Crown Heights North Tour Open Thread
We were out of town, so we’re dying to hear how the First Annual Crown Heights North House Tour went on Saturday. So far, we’ve only gotten one email from a reader who attended. Here’s what she had to say: This was a different kind of house tour. It was not a tour to showcase…
We were out of town, so we’re dying to hear how the First Annual Crown Heights North House Tour went on Saturday. So far, we’ve only gotten one email from a reader who attended. Here’s what she had to say:
This was a different kind of house tour. It was not a tour to showcase the latest renovation. It, instead, featured the original details of most homes. Several of the homes were a bit run down in my opinion but others were knock-your-socks off worthy. In particular two Crown Heights sisters have the most complimentary taste. The pair, who split a home at 9 Hampton Place (one of CH’s most charming enclaves), have taken the homes original details and added some great antique pieces without feeling stuffy. On the top floor, there is a tin ceiling with a skylight and free standing counters and it is wonderful. In the apartment downstairs, the glass tile and a 1950s lime green stove are whimsical and stunning all at the same time. Lots of preserved wood work and exposed brick help unite the new and the old. Also loved 829 Lincoln Place (photo). It’s owned by a younger couple who have renovated but maintained many original details. The added a parlor floor kitchen with a great counter top made from recycled materials and have a hidden top story. It’s also extremely colorful but still tasteful. One suggestion to the planners for next year, ALLOW PHOTOGRAPHY…
Any other feedback?
House Tourers, (Re)Start Your Engines: Crown Heights Next [Brownstoner]
Photo by Krista Kujat for PropertyShark
Now I AM curious. Of all of the beautifully renvoated homes on the tour, pray tell, which was really, really renovated?
Of the 12 homes we saw, only one was worth seeing. The rest were pretty much raw or otherwise lacking in polish and precision. My guess is that the root of that is economic.
there are run down homes in park slope, you know…
and the upper east side.
and the west village.
and….gasp…BROOKLYN HEIGHTS!
Well somebody sure was offensive, that’s why.
Somebody sure is defensive.
Do you always go around such a huge a**hole, 12:08 (first post at 12:08)? I was responding to the first post AND the original post pointing out some houses on the tour were run down. Because no, not everyone knows there are nicer houses in a neighborhood than we see in listings or house tours. In fact, we see that every damn day with some dummies here on Brownstoner, who whiz through a neighborhood in a car or look at listing online, and think they know everything about an area and everyone who lives there. So yes, it actually is required to point out the obvious, here.
I absolutely loved the CHN tour. It was a great afternoon of both exploring the neighborhood (which I’ve often driven around but never walked) and seeing some truly wonderful homes that were full of history and home owner pride. I was so relieved to be able to visit homes that HADN’T had hundreds of thousands of dollars spent on them. The atmosphere in many of these houses was very special — a sense of new generations protecting the past while updating for the future, albeit most modestly than in some of the more affluent brownstone neighborhoods. But then again, too much polishing and improving can really strip the warmth and texture out of a home. I was also impressed by the graciousness of the home owners and the volunteer house sitters.
FWIW, my favorites were 9 Hampton Place — mentioned above — elegant yet understated; and 820 Prospect Place — a huge semi-detached Eastlake house on a block of spectacular houses, it needs lots of work but what potential!
I loved the tour. Not a display of “same ole’ renovations,” but a lovely and diverse showing of people’s homes. I felt inspired by the more modest homes where the owners relied on creativity and brains to create a lovely atmosphere. The larger homes with the detail were amazing, and I enjoyed the ‘hood overall. I even found a vegetarian restaurant on my way back to BedStuy that I enjoyed more than I thought possible (I guess it hit the spot after seeing 10 places), and am really looking forward to seeing the BedStuy house tour. Thanks to my Crown Heights neighbors who opened their homes to us. I really appreciated it!
To everyone who attended the house tour, thanks for coming out. I spoke to several people who said they read Brownstoner, and I also spoke to Bob and Mrs. Marvin. There were people from Prospect Heights Tour there, as well as people from the Brownstoners of Bed Stuy. We had tour goers from as far away as Chicago, Connecticut, as well as Harlem, the Bronx, Manhattan, and all parts of Brooklyn.
CHNA’s objective was to show off the community by opening up the homes of our community members, some old timers, some new, some renovated, some just starting out, some lived in and held on to for years. We are a community rich in architectural heritage, and no matter how anyone found the houses to be, what cannot be denied is that we have that. I’m glad the initial writer above came out and enjoyed him/herself, and I welcome their comments and feedback.
We are not a wealthy community in terms of a great number of people who can spend vast amounts of money renovating their homes. If you came to the tour expecting House and Garden type kitchens and fancy fixtures and the latest furniture, this was not the tour for that. There was not a Viking or Sub Zero in sight. Most of us live rather simply, and that may seem to be run down to some who may have more, but everyone on the tour took great pride in showing off the best of what they have have. I’m not apologising either for them, or for our choice of their homes.
We tried, and I think suceeded, in showing a very varied group of houses. We had an Arts and Crafts style duplex, a huge brick late Victorian with wonderful detail, the two houses the viewer noted, as well as an amazing period home chock full of intact woodwork and fine furnishings. We had another amazing home with a gallery like space full of art and culture. We also had 2 amazing churches. If you opted out of seeing those, you missed some of the architectural masterpieces of Brooklyn.
We chose not to have interior photography for the same reason most house tours do – it is an invasion of privacy for the owners. Would any of you, unless you were selling your home, or submiting them yourselves, want pictures showing who knows what, appearing all over the web? I don’t think so. Many people are leery enough at the thought of hundreds of strangers tramping through their homes.
All in all, we had about 200 people, and for our first time, we are quite proud. We found out what works and what could have been better, and we will be bigger and better next year. Again, thank you to all who volunteered and to all who came out, and got a look at the real Crown Heights, and her people. Thanks, too, to Mr. B, for being a sponsor, and for all of your coverage. You are a great asset to the Brooklyn community.
CHNA House Tour Committee
Co-Chair