Real Estate

Brooklyn Heights Carriage House Rental on Charming College Place Asks $16,500 a Month

The photo-ready facade of this 19th century carriage house hides a surprisingly spacious and modern interior.

by Susan De Vries

07/16/2020 0

The photo-ready facade of this 19th century carriage house hides a surprisingly spacious and modern interior. Set on one of the scenic cul-de-sacs of Brooklyn Heights, 32 College Place is an atmospheric rental for anyone able to afford the pricey monthly tab.

While it’s a calm, quirkily charming street today, in the mid 19th century it would have been filled with smells and sounds of a different type. Labeled an “equine street” by the Brooklyn Daily Eagle in 1874, College Place was lined with the private stables of local notables living on the surrounding streets.

First laid out about 1842 and named for a nearby academy for young ladies that became the Mansion House hotel, historic maps show buildings on the street by at least 1850. By a map of 1884, almost all the buildings on the street are identified as brick stables. When precisely 32 College Place was constructed isn’t clear. In the early 20th century, the stables of College Place, and many throughout Brooklyn, were converted to service “mechanical horses,” functioning as garages until being converted into bohemian single family homes.

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There is still room for a mechanical horse behind the carriage doors, but the rest of this rental got a 2004 reno by Baxt Ingui, known for other carriage house redesigns in the neighborhood.

The house is set up with utility rooms on the ground floor, including mudroom and laundry room, along with a master suite. The living, dining and kitchen spaces along with two more bedrooms are on the second floor. A rooftop addition holds a fourth bedroom and access to the roof deck.

The second floor has an open plan with the living room facing the street. It’s got wood floors, a marble fireplace, built-in bookshelves and a set of French doors that open to a Juliet balcony. The kitchen has a large stone-topped island, light wood cabinetry, and stainless steel appliances and backsplash.

There are white walls, recessed lighting and neutral, modern finishes throughout the house. One bedroom does have a touch of whimsy with wallpaper, but still rendered in a neutral black and white palette. The master suite on the ground floor has a wall of windows and a door to the rear garden. There’s no floor plan, but according to the listing the suite also has two walk-in closets, a built-in desk and an en suite bathroom. The house has a total of 2.5 baths.

The carriage house hasn’t been on the market since 2009, when it sold for $3.2 million. It’s now listed for rent with Eric Sidman and Clayton Orrigo of Compass for $16,500 a month. Worth the rent?

[Listing: 32 College Place | Broker: Compass] GMAP