brownstoner

We've Moved!

2005-01-24T07:30:00.000-05:00

Please visit us at our new web address: Brownstoner.com

Launching the New Site on Monday!

2005-01-21T15:21:00.000-05:00

Sorry we don't have any open house picks for you today. We're busy buffing up the new site for launch on Monday morning. Even more so than now, the utility of the new site will be geometrically enhanced by reader input, so we hope you will feel inspired to contribute your comments, news, advice, etc.
See you Monday!
Brownstoner

The Bulge Bracket Premium

2005-01-21T10:32:00.000-05:00

One of the claims we've seen surrounding the full-court press on Brooklyn by the big Manhattan brokerage firms is that they can achieve higher asking prices because of the breadth of their marketing reach. We weren't aware of many concrete examples of this phenomenon but stumbled across one today. Back in November we noticed this 4-story Clinton Hill brownstone on the market with an obscure firm called Dwelling Research. We thought the place had good bones but worried about its $985,000 price tag given that it needed $200,000 of work. So now two months later this house has resurfaced as a new listing at Corcoran for $1,175,000. As far as we can tell from the photos, no significant work has been done, though we could be wrong. Despite the 20% hike, though, we don't doubt that Jerry Minsky's team at Corcoran can pull it off. They have a pretty amazing track record to date in Fort Greene and Clinton Hill. We bet they have a deal wrapped up by Valentine's Day.
If you know of other examples of Bulge Bracket premiums, please fire away.
107 Gates [Corcoran]
Dig This Clinton Hill Brownstone [Brownstoner]

Friday Links

2005-01-21T09:02:00.000-05:00

Dumbo II. Photo by Youngna
Brooklyn Heights Marriott to Double in Size [NY Daily News]
Brooklyn Heating Gripes Soaring [NY Daily News]
Winter Antiques Show [NY Post]
Nets CEO Pushing Stadium [NY Newsday]
Rates Fall for Third Week [Bankrate.com]
Sunset Park Insider's Guide [Curbed]
Handy Map of Brooklyn [Curbed]
Sunset Park: The New Hotness? [Curbed]

Friday Morning Craig

2005-01-21T08:47:00.000-05:00

Prospect Heights 4-Story 2-Family $1,300,000
Kensington 3-Family Detached Victorian $950,000
Park Slope 6-Family Frame $749,000
Prospect Lefferts 2-Family Brick $659,000

The Next Best Thing to a Real Brownstone

2005-01-20T11:16:00.000-05:00

What to do when the building boom hasn't made it to your corner yet? A little trompe l'oeil, Philly style. Thanks for the photo, Lena!

Price Cut on Bed Stuy Bohemoth

2005-01-20T09:43:00.000-05:00

Back in early November we expressed our skepticism about the $1.5 million price tag that had been slapped on this 5-Story, 7,500-square-foot place on Madison Street in Bed Stuy. Nice place, but that's a lot of dosh. Sure 'nuf, we pulled up the listing yesterday and the asking price had been cut to $1.3 million. Given the momentum in the nabe these days, we won't be surprised if they find their buyer at this price. Anyone have the skinny on activity surrounding this prop?
Bed Stuy 4-Family [New Millenium]
Highest Price in Bed Stuy [Brownstoner]

Thursday Links

2005-01-20T08:48:00.000-05:00

Ford Sign, Beacon. Photo by Joe Schumacher
Controversial Coffee Shop in Park Slope [NY Times]
Residential Sales [NY Times]
Housing Hits a Home Run [NY Daily News]
Industrial Parks Getting Rezoned [NY Daily News]
Powerful Co-op Boards [Reuters]
Recent Sales in Prospect Heights [Daily Heights]
Appraisal Fraud [NY Daily News]
Craftster [Apartment Therapy]

Thursday Morning Craig

2005-01-20T08:42:00.000-05:00

Brooklyn Heights 9-Unit Brownstone $3,200,000
Carroll Gardens 4-Story 3-Family Brownstone $1,850,000
Kensington 3-Family $950,000
Crown Heights 4-Story 3-Family $599,000

Restoring the Bennett House in Bay Ridge

2005-01-19T10:28:00.000-05:00

There's an interesting piece in the Landmark Conservancy Autumn 2004 newsletter about the renovation of a Greek Revival house in Bay Ridge. Originally built for Joseph Bennett in 1847 on Shore Road overlooking the Verazzano Narrows, the house was moved in 1913 to 95th Street, making one of the few buildings to pre-date that neighborhood's development in the 1930's. Most recently, the house was purchased from an estate by Maryanne and Pasquale Dellituri in 1997. It was designated an individual landmark in 1999, and the extensive restoration began in 2000. Check out the newsletter for more details on the renovation scope and process.
Autumn 2004 Newsletter [NY Landmarks Conservancy]

Wednesday Links

2005-01-19T09:05:00.000-05:00

Walk in the Park, Dumbo. Photo by Sergei Yermak
City Real Estate Slump [NY Post]
MTA Naming Rights [NY Post]
No Budging W'burg Plan [NY Daily News]
The Washington Condo Development [Set Speed]
Developer's Bogus Badge [NY Post]
Park Slope is New West Village [Curbed]

Wednesday Morning Craig

2005-01-19T08:48:00.000-05:00

Carroll Gardens 3-Family Federal $1,500,000
Boerum Hill Mother-Daughter $975,000
Bed Stuy 4-Story, 3-Family Brownstone $815,000
Bed Stuy 3-Family Brick $629,000

Bidding War in Prospect Heights

2005-01-18T11:57:00.000-05:00

We heard a rumor that a bidding war erupted over this place this weekend. It's a 2-floor, 1-family brick house with nice deets on an extra large lot. We hear the block is quite nice, too. Asking price was $1,175,000. Last we heard the leading bid was at least $1,300,000. Does anyone know the address? How about if there is an accepted offer yet?
Prospect Heights Striking Townhouse [Aguayo & Huebener]

Reminder

2005-01-18T11:19:00.000-05:00

If you are an owner or broker who would like us to include your listing when we launch in our new format next week, please email us the text of your ad by Thursday at noon. The listings are limited to brownstones/townhouses that have some historical or architectural appeal. No shlocky new-builds or crap flip-jobs please.

The same goes for homeowners who are looking for advice/referrals for maintenance and renovation issues. Please email us your questions by Thursday at noon as well.

The Hunt for a House in Bed Stuy

2005-01-18T09:16:00.000-05:00

We hope everyone saw the article in the Sunday Times about an Upper West Side couple's mid-life conversion to Bed Stuy brownstone owners. After having recently gone through the process of obtaining a Certificate of Non Harassment (which involves efforts to track down former tenants) for our new place, we could certainly relate to the quest to find the missing partial heir to the building on Decatur they were trying to buy. It's also sobering to see that only 18 months ago some of these houses were priced in the low $300,000's, roughly half the going rate today. Egads!
The Hunt: Bed Stuy Rowhouse [NY Times]

Tuesday Links

2005-01-18T08:56:00.000-05:00

Sunset Park. Photo by Lightning Field
NYC Real Estate Keeps Going Up [NY Times]
Brooklyn Rezoning Plan Assailed [NY Times]
Renovations: Torture from Above [NY Times]
Residential Sales [NY Times]
Just Sold [NY Post]
W'burg Waterfront Plan Facing Opposition [NY Daily News]
Hooked on Red Hook [NY Newsday]
Brooklyn Nabes on T-Shirt [Gothamist]
Debt to Income Ratio [Realty Baron]

Tuesday Morning Craig

2005-01-18T08:43:00.000-05:00

Park Slope 3-Family Brownstone $999,000
Carroll Gardens 2-Family + Store $900,000
Bed Stuy 5-Story Brownstone $900,000
Prospect Heights 3-Family Brownstone $775,000
Prospect Lefferts 1-Family Brownstone $699,000

A Note to Our Readers

2005-01-17T08:26:00.000-05:00

A week from now, Brownstoner will be relaunching in a new expanded format. In addition to blogging the impending renovation of our own recently purchased brownstone in Clinton Hill, we will be adding two other new sections: 1) a services bulletin board where readers can ask for references for services and craftspeople (i.e. looking for a marble stripper or electrician recommendation); and 2) a property listings page for Brooklyn brownstones and townhouses. If you have a query or listing in either category that you would like to have included when the site launches next week, please email email us. Going forward, you'll be able to post your own listings, but we'd like to have some content in place when we launch. We'll put up the first ten listings we receive.
Thanks,
Brownstoner

We're Off Today...

2005-01-17T08:02:00.000-05:00

...but in the meantime we recommend you check out the undercover open house reportage from blogger ltjbukem. While sampling the complimentary sushi provided by listing broker Jerry Minsky, he snaps a bunch of photos of the work-in-progress Greene House Condos on Greene and Carlton in Fort Greene, paying particular attention to the developer's choice of sinks (Kohler) and toilets (Toto).

Open House Picks

2005-01-14T11:04:00.000-05:00

464 9th Street
Corcoran
Sunday 12-2pm
$2,045,000

401 10th Street
Heights Berkeley
Listing #5181409
Sunday 1-4pm
$1,379,000

36 Saint Marks Place
Corcoran
Sunday 1:30-3pm
$1,250,000

556 Jefferson Avenue
Corley Realty
Saturday 12-3 pm
Sunday 12-3pm
$545,000

Newsday Discovers Victorian Flatbush

2005-01-14T10:49:00.000-05:00

Newsday shines the spotlight today on Victorian Flatbush--which includes the landmarked neighborhoods of Ditmas Park, Prospect Park South and Albemarle-Kenmore Terrace. The area, which is said to have the highest concentration of Victorian homes in the U.S., has been undergoing a renaissance after falling victim to drugs and crime in the 1980's. Given the historic architecture, large yards and driveways, and family-friendly streets, it's no surprise that many houses are on the market for over a million dollars. Even Cortelyou Road--the local shopping strip--is showing signs of Park Slope-esque coffee houses and restaurants. For those interested in buying, we recommend starting by visiting the website of Mary Kay Gallagher, a long-time broker and lifelong resident of the hood.
Do those who live there have any advice for prospective buyers?
Rediscovering Flatbush [NY Newsday]

Friday Links

2005-01-14T08:57:00.000-05:00

Metalwork, Red Hook. Photo by Lex's Folly
New Gallery at Brooklyn Museum [NY Times]
Stanhope Hotel Sold [NY Times]
Brooklyn Bridge Park Critics [NY Post]
Can Anything Stop Housing Market? [Washington Post]
Residential Sales [NY Times]
Critics: Park for Rich Only [NY Daily News]
Big Ideas for Small Spaces [Philly.com]
10 Design Rules to Break [Boston Globe]
Shelter: Wunderbar, Wunderbar [Village Voice]
Community Group Keeping Tabs on Cops [NY1]
Red Hook Development in Perspective [Amy Langfield]

Friday Morning Craig

2005-01-14T08:46:00.000-05:00

Williamsburg Loft Building $2,500,000
Brooklyn Heights 4-Family Needs Work $1,500,000
Fort Greene 4-Family Brownstone $1,500,000
Bed Stuy 3-Story, 2-Family $600,000
Bed Stuy 3-Family Brownstone $585,000

Babs Predicts Big Price Gains in 2005

2005-01-13T14:30:00.000-05:00

According to Rush & Molly in today's Daily News:

Barbara Corcoran told her 1,100 brokers at the Corcoran Group that prices on New York City apartments will go up 25% this year and that she's "never been wrong" ...

Seems like a stretch but nothing would surprise us at this point in the real estate boom.
Daily Dish [NY Daily News]

House of the Day: Another Lefferts Limestone

2005-01-13T11:56:00.000-05:00

We can't get enough of these limestone beauties these days! The exterior of this four-story, four-family place looks perfect and appears to be on rather a grand block with attractive adjacent houses. In addition to the unusually deep front yard, there is also a back yard. The Harborview Realty website, where the house is listed at $795,000, is frustratingly thin on the details--no interior pics, only the assurance that it's in "very good condition"--so we'd appreciate hearing from anyone who's actually been inside. Not knowing the layout, we are curious what it would cost to turn this into a two-family.
Homepage [Harborview Realty]

And a map of the Prospect Lefferts Gardens Historic District: