Jumbo Fort Greene Brownstone With 12 Mantels, Grand Details in Need of Work Asks $6.5 Million

This Fort Greene Neo-Grec has the impressive proportions and intricately detailed woodwork that might capture an old house enthusiast willing to take on a property in estate condition. The 33-foot-wide house also has a location across from Fort Greene Park, at 198 Washington Park, in the historic district.

The brownstone dates to 1880 when it was built, along with its much narrower neighbor at No. 197, by John Antrim (sometimes spelled Antrum). Real estate records of the time show No. 198, with its full height bay, foliate ornamentation and bracketed cornice, was built for Jay C. Wemple. Wemple had a successful window shade business with a factory in Brooklyn and shops in Manhattan. The house stayed in the hands of Wemple’s descendants until the late 1930s.

By 1938, I-card records show the grand manse had been divided up and had a legal occupancy of one apartment and 13 furnished rooms. Conditions must not have been ideal by 1981, when it was recommended the building be vacated, and in 1983 an inspector noted on the I-card that it was empty at the time. HPD still has the building classified with one A unit and 13 B units, although there was an Alt 1 filing in 2009 to turn the SRO into a legal two-family. The job doesn’t appear to have been closed out and no new certificate of occupancy is on file, something a buyer might want to keep in mind.

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The interior is currently set up with a garden apartment and a triplex above. There’s a suggested alternate floor plan included in the listing and, as noted, this is a “bring your architect” project. Despite its years divided up into furnished rooms, the photos show a wealth of woodwork intact. There’s the central stair, a pier mirror, pocket doors, window and door moldings, and a dozen mantels. Some of the fireplaces have hearths with original tile work and brass inserts along with intricately carved overmantels with mirrors and shelving.

The 3D walkthrough gives a better sense of conditions on the interior, including a glimpse into the two kitchens and six bathrooms. At least some of those bathrooms look more recently renovated and appear in working order. Others sport 1930s fixtures and tile work. The virtual walkthrough of the parlor level shows the once-grand spaces broken up with partitions and a glimpse upward shows some ceilings down to lathe. There are intriguing bits of original decorative detailing, including a painted border around the entry ceiling.

The property hasn’t changed hands since 1984. If you are up for the challenge, it’s on the market for $6.5 million. It’s cobrokered and listed by Jeffrey Goodman and Ralph M. Storrier of Brown Harris Stevens and the Ryan + Ryan Team of Compass. Worth the ask?

[Listing: 198 Washington Park | Broker: Brown Harris Stevens/Compass] GMAP

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