House of the Day: Luscious Lefferts
What a difference a year makes in a turnaround neigborhood. We doubt this place would have been more than $800,000 last Spring and now it’s coming on the market at $1,150,000. But what price perfection? Built in 1905 by Frederick B. Morris, the three-story house has a triple parlor with pristine original woodwork including a…
What a difference a year makes in a turnaround neigborhood. We doubt this place would have been more than $800,000 last Spring and now it’s coming on the market at $1,150,000. But what price perfection? Built in 1905 by Frederick B. Morris, the three-story house has a triple parlor with pristine original woodwork including a Pier mirror and oak and cherry mantels. The layout sounds a bit strange though: the kitchen for the owner’s duplex is on the top floor along with the bedrooms. We can only assume this was in an effort not to disturb the uniformity of the parlor floor. Another red flag: The listing mentions that this is currently configured as a two-family. We thought this was a no-no in Lefferts Manor so potential buyers should make this is not a violation.
Lincoln Road Townhouse [Brown Harris Stevens]
There are numerous houses on the south side of Lincoln Road between Bedford and Rogers which have certificates of occupancy for 2 families. I believe the CO trumps the covenant in the eyes of the city.
Yes some, but VERY FEW houses in the Lefferts Manor historic district are legal 2 families. Also some of the houses built in Lefferts Manor were originally constructed with a second kitchen on the top floor.
FYI, there’s some information at the beginning of this thread that ought to be corrected. A reader says Lincoln Road is one block beyond the border of Lefferts Manor. That’s only half true. The south side of the street, where the house in question is located, is in Lefferts Manor. The north side is in the Prospect Lefferts historic district, but not in the Manor.
Now this distinction isn’t of any importance to those of us who live on the street. The block association, spring planting and clean up, the block party, etc., include both sides of the street. But the fact is that houses in the manor are zoned for one family use. There appear to be some legal exceptions to this rule, but I don’t know if this house is one of them.
Lefferts Manor has a good website if you are interested in the nabe:
http://www.zapix.com/leffertsmanor/index.shtml
Thanks, LR. Duly noted.
I saw this yesterday, and it’s just dreamy. Whoever owns this house kept it in museum-quality condition. Even the original porcelain washbasins off the master bedroom are intact. The garden level has its own kitchen and could be a lovely rental, though according to pshark the c of o is for one family. We’re committed to finding something in a different neighborhood, but this is very, very difficult to pass up. I had to drag my husband away. . . .
Quick correction for Brownstoner: Lincoln Rd. is not in Lefferts Manor — it’s one block over from the border — so a 2 family residence is allowed.