Condo/Co-op of the Day

Brooklyn Heights Two-Bedroom Condo in Superman's Building Asks $2.435 Million

Here’s a model residence in the Standish, the former apartment hotel that’s being turned into ultra-expensive condos sporting East River views.

Brooklyn Apartments for Sale in Brooklyn Heights at 171 Columbia Heights

by Chris Erikson

05/30/2017 4 minute 0

Here’s a two-bedroom spread in the Standish, the former apartment hotel at 171 Columbia Heights that’s being turned into ultra-expensive condos sporting East River views.

The 12-story Beaux Arts building has an interesting history — Superman once lived here, for one thing. Designed by Frank S. Lowe and built in 1903, it was originally called the Standish Arms, which DC Comics fans will recognize as the name of the building where Clark Kent dwelled in Room 5H. (In its other fictional claim to fame, Brooklyn Heights resident Arthur Miller used the name for the the hotel where Willie Loman has an affair in “Death of a Salesman.”)

The Jehovah’s Witnesses bought it in 1981, then in 2007 they sold it to an investment group that converted it into rentals.

Now in its latest chapter it’s being turned into a 29-unit condo development by the development and design firm DDG and Westbrook Partners, who restored the brick and limestone facade and put the first units up for sale in the fall. This latest one is a model residence, a two-bedroom that’s been staged by the downtown design gallery Matter.

It’s a fetching pad, as you might expect from a building where one-bedrooms start at $1.26 million (though this one doesn’t reach up high enough to offer a skyline view). It’s got clean lines and modern styling, with high-end finishes and appointments: Carrara marble countertops and a Bertazzoni range in the kitchen, wide-plank Austrian oak flooring, a glass-walled rain shower, brass fixtures and mosaic accents in the bathrooms.

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There are two of those, and two bedrooms, including a master with a large walk-in closet. There’s a large living room with bay windows overlooking the street, and an open kitchen in the rear.

The building’s got a doorman, concierge, a gym, a playroom, and a common roof deck with harbor views. Storage and bike spaces are available for purchase.

Listed by Corcoran, this one’s asking $2.435 million, a pretty steep sum for a for a 1,356-square-foot two-bedroom. Figure in the towering monthly charges — which total $3,619 — and it gets even steeper.

They don’t seem to be having trouble moving these, however. Of the 17 units that have gone up for sale, 11 are in contract, according to StreetEasy, including a five-bedroom on the 10th floor that was listed for $11.65 million. What do you think of this one?

[Listing: 171 Columbia Heights #3C | Broker: Corcoran] GMAP