Stepping Out On FG Park (For Almost $4 Mil!)
Wow. What can you say? A perfectly restored 4-story brownstone on what the ad claims to be the best block in Fort Greene. No one’s going to argue (we don’t think) with what a beauty this house. (Some of you have probably seen it first hand as it was on the house tour this year.)…

Wow. What can you say? A perfectly restored 4-story brownstone on what the ad claims to be the best block in Fort Greene. No one’s going to argue (we don’t think) with what a beauty this house. (Some of you have probably seen it first hand as it was on the house tour this year.) The price of $3.995 million, though, is staggering. Embedded in that price is the bold assertion that Fort Greene is now as desirable as, if not more than, Park Slope or Cobble Hill and that it is safely ahead of Boerum Hill. Granted, the parkside location ads something to the value, but we’re not sure South Portland isn’t a preferable address. 10 South Portland, which we discussed here, is an interesting comparable: It just went into contract this week for $2.65 million (interestingly enough, after being reduced from $3.495 million to $2.495, which in turn sparked a 4-way bidding war. Told ya so!) This Washington Park listing is clearly worth a good deal more than the South Portland one, but the asking price is clearly a Hail Mary. It remains to be seen whether anyone will catch it in the end-zone or whether the seller will have to start over and work the ball down the field the old-fashioned way. (Did that football analogy hold water? Bit of a stretch…)
Update: The address is 181 Washington Park just in from Willoughby.
“On The Park” [Brooklyn Properties] GMAP P*Shark
This house is absolutely stunning. But, I disagree with you, Hal, in your observation that what makes it so are its furnishings and decorations. Instead, I’m actually trying to ignore the design scheme in order to get a better peek at the home’s gorgeous bones. Just imagine, Hal, if you or I had the $4M to spend on a home like this, there would likely be no issue as to having the spare change needed to properly dress it!
It occurs to me that one of the things that makes this house so beautiful is the way it’s furnished and decorated. I’m trying to imagine what it would look like filled with my junk.
It must be nice to move into a house where you don’t have to change a light bulb or clean the fridge on day one.
I know nothing about Fort Green. But this house in amazing. Are they selling it fully furnished, seems that everything was done to perfection and just a real eye for detail in every little thing. I wish I could afford it and all the furnishing. I get the window a/c but I can see why they did not put in central air as the moldings in the house are just amazing, I would not want to ruin those either….
But does any one live in this house, does not look lived in at all. I am sure they have no kids either!!!!!!!!!
What a house!!!!!!!!!!!!
I guess I characterize Washington Park as being quiet since personally, I can’t hear any of the summer park noise from inside my house which is on the park and because unlike Prospect Park West, it’s a one-lane, short street so you don’t get the honking horns and sirens. As for FortGreener’s post about the grimy buildings, well, there’s no arguing there. However, it is, I think, fair to say that there are very few of them left as many have undergone or are undergoing renovation. It’s all a matter of time, I suspect.
I agree re the noise, though to characterize the block as having many grimy buildings in disrepair seems to be going a bit overboard imo. Maybe then end near Myrtle, but overall it is a nice block…though I would prefer a quieter one…
I can’t comment on whether $4 million is “worth it” — only the time and the market can tell — but I will say that as a resident of a nearby park block, calling Washington Park “quiet” is just plain nutty. The park is a noisy place in the summer, from barbeque-ers to concerts to kids in the playground. And although the housing stock on this block is clearly spectacular, the block still has many grimy buildings in disrepair. It is not the “5th Avenue” of Fort Greene just yet.
As for the central AC, knock 100K off the price for the cost and headache of installing a top of the line, zoned, hvac system, the kind without the wall units…
Hhhhhhmmmmmm….I missed the window a/c units. When you’re paying this much for a luxury property, isn’t central air a must? Perhaps the owners viewed central air to be too intrusive and at odds with the period restoration?
Not to be “blockist” but Washington Park is much “better” than South Portland because you are looking at the park not another row of brownstones. Additionally to one of the other commentors: 10 South Portland is obviously not a corner lot. It is the house that went into contract for $2.65MM through that weird broker that’s about 3 houses in from the corner – it’s 5 floors and needs total renovation. The person who bought 10 South Portland is going to do it “right” so assume $300 per sq ft reno cost – the house is 4,500 sq ft so that is $2.65MM+$1.35MM=$4MM
Now would someone like to tell me why this pristine, unreal renovation (and yes I’ve been inside several times)in great taste and amazing quality right on the park is mispriced?