Condos of the Day: 4 South Portland Avenue
It’s hard to argue with the location of this brownstone condo conversion at 4 South Portland Avenue. Just steps from Fort Greene Park and located on the quintessential brownstone block, the five-unit project just hit the market at the beginning of the month with prices ranging from $700,000 for a 1,012-square-foot floor-through to $890,000 for…
It’s hard to argue with the location of this brownstone condo conversion at 4 South Portland Avenue. Just steps from Fort Greene Park and located on the quintessential brownstone block, the five-unit project just hit the market at the beginning of the month with prices ranging from $700,000 for a 1,012-square-foot floor-through to $890,000 for a 1,543-square-foot duplex. We’re not digging the kitchen cabinets (big mistake) but the bathroom looks okay if a bit glitzy and they’ve otherwise left well enough alone when it comes to crown moldings, fireplaces and the like.
4 South Portland Avenue Listings [StreetEasy] GMAP P*Shark
I have black granite counter tops.
geez, remind me not to have you over.
…and I think my countertops are dreamy.
I do understand the point about it perhaps being nicer to outright own your unit in a condo rather than shares of the condo, but as a future homeowner I’m more intersted in space and closets than fancy fixtures. Also from my endless lurking on this site I’ve come to the conclusion as much as I love looking at brownstone units they are generally sadly out of price range for my family.
Happily I’m not going to buy for a couple of years (hoping to settle before son starts Kindergarten) but from all the looking I’ve done, I’d rather pay less for a “blank slate” do to my own renovations than pay twice as much for less space and a terrible “high end” reno. If I see one more black granite countertop I’m gonna stab my eyes w/ forks, I swear! Ok, well maybe not really. That’s an exaggeration. But still- these kitchens are not worth the markup in my estimation.
“And, within reason, you can do as you please”
Is this a plus or a minus in a four-unit brownstone?
People can be crazy.
good point.
“And, within reason, you can do as you please”
Is this a plus or a minus in a four-unit brownstone?
People can be crazy.
ennuiater – the interiors on the condos of the day are far more modern and hi-quality (even with the ugly cabinets) than the ones you linked. That’s probably part of it. Also, the complex you linked is a big concrete box, rather than a brownstone, which is less appealing to many people.
3:23 — There’s always a premium on condos because you actually own your apartment not just its walls. And, within reason, you can do as you please without having to ask anyone’s permission, i.e., renovations, sublets and, yes, even sales.
This building must have a fire escape in the rear.
I wonder why these condos are priced so much higher than the co-ops a couple of blocks away I’ve had my eye on lately:
http://www.streeteasy.com/nyc/sale/154376-coop-130-saint-edwards-street-fort-greene-brooklyn
(2 bed)
http://www.streeteasy.com/nyc/sale/375651-coop-105-ashland-place-fort-greene-brooklyn
(3 bed, same complex of buildings)
Is it because it’s condo and not co-op? Same school district… are these coops really ugly or something? I’m super curious why these buildings are so cheap compared to others in the area.
I suppose there could be fire escapes in the rear and you could use the rear yard as a safe haven until the fire department can get you out somehow. In case of a bad fire though, you would be kind of trapped for awhile, unless a neighbor takes down a fence or some such.
But I suppose the rear escapes and full sprinklers in every room could get it through the Department of Buildings.
I think condos are fine in big anonymous buildings, but in a little building like this, you don’t want someone renting to flight crews by the week or to an escort service or what have you, believe me, this is a big interesting city those things are not that far-fetched. You would need strong house rules.