Condo of the Day: 505 Court Street
We’ve always been a little surprised at what a tough time 505 Court Street in Carroll Gardens has had in the market. Despite being the highest-profile loft conversion in a hot neighborhood, the building had a tough time moving units when it went condo back in 2005; a year later, in the summer of 2006,…

We’ve always been a little surprised at what a tough time 505 Court Street in Carroll Gardens has had in the market. Despite being the highest-profile loft conversion in a hot neighborhood, the building had a tough time moving units when it went condo back in 2005; a year later, in the summer of 2006, the building zigged to rentals before zagging back to condos that fall. Streeteasy shows ten units currently for sale, including this top-floor duplex asking $679,000, down from $715,000. Have some of the problems that initially caused problems been dealt with? Any current residents care to chime in about their experience in the building?
505 Court Street [Corcoranl] GMAP P*Shark
hi all
Yea, people love to beatup on this building. My wife and I moved in 2 years ago. Of course the building is not perfect, but it’s not as bad as people on curbed or brownstoner like to say it is. Here are my observations:
1. That part of Court St. is not nice as it is further north. But it’s still not bad and improving.
2. With the windows open, I can hear the F/G trains but never the BQE (I face north on the 3rd floor). WIth windows closed, we hear nothing.
3. The concrete floors makes it so you don’t hear your upstairs neighbors as much as other buildings, but cell phones also don’t work for us that well.
4. No real bug/rodent problems as there may have been while rentals. Every apartment gets free exterminator services every month if you want it.
5. Back courtyard is really nice and beautiful.
6. Apt have squeeky floors, but other than that we are very happy with the interior, the new appliances, high ceilings and big windows.
7. For the price we paid and what was available at that time in Manhattan, we feel like we got a really good deal. To those who complain, if you can’t afford to live there, then nothing is going to be a deal for you and that can’t be helped. If you shop around, you’ll find that the prices in the building are actually pretty reasonable, considering that it’s NYC.
8. If you’re an older-timer in the hood, or were a previous renter who was kicked out, I feel for you and am sorry. But…that’s NYC. It’s changing all the time. Developers are greedy, but at the same time, NYC was founded as a city for making money.
9. I don’t think you could do better in Williamsburg. Are you
I also wouldn’t call this stretch of Court shitty. I think it is the high maintenance, the noise and dirt (varies depending on particular apartment), the cheapness of the reno. I was in one apartment in this building for a party (window looking out on Court, low floor) and I it was much nicer looking than I expected, since I read all those Curbed threads. Down toward Hamilton and by Smith/9th stop isn’t exactly picturesque, though.
We moved to the building over a year ago for room for a child. The courtyard is a terrific asset for kids and the interiors are large compared to brownstones. It was also for the schools. Maintenance & taxes may be high but nothing compared to private education if you are in a bad district or suburban taxes if you leave the city. You have to look at the big picture and add it up for your situation. Schools and a nice neighborhood were the biggest selling point. Short commute etc. Lots of kids, nice people.
The sponsor is useless. Don’t expect any favors. Completely incompetent. The interiors are fair but they are fine. I don’t need a “luxury” unit. As for noise, we used to live on an avenue in Manhattan and this is no dirtier or louder. Windows are decent except are difficult to clean because of their size. I like the neighborhood; an industrial edge but has character. I wouldn’t mind if they bury the BQE by 2020 as planned.
Carroll Gardens? I always thought this area was Red Hook. Oh well.
High carrying costs, shitty location… That’s an easy one to figure out why they are not selling.
well, i was looking for a condo when this came in to the market, and i rejected it for having a ridiculous psf price combined with the carrying costs for both what it was and because the hood is less than prime.
you can do much much better in williamsburg. this part of carroll gardens is not great.
I think this is not a bad place for a family who wants to be in a Blue chip Nabe. I mean of course things in the building will not be perfect but what building is? Buy a House and tell me it’s perfect.
We looked a several 3 BRs in March – drawn in by the amount of space for the money. but on top of the high maintenance and the questionable noise/views is the fact that the renovations are lousy. the kitchens are tiny, bathrooms nothing special, the floors are cheap. the building reminded me of bad conversions from the late ’80s. (dating myself, i know)
comments got cut off, but I think you get the picture from my perspective…