House of the Day: A William-Tubby-Designed Neo-Jacobean House in Clinton Hill
This architecturally significant house at 181 St. James Place in Clinton Hill impresses inside and out with its unique facade and abundance of late 19th century detail inside. Part of a row of three, it was designed in 1892 by architect William Tubby for Charles Pratt’s Morris Building Company. The LPC designation report calls it…
This architecturally significant house at 181 St. James Place in Clinton Hill impresses inside and out with its unique facade and abundance of late 19th century detail inside. Part of a row of three, it was designed in 1892 by architect William Tubby for Charles Pratt’s Morris Building Company.
The LPC designation report calls it a mix of Romanesque Revival and Queen Anne, but we think neo-Jacobean better explains the mix of Flemish gables at the top and bay windows below. It’s only 17 feet wide, but it’s a single family house with a center stair, so the rooms aren’t narrow.
The details are relatively modern in their simplicity, anticipating the American Arts and Crafts style of the early 20th century. They don’t look like standard forms out of the builder’s catalog, and also have Queen Anne and Jacobean elements, such as the upper paneling on the mantel in the front parlor.
The layout looks more or less original, with the kitchen on the ground floor, although the rear parlor is used as a dining room, with a butler’s pantry off it. There are five decorative mantels, original wood work and stained glass.
A bath looks renovated but classic, in a circa-1900 style with white subway tile and a claw foot tub. The mechanicals have been updated but the house needs some maintenance, according to the listing.
It was a Building of the Day in 2007. What do you think of the house and its ask of $2,545,000?
181 St. James Place [Elliman] GMAP
Photos by Douglas Elliman
This house makes me worry, because the people who could spend that much on it might also be the unfortunate subset who would feel compelled to “improve” it… and it needs nothing.
I went to the Open House this weekend.. This house is freaking gorgeous. I really love everything about it, it is so well done inside, so quaint, so thought out and charming. For me, the price seems low considering the area and the prices in the area. However, there is no rental so, I don’t know how that would affect the price.
Considering this place is selling down the street for $1,000+ a square foot http://streeteasy.com/sale/1163623-townhouse-310-lafayette-avenue-clinton-hill-brooklyn
While 181 St James this place is selling for $817 a square foot, you would think this would sell for above asking. If you take away the rental income, you still have a much shorter walk to the A train.
Who knows, it will be interesting to watch.,
But, just on a personal note, i absolutely love this house.
went to the open house this weekend.. there are a lot of things wrong with that Lafayette House
Plus, contrary to the broker’s prose, the Lafayette Ace house is not a “short stroll” from the C train; and its basement shouldn’t be touted as a potential additional bedroom for the owner’s duplex unless sleeping therein would not violate the fire code….and I don’t see a second egress for that space in the ground plan.