House of the Day: Love that South Slope Frame
They may be holding out in the South South Slope, but in the plain old South Slope (aka North South South Slope) there are more than a couple for sale signs. We don’t know the South Slope proper that well, but our sense is that the neighborhood varies quite a bit block-to-block. This charming 3-story…
They may be holding out in the South South Slope, but in the plain old South Slope (aka North South South Slope) there are more than a couple for sale signs. We don’t know the South Slope proper that well, but our sense is that the neighborhood varies quite a bit block-to-block. This charming 3-story frame house appears to be on one of the nicer blocks, with several similar frame houses connected aesthetically by contiguous porches. Although the ad for the 2-family, 2-over-1 configuration boasts of wide plank floors, tin ceilings and exposed brick, the interior doesn’t look particularly characterful to us. Our guess is this place isn’t much bigger than about 2,500 square feet, but it is notable for its sub-seven figure asking price alone. What do our local readers think of $925,000 for this place?
South Slope 3 Story [Warren Lewis]
Some of the comments about the homes on Webster Place are based on assumptions of how other houses were built in the area. The facts about these homes are: (1) there are brick with wood siding (2) they do not have connecting cock-lofts but have brick firewalls between them (3) they were built between 1860 – 1870. The homes on the Prospect Ave. end all had porches until fire, nature and a little event like the depression claimed them. Too bad a low interest loans programs available to the brownstoner [who paid 15 to 20 K for there now 2 million plus homes]in the 1970’s for rehap has hot been available to our wood frame /sided homes. What is important is the fact this is a great community and a great block.
Yes I am sure about 400-500k. I thought that was hight then because a house for sale for 400 back then was bought for 200 only a year and a half earlier (2000). There is definately a bubble. Prices are really ridiculous. In Oct 2001 4 story brownstones in Park Slope PS 321 were going for 750-950K. Go to the library and look in NYTIMES real estate from 2001. You will be shocked at how cheap it was.
Wood Frame?
In 1871, the city’s inspector of buildings declared that wood homes “retard the progress of better improvements . . . and increase immeasurably the fire risks of a city.” Meaning stone became the norm. The wood frame rows all share attics, its called a cock loft and any fireman will tell you that is a tinderbox. Once the fire gets to the cockloft it races through adjoining wood frame buildings, there are no walls to stop it. There is basically one big attic shared by all the houses.
Fun to read this exchange about “our” house. Our family lived in the little purple Webster Place house for a year before coming to the true south (NC) for our daughter’s medical care. Webster Place is an amazing block, full of charm and great neighbors and kids running up and down beneath the trees. The house itself needs LOTS of work, but has some beautiful detail inside. We would love to buy the house but are priced out at 925k. Any good leads on more affordable houses in the South Slope? Or even south, south slope (aka Greenwood Heights)
This 2-family brick in Windsor Terrace seems like a better deal than the frame house in the South Slope.
http://www.ahrlty.com/551/551.html
Of course, I could be wrong because I haven’t seen either of them. But just from a quick search of the websites in the Park Slope area, the frame house seems overpriced compared to what’s on the market.
Regarding the date, they look like 1870s, though might be earlier. The photos don’t show a lot of detail.
Anyone know when frame construction was made illegal in the City of Brooklyn?
At first I thought it was a deal, but then I heard that is was only 18×32. But if it doesn’t need much work (unlikely), I’d rather take this than a 900k condo in cobble hill, for example, that would probably be about the same sqft. You get a yard, lower taxes, and no neighbors above your head. It’s a nice location actually…closer to the park than 5th ave.
Warren Lewis doesn’t let brownstoner readers link from your site: I get a message saying, “Sorry. You are not calling from an authorized location.”
2-1/2 years ago, I ended up buying a 2,000 square foot garden duplex condo in the North Slope for $820k. I looked at a number of South Slope houses that were selling, at that time, for between $400K and $600k depending on condition, but they were all smaller and in poorer condition (not to mention in a more remote location) than what I ended up buying (and I wasn’t looking below about 12th Street, or west of 5th Avenue). So $925k for this place really blows me away, and it’s not even listed by Corcoran!
By the way, my place was recently reappraised at $990k, so I’m happy (even if the appreciation is just a bubble on paper since I’m not planning on selling). Of course, if I’d been willing to live farther into Brooklyn, there were mansions in Ditmas Park going for $500k 2-1/2 years ago that are now selling for more than $1 million. (Sigh!)
Thanks for the laugh on the real estate agent’s boundary
sorry, should have typed $925K.