House of the Day: 545 9th Street
This three-story limestone house at 545 9th Street in Park Slope just hit the market and is looking pretty interesting to us. While it’s only three stories, it’s got a lot of historic charm and is located only a half-block from Prospect Park. Given those last two positives, the asking price of $1,695,000 sounds attractive….
This three-story limestone house at 545 9th Street in Park Slope just hit the market and is looking pretty interesting to us. While it’s only three stories, it’s got a lot of historic charm and is located only a half-block from Prospect Park. Given those last two positives, the asking price of $1,695,000 sounds attractive. Even on a per-square-foot basis (which comes out to about $600), it’s not too bad. Thoughts?
545 9th Street [Orrichio Anderson] GMAP P*Shark
> proximity makes up for some of the hassles
Yeah, I suppose. But since this is all theoretical, I’d opt for a location convenient to the Q train. Which is what I did in reality.
As others have noted, 9th Street has traffic noise and subway noise. Not to mention a constant stream of people going to a and from the park in nicer weather. Going one block north or south solves all of those issues.
I like the kitchen and living room on the same level, with bathroom,which I think could have been done. The garden level could have been laundry, den and bathroom.
Top should be bedrooms and bathroom.
I would not want tennants above me, that is so not the look.
I lived off the F train for 10 years. It was generally fine during the week, during rush hour. Forget the notion of weekend service, which persists today.
Snark–do you hate it so much that you wouldn’t be able to perceive convenience living half block from the station? I am not saying its the cream of the crop but I think proximity makes up for some of the hassles you describe.
tiptoe–i would have done the same thing. Only someone with a heart of coal would rent a garden apt and not give any access. not someone you would want to rent from. Their karma will run over their dogma one of these days.
When we first moved to Park Slope, we looked at a nice garden apartment on 9th Street, off 7th Avenue. Politely inquired if there was any access to the backyard (landlords lived on top floors). When we were told there was no access, we did not hesitate to turn around and leave. I found the thought of watching people enjoying the patio and backyard from the ground floor depressing and unbearable.
> Why do so many people hate the F train?
I’m not a big fan because:
a) it’s a long, slow ride to Midtown
b) it doesn’t connect to all of the trains at Atlantic
seems quite competitively/farily priced for park block. Yes, can find quieter and more charming block but this is still very nice Park Slope property and location.
The F is slow. And it’s frequently crowded. And often there is work being done somewhere on the track that leads to irregular or replacement bus service on off hours. And if you work near Wall Street or WFC you have to switch to the A and then maybe even the 4/5 or 2/3.
OTOH, there’s not a lot of houses on park blocks near GAP for this price, so you can’t really complain about the F. The only house on the market that I can think of as comparable is IMO oddly configured four family on Garfield Place. And that is still a five or six minute walk at least to the 2/3 stop.
“Do people ever do a garden-level rental *without* giving the tenant access to the yard?”
What everyone else said. Most people I know have a deck from their triplex to the garden and give tenants access to the patio under the deck.
As for cellar access, I walled off the stairs on the garden level, with a door for access to the rental apartment, so that I maintained access to and use of the cellar.
Wasder, I totally agree with you about the tenants. My tenants also walked my dog for me some times, picked up groceries when I was sick, etc. Great L-T relationship.