Open House Wrap-Up: Mob Scene at 152 Dean?
We heard that the open house at 152 Dean (far left) attracted more than 50 people yesterday, certainly a bright spot among reports in recent weeks of lower foot traffic. Or maybe with the official start of Spring, the market is just preparing for its seasonal pick-up. Any other reports from the open house trenches?…
We heard that the open house at 152 Dean (far left) attracted more than 50 people yesterday, certainly a bright spot among reports in recent weeks of lower foot traffic. Or maybe with the official start of Spring, the market is just preparing for its seasonal pick-up. Any other reports from the open house trenches?
Open House Picks [Brownstoner]
I agree that Dean Street had way too many problems for the price. Ugly, slanting staircases, very plain bathrooms, unattractive and tiny deck. Kitchen was nice, though not amazing. Rental apartment was the best part, though I heard they were only getting $1,100 for it, which is insane if true. If you looked at the back of the house from the garden, the exterior of the kitchen extension looked totally unfinished, and each floor had a different brick facade, making the entire back exterior look very unattractive. Bottom line is the place was massive (in my opinion, way too big for a small family), had a few nice rooms, but overall was a huge disappointment considering the price. No denying it was in move-in condition, but is that all $2.3 gets you in Boerum Hill?
Sure, there are ways to work around some of the downsides to Lefferts Manor. We could get all our groceries (tho, yes, minus the produce OR the seafood, except frozen) via FreshDirect, and our restaurant food from takeout, but then you’re just living inside your house and not in your neighborhood.
We already live on a somewhat dicey street– have never had a problem, but we believe that’s only luck so far– but by the same token we’re 3/4 of a block from the F, 6 min. walk to the A/C, 8 min. walk to the 2/3/4/5, etc. And I’m at work (from apt. door to office desk) in 30 mins flat. And we’ve got Smith St/Court Street/Atlantic Ave within just steps, the Promenade, Atlantic Center, etc etc. So while we live on a block not entirely dissimilar in tone to some of what we saw, we’re much closer to what we want and need.
I guess I’m surprised that people are willing (able?) to cough up this much $$$ for a house that is so far removed from so much. AND less convenient to trains, etc. I mean, if you’re going to have to use a car to get to everything, why not scale back to, say, $1mil and go live in a different kind of fixer-upper… in Scarsdale?!? Or one of those style towns?!? You’re not much farther from midtown, you know?!? Yeah, the taxes are high, but think of what you’ll save being able to cook the food you bought as opposed to what you got from takeout!!
Sorry, sorry… just my inability to understand. (Besides the charm of the architecture/history of the homes, which I truly get.)
I work in Manhattan and just take in from there on my way home from work. Dinner is reheated in a jiffy and we’re all eating one second later. I had trouble giving up good take out when I left Manhattan, and the Park Slope offererings (before 5th Ave blossomed) really didn’t cut it.
I find that several restaurants in the Slope deliver to Lefferts Manor. For Chinese, we use Hunan Wok; for Thai, we use Mango Thai; for gooooood pizza, we use Bene Pizza (Windsor Terrace); for sushi, there’s Kiku.
Fresh direct is OK for staples but the produce is dreadful. And sometimes you just need to run out to the store and get some good stuff. In those cases, Associated won’t do. Also, as a working mother, I depend on good take out about twice a week. I just couldn’t live without it. But that’s me.
poster 11:12- We use the Prospect Park subway station. If you get in the front of the train you will come out on Lincoln Road. Better feel (sans the construction) than Parkside. Fresh Direct also delivers to the nabe.
FG has plenty of streets with many houses from the 1850s, used to live in one. I think the reason there are less details in Boerum Hill is that it was built for less wealthy people originally.
the kitchen was renovated in the 80’s…a different background that you? I’m the one throwing up a red flag about the 2.3 price tag silly.
To second anon 1227: In general, I would take location over “details”. The houses in Boerum Hill generally do not have that many details for a number of reasons. I think they were built around the 1850’ies, which is a good 30 years before the building boom in Park Slope, Fort Green, Park Slope and Bed Sty, so the houses seem to have less details in Boerum Hill. People seem to have gotten more money later in the century and demanded more ornate details (which I in many cases find over the top). I think the house had a lot of charm and character, including very nice proportions. I agree on the bathrooms, but the kitchen seemed great (and relatively new) to me. But again, if this is how your frat house looked, I can only say that you come from a very different background than mine…