HOTD: Don't Worry, You Can't Afford It Anyway
This is one of those crazy pads that are so expensive–and the potential purchasers so few–that there’s not much point in discussing whether or not it’s a good deal (though at half the price of this place, it’s looking like a steal). The 9,500-square-foot mansion is a little time-worn and given the likely standards of…
This is one of those crazy pads that are so expensive–and the potential purchasers so few–that there’s not much point in discussing whether or not it’s a good deal (though at half the price of this place, it’s looking like a steal). The 9,500-square-foot mansion is a little time-worn and given the likely standards of the buyer will get a big makeover. Of course, we’d be happy to move in as-is. We suspect we could get by just fine! The listing’s a little short on photos…Has anyone been inside recently?
Remsen Street Mansion [Brown Harris Stevens]
I lived in the Heights for over 20 years- I don’t know how long you’ve lived there but I still disagree with you. And statements like “everybody in the Heights complains” implies either you know a hell of a lot of people or you are inclined to exaggerate. But the real point is if you think Manhattan is so much better, you’re welcome to move there. With all of th restaurants in the area, I have a very hard time believing that you can’t find one single decent place to eat. I’d say the problem is you.
Dear 1:08AM Anonymous, I happen to live in Brooklyn Heights, so I kinda know wherein I speak. Besides, everybody in the Heights complains about the utter lack of decent eateries and specialty shopping. Stop being so defensive.
Frankly, if someone wants to compare a Brooklyn neighborhood to the West Village (past or present), they shouldn’t start with Montague Street. The should start with Smith Street & environs.
The notion that Montague Street is the hub of gentrified Brooklyn is a notion that is a good decade old. It doesn’t hold water anymore. Now we have 5th Ave. in Park Slope and Smith Street, etc.
Enough with these inane comparisons. Brooklyn Heights should not be more like the West Village any more than Dumbo should be the new SoHo (God forbid). Brooklyn can champion the unique, individual character of her own neighborhoods, thank you very much.
Bkborn- The Heights hasn’t changed much in the sense of its demographics. And it has alweays been a desirable neighborhood- maybe that’s the reason we don’t see huge exciting changes like we see in Cobble Hill, Dumbo etc. But the West village is a different animal altogether and I don’t think they can be compared. Plus there has always been a great deal more retail in the village, especially within the residential streets themselves.
There’s nothing wrong with the Heights staying as it is, until the desire or need for change comes from within the community. I don’t see anyone demanding Yorkville change to keep up with the times, or any of the other east side enclaves of wealth. What the rich have already, they keep.
But as far as Stephanie goes, simple snobbery and ignorance do not a good post make.
A few facts for your consideration. The property is still owned by a cooperative. One entity currently owns all of the shares of the coop. The purchase of the shares occured just over a year ago. Transactions involving coops do not show up on sites such as Property Shark because they are not real property transfers. The offering plan was never completed and only three shareholders made up the coop. Each one owning their own unit and also some percentage of the remaining six. At the time I purchased all of the shares there was only one shareholder left living in the building.
Current asking price, which was establised upon its listing for sale as of last July, is based on a value that would make me indifferent to redeveloping the property. The current plan is to reduce the number of units to four and sell as condominiums. That process is well underway. The strategy to list a property for sale “as is” while pursuing a redevelopment is a typical one.
Anne – Contrary to what Mr. Grossman might have told you there is no parking on the property and the roof terrace is quite large and faces the street providing spectacular views of the city and harbor.
I’m not exactly defending stephanie, but I think the west village is a pretty good example of brooklyn falling behind manhattan. Over the last 60 years I would argue that the West Village, which is very similar in a lot of important ways (similar scale, similar commute times to midtown and downtown, similar bohemian histories, etc.), has seriously kicked Brooklyn Heights’ ass. Property values have reflected this.
The West Village has a good mix of new and old housing, a diverse retail mix, and even useful green space in the Hudson River Park. The west village blends much more effectively with the Meatpacking District than the Heights does with Dumbo. Believe it or not, I even believe that the West Village is considerably more ethnically and economically diverse than the Heights.
The Heights has remained stodgy and really stuck in the 1980s, while surrounding areas have flourished.
“Some people like the scale of Brooklyn and accept the geography trade-off, others prefer the ease of Manhattan and can live with the density.” This is a good point. That’s we we need to continue to develop business and cultural districts in Brooklyn (e.g. Atlantic Yards) without disrupting the low-rise residential character of the Brownstone neighborhoods. The result will be Brooklyn with the scale of a city like Boston, not Manhattan.
At this point, not only will the borough be LESS DENSE than Manhattan, it will also be MORE CONVENIENT to many great features of the city (because they will lie in Brooklyn).
One more thing – let’s also not forget that Brooklyn is vastly more convenient to Wall Street than anything above 42nd Street.
I’m not going to deny Stephanie’s claim that there’s room for improvement in Brooklyn. But she clearly has little experience with the borough, based on her perceptions.
Here are a few pointers, Stephanie: if Montague Street doesn’t appeal to you, you could walk, oh, A FEW BLOCKS to Restaurant Row on Smith Street, where you’ll find maybe 30 restaurants within a few blocks.
And if you really needs to get to the West Village, we Brooklyners aren’t afraid to TAKE A TEN MINUTE RIDE ON THE SUBWAY.
Some people are better left behind in Manhattan…