House of the Day: Stuy Heights Gem
Another beauty from Stuyvesant Heights by way of Craigslist. The 4,300-square-foot two-family is configured as an owner’s triplex over a garden rental. By all appearances (and the broker’s flowery prose) it sounds like this is one of those jaw-droppers, complete with original restored woodwork, wainscotting, and pier mirrors. The 1899 house also has a center…
Another beauty from Stuyvesant Heights by way of Craigslist. The 4,300-square-foot two-family is configured as an owner’s triplex over a garden rental. By all appearances (and the broker’s flowery prose) it sounds like this is one of those jaw-droppers, complete with original restored woodwork, wainscotting, and pier mirrors. The 1899 house also has a center stair with an “intricate oak basket weave design” on the railings and restored golden oak lattice work overhead. Located on Bainbridge off Lewis Avenue, the house is only a couple of blocks from the A train. If all this is true, the asking price of $1,235,000 seems a little lower than we would have expected. What say ye?
Bainbridge at Lewis Ave [Craigslist] GMAP
First, it’s Stuyvesant Heights (landmark historic district) not Bed-Stuy. Second, a limestone around the corner on Stuvyesant Avenue sold for $1.2m and it did not have this much detail or even a decent kitchen and bath. This property is in much better shape. It will probably sell for $1.2m. Steps away from the train station and on an excellent block, e.g., well maintained beautiful large brownstones, tree lined block, landmarked, great neighbors, etc.
It looks beautiful. My only gripe is it looks like a lot of woodwork was stripped completely but not stained. I’ve seen the same woodwork in other bed stuy houses on Hancock and they had a great old dark stain/petina.
That is not really material though considering the great shape it looks to be in. It’s easier to address than painted woodwork.
It only takes me a little under 10 minutes of riding the C train from clinton washington to get to broadway nassau. I work near Wall Street. Door to door (house to office) is 20 mins. Not sure how the Utica A train can take 10 minutes off the C train trip when it is only a 10 minute or so train ride to begin with.
But, yes, A trains are generally quicker, but it is not a big difference if you work downtown.
12:25– EXCELLENT LIST OF CRITERIA! I think Bstoner should codify it and we should all refer to it as we comment on listings.
Based on 1:11’s response to the list, it’s clear that while this may be one of prettiest and greenest blocks, it isn’t one of the best. I know that 1.25M doesn’t get much anymore, but still it seems steep for the area.
However, I well recall the post someone wrote in the last discussion of a Stuy Hghts house explaining the area’s unigue appeal for upper middle class blacks. From that perspective, it may well be worth the price. But not for me.
“School District – Is there a good one anywhere in NYC?”
Huh? Are you serious?
One of the posters declared his/her measurements for ‘best block’ status. Well, here is a fairly objective response to those measurements:
Proximity to subway: Two blocks from the Utica ‘A’/’C’ stop. Express train gets you to Manhattan about 10 minutes quicker than the sporadic ‘C’ at Clinton/Washington.
Proximity to stores (grocery, bakery, restaurants, dry cleaner’s, etc.) Bred Stuy is a wonderful coffee shop/bakery on Lewis, but other than that services are fairly poor. There is a very good Food Town with surprisingly fresh produce about eight blocks away on Fulton. There are plenty of absurdly overpriced dry cleaners and laundromats in the area. It’s pretty sad that one has to transport his/her laundry to Manhattan to get a decent deal.
Curb appeal of the block (ex: trees, other building, historic landmarking, etc.) All of the blocks (Bainbridge, Decatur, McDonough, Macon, Hancock, Halsey, Jefferson) between Lewis and Stuyvesant rival anything that Clinton Hill has to offer. These blocks are continually in the running for Most Green Block in Brooklyn competitions.
School District – Is there a good one anywhere in NYC?
Noise level/activity on block Very quiet block – no question.
Crime rate in the area The 81st is not the best precinct in the city in terms of crime rates. But, the police are visible without being intrusive. There are random reports of kids causing problems in Fulton Park and the arteries that lead from the subway into Stuy Heights/Bed Stuy. Every now and then there is some low level drug activity in the area. But, it doesn’t seem that the neighborhood has been plagued with some of the recent gun activity that has been reported in surrounding neighborhoods.
You can still park easily (NYC-relevant) in Clinton Hill so that 12:13 comment is not even worthy of a response. Building looks like it’s in excellent shape but 1.235 for Bed Stuy 2-fam? I don’t know. Time will tell.
lay off the caffeine dude.
Well then Anon 12:13 PM explain just what makes it a “best block” BESIDES the parking.
Or are we supposed to just take Anon 12:13 PM declaration that it’s ‘best’ as gospel?