House of the Day: 405 Clinton Avenue
This is big news, people. The idiosyncratic mansion that William Tubby designed in 1889 for Charles Adolph Schieren, a leather manufacturer, inventor, politician and philanthropist, has hit the market after years of neglect and deterioration. The Romanesque Revival/Queen Anne hybrid has been owned by the same person since 1990, and unfortunately he has not had…
This is big news, people. The idiosyncratic mansion that William Tubby designed in 1889 for Charles Adolph Schieren, a leather manufacturer, inventor, politician and philanthropist, has hit the market after years of neglect and deterioration. The Romanesque Revival/Queen Anne hybrid has been owned by the same person since 1990, and unfortunately he has not had the means to maintain the historic house in the manner it deserves. Many in the neighborhood have hoped he would sell it before it was too late, so this comes as great news. There are no interior photos, but given the open windows and, we hear, lack of heat in the house, it’s gotta be in pretty rough shape. Let’s hope there’s some well-heeled preservationist out there who’s got the mojo to buy the place and return it to its former splendor. The asking price for the 6,300-square-foot place is $3,995,000.
405 Clinton Avenue [Brooklyn Properties] GMAP P*Shark
Serious Dumpster Action on Clinton Avenue [Brownstoner]
I have always loved this house. It has so much character as it is. I can’t believe its for sale.
In light of the state of the economy, the timing is unfortunate. I do hope that a passionate person steps forward to save this piece of Brooklyn history. I do wonder what the interior looks like? The house does seem overpriced. I am assuming that the interior needs as much work as the exterior. With the amount of money that it would cost to fix the interior, the price gets pushed up to over $1000/square foot. That’s mighty steep for Clinton Hill. That said, I hope that this house finds a loving owner.
My thoughts exactly, Fred. Even in better economic times, close to $4MM is crazy.
If the 12000 sf Pfizer Mansion took two years to sell for 3.2M before the credit crunch, how could they expect 800k more for a place half the size? Someone should fix this place up, but if the owner really cares about it he should cut the price in half.
It’s so sad that the most likely scenario is that some cheeseball developer will buy it and somehow turn this glorious house into cookie cutter apartments with “stainless steel appliances.”
Too bad it is not closer to one of the public art waterfalls, that would have taken care of the green architecture.
Stoner, a suggestion:
compile the ratings of the public schools in some of the neighborhoods. I notice that Park Slope schools got A’s and B’s. Quite a few A’s in Carroll Gardens too. Brooklyn Heights got an F (ouch) and Cobble Hill’s PS 29 a C.
Anyway, which brownstone neighborhod has the best and worst public schools?
Oh oh oh my god!
If I had the funds I’d buy it in a hot second. Just to be able to see this fully restored would be such a reward.
I hope it finds the deep pockets it deserves.
No problem. Happens all the time in my business. At least you corrected it!
Yikes! How embarrassing.