Fort Greene

Elegant Brownstone With 8 Working Fireplaces Facing Fort Greene Park Asks $3.85 Million

This four-story Italianate brownstone at 163 Dekalb Avenue boasts all sorts of elegant period details and sits on a prime block directly across from Fort Greene Park. Wedding cake plaster decorations, eight working marble fireplaces, and original pocket doors with etched glass are some of the goodies inside. The condition is somewhat ambiguous — upgraded but perhaps not quite…

by Chris Erikson

02/17/2016 3 minute 0

The condition is somewhat ambiguous — upgraded but perhaps not quite fully renovated, if we interpret the listing correctly.

The landmarked house is 21 feet wide and was built circa 1868 — not 1899, as the listing says — according to the designation report. Photos reveal
a parlor floor with classic details, including arched doorways, ceiling moldings, a marble mantel with a gilded mirror, parquet floors, and the aforementioned pocket doors with etched glass.

It is set up as an owner’s triplex over a garden-floor rental. The house’s many upgrades include two renovated kitchens with stained hardwood cabinets and Viking stoves.

Each unit has its own washer/dryer. A deck off the parlor has steps down to the “manicured” garden (not pictured, perhaps because we’re in the middle of winter).

The bathrooms are also not shown, although that is not unusual. The wording of the listing, however, indicates there may be work to be done. “This is a building with truly great bones — bring your architect and design your dream home!” it says.

The listing calls the rental a duplex, but the lower level is the completely subterranean cellar. The above-ground living space consists of a large, open studio apartment.

The triplex offers three bedrooms up top, one mighty small, and a pair of larger ones on the floor below. (Which could also make up a floor-through master bedroom suite, as it’s tagged on the floor plan).

The top two floors each have a single bathroom; the parlor floor lacks any.

As mentioned, the place sits across from Fort Greene Park, a plus. Listed by Brandon Gibson and Mark Fromm of Town Residential, it’s being shown at an open house today from 12:30 to 2 p.m. and again from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

The price is $3.85 million. Seem on target, based on the information given?

[Listing: 163 Dekalb Avenue | Broker: Town Residential] GMAP