Real Estate

A Future Mayor's Victorian Mansion in Park Slope and Three More to See, Starting at $1.35 Million

Our picks for open houses to check out this weekend include the former Park Slope home of a New York City mayor and a more humble bow-fronted row house in Bay Ridge with details and potential.

by Stephen Zacks

09/13/2019 0

From the stately Park Slope former townhouse of reformist 1910s Mayor William Gaynor with imposing woodwork to a more humble bow-fronted row house in Bay Ridge with details and potential, this week’s open houses peek into a gamut of Brooklyn house styles and range in price from $1.35 million for the latter to $3.5 million for the former. They include a Red Hook wood-frame house with a big balcony, wood-burning stove, and rooftop patio with views asking $1.65 million and a standalone four-bedroom home in Kensington with a front porch, driveway, partially converted garage, and Palladian-windowed dormer offered for $1.495 million.

In Park Slope, a four-story late 19th century brownstone at 212 St. Johns Place has imposing woodwork, crown molding topped with pronounced details, parquet, and three mantels, including a wood one with impressive features. The house originally had a quadruple parlor, and the front two rooms are still set up accordingly. Through the stately pocket door frame, the third functions as a formal dining room with a niche, stained glass, and French doors to the deck. The kitchen is in the back, and is oriented diagonally around a hearth. The entire second floor is occupied by the master suite with a white-tiled modern bathroom that extends the width of the rear. The fourth floor has two more bedrooms and a couple of smaller rooms, and the garden level is a two bedroom rental. It was owned by William Gaynor in 1890, according to the historic district designation report, 20 years before he became mayor of New York City, in 1910. The price tag is $3.5 million.

There are few photos to show off the features described in this modernized Red Hook semi-detached home, which has something of a Spanish colonial feeling on the street with its white painted bricks and border and masonry balustrade. No parking spot is mentioned but it’s implied by the gate under a large cantilevered balcony. Inside, 5 Luquer Street has reclaimed pine floors, built-in bookshelves, a wood-burning stove, and a custom-designed steel and wood staircase up to a two-bedroom second floor. The rooftop has a deck with views. It’s asking $1.65 million.

In Kensington, a standalone two-family home is being used as one, according to the listing, which shows a living room with wood floors inside the bay looking out from the porch and a recently renovated galley-style kitchen. There’s a dining room and an office facing the rear, as well as a full bathroom on this level and the basement. The second floor has three bedrooms and another bath, and one more bedroom used as a kids’ room is in the attic. 425 Eeast 8th Street has a driveway and a semi-converted garage. It’s on the market for $1.495 million.

Lastly, in Bay Ridge, a bow-fronted two-family comprises two floor-through apartments, the top level with six rooms and the lower with five. Both have lots and lots of parquet. It’s pictured unfurnished with a carpeted stairway and stained glass skylight, and an updated kitchen on the second floor with fairly standard cabinets. There’s also wainscoting and painted coffered ceilings. 441 74th Street may need work, but with its original details could have potential. The asking price is $1.35 million.

212 Saint Johns Place
Price: $3,500,000
Area: Park Slope
Broker: Compass (Debra Bondy, Nick Gavin)
Sunday September 15, 12 – 1:30 pm

See it here ->

5 Luquer Street
Price: $1,650,000
Area: Red Hook
Broker: Compass (Orren Azani)
Sunday September 15, 1:30 – 3 pm

See it here ->

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425 E 8th Street
Price: $1,495,000
Area: Kensington
Broker: Corcoran (Kyle Talbott, Karen Talbott)
Sunday September 15, 2:30 – 4 pm

See it here ->

441 74th Street
Price: $1,350,000
Area: Bay Ridge
Broker: Halstead (Peter Grazioli, Bernadette Mitchell, Mary-Jean Gianquinto)
Sunday September 15, 1 – 2:30 pm