the light blue tubs come in.
Fortunately, when most of these houses were converted from 1 families to multiple families, especially in lower income nabes, the conversions are often pretty slapdash, and not a lot of original features are destroyed, just covered up or converted. Thus you get a lot of kitchenettes in alcoves and closets, or closets built in a corner, that kind of thing. If these things are removed, often the original features are still there.
You would have to do repairs on walls, ceilings, floors, windows, etc. Hopefully the roof is good, as are windows (probably not) Furnace/boiler may need to be replaced, sometimes that is the only thing new in the building. Lots of painting, wood stripping, cosmetic work, new lighting fixtures, etc, etc.
Whew! I know people who have acted as their own contractor, and done a lot of this themselves, usually slowly, room by room for years. And then there are those who have it all done by others in one fell swoop. Depends on your situation, your love of old house restoration, your pocketbook, time, children, physical and skill ability, etc.
I would say, assuming you contract out most of the big stuff, it would take at least $600K to $1Mil to do a house this size, if you were going for all of the bells and whistles. It takes up a double lot, so it must be the size of 2 large houses. Wow.
My husband and I pass these houses almost everyday we marvel at them. They are absolutely gorgeous. I don’t know if its true but the Ist one in the picture I heard the rooms are all chopped up and rented. Have anybody ever been inside? THE BLOCK IS GORGEOUS TOO DEFINETLY SHOULD BE LANDMARK.
I wonder what it would take to make this a one family now as far as money and process.
I was talking about 237, sorry…
Brooklyn Eagle has each house as a separate residence (i.e. 248 for sale in 1900 ($20,000 which seems high for the time); at 250 marriage of the bride at her residence, 246 the owners held a music recital, etc)
Very interesting
My dad went to the old Boys High on Marcy and he swore that this was a single family home when he was a boy. Even as an apartment house the owners have done a good job of keeping the place up. Several years ago they did a bit of exterior sprucing up and although it’s not period restored, much of the original detail and ornamentation is still in place. This is my favorite property on this block.