Quantcast

The DNAinfo archives brought to you by WNYC.
Read the press release here.

Open House Agenda: Three Apartments to See This Weekend

By Amy Zimmer | September 12, 2014 7:38am | Updated on September 12, 2014 5:19pm
 What can you get for about $799,000? Check out these Manhattan and Brooklyn two-bedrooms.
Three Apartments to See This Weekend
View Full Caption

BROOKLYN —  A two-bedroom priced just under $800,000 seems to be the "sweet spot" for attracting a lot of interest in many Manhattan and Brooklyn neighborhoods.  These three units — a new-to-market Clinton Hill loft, a Bushwick duplex (that recently had a price increase) and an Upper West Side pre-war co-op (that recently had a price decrease) — already have offers, but their brokers are still courting potential buyers. 

555 Washington Ave. #1C, Clinton Hill, Brooklyn
2 Bedrooms/1.5 Baths
Condo
1,161 square feet
$795,000
Common Charges: $721 a month
Taxes: $354 a month
Open House: Sunday, Sept. 14, 1-3 p.m.

Lowdown: The Gothic-style Cathedral Condominium, as the building is called, was built in 1914 as the Cathedral College of the Immaculate Conception seminary.

That seminary's original entrance — with its vaulted ceilings, terrazzo floors and large wood doors — is now part of this duplex loft unit's master bedroom, said Paul Zumoff of Corcoran. 

"You often hear these cliché statements like 'it's one-of-a-kind.' But this really is. The character is intrinsic," he said of the apartment, which has an oversized arched window in the living room

The layout has flexibility, Zumoff said. There's a mezzanine loft in the living room and large lower level with a separate entrance that can be used as an office or music or art studio.

The elevator building, which has 54 units — no two of which are alike — has a part-time doorman, two laundry rooms and a "gorgeous" planted common courtyard.

"When you walk into the courtyard, it's reminiscent of a scene from Harry Potter: It's landscaped, there are gargoyles and turrets," Zumoff said. "It's really picturesque."

Location: The building is at the edge of Clinton Hill, bordering Prospect Heights and Fort Greene and their many restaurants and shops. There's a gourmet grocery around the corner.

The C train at Clinton and Washington is down the block. The Atlantic Avenue transit hub and Barclays Center are about 10 minutes away.

Why put it on your open house calendar?  It's hard to find a loft that's almost 1,200 square feet priced at $684 a square foot in the neighborhood, Zumoff said. "It's a departure from the normal new construction that's sometimes soulless and sterile."

RELATED STORIES:
East Village Apartments Sit Empty Because the Rent is Too High, Report Says
Rego Park Rents Soaring as Area Becomes 'Family Destination'
Bushwick Rents Up 23 Percent This Year Amid New Development, Report Says

794 Hart St., #4B, Bushwick, Brooklyn
2 Bedrooms/2 Baths
Condo
$799,000
1,143 square feet, plus 363-square-foot terrace
Common Charges: $650 per month
Taxes: $686 per month
Open House: Sunday, Sept. 14, 12:30 - 2 p.m.

Lowdown: The main draw of this duplex is the upstairs master bedroom with a vaulted ceiling and glass doors overlooking a huge private terrace with 360-degree views of the city skyline.

"When you walk into that master bedroom and look out the French doors, you can see all of Manhattan," said Jon Miller, of Corcoran.

The Knick Condominum, developed in 2010, converted eight turn-of-the-century walk-ups into 49 modern homes with top-of-the line, energy efficient appliances. There's a fitness center, large common roof deck and 18 parking spots.

This apartment — which comes with one of the parking spots — retains some of its original charm, such as arched windows and exposed brick in the living room, Miller said, noting that its walls are much thicker than what's found in many new developments these days.

The unit recently returned to the market after a deal fell through in July. The price increased by $22,000 because the "fall market" is a busier time of year, Miller explained, adding that a 2-bedroom without the parking spot and terrace that was listed for $649,000 just sold for $750,000.

Location: Close to Bushwick's growing gallery and restaurant scene, this home is two blocks from the M train at Central Avenue and just a little further to the L train at Dekalb Avenue.

Why put it on your open house calendar?  First: the view. Also, there's very limited condo inventory in Bushwick right now, Miller said. The price point — at $699-a-foot — is attracting residents from Williamsburg — where prices are reaching $1,000 a foot, he added.
 

300 W. 108th St., #3D, Manhattan Valley, Manhattan
2 Bedrooms/2 Baths
Co-op
Approximately 1,050 square feet
$799,000
Maintenance: $1,177 per month
Open House: Sunday, Sept. 14, 12:30-2 p.m.

Lowdown:  This high-ceilinged two-bedroom is perched in the back of an elevator, doorman pre-war building designed by Rosario Candela, famed for his grand Park Avenue co-ops.

The price dropped by $20,000 when the unit returned the market a week ago after a deal made earlier this summer fell through, Douglas Elliman's Leslie Wolfowitz said.

The owners already moved out and don't want to carry two homes, so Wolfowitz priced it to sell.

"When we were priced higher we did not have as much activity," she noted. "Now that we're below that $800,000 number, we have a lot of activity and enthusiasm."

Being in the back of the building means it's quiet, but the views are "compromised," she noted.

"It doesn't have the views, but it does have the space with two generous sized bedrooms," Wolfowitz added.  There's also a kitchen that's a "nice size for Manhattan" with a "ton of storage."

Location: The building, at 108th Street and Broadway, is a block from Riverside Park and not too far from Central Park. "This happens to be a sweet part of the Upper West Side," Wolfowitz said of the area that still has mom-and-pop stores and "tons of restaurants."  

The 1 train at Cathedral Parkway-110th Street is less than 500 feet away and the B/C trains at Cathedral Parkway are half a mile away.

Why put it on your open house calendar? There aren't many other 2-bedrooms in elevator buildings on the Upper West Side priced around $800,000, Wolfowitz said. "This is a great location," she added. " If you're determined to stay in Manhattan, this is a really nice option."