House of the Day: 915 Sterling Place
The four-story house at 915 Sterling Place is a little on the narrow side (17 feet) but makes up for it with an extra-deep lot (120 feet). The listing claims that the house is “loaded with original details” but the one interior photo included isn’t too convincing; the fact that it’s divided up into four…
The four-story house at 915 Sterling Place is a little on the narrow side (17 feet) but makes up for it with an extra-deep lot (120 feet). The listing claims that the house is “loaded with original details” but the one interior photo included isn’t too convincing; the fact that it’s divided up into four units also doesn’t bode particularly well for the preservation of interior details, but this part of town does have some great woodwork so maybe there’s something to it. And what about the asking price of $895,000? We suspect it’ll go for a little less, especially since the seller is already being touted as “motivated.” Anyone been inside?
915 Sterling Place [Elliman] GMAP P*Shark
Nostalgic, that’s great! Very Father Knows Best, and Donna Reed. I remember my mother dressing that way, too.
I don’t know if you remember, but the interiors of many of these Kinko houses are very Mission/Craftsman styled. Lots of deep green plain glazed tiled fireplaces with plain oak mantles and Craftsman style sconces, built-ins and quarter sawn oak woodwork. A total distancing from nearby High Victorian brownstones.
12:04, I may know a small bit about architecture, but I freely admit I know next to nothing about local schools. I don’t have any children, and most of my friends in the area have grown children, some of whom went to local public schools, some to parochial schools. Many of my friends went to those same schools, but that was a while back. There is an Episcopal day school in the area, on Brooklyn Ave near President Street. There are a couple of magnet schools in the community, but I couldn’t give you any more accurate info. Sorry.
3:27, hi neighbor. I too love Crown Heights, own a house there and go to Brower park all the time (I probably see you on a regular basis LOL).
A few posters on this board think very little of Crown Heights. I learned to let it go. We get to enjoy our “good thing” without all the naysayers.
Wow, Montrose! You’re absolutely right! I haven’t thought of St. Gregory’s Church in years. And these “Kinko” houses were on Brooklyn Avenue! I remember a play date with a little girl who lived in one of these. My father dropped me off in the vestibule downstairs, and I climbed up the narrow stairs. At the top I found my friend’s very prim mother (in blouse, pearls, and tweed skirt), knitting next the fire place. She kept me waiting for her daughter to appear. In those days, little boys were trained to wait for little girls, preparing us for the dating world that lay
ahead. Thanks for sharpening my memory!
Nostalgic on Park Avenue
OK, I was responding more to this house’s exterior in my post about Crown Heights row houses. (With its asymmetrical parlor floor, center-bay bow, and twin third-floor windows, it looks like a rectangular pumpkin — kind of neat!) But give a glance at the little apartment inside. The bed cover and curtains match and complement the table cloth; small rugs circle the floor; and there are flowers in the windows and a plant overhead. Everything neat and cared for, deserving of respect. I hope the buyer doesn’t kick the tenants out. They’ve obviously made this place home.
Nostalgic on Park Avenue
I find this discussion about class fascinating. So with 150K+ in income, and 1m+ in assets, we’re middle class? That seems so strange. Do you think the distinctions of upper middle vs. plain old middle class still apply? As for buying a country house instead of a NYC home, I don’t see it. We are urban people and love to spend weekends in the city. Plus it seems like you should put your money where you spend most of your time – your principal residence. We do own a 3BR apt but with 2 kids and not much square footage, it’s feeling small. How are schools in Crown Heights by the way? The main reason we want a house in PS/WT/CH/CG is for the schools – but we also like the amenities, being close to the park, sense of community etc.
Thanks for the kind words, 7:05, 8:44, and 11:24. I’m just an unabashed booster for my neighborhood, which I am glad to live in, problems and all.
Nostalgic, you tell the best stories. It’s like reading a novel set in a familiar place – I can see exactly where the story is taking place. Your two family duplexes are called Kinko houses, and mostly in the area near St. Gregory’s church, around Brooklyn Ave near Sterling, St. John’s, and back towards Kingston Ave. They were built to house the many new families moving into CH right around WWI, and were a deliberate attempt at attractive and affordable middle class housing. How appropriate is that to this discussion?
The neo-Georgians are a group of semi-detached and stand alone houses almost on the corner of St. Marks and Brooklyn Ave, across from Brower Park. They were built in the 20’s for a Mrs. Schwartz, one of the few female developers on record. They replaced the grand mansions that used to line this block, and have garages in the back. Your friend’s mother may have been right, and the house was built for them. These are now in the Landmarked district. The Kinko houses will be in Phase 2, due to be landmarked in the near future.
I guess I’m working class. If I were the posters above, and wanted to buy but couldn’t afford to go where I wanted to, I think I’d either buy an apartment or rent one, and spend my money buying a second home upstate somewhere, where you can still get bang for your buck. It’s still real estate, and would be a welcome respite from the city. It’s rough out here.
Lastly, anna, this isn’t a bad block at all. The reasons this is a “bad” house is that it’s currently almost an SRO, which involves a lot of tenant issues, it will need a lot of work and money to reconfigure in any way, it’s kind of narrow, and costs too much. The block itself is nice – brownstones on both sides, most very well kept up, close to the 3 train at Eastern Parkway, and on a block that will be part of Phase 2 in landmarking. As you can see in the photo, the architecture is unusual and interesting. I’m going from memory, but I think that particular group of houses alternates facades with the plainer one next door, and this facade is repeated one or two other times in the group. It looks to be a nicely kept home. It’s just too expensive. It’s that simple.
Actually, guest 8:18, my understanding is that much of the Hasidic community lives under the poverty line, spends most of their time studying the Torah and observing odd, quaint rituals such as not using elevator buttons on certain days, and accepting community assistance from their congregation, no? I don’t think many of those cats are hiding buckets of riches and skewing the Crown Heights stats. I could be wrong.
be nice to montrose. he is brave enough to attribute a name to his opinions — right or wrong — and he’s usually thoughful enough to give the rest of us some facts so we can make up our own minds about what he’s saying. that said, can other crown heights residents speak up? does this house just happen to be in a particularly ugly section of crown heights that should be avoided? — anna