Top 5 Stories on Brownstoner This Week: History Uncovered in Vinegar Hill

Vinegar Hill Construction Uncovers Mystery Structure

Workers recently uncovered two large and mysterious round structures at 218 Front Street in Vinegar Hill while prepping the site for construction of a new 218-unit seven-story apartment building. Brownstoner reader Marc Agger snapped some photos. Turns out the structures are remnants of 19th century coal-gas holders, also known as gasometers.

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Sunset Park Co-op With Two Bedrooms, Parquet, Wainscot Asks $615K

This 1927 Finnish Co-op in Sunset Park with a flexible floor plan makes the most of its Art Deco roots, with original parquet, moldings, and French doors. It’s located on the second floor of 531 41st Street, which despite the neighborhood is named “Park Slope Homes,” a plaque over the entrance indicates.

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Ditmas Park Colonial Revival With Stained Glass, Wood Floors, Parking Asks $1.999 Million

In the Ditmas Park Historic District, this early 20th century standalone has a picturesque gambrel roof on the exterior and an interior that has been converted into a two-family with separate entrances and an abundance of space. At 986 Ocean Avenue, the property also has a garage, and one of the units has central air and a wood burning fireplace.

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The Insider: All-Out Renovation of Brooklyn Heights Gothic Revival Fulfills Homeowner’s 50-Year Dream

This transformation of a grand brownstone was a long time coming — five decades, approximately. When it came, it was total with a capital T. The original exterior was almost perfectly preserved, said Steve Marchetti of Manhattan-based Studio Marchetti Architecture, whose firm took on the massive project. But the interior had been broken up into 10 studio apartments sometime after World War II.

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The Insider: Cobble Hill Brownstone Reno With Custom Woodwork Leans Into Japanese Aesthetic

A unique approach to the gut renovation of a circa 1880 Brooklyn brownstone, leaning heavily on the tenets of traditional Japanese design, resulted in a home that nevertheless feels comfortingly familiar. The general layout, the proportionality of the rooms, and the location of the stair, among other things, respect local row house typology. The abundance of warm woods and exposed beams and brick are both contemporary and timeless. “The sensibility is Japanese, but the configuration is perfect for a modern family,” said Selim Vural of the Dumbo-based architecture firm Studio Vural, which masterminded the architectural design and oversaw the building out of the space.

Related Stories

• Top 5 Stories on Brownstoner This Week: Cobble Hill Brownstone Leans Into Japanese Aesthetic
• Top 5 Stories on Brownstoner This Week: A Co-op in a Notable Brooklyn Heights Townhouse
• Top 5 Stories on Brownstoner This Week: A New Pizza Spot Is Coming to PLG

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