House of the Day: Caton Park Fixer-Upper
Here’s an interesting one hot off the presses…53 Marlborough Road between Church Ave & Caton Avenue. Not much info on it other than it has good bones, needs a ton of work and is a pretty cheap way ($575,000!) to get your foot in the door in Victorian Flatbush. We doubt anyone’s seen it yet…
Here’s an interesting one hot off the presses…53 Marlborough Road between Church Ave & Caton Avenue. Not much info on it other than it has good bones, needs a ton of work and is a pretty cheap way ($575,000!) to get your foot in the door in Victorian Flatbush. We doubt anyone’s seen it yet but we’ll look forward to hearing feedback.
Caton Park Rare Opp [Mary Kay Gallagher] GMAP P*Shark
Agree with nryland at 3:42. I’ve never thought of my husband and I as all that innovative, but I’m sure we could bring the restoration (if there’s something left to restore) in at under $200k. That’s with some help from skilled contractors. Alittle sweat equity goes a loonnnggg way! Now, who would care to take me up on this and buy it for me?
Lift from Forgotten NY:
Sandwiched between Prospect Park South and Caton Avenue, just below the Parade Grounds, is the neighborhood known today as Caton Park, originally referred to as Mathew’s Park by developers, as it was built on farmland owned by the Mathew’s family. Flatbush of Today refers to these relatively modest five- to seven- bedroom homes as “Cottages North of Prospect Park South.”
This house is one of the least expensive homes in Ditmas Park to become available in the past few years. While a full price renovation would be quite expensive, an innovative couple could probably do a lot of the work themselves and still come in below market value. Plus, the lot is a nice size (50 x 100) Park location is also a huge plus…
Caton Park, appears to run from Coney Island Ave. to E. 17th.
This is a lift from Mary Kay’s web site:
“Caton Park is a smaller neighborhood bordering Caton & Church Avenues. There are about 50 homes located on the streets of Buckingham, Marlborough & Rugby Roads. Over the last two years, the Caton Park Neighborhood Association has worked hard to bring about the renovation of the soccer, baseball & football fields in the Parade Grounds. The revitalized playing fields have created a better enviorment for the Flatbush community that uses the Parade Grounds & Prospect Park. “
caton park is a small neighborhood bounded, if i remember correctly (from kenneth jackson’s ‘neighborhoods of brooklyn’ book), by caton ave., marlborough rd., church ave., and maybe argyle rd.
it was planned as a neighborhood by a developer around 1900 or so and has regulated setbacks from the street and space between houses to allow for yards and air.
regarding the restoration costs, i think someone could definitely get some preservation tax credits or help from the NY landmarks conservancy for facade work. it isn’t in a landmark district, but still might be deemed eligible based on it’s history and location (i.e. just outside a historic district).
Thanks Blabber for pointing out the truth of the matter. “bring your contractor” + no interior pics = serious renovation. So that means 575K + a miniumum of 400K, and the price is no longer so great. In the current market, I doubt this will sell at the asking. But it does look lovely on the outside.
You would need about $500,000 in reno money for this house.
BTW, I doubt the house was built in 1925. It looks to be at least 20 years older. Looks like a classic four square with dormers. I guess sort of a Colonial Revival with the columns and the Palladium window. Classic Victorian style corbels too. That bay window on the second floor doesn’t look original, but it’s hard to tell from the picture.
Me want too! Too bad no interior pictures, no matter how bad the place looks. Sounds like a great location. The house next door looks to be in similar condition. I can only imagine what a 30 year old lap pool looks like, I think I saw one in a horror movie once. I wonder what’s left inside worth saving. I’ve always liked these frame houses. Looks like it could be a great fixerupper for someone with vision. I wish I was in the market.
I just mapped it on Yahoo – no clue what Caton Park is – but this address is one large block away from Prospect Park. Me want – if I could keep the do-it-now renos to 200k, I would buy and hold as a 2-family rental.. Anyone want to go in with me?