What is a Brownstone?
Serious question — What is the definition of a brownstone? Does the facade actually have to consist of “brownstone” (which I understand is a relatively low strength and easily worked sedimentary stone)? When I see brownstone facades being redone it looks like the workers mix up a mortar mix, add brown coloring and then apply…
Serious question — What is the definition of a brownstone? Does the facade actually have to consist of “brownstone” (which I understand is a relatively low strength and easily worked sedimentary stone)? When I see brownstone facades being redone it looks like the workers mix up a mortar mix, add brown coloring and then apply to the facade. Are there “brownstones” that have something other then actual brownstone but have this brown mortar applied as a coating? I have always followed the rule that what looks like a brownstone must be a brownstone, but I am realizing that I don’t actually know if there are rules to what must be under the surface for a building to qualify as a brownstone.
free stone; stone sink; mosaic
http://www.chinasink.com
http://www.2stone.biz
free stone; stone sink; mosaic
http://www.chinasink.com
http://www.2stone.biz
SenatorStreet,
After 100+ years of popular regional usage, it’s “right” if you think that definitions should be descriptive, rather than prescriptive. I guess we’ll have to agree to disagree.
“…current prices are clearly very high viewed strictly by comparison to inflation-indexed growth since 1981. Sales for more ordinary north slope brownstones were cited in the $200k range, which equates to about $450k in today’s dollars.”
The power of perspective.
“Thus my observation that it is irresponsible to read too much into those numbers because of all the ways the world has changed since then.”
Fine. But how much of a factor does that deserve? 2 tops. Say $1M. We’re on our way back through ’81 to ’33.
***Bid half off peak comps***
Just need to say: just because several people do it – doesn’t make it right.
“Brownstone” has become a catch-all brand name which includes all row houses, no matter what they are made of. It’s like “Kleenex” or “get the document xeroxed”. Most people don’t realize there are other building materials involved. A lot of Queen Anne rowhouses really complicate things by using several different materials, like an ashlar stone ground floor, with a brick face that has a great deal of limestone and/or terra cotta trim. You know, a brownstone.
“what is the “brownstoning movement of the late 60s?”
lechacal, this site is the child [and benficiary] of it.
While the use of the term “brownstone” as synonymous with rowhouse predates the “brownstone movement” by decades, this “movement”, in the late ’50s through the late ’70s [or later] involved those, like me, who valued these old houses and wanted to live in, and restore, them, as opposed to those [the vast majority] who saw them as undesirable, ugly, old houses in decaying slums. I say late ’50s because the Park Slope House tour, the granddaddy of them all, celebrates its 50th anniversary this May.
In a sense the “Brownstone Movement” continues today, but, since these houses are once again desirable, they’ve become regular real estate instead of something you had to be crazy to want.
Oh, BTW, my brownstone has a limestone and brick facade.
As a “brownstoner” of nearly 35 years standing I disagree with SenatorStreet and bayridgegirl. In common New York usage a ‘brownstone” is, quite properly, any historic rowhouse, from late 18th century wood frame to 1920 brick colonial revival.