Condo/Co-op of the Day

Brooklyn Heights Studio With Archways, Four Closets, Deco Bathroom Asks $525K

While not abundant in square footage, this Art Deco-era studio has all the benefits of apartments from that era, including a separate dining space, arched doorways and closet space.

brooklyn heights 145 hicks street interior

by Susan De Vries

01/19/2021 4 minute 0

While not abundant in square footage, this Art Deco-era studio has all the benefits of apartments from that era, including a separate dining space, arched doorways and decent closet space. The co-op unit is on the third floor of The Mansion House, the six-story 1930s apartment building at 145 Hicks Street in Brooklyn Heights, giving it a location within walking distance to shops and parks spanning several nearby areas, including Downtown Brooklyn.

The Mansion House moniker is a nod to the building formerly on the site, a mansion that was used for an academy for young ladies before being turned into a hotel. When it was demolished in 1930 some tenants had been in residence since the 1880s. The land stayed vacant for several years, prompting some ghost stories, before construction began in 1935 for the current building.

Designed by Arthur Weiser, the restrained brick building has touches of the Colonial Revival, with urn-topped brick pillars guarding a brick pathway to the recessed entrance with a columned portico. A sketch of the building in an early brochure and the circa 1940 tax photo both show shutters on the central windows of the second floor. While gone, the shadows of the shutters are still visible.

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The same brochure lists the many “modern conveniences and improvements” designed for residents, many still found in this studio unit. A foyer with three closets and niched shelving leads to the raised dining area with arched openings to the living room. The windowed space, referred to as a dining balcony on the early floor plans, has its original iron railing and the fourth closet. The living area, which is large enough to fit both seating and sleeping areas, has three windows on two exposures and a view to the charming carriage houses of College Place.

The windowed galley kitchen has white cabinets and counters and appears in good shape although perhaps ready for a style tweak.

For some reason the listing photos don’t include a shot of the tiled Art Deco-era bathroom, which, at least in the glimpse available in the video tour, looks fairly fabulous for lovers of vintage style.

The 107-unit elevator building has laundry and storage in the basement and an attended lobby. Maintenance for this unit is $774 a month. It is listed at $525,000 with Brian Lehner of Brown Harris Stevens. Worth the ask?

[Listing: 145 Hicks Street, APT B36 | Broker: Brown Harris Stevens] GMAP