House of the Day: 1372 Dean Street
We’re loving the looks of this brick three-story house at 1372 Dean Street in the Crown Heights North Historic District. From the outside, that is. Who could resist that rounded tower? The inside, however, is looking a little worse for the wear and makes the asking price of $1,250,000 little more than a pipe dream…
We’re loving the looks of this brick three-story house at 1372 Dean Street in the Crown Heights North Historic District. From the outside, that is. Who could resist that rounded tower? The inside, however, is looking a little worse for the wear and makes the asking price of $1,250,000 little more than a pipe dream in this market, in our opinion. What’s more, this place is chopped up into a five units, which presents its own set of potential drawbacks. (Three of the apartments are currently rented.) On the positive side, there’s a driveway with room for two cars. We just don’t see how a place like this is going to clear a million bucks in this environment.
1372 Dean Street [Century 21] GMAP P*Shark
Brooklynnative:
The South End was riddled with abandoned buildings and rife with crime and drugs when I was a graduate student in Cambridge in the late 70s. (The only reasons friends lived there was because it was dirt cheap.) It took more than twenty years but it’s now one of the most expensive areas in Boston.
Crown Heights doesn’t have to be one of the most expensive areas in New York City to be vibrant. Physically, it never fell as far as the South End and it may never rise as high in price, but between the two quick drive throughs I’ve made — one in the late 90’s and one this year — South-End like signs of improvement are everywhere.
Posters here bemoan the area’s shopping streets, the most visible — and lagging — signs of progress. But such streets are always the last to improve during urban “gentrification.” Columbus Avenue in the South End didn’t come back until residential cross streets revived. (And look how long it’s taken Park Slope’s Fifth Avenue to become a destination street. Maybe newcomers don’t realize it, but as someone who’s had family in Park Slope for generations, I can tell you: fifty years! It seems less only because it’s accelerated in the last few!)
To those who bought and are holding in Crown Heights, congratulations! You already live in one of Brooklyn’s handsomest neighborhoods. And there’ll be a big upside down the road.
Nostalgic on Park Avenue
Yup I don’t speak for anyone but me; the market speaks for us all. Most prefer Manhattan to Brooklyn which is why prices are so much higher there. Prices are considerably lower for equivalent housing in Crown Heights than many areas in Brooklyn, but still higher than some areas like East New York for example. Nothing offensive or racist about these observations of facts, but I’m glad you enjoyed a good laugh.
Don’t worry, I’m a bit directionally challenged myself. So you agree that you don’t speak for everyone when you stated “Most people would not want to live there.” Thanks!!! I have no further questions your Honor. LOL
Obviously I don’t live there and I was confused about the Eastern Parkway thing. I think it’s because the Brower Park area has such a different feel than Dean street that I had thought they were further apart than they are. But I’ve certainly walked around there, ridden my bike there, and have been to plenty of open houses in Crown Heights. In fact, I was the one who pointed out to Dave that the house he likes on Dean had already had an open house and I described the house so I don’t think there can be any doubt of whether I’ve stepped foot in the neighborhood. Just a bit directionally challenged which is nothing new for me. And, no I realize I don’t speak for everyone, I don’t even speak for my “circle of friends” whatever that means.
Brooklynnative, I’m a bit confused. Your second choice would be Crown Heights by Brower Park, but you then you go on to say that you would not buy in Crown Heights on this side of Eastern Pkwy. Brower Park is on “this” side of Eastern Pkwy. I’m beginning to think that you’ve never actually step foot in our neck of the woods, yet you’re so adamant about how no one really would want to live here!!! Before forming an “opinion” about Crown Heights come visit. Again, as I’ve stated before, we’re not perfect. There are many long time and new residents that care about the future of Crown Heights — Crow Hill Association, Crown Heights North Association, Crown Heights Revitalization Movement as well as many dedicated block associations. As MM said, Crown Heights has risen, fallen and is rising again. You and your circle of friends don’t speak for everyone, and that’s apparent when I walk around my neighborhood and see changes, albeit slow, they’re coming!!!
Brooklynnative, you contradict yourself. If you were interested in buying near Brower Park, then you would be buying on the same side of Eastern Parkway as Dean Street and all of the rest of Crown Heights North that you say you would NOT buy in.
I don’t think landmarking has had much to do with pricing across the board. There were as many homes listed for over a million before landmarking, which was only last April, as now. I think the high prices reflected the overall inflated prices that all of brownstone Brooklyn suffers from. And for what it’s worth, most of those houses were unique – stand alone mansions, or untouched one families, and all were handled by the large firms. The smaller local firms still carry a majority of the average, regular homes that are sold in the area. I have always said that the best way to sustained growth in this community is through sensible pricing.
Thanks for putting that so beautifully Montrose. CHN will never be Park slope and that’s great, really. I’m always amazed at how much of its architectural history has remained intact and how expressive it is. CHN is a very rich neighborhood in terms of that and its people. when I answered Brooklynnative I was using the generic “you” but my point was that neighborhoods have their own personalities.And i will say again it’s not for everyone but to paraphrase Montrose, that’s just fine.
“this house looks like it belongs on a block in the South End which when I lived in Boston years ago was to the Back Bay what Crown Heights is to Park Slope today. Now of course, you can’t touch places there for less than a couple of million.”
Yeah, but that supports my point. Why has everywhere else gentrified already to the extent this house would cost astronomically more if it were situated in the Slope, the Heights, Clinton Hill, Prospect Heights, Cobble Hill, Carrol Gardens, anywhere in Manhattan, etc., etc. Personally, if I were buying, and I was very seriously considering it, my first choice with no serious competition was Stuyvesant Heights , second choice is Crown Heights by Brower Park. I would not buy in Crown Heights on this side of Eastern Parkway. I think the landmark designation has inflated prices way beyond what that immediate neighborhood is worth.
JPM beat the numbers along with WFC yesterday!!!! Sorry, off topic!!