A Gauntlet of Italianates From Fort Greene to Greenwood Heights to See, Starting at $1.8 Million

Let us now invite you to run a gauntlet of Brooklyn Italianates, that mid-to-late 19th century style of slightly cramped domesticity that brought ornate Italian palazzo-influenced details into residential design and construction somewhat tightened by greed and high demand. By the late 1860s, developers increasingly tended to acquire 100-foot lots and subdivided them into five roughly 20-foot lots, rather than the previously common 25 feet, to take advantage of the growing demand from a rapidly expanding population during the start of the industrial age in the nation’s premier financial center and port — and the same thing was happening in Brooklyn.

Buildings in turn grew taller, extending the height of each floor, converting attics into a full-fledged fourth stories, and embellishing facades and interior finishes with florid details. Here we have four such wonders of that age, ranging from a nicely renovated but particularly narrow three-story two-family $1.8 million brick townhouse in Greenwood Heights to an immaculate and otherwise expansive four-story, single-family 19.6-footer in Park Slope looking for $3.5 million.

First, at 413 Dean Street in Park Slope, a wood-frame four-story job with wide-plank floors, marble mantels, crown moulding, big windows on the parlor level, and a basement level opened up into a lounge with exposed timbers and a glass wall facing the garden. The owners opted for a chic bar on the parlor level in lieu of a kitchen, and installed an unorthodox kitchen on the front wall of the garden level with walnut cabinetry and glistening new appliances. The renovation no doubt involved quite a bit of plumbing work, but is probably fairly easily altered if it doesn’t suit you. The house is close to Atlantic Yards/Pacific Park construction sites and Barclays Center. It wants a tidy $3.5 million.

At 217 Dekalb Avenue in Fort Greene, a brick Italianate has an interior remodeled with late Victorian mantels, but its crown moldings are something to see. What’s pictured appears to be the parlor level and a few other rooms, such as a bathroom with exposed brick and plumbing. Condition looks good in the photos, but the house may need work, the listing implies. It’s set up and taxed as a three-family, but the listing says it’s a two-family with two furnished rooms, which could mean it’s an SRO with attendant issues with financing and renovation. It’s asking for $2.999 million, which hopefully doesn’t assume a buyer will be trying to do something they really, really shouldn’t.

Next up, at 333 Hoyt Street is a charming Italianate brick house built in 1869 for Mary Sheldon that’s been in the same family for 70 years. It’s in the Carroll Gardens Historic District (Brownstoner has always considered this side of Hoyt to be Gowanus) and has the curved features characteristic of the fashion and technology of the moment, including the cast-iron railings, arch-paneled double doors, and staircase newel post. Currently it’s a two-family residence with a rental unit over a garden duplex, but with no bathroom on the second floor. It’s priced at $2.75 million.

Last, in Greenwood Heights just north of picturesque Greenwood Cemetery, another Italianate brick house at 194 17th Street features more of those rounded details such as the cast-iron porch railing and staircase newel post and railing. The home is an unusually narrow model, and the floor plan shows the lot line extends only 4 feet and 3 inches beyond the building. Laid out as a garden duplex with a rental above it, it has updated kitchens and baths, and the kitchen on the garden level particularly benefits from extending the full width of the building, as does the top floor bedroom. It’s asking $1.8 million.

413 Dean Street
Price: $3,500,000
Area: Park Slope
Broker: Brown Harris Stevens (Terry Naini)
Sunday February 10th, noon – 1 p.m.
See it here ->

217 Dekalb Avenue
Price: $2,999,000
Area: Fort Greene
Broker: Corcoran (Rodolfo Lucchese)
Saturday February 9, 1 – 2 p.m.
See it here ->

Like these listings? You can save them! Start browsing Brownstoner Real Estate to see others like them. >>

333 Hoyt Street
Price: $2,750,000
Area: Carroll Gardens
Broker: Halstead (Andrew Friedman)
Sunday February 10th 1 – 3 p.m.

See it here ->

194 17th Street
Price: $1,800,000
Area: Greenwood Heights
Broker: Corcoran (Jessica Buchman, Bryan Rettaliata)
Sunday February 10, 1 – 2:30 p.m.
See it here ->

Related Stories

• Find Your Dream Home in Brooklyn and Beyond With the New Brownstoner Real Estate
• Romanesque Revival in Park Slope and Three More to See This Weekend, Starting at $850K
• A Victorian Developed by a Woman and Three More to See This Weekend, Starting at $799,999

Email tips@brownstoner.com with further comments, questions or tips. Follow Brownstoner on Twitter and Instagram, and like us on Facebook.