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]
This never ending comparison between Brooklyn and Manhattan is insipid. 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. Everyone has to make some trade-offs when figuring out where they live and they choose accordingly. Those who seem to be complaining the most are often people who haven’t figured out you can’t have everything at once.
I guess I am late to the party and I’m not sure if anyone actually wants to discuss this property, but I do have some info:
I’m pretty sure this building (24 Remsen St at the corner of Montague Terrace) has been on the market for about 2 years. It’s very near, but not IN the cul de sac which is at the start of the Promenade. I talked to the former broker, David Grossman, at Leslie J Garfield last December and here’s what I learned from him:
The place is broken into 9 apts and was a coop. In 2004-2005, one owner bought out all the other owners, anticipating selling the place for a profit to a developer for condos. Guess what – it hasn’t sold.
The building includes 1 private parking space in a narrow alley that you can see in the photos (private parking in the Hts – very luxurious!!!) It is already built out to FAR. It has a roofdeck, but only a tiny paved area in the back.
I haven’t seen the inside of the place, but there are more photos on the Leslie J Garfield site:
http://www.lesliejgarfield.com/index.cfm?action=Properties&subaction=detail&AptID=282068&aptpub=11916
I don’t think it’s actually sold anytime recently — I Property-Sharked it last December, but haven’t checked since. I thought about buying it, renting out the apts and converting it to 2 family slowly over time, but the financials would be ridiculous. So oh well…
Ed, i have read this entire thread and for the life of me cannot figure out WTF is your point.
Stephanie- you’re kidding, right? Jeesh. I guess that some people have such rarefied tastes nothing pleases them (and Starbucks is not a cafe. It’s a glorified coffee shop). There are independent bookstores- if you bothered to look, and one or two boutiques. When was the last time you were in Bklyn Hgts? During the Devonian?
only thing i gotta say about this is brooklyn>mahattan :p.
“Will a full-floor in a richard meier glass box in the meatpacking district always commands a premium over a brooklyn heights 25 footer?”
Unless Brooklyn gets its act together, yes it will. There isn’t a single decent brunch place in Brooklyn Heights, not a restaurant where I would like to eat. There are no independent bookstores, no boutiques, no cafes (except Starbucks, of course). Montague Street makes me want to cry. Don’t you notice any difference between Brooklyn Heights and the West Village?
Ed, do you have a job? Or is this it?
7 million ain’t peanuts and you can damn sure find a lot of things for a lot cheaper. We aren’t all RICH. Tell the good Lord to call me, I need the mega numbers pronto!
Ed please just crawl back under your rock.
The first step in gentrification tends to be an influx of artists, academics, gays and lesbian, eccentrics and anyone else looking for real estate bargains and desiring to live outsidde the mainstream for whatever reasons.
Clearly, a lot of the early gentrifiers came to Brooklyn for cheaper digs and larger spaces.
At some point, people started realizing that this borough offers a better quality of life than most of Manhattan.
Because the upper echelon of Manhattan never needed to move in the first place, they will be the last ones to cross the river. But they will eventually.