House of the Day: 169 Westminster Road
At this point in spiking popularity of Victorian Flatbush, this house at 169 Westminster Road (in the sub-nabe known as Prospect Park South) is probably on the cheaper end of the spectrum at $1.25 million. The six-bedroom house is described as needing TLC but the place is hardly a dump and there are plenty of…
At this point in spiking popularity of Victorian Flatbush, this house at 169 Westminster Road (in the sub-nabe known as Prospect Park South) is probably on the cheaper end of the spectrum at $1.25 million. The six-bedroom house is described as needing TLC but the place is hardly a dump and there are plenty of old details to work with. There’s also a two-room office with private entrance for income-generating purposes. Looks reasonable to us but our street-by-street knowledge of this area is limited. What do locals think?
169 Westminster Road [Mary Kay Gallagher] GMAP P*Shark
Can anyone familiar with the PPS neighborhood comment on Mary Kay Gallagher’s two priciest listings: #0448 on Rugby Rd. $2.5mil & #0447 $1.95, not sure but I think it may be on Albemarle or Beverly. These houses are huge and look lovely. I would think they might attract a family looking for more space than they can get in PS, but they have been on the market for many months. Are these prices just more than the PPS market can command or is there something inherently wrong with these properties?
Totally overpriced. Needs bare minimum 300K of work, and will not be worth 1.325M when you’re done.
The location is great. PPS is my favorite sub-neighborhood of Victorian Flatbush and very close to the park. Haven’t been in the house so I can’t comment on the condition. Given the location and size, I would assume it needs some work at this price.
I’ve also been in this house, and fully half of the original details have been removed. Also, the majority of the floors have been covered in wall-to-wall or vinyl or tiles. Restoration would be a huge and wildly expensive project. The exterior is quite old though not original shingles, and all bathrooms will likely need a revamp. I’d guess it would cost many hundreds of thousands to restore this house. That said, location is fantastic! Close to the park, on a spectacular block.
It would be pretty scary to see the Lanmdarks Commission out there in the neibs tearing things down. They don’t do that. Instead they issue “Notices of Violation” which are actually pretty scary little slips of paper. If you get one, work with them to rectify the situation. I wouldn’t ignore it. But the process can take time.
It doesn’t mean that nothing is being done. If you something gross going up, call the Commission and tell them about it. That’s the only way you know for sure that they know about the violation.
Currently, there is a hideous white plastic fence around the backyard of a corner property on Albermarle in PPS. Been there for quite a few months now… Don’t see Landmarks tearing it down.
If the owners wants to change the paint color, they need to file an “Application for Work on Designated Properties” with the city’s Landmarks Preservation Commission, and then convince the staff that the selected color palette is appropriate. No purples or bright pinks need apply. Get the pemit first before you start -and don’t take your contractor’s word that “everything is taken care of” ask to see the permit. Other types of exterior work, such as window replacement or re-roofing would also need a “Permit for Minor Work”. Bigger things like additions, require a full public hearing and if accepted, result in a “Certificate of Appropriateness. The commission generally does not concern itself with trees or plantings but fences, driveays and sidewalks are all subject to regulation.
I saw it. Needs a lot of work. Has an elevator in it for its elderly resident.In the front was a doctor’s office. Looks like a pyschologist, a ton of books by Freud, Jung, etc. Kind of cool time capsule.
This house in in prime Prospect Park South. Location, location, location… and yes, a landmarked block.