House of the Day Crown Heights

History-Rich Fish-Scale Wood Frame With Details in Crown Heights Near Weeksville Asks $825K

With its fish-scale shingles and slate mantel with original faux marbling, this 19th century two-story wood frame house in the Weeksville part of Crown Heights is a remarkable survivor.

by Stephen Zacks

12/19/2018 0

With its fish-scale shingles and slate mantel with original faux marbling, this 19th century two-story wood frame house in the Weeksville part of Crown Heights is a remarkable survivor. It’s got a charming bracketed cornice, canopy and historic double door, all painted green.

Even more remarkable, 1718 Dean Street may have been in the same family since 1897. A family named Stockett bought the home in 1897, a deed from 1975 spells out. They held onto it until 2001, when the current occupants purchased the place for $10 — whether the parties were related or the transaction was arm’s length, we couldn’t say.

In any event, the property is probably old enough that it may well have had a connection to the extraordinary legacy of one of America’s first free black communities.

The New York Public Library has some early 20th century photos of the Utica Avenue corner for historic context, but unfortunately they’re facing in the opposite direction.

The listing, from Mireille Lemaine of Brooklyn Real Property, calls it a “rare find,” noting it’s move-in ready and has many original details, and we’d have to agree. Photos from a previous listing when it was with Weichert Properties show a historic staircase and newel post and a double parlor rich in details like the aforementioned faux-painted fireplace, an ornamented plaster arch, and inlaid floors.

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There is a dining room behind the parlor and a kitchen in the extension, going by the photos (there is no floor plan). Three bedrooms and at least one of two bathrooms are upstairs.

While not freshly renovated, the kitchen and bathrooms appear to be have been thoughtfully updated in the late 20th century and well maintained since. The kitchen has a luxurious amount of cupboard space and granite counters. A band of decorative tile in one of the bathrooms is a close match for 1890s tile and the elegant pedestal sink is circa 1900.

The home is only 17 feet wide, according to Property Shark, which estimates it has 1,020 square feet of living space over two stories.

It’s got a nice little front yard with space for plantings. The backyard is scraggly in a good way — but hopefully that’s not asbestos siding in the rear.

Located not far from the Weeksville Heritage Center and Stuy Heights, it’s asking a (relatively) reasonable-seeming $825,000. (It was listed for $799,000 by Weichert Properties in August.) What do you make of it?

[Listing: 1718 Dean Street | Broker: Brooklyn Real Property] GMAP