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Young lovers, beware of the brownstone! This, apparently, is the fable of this week’s Habitats column in The Times. I will never live in another Victorian brownstone, Serine Hastings told the paper of record. I have had two failed relationships while living in them. So what’s a modernist-leaning empty-nester to do? This devoted Brooklynite decided to trade in her Fort Greene brownstone for a sixth-floor two-bedroom at The Smith, in part because she found that it had the best finishes of the other new construction projects she was looking at back in 2006. She also has some perspective on how her decision must look from the outside: I know people must drive by and think, I could never live in that cookie-cutter building, she said. I used to be one of those people.
After All Those Brownstones, a Blank Canvas [NY Times] GMAP


What's Your Take? Leave a Comment

  1. wow the ny times has now fallen to the level of infomercials for developers..remember the “new brooklyn” article a couple of months ago hyping the monstrosities on forth avenue.. it gets worse and worse..

  2. I fully get the appeal of a condo over a Brownstone (no snow shoveling for one – someone else has to fix the leaks for two) and I (in the minority) don’t the “The Smith” is such a bad looking building.

    BUT

    the thing was clearly horribly constructed using numerous and totally uncoordinated contractors (i.e. as one failed or quit a few months later another was hired to continue) and as a result, critical parts were improperly exposed to the elements for the better part of 2 years. This building is going to be a maintaince NIGHTMARE for years (expect the scaffolding to go up any day now to deal with the leaks and the eventual 11/98 remediation). I think Ms Hastings is going to have trouble with another relationship soon – thats ok though – she is pretty hot for an older (lesbian?) women and she’ll find someone new fairly quickly

  3. I think it’s all about re-inventing yourself. It keeps you young. Not everyone can do it. You have to have a certain attitude, not to mention money. I have known several people who have always lived in old houses filled with beautiful antiques that they collected over the years, suddenly decide to sell the house, auction the antiques, and move to a brand new building with brand new things. I think it’s great. Also, when the knees begin to go, single-level living in a full-serve elevator building is maximo bueno.