House of the Day: 491 East 17th Street
This 3,500-square-foot one-family house at 491 East 17th is advertised as being on “the best block in Landmark Ditmas Park.” If that’s true, we suspect that this is one of the less good-looking places on the street due, in large part, to the brick addition on the front of the house. The interior, however, is…
This 3,500-square-foot one-family house at 491 East 17th is advertised as being on “the best block in Landmark Ditmas Park.” If that’s true, we suspect that this is one of the less good-looking places on the street due, in large part, to the brick addition on the front of the house. The interior, however, is very charming. And, considering that the house across the street sold for $1,900,000 last year, the asking price of $1,300,000 for this place may look interesting for those with a hankering for the Victorian nabe.
491 East 17th Street [Mary Kay Gallagher] GMAP P*Shark
5:49, what the effen are you talking about? On a per square foot basis houses in ditmas park are about half the price of park slope. There is the discount for the nabe’s amenities amenities, higher crime stats, and somewhat higher maintenance. The point is I remember when Forte greene was discounted to park slope for all the same reasons and guess what…they are very similar priced today because the the nabe gentrified, people preferred the vibe, etc. There isn’t enough demand? If you’ve followed the market in ditmas park at all you would know houses have sold and price points have risen over the last two years and continue to because guess what…it’s a discount for price/square foot of other nabes. Its pretty simple. What kind of green…you mean two 5th year associates each making 230k??? They can easily afford the mortgage and more and they are a dime a dozen my friend.
I am just not ready to live in Victorian Flatbush…We have been looking at houses there and I do not feel this area is safe. There are always gang bangers getting on the train at Beverly and Cortelyou. This is quite unfortunate…its really too bad. I think many people feel this way. The schools around there arent so hot either. If you look at comparisons of income between neighborhoods, 11226 is below many others. In my opinion, if you want a Vic, Bay Ridge is a safer bet. Ofcourse you have a slightly longer commute and a different crowd…but average income is higher and there is less crime.
“it’s definitely not as safe as other areas.” Where did you get that from? As a previous poster stated, view the crime stats. Yes Park Slope is safe but Ditmas Park is in a very interesting precinct. The 7-0 covers a vast areas with significant socioeconomic differences between the sectors. What happens in one sector affect the overall stats. The SWARM blocks – that’s how those of us on-the-job refer to the Stratford, Westminster, Argyle, Rugby and Marlborough blocks are just as safe as Park Slope. The numbered blocks E 16, 17 18 and 19 starting at Beverly and going South also safe. Rugby between Newkirk and Foster has issues but those issues don’t generally affect the “gentrified.” The eastern part of the 7-0 has many issues, again most of which don’t affect the gentrified. The people in the neighborhood always bring cookies or send cards during the Holiday’s to the Police and Fire Dept’s and are usually quite pleasant. Park Slope people are not as nice. If money were no object- and for me it is. I’d go with Ditmas over Park Slope.
yes, except 5th ave 10 years ago was priced for what it was then. this is priced for “imagine what this will be like in 10 years” as if we are already living in that time. these prices have gotten way ahead of themselves, especially given how expensive the houses are to maintain. there simply isn’t enough demand from people with that kind of green when they have so many other choices at that price point. for $200k, i say you made a great deal. for 1.3mn, i would feel like a sucker.
Staten Island = 350K
Buffulo, NY = 75K
I have never seen Mary Kay post anything on Brownstoner so I don’t know how she would then “puff up Ditmas on Brownstoner and make it sound like in all the other neighborhoods of Brooklyn everyone gets mugged every day.” She just doesn’t strike me as the blogging kind. MKG stayed in Flatbush and raised her family here when it wasn’t fashionable. She could have fled Brooklyn with the waves of others who left for points north south easet and west. Many Brownstone readers obsess about crime and not just in Ditmas Park but in all of the Brownstone neighborhoods too. You are correct that crime stats are available online but even they have to be taken with a grain of salt because one or two hot spots in any precinct can skew the stat’s. And you are right, this is NYC. It is one of the safest cities in the USA. Now that’s not saying much if you got mugged last night!
I certainly wouldn’t gloss over the neighborhood’s problems. There are good, bad, and terrible blocks around here and with fewer businesses open late at night, it’s definitely not as safe as other areas. And, yes, the crime stats here are higher than in most of Park Slope. No panicky reaction, just the reality. That’s what these comment sections are for: to talk about the kinds of things that aren’t mentioned in the real estate broker’s listing.
That being said, lots of neighborhoods in Brooklyn that used to be sketchy are now much safer, even if you can’t forget that you still live in the city. DUMBO is certainly a lot safer now, but I wouldn’t recommend walking alone from the F train late at night. Do you think anyone was hanging out at the Smith and 9th Street subway stops a few years ago (or even now)? So, if you’re smart and patient, willing to invest in a neighborhood that will benefit from invested neighbors, and aware of all of the facts, then DP is a great place to live. Diverse and gritty are all fine and good, but no one should ignore the reality of any neighborhood. There are relative risks in all of them.
4:48 here ,
Bought a 7 bedroom, center hall with double parlor in 1998 for less than 200K. Had lots of detail but needed work. Alot of the tedious work like stripping paint I did myself- women are pretty good at detailed stuff like that. No longer have a mortgage. I’m good now, thank you.
Nothing about the details of this house are Victorian, regardless of when in the 20th century it was built. It is 100% Edwardian inside and out.
As for the claim Mary Kay Gallagher always gets her price, the only thing MKG always does is puff up Ditmas on Brownstoner and make it sound like in all the other neighborhoods of Brooklyn everyone gets mugged every day. Do you know how offensive that sounds? Not to mention completely inaccurate. Buyers can look up real crime stats if they want to see them. The fact that every single time anybody in Ditmas obsesses over the crime topic when they talk about their neighborhood on Brownstoner, it’s kinda unappealing. Makes it sound like a bunch of panicky yuppies out there. This is NYC, you know that, right? Even if you have a yard you are still in NYC. Diverse NYC in all its gritty glory that most of us manage to appreciate.