Suburban Living In The Upper Slope
We’ve been a long-time (okay, maybe like two years) admirer of this positively suburban looking Georgian brick house at 234 Eighth Avenue. There are some quite similar ones on the other side of the park in PLG–in fact, we considered buying a decrepit one back when we were house-hunting in 2004. It looks like the…
We’ve been a long-time (okay, maybe like two years) admirer of this positively suburban looking Georgian brick house at 234 Eighth Avenue. There are some quite similar ones on the other side of the park in PLG–in fact, we considered buying a decrepit one back when we were house-hunting in 2004. It looks like the same person has owned this place for the past 12 years with no significant alterations done in that time. Thank God it’s in a landmarked district, as the house has the kind of unused FAR that gets developers drooling. The design doesn’t make the cut in the AIA Guide, but we feel pretty sure there’s some history behind this one. worth knowing. GMAP P*Shark
I believe the previous owners of this home (the ones who sold it about 12 years ago)traded it for one of the largest Victorians on Albemarle Terrace in PPS (with amazing interior detail).
I also was very taken with a Georgian just like this in Lefferts Manor 3 years ago, but ultimately decided not to buy it.
Hey, I’m not griping. I just honestly wanted to know what the priorities of the readership was: house = home or house = investment. Of course, it’s both for most people, even myself, I am well aware of what my house is worth. I guess I should rephrase, which part of that equation means more? I guess every answer will be different.
Hi, I’m Anon from 11.15 and I am a Brownstonerholic.
Room responds “Hello Anon”.
It is an addiction. And while I did say that $ and home discussions are not mutually exclusive, the $ discussions do wear on me sometimes too (probably because it makes me think even more about all of the costs that I have in maintaining my place… but that’s ok.) Deep breaths. Ha, ha!
We lived for several years in a co-op just a few doors down from this house. When we moved in 9 years ago, the family living here seemed well-established and the place has looked pretty much the same through the years.
I never really got to talk to the owners about this house, but rest assured that this family seems to take exceptionally good care of their home. In the spring and summer, their garden is the nicest one on the block.
Not really sure what your gripe is? The emphasis in this post on the house’s design and history…We try to do a good job of balancing an appreciation of architecture and history with the real world issues like price and FAR. Different people are going to care more about one than the other, but it seems kinda silly to ignore the realities of the marketplace, especially for the large segment of readers who don’t yet own a home and hope to eventually.
Anon 11:32, you’re right; it’s an addiction. Way to go brownstoner; I can just see myself on Oprah or Dr. Phil talking about my addiction ‘rehab’ ordeal and what it was like being a real estate junkie.
Whoops – should be too much. I do know the difference between too, to and two!
Brenda sounds like you have ideas for a great business plan. I think you should develop that website and link it up to mapquest/google earth.
I think the ‘if these walls could talk’ angle would go over big.
But the realtors would probably try to stop you, because you would provide info about people who died in the house, got shot, raped or murdered in the house, etc. You know, the type of stuff that buyers only find out after moving in and talking to the neighbors.
When I discovered this blog about a year ago, I thought it was great, because I too have “an unhealthy obsession with historic Brooklyn brownstones”, and I still love it, and spend WAYYYYY to much time here, when I should be working. It’s an addiction. I’ve learned a great deal about the NYC real estate world, and even more about neighborhoods, and about the way people here think about thorny issues such as gentrification, development and Bed Stuy.
Because my first interest is in the brownstones themselves, I am often disappointed that more attention isn’t paid to things like architectural preservation, and detail, restoration, etc. My favorite parts of the site involve being able to go into the houses via RE listings, or specific topics about the interiors of homes, but too often a wonderful house (to me) gets totally reduced to its FAR and square footage. Maybe I should be more concerned about those things, and I’m learning to think about them in terms of pricing, but I don’t think they will ever replace the appreciation I have for some great woodwork and a cool panel of stained glass. Those might be touchy feely things to some, but they separate a wonderful old house from new construction, otherwise, why bother?