Stopping to Smell the Roses on Lefferts Place

That yellow house is gorgeous and looks to be beautifully maintained. I've never seen it before. Would love to know more. What is the block like.

The other house gives the impression of being grand, but I can't really tell much from the picture. Are the 2 houses next to one another?

Posted by: Anonymous at September 30, 2005 10:42 AM

I'd looked into buying the yellow house before the White Castle's opened up practically in its backyard. I was told it used to be a funeral home and that there was a garage in the basement.

It was derelict until about 7-10yrs ago. I remember seeing corn growing in the huge front & side lawns then. It is amazing what a little aluminum siding can do for a place. It brightened the whole block up instantly.

Posted by: Anonymous at September 30, 2005 10:50 AM

The yellow place was fixed up several years ago with some sort of preservation grant I believe. The brick one is very large. I've always liked that place. It is on the corner of Lefferts Place and Grand. The yellow house is about midway between Grand and Classon on Lefferts. Lefferts between Saint James and Grand is very nice. All row houses, no aparment buildings. Though the rest of Lefferts is nice too.

Posted by: Anonymous at September 30, 2005 10:57 AM

Wow. Love the yellow house. Very pre-hurricane New Orleans-esque.

Posted by: Anonymous at September 30, 2005 11:01 AM

The brick house is not strange at all. I live on the block. It is big old house. An older man and hi wife live there and they maintain it. I'm not sure if they rent any part of it out or not. It's a great block, quiet, with a lot of older residents as well as several newer ones. Lefferts Place between Saint James and Classon is part of Clinton Hill, from Classon onwards is Bed Stuy. Very close to subways etc. Of course I'm biased, but I love the block. Lived in several neighborhoods over the years (Carroll Gardens,Ft. Greene) and really like it here. The scale of some of the browstones is very grand - many are wider than average - 22-23 feet. They don't come up for sale often though.

Posted by: Anonymous at September 30, 2005 11:25 AM

There's actually a house for sale on Lefferts Place on the Bed Stuy end near Franklin. It's on Corcoran - $995,000 if I remember correctly.

Posted by: Anonymous at September 30, 2005 11:27 AM

There's a flop house (err "hotel") on Lefferts at Classon that's structurally beautiful too. I've always liked the street but have noticed a few mentions of disturbances on it.

Posted by: Anonymous at September 30, 2005 2:19 PM

That hotel is the trouble spot on Lefferts on the corner of Classon. I live on the St. James end, so haven't noticed any problems. Same type of people hang out at that hotel a those who hang around Grand Ave. and Putnam. Hopefully with time that element will be worked out.

Posted by: Anonymous at September 30, 2005 2:28 PM

not to be a downer but to be honest, there have been 2 shootings on the street since i've been there one fatal but they were all based around people who knew each other- or had business with each other- my husband was mugged at knife point but by a guy thoroughly strung out, desperate for a fix and he gave the wallet back after he took the cash out- this to me doesn't represent anything fundamental to this particular neighborhood- the drugs are just dealt closer to the house/neighborhood on the corners of fulton- BUT you can have your share of random crime in any brooklyn neighborhood- i just think it is all about proximity- everyone i know on our block of lefferts is really wonderful, it's a quiet street and it was the street that sold us on the house vs. the bus/traffic heavy 2 lanes streets throughout the rest of clinton hill/ ft. greene- cambridge is a great street too which is where we almost bought before we found a house on lefferts-
I just think that you learn which compromises you're willing to make and focus on what you love about where you live. the corner brick house i think is owned by a judge of some sort. i have a sense my neighbor posted here- anyway obviously a big fan of lefferts.

Posted by: Anonymous at September 30, 2005 2:48 PM

Hi L, you're right, it's me, working from home today. J. :-)

Posted by: Anonymous at September 30, 2005 2:59 PM

i knew our paths would cross one day- especially on this particular post.

Posted by: Anonymous at September 30, 2005 3:11 PM

About 15 years ago there was a derelict mansion, a gigantic house, well, really a shell. That's where the White Castle is now.

Posted by: Anonymous at October 1, 2005 11:00 PM

who are the brokers?

Posted by: Anonymous at October 3, 2005 10:26 AM

Brokers? Who are you talknig about?

Posted by: Anonymous at October 5, 2005 10:11 AM

My wife and i were tennants on the 1st floor of 70 Lefferts Place ( the yellow house) and are very sad to hear that it is likely to be demolished. Not only is the structure of the house historical, but it was also the site of one of the first soup kitchens and shelters for homeless in the area. many of the neighbors who have been there for a generation or more will be able to tell you about the preist who lived there and was a dominant figure in the community. It was fixed up by a Jamaican family (the Maitlands) who were hard working, and did the repairs themselves. The were very kind landlords. From what i heard they were more or less squeezed out of the property. It is unfortunate that this house has not been protected for its historical value. The interior is fantastic and the Maitlands made it a fine home.We spent 6 very happy years there and would encourage anyone to live on that street. If anyone out there has the power to save that house please do so.

Posted by: Anonymous at September 7, 2006 6:20 PM