A $14 Million Heights Townhouse Blends Cobblestone History With Modern Life

Sponsored By General Store Development

General Store Development is a small, family-run real estate development company with the belief that the buildings it creates should feel like they belong.

The house at 39 Willow Place has many tales to tell. It was built in 1850, when Brooklyn Heights was transforming from farmland into a planned residential district for wealthy commuters to New York City.

The years had seen it fall into some neglect, but a recent renovation ensures that its classic Greek Revival elements—including a symmetrical red brick facade, a high stoop with a brownstone base, and a dentil cornice—will have more stories to tell.

Inside, the grand parlor floor originally had two formal parlors separated by sliding pocket doors, with large windows, marble fireplaces, plaster crown moldings, and wide-plank wood floors. Upper floors housed bedrooms, while the basement contained a kitchen and service areas.

“Our renovation approach aimed to preserve these defining features—the parlor scale, grand stair volume, and large windows—while introducing modern conveniences for 21st-century living,” said Eugene Colberg, Principal at Colberg Architecture.

Colberg and team expanded and reimagined the house across five floors. The layout now includes a flexible in-law suite with its own kitchen, a finished cellar with a gym and sauna, and a parlor floor bathed in natural light — thanks to an open kitchen and dining area. Sustainability was a guiding principle: The home is fully electric, uses hemp insulation, and avoids gas and old chimney stacks to create a cleaner, healthier environment.

Personal touches abound. The owner, an artist, refinished vintage fixtures and even crafted new pink porcelain shades to replace broken ones on the parlor chandelier. Green tones and natural materials run throughout, inspired by the nearby Brooklyn Bridge Park—just a short walk down a cobblestone street. The backyard has been reconstructed with an 8-by-25-foot Ipe deck extension off the parlor, a bluestone patio, and lush plantings.

In fact, the renovation first began when the new owners discovered a compromised rear wall. “That was a challenge,” said Colberg. “We needed a rebuild that carefully matched the original appearance but met current building standards.”

Working with the Landmarks Preservation Commission, the team preserved the home’s original character. Its detailed cornice and mahogany front door allow it to stand tall among one of the most architecturally intact streets in Brooklyn Heights. “It was all about balancing preservation with practicality,” said Colberg.

39 Willow Place is on the market through Avishai Adiv and Robin Rae of Brick Real Estate. The ask is $14 million.

For more information, check out the listing here.

[Photos by Jack Lovel via General Store Development]