House of the Day: Cramming in Crown Heights
Need some input from the Crown Heights readers on this one. Cute from the outside (though the fire escape has gotta go!), we’re worried about how chopped up this must be on the inside to squeeze in five units. Chances are whoever buys this will turn it into a one- or two-family which means you…
Need some input from the Crown Heights readers on this one. Cute from the outside (though the fire escape has gotta go!), we’re worried about how chopped up this must be on the inside to squeeze in five units. Chances are whoever buys this will turn it into a one- or two-family which means you could remove the offending fire escape and make the most of the original details mentioned in the listing verbiage. You might want to have a chat with the neighbors about those window canopies while you’re at it!
Crown Heights House [Prudential Douglas Elliman]
To anon 8:52 – “show restraint”? Perhaps if the prevailing attitude did not regard all of the parade goers as potential criminals who just haven’t been caught doing something yet, as opposed to innocent revelers, among whom are a small minority of troublemakers, there would be more cooperation with the police and other authorities. I’m not condoning the violence, just questioning your thinly veiled insinuation that violence is inevitable.
The Victorian canvas shades actually kept houses significantly cooler in summer. The stripes must have added some zing to otherwise uniform facades in some neighborhoods. I’m sure even a reduction of a few degrees was a relief at a time when people wore a ton of clothes with long sleeves and high necklines, even in summer.
I was shocked when I learned (from vintage photographs) that cloth awnings not terribly dissimilar from the metal variety in terms of aesthetics were found on most Victorian homes in the Ditmas Park area… Shade was a big deal when trees were still immature and ac wasn’t even a twinkle in anyone’s eye. Personally, I still don’t like them, but it is sort of like the old medieval architecture arguement – sure the crisp stone interiors are pure and really appear tothe modern eye, but the interiors of medieval churches were actually painted using extremely bright colors. Most modern viewers recoil when they see reconstructions of what these structures actually looked like to contemporaries.
The police and the parade “Kinder and gentler”??
Did you know the entire NYC Police Dept. is mandated that it work on Labor Day because of this parade? No cop is off that day, they all work, so I don’t know where you think more police are coming from for this parade. They also are instructed to show restraint. At least until someone gets shot or stabbed. Like every year for the last 15 years!
Is this one better for less??
http://www.corcoran.com/property/listing.aspx?Region=NYC&listingid=839959
Very true, Hal, about the stability. I have met many, many extended families who have been in their homes since the 1950’s when West Indian and African American families started to buy houses in the neighborhood in growing numbers. We also have many fewer abandoned houses and empty lots, due to a great degree to that same stability. I see a lot of renovation going on as I walk around, and many of the very fine apartment buildings are also going through thorough renovations. The existing housing stock in CH is of very high quality. I’m very glad to be in Crown Heights.
I don’t think I need to tell Brownstoner’s readers that I’m optimistic about Crown Heights. After all, that’s where I bought My Brownstone. I agree with CrownHeightsProud’s comment above about gentrification being slow here. The reason in my opinion is the relative stability that already exists in much of the area.
I wonder if ‘faithful’ would tell us where he or she is moving to in the neighborhood.
I really do not like the metal awnings at all. But that’s just my taste.
Crown Heights is divided into 2 distinct areas, bisected by Eastern Parkway. I predict the south side, with the Hasidic population and a greater West Indian presence will stay pretty much the same for a number of years, if anything the Hasidic areas will grow. The north side of CH will slowly gentrify, as most of the recent housing attention is in this area, and it is next to Prospect Heights, and to a lesser degree, Bed Stuy. Except for some magnificent blocks south of Eastern Pkway, most of the best brownstone housing is in north CH. The only thing it is lacking are amenties, I would kill for a restaurant close to me. But I think in time, all these things will happen. Hopefully not too soon, however.
Current owners will stay, orthodox jews will stay, renters in large buildings that are targets for going condo/co-op will go and be replaced by the same demographic currently moving into Prospect Heights. So long as the number of single-family brownstones stay relativly stable the community will change some but not as much as prospect heights. Folks that currently own now realize what they are sitting on, and most people aren’t looking to move elsewhere.
Oh, and the parade? It will become kinder and more gentle as the police finally decide to actually provide enough folks to do things like crowd control.