Real Estate

A World War II-Era Townhouse With Vintage Kitchen and Three More to See This Weekend

This group of relatively modest townhouses starting at $745,000 still possess some of the details we can get behind, like mansard roofs, friezes, dentils and a mid-century kitchen.

by Stephen Zacks

12/07/2018 0

This isn’t a prime season for visiting open houses with holidays and cold winds upon us. At least we’re not getting hit by the storm headed for the southeast. Let us therefore present a group of relatively modest townhouses in Bed Stuy and Crown Heights and a single-family home in Sheepshead Bay that still possess some of the details we can get behind, like mansard roofs, friezes, dentils and a mid-century kitchen.

We’re suckers for these mansard roofs with dormer windows set behind sharply slanted sides, although the interior of this six-bedroom, four-bath, four-story brownstone in Bed Stuy seems to have not a shred of historic detail left inside. The listing notes the building is a two-family being used as a three, which could present hiccups with financing. At 20 feet wide, we assume it’s less cramped than it appears in the images. Failing that, there’s an extra large and excellent gravelly backyard with a fountain-shaped topiary.

Next up, we have a barrel-fronted limestone in Crown Heights with lovely friezes above the first floor. It’s an SRO, the listing notes, with nine class B units on the second through fourth floors, one class A unit on the first floor, and an unfinished cellar. Note the building comes with tenants in place — as well as some “mostly renovated” vacant units. A quick look at the building history reveals complaints of tenant harassment and illegal renovation. All of this could preclude financing, not to mention take deep pockets to straighten out in accordance with the law, so buyer beware.

Meanwhile, back in Bed Stuy is a recently renovated two-story brick townhouse with a salvaged wood mantel, exposed brick, and new modern staircase. A legal two-family, it’s currently configured as a single, with an open-plan first floor and three bedrooms above. It has 2.5 bathrooms, and the one shown has square marble tile on the walls and herringbone marble tile on the floor. It started life as a small Italianate but despite the gut it’s looking pretty elegant and spacious in its updated form. (Presumably they’ll finish the staircase to the cellar, per the floor plan.)

Finally, in Sheepshead Bay, a circa 1947 semi-detached, single-family brick home seems to be in good condition, with most of its original details intact. These include a classic mid-century kitchen and vintage pink and black bathroom. It has three bedrooms and a full bath on the second floor, a finished basement, and parking for two cars in the back. There’s some serious throwback green carpet in some of the rooms, and what appears to be new wood flooring elsewhere.