House of the Day: 266 Berkeley Place
The four-story brownstone at 266 Berkeley Place is a prime property, don’t get us wrong, but the $3,250,000 asking price strikes us as rather out-of-sync with the current market, especially gi. First of all, it appears to not be configured for the most likely family buyer in the this location: The listing calls the house…
The four-story brownstone at 266 Berkeley Place is a prime property, don’t get us wrong, but the $3,250,000 asking price strikes us as rather out-of-sync with the current market, especially gi. First of all, it appears to not be configured for the most likely family buyer in the this location: The listing calls the house “multi-family” while PropertyShark says it’s a two-family. Secondly, the kitchen and bathroom renovations don’t, in our opinion, rise to the level of the rest of the house. (And there’s also the issue of the recessed lighting on the parlor floor—just say no!) While these may seem like nits, most people gearing up to pay the estimated $27,000 a month (that’s per the listing not us) in carrying costs will care about every last detail.
266 Berkeley Place [Bellmarc] GMAP P*Shark
Nobody’s mentioned that, despite the fact that the home is decorated like something one would find in Bret Easton Ellis’ Less than Zero or even American Psycho, there is a kitchen smack in the middle of the parlor! And not a particularly pretty one at that. So despite needing to make major changes to the parlor floor, ripping out and completely re-PLACING the kitchen, there also remains the pesky problem of an upstairs rental which shares halls and stairs.
None of it makes sense hence, makes the asking price ludicrous. If it were 2.5 ask, it would be a contender.
(“it coulda been a contender” said softly with feeling…)
The whole argument about recessed lighting seems equally ludicrous. Well, maybe not equally, but still silly. If one likes recessed lighting, then by all means, it can be installed tastefully. If one doesn’t, then don’t put it in. Removing it is not that big a deal.
We have it – small halogen high hats – throughout our (circa 1890) Manhattan loft. Provides nice light on dimmers, though, we seldom use it because I’m finally getting serious about going more gently on all things wasteful and eco-unfriendly. I’ve been sort of shallowly green for several years. Now I’m getting serious. (Given up the car, getting a hybrid, given up red meat, probably will end up vegetarian, given up plastic bags cold turkey, looking into a counter compost, given up all chemical cleaning products…) Though I HATE, HATE, HATE those spiral eco bulbs and the light they emit. Don’t know what to do about that.
Anyway, where did that come from? I need coffee and to get a hobby when my kids’ napping!
10.57 – you were starting to make sense until you got to the recessed lighting. Staten Island is more your style – republican AND recessed lighting galore. The best of both worlds for you.
I agree with Mr. B that recessed lights are crappy in a brownstone (most of the time). 4:22 asked what does it matter? When the ask is 3.25 million, there is no room for tacky, tasteless or non-period specific renos, upgrades or updates. And, the bathrooms pictured – double yuck! The price should be lowered simply because replacing them won’t be cheap.
yikes…glad i own!
***
April 30, 2008 — Operating costs for landlords of the city’s million rent-stabilized apartment buildings jumped 7.8 percent last year, a harbinger that rent hikes this year will be larger than last.
The figures were reported yesterday by the Rent Guidelines Board, which meets Monday to begin the process of setting this year’s rent hikes for leases signed on or after Oct. 1.
The final increases will be established in June after the usual round of public hearings.
Last year, when landlord costs jumped 5.1 percent, the board voted rent hikes of 3 percent for one-year lease renewals and 5.75 percent for two-year renewals.
10:57 – how do you respond to Bush’s comments in the last few days about how the nation’s economy is experiencing “very difficult” times? You make it sound like the negative picture of our economy is the result of the left wing media cabal, but our very right wing president is remarking about how bad it is, and I’m curious about how you interpret that?
Hi again,
“nutsy” 6:21 here, responding to the predictable reactionary left wingers who steadfastly want that negative economic story to come true.
First off, we have the ever present class warfare angle in which the “rich” are depicted as evil robber barons who are out to eradicate the poor as well as make the middle class their indentured servants. Newsflash; this is a dynamic society. you can move up and down the chain as much as you want depending on your drive, your intelligence, your initiative or your luck. Save the upstairs downstairs allusions for the sophmore sociology class at the community college with the bearded ex-socialist assistant professor.
Next: “9:21” you prove my point to a tee. You already state we are in a recession. I just informed you that there was a positive GDP posted in this first quarter of 08. Most economists now say the chances of a recession are about 25%, no I’m not making this stuff up. Try to be objective, I know how hard it is for you committed liberals, and see that much of your negativity is a self-fullfilling prophecy fed by the likes of the NYTimes, CNN, CBS nightly news and Time magazing; all committed left skewed news outlets (i.e. they want a democrat in the white house, if you don’t believe me, go and google who Arthur Schulzberger regularly has dinner with, hint: it ain’t the John Birch society).
Finally, and this is the one I find most offensive as I work with the poor in healthcare here in NYC. someone mentioned the spectre of hunger as a major problem in this great nation. WRONG. the problem is one of obesity and diabetes. it is an epidemic. I have never heard of anyone in this nation starving to death in the post war era unless it was out of neglect or mental disease. Stop that dispicable lie before it goes unchallenged and is mistaken for some semblance of truth. I’ll say it again, we have an epidemic of obesity and diabetes in this nation, not hunger, sorry to inform you.
By the way, recessed lighting is perfectly acceptable in a brownstone/victorian setting. The highlights provided by focused lighting form a prefect contrast to the more diffuse floor or table lamp lighting and is not at all in conflict with the period. any more than say, a computer monitor on a Louis XV desk or a Wassily chair in front of a Beaux Arts fireplace surround. The disparate styles are what make for the individuality of the environs. That’s the difference between being a trendy poseur and having true style.
yes 10:52, but the novo is hideous.
this is a head scratcher financially, you end up with 2200 sq ft with those carrying costs? really? jeez. the options on an apt that sized are endless for half the money without the tenants walking through your place. you’d really really have to like PS. for that kind of money you could be living really really well somewhere else. bought a 2000 sq ft duplex condo with private, bigger, much better backyard. without figuring in the tax deduction and with cc’s and taxes, paying $4500 per month. and, my place is a frickin palace aesthetically compared to this mismash. also, my taxes are only $65 monthly (abatement).
8:15 your post about gas lighting is incorrect.This house when built had gas lighting installed.
Also Mr.B is correct recessed lighting in a Parlour floor is just crap……