House of the Day: 411 Classon Avenue
We’ll say this for 411 Classon Avenue—it’s a better flip job than you generally see in the area. The four-story brownstone between Lexington and Greene on the Bed Stuy side of Classon changed hands two years ago for $890,000. Given the time that’s elapsed and the fact that the kitchens, floors and back yard all…
We’ll say this for 411 Classon Avenue—it’s a better flip job than you generally see in the area. The four-story brownstone between Lexington and Greene on the Bed Stuy side of Classon changed hands two years ago for $890,000. Given the time that’s elapsed and the fact that the kitchens, floors and back yard all look redone, the current asking price of $1,245,000 doesn’t sounds crazy. Unfortunately, that’s not how sales prices are ultimately determined. We suspect that the supply and demand curves may intersect a good bit below this price. After all, while blocks on either side of it keep getting nicer and it has some nice houses, it’s hard to see how Classon Avenue as a whole ever really catches up. Agree?
411 Classon Avenue [NY Times] GMAP P*Shark
well said. nice close.
RE: the house. It has some nice details. Could use a paint job and I think its a bit overpriced, especially with the current market state. But maybe that’s the realtor’s strategy. Give the seller some room for the low bidding offers that will surely come because it’s currently a buyers market.
RE: the posts. Wow, there is a lot of ill will being spewed on this board regarding this neighborhood. My parents raised our family just a couple of blocks away on Madison btw Franklin and Classon. I lived there from ’83 till I went away to college in the early 90s and the neighborhood has improved dramatically from the hit it took in the late 80s with the crack epidemic and overall economic recession.
Legally it is Bed-Stuy, but I concur with the statements expressed earlier that it does not have the Bed-Stuy vibe. Bed-Stuy is a large neighborhood and more centrally located in the boro. Clinton Hill is known for its homes, Pratt and its proximity to Manhattan. Anyone who moves onto Classon Avenue between Fulton and Lafayette will attain all those things.
Re: crime. I am young and female and every time I visit my parents (I now live in DC) I walk my dog in and around this general vicinity at night. I jog in this neighborhood too (during day and night). Admittedly I walk and/or jog towards Manhattan or Prospect Park, but I’ve never felt endangered.
Is crime a problem? Sure, but it’s a crime everywhere. Why? Because people who want to steal things will go where the people with money, jewelry, etc.. are and rob them there. Living in Brooklyn Heights or Park Slope isn’t going to change that.
Re: a housing price adjustment. I’ve been keeping tabs on NY real estate for the past five years and so and truly don’t believe that this area of Bed-Stuy on the cusp of CH will see a major adjustment. People pay for space, convenience and amenities. Space is a rowhouse for the same price as an apt. in Manhattan. Convenience is its ideal location and easy access to the airports and four other boros. Historically, there were no amenities but with the gentrification of Brooklyn, the amenities have begun to surface. Will it ever be a Lower East Side or Brooklyn Heights or Park Slope? No, but for those of us who live there (or have lived there), we’re happy with that just fine.
Final thoughts.. all this talk about terrible schools and poor residents, etc. I truly believe that some people on this board don’t live in reality or are afraid to step outside of the little box in which they were raised.
An intelligent person who has the desire to achieve and supportive family and teacher network can do anything. I attended a “terrible” Bed-Stuy public school (Boys and Girls) from 10th- 12th grade and was admitted into a number of the top colleges in the country. I went on to attend a top law school. Bed-Stuy does not equate to failure and Park Slope does not equate to success. The folks on my block growing up were working class families. Good, honest, hard working folks not i-bankers or trust fund millionaires. And that’s ok. Everyone does not have to have a college or graduate school degree to be successful. Y’all need to stop looking at a person’s annual income and look to see how well they’re taking care of their home and family, whether they care about the neighborhood and whether they know to live within their means. Those are signs of a good neighbor and qualities you want to ensure the stability and economic prosperity of your neighborhood.
Ok, I am off my soapbox, but some of these posters are just plain ridiculous.
haha seriously?
& i prefer vail
park slope is much nicer, i agree.
Yes, you should buy in Park Slope, you’ll feel safer there.
I live a block away and have been there for two years (on the broken angel block) and the ‘visible’ crime has gone down signficantly, the demographics have been steadily changing. On my street alone, there are 4 to 5 developments that are ongoing – albiet at a snail’s pace – including the private school on the corner and a dance studio by the same group where the quincy garage is. What is needed is one good store on classon to get the ball rolling.
9:33,
You make excellent points. This part of Bed-Stuy has always been a step child of sorts. It is clearly not Clinton Hill but it is also very different from the more stable parts of Bed-Stuy. That is why it is so exciting in some way. In its liminality people can put meaning on it. For those wanting the raw, you have it. For those looking for transition, this is the place for you. For those looking for affordable brownstones one or two blocks from Clinton Hill, again, this can be a choice.
This area can only get better because of the pressure from Williamsburg, Pratt & Clinton Hill. In a section that literally had only three white faces for almost twenty years, the shift has been unbelievable. About 17-20 years ago the city planted trees and put in new sidewalks. Where did they stop? Bedford Avenue.
Crime will be a major factor in the further development of this section. So people should be very proactive and anticipate the problems associated with truly poor people on lexington living next to a 1.5 mil loft. I don’t think the less affluent people from the community really understand the wealth of some of the newcomers.
“I live two blocks away, and have seen the area change before my eyes…particularly in the last 12 months.”
crime is up significantly in that portion of “clinton hill” this year, btw.