House of the Day: 222 Lewis Avenue
This 3-story, 2-family place on Lewis Avenue between Lexington and Quincy in Bed Stuy is interesting. Since it’s not a big house (at about 2,000 square feet), the asking price of $650,000 doesn’t look particularly cheap on that basis; however, we’re hard pressed to think of a house in this kind of location (which is…
This 3-story, 2-family place on Lewis Avenue between Lexington and Quincy in Bed Stuy is interesting. Since it’s not a big house (at about 2,000 square feet), the asking price of $650,000 doesn’t look particularly cheap on that basis; however, we’re hard pressed to think of a house in this kind of location (which is only so-so Bed Stuy, not prime) that still has some nice detail left for this price. Of course, the only detail in the photos is from the hallway, so we’d say whether this is a good deal or not hinges on whether the residential space still has charm; the one photo of the living space isn’t too encouraging. Anyone been inside yet?
222 Lewis Avenue [Halstead] GMAP P*Shark
I would define “prime Bed-Stuy” a little more narrowly – it’s all about proximity to Fulton St, IMO, because that’s where the A/C trains are. People have always valued access to that subway line, and Stuy Heights and some equally lovely brownstone areas further to the west both fit that criteria. As a result there’s already quite an upscale retail presence on Lewis Ave. (serving Stuy Heights) and Tompkins Ave. (serving the western end of the nabe). You may not have wine bars yet, but you have trendy little clothing ateliers, spas (I kid you not, there’s one on Lewis and another just opened off Tompkins), coffee shops, antique shops, a nice bookstore on Lewis and a home design store on Tompkins that’s doing quite well (just expanded to 2 storefronts and was featured on HGTV). Not all of this is brand-new either – some of these businesses have been there for years.
Not surprisingly, all of this activity is concentrated within the 6 or 7 blocks to the north of Fulton St. People want that train access.
People have been trying to bring back Bed-Stuy since the late 80’s.
20 Years later it hasn’t happened, but like the above poster said it took his block 24 years…so i guess you could hang on
Well, by that definition, this house IS in prime Bed-Stuy. Don’t get me wrong, I love Bed-Stuy, but wouldn’t “prime” be mainly the landmarked area usually referred to as Stuvesant Heights? The main problem with this location is the train access.
3:04PM,
If you don’t know what is “Prime Bed-Stuy” then you know nothing about brownstone Brooklyn and seriously question why you even bother with this blogsite.
FYI – Prime Bed-Stuy is commonly referred to the 1/2 square mile area of brownstone blocks that exist from Fulton to Greene and Nostrand to Malcolm X.
24 years you waited? Bren, darling, at that rate, you should invest in the north pole, where one day there will be arrable land.
Bed’ Stuy’ pioneers It will probably take a little longer than five years, but I would bet you anything that you will have the last laugh!
I purchased a co-op on a really rough block in Windsor Terace 24 years ago and all thought that I was certifiable… not anymore… the block
has become delightful and neighborly and
I have all amenities really close by and I love my apartment!
Just hang in there and enjoy all the
great things that Brooklyn has to offer,
and more inportantly, enjoy your new homes!
Down with the naysayers! 🙂
hey, 3:04-yes, there is such a thing as “prime” bed stuy. luckily for us, people like you will only realize it in 5 years, when there are cafes/wine bars lining the streets and when prices jump to 2 mil as in fg/ch. we’ll be having the last laugh!!
What’s train access like there? Pretty far from Fulton St. so I’m guessing J/M/Z?
And to the weisenheimer who says there’s no such thing as “prime Bed-Stuy” I can only shake my head.
I Looked at the Halstead listing and the photos, all the information seems good compared to some of the crud out there in need of 200k of work. I don’t care what anyone says, for $650, this seems like a no-brainer for someone who wants to stake a Brownstone claim in Brooklyn.
Rent out the top floor, keep the lower two levels, the cellar level and a decent backyard for yourself. Throw up some crown molding, sand the floors, paint the walls and you’re living like Cliff Huxtable.
Or look at it this way, you get an entire Brownstone for the price of a one-bedroom condo down the road in Ft. Greene.