MANHATTAN — For some New Yorkers exposed brick equals charm and character. These three homes, a co-op, a condo and a townhouse creatively work brick into the interior design.
272 Water St., South Street Seaport
Studio/one bath
Approximately 860 square feet
Condo
$975,000
Maintenance: $556 a month
Real Estate Taxes: $719 a month
Open House: Sunday, Sept. 20, noon-1 p.m.
Lowdown: This lofted studio, in a historic South Street Seaport building, retains much of the building's details from when it was a warehouse for wine storage.
272 Water St. was initially converted to a rental, then converted again to a condo a few years back. Buyers did their own renovations so every apartment is different, according to Stribling broker Shannon Helms Wisniewski.
This unit preserved a wall of exposed brick and original ceramic tiled columns.
"These are beautiful details that you just don't see anymore," said Wisniewski.
Though the seller kept the space an open studio, building out the kitchen and renovating the bathroom, at 860 square feet, a buyer has the option to build out walls, Wisniewski noted.
This is one of two units on the ground floor of the building, and the only apartment with such large windows facing Water Street.
Since the windows do face the street, the current owner has put up a translucent film up for privacy — "that could be peeled off," added Wisniewski.
Location: The building sits on a quiet cobblestone street of the South Street Seaport where you feel like "you're on vacation from the rest of the city,” Wisniewski said. The historic area is home to some major new development, including the new Pier 17 retail center and a proposed condo and hotel tower.
The closest subway is the Fulton Street hub, where you can catch the 2, 3, 4, 5, J, Z, A and C trains.
Why put it on your open house calendar? Perched off a charming cobblestone street, its' a "good investment considering all that's happening at the Seaport," Wisniewski said.
31 8th Ave., #2, Park Slope
Two bedrooms/one bath
Approximately 892 square feet
Co-op
$1.085 million
Maintenance: $1,032 a month
Open House: Sunday, Sept. 20, noon-2 p.m.
Lowdown: The owner of this Park Slope co-op in a five-unit brownstone did "a top-to-bottom, top-of-the-line renovation," after buying it in 2012, said Corcoran broker Shannon Insana.
The owner scraped away much of the plaster walls to expose the brick in the living room, which was then whitewashed twice.
"She loved the raw, textural and unfinished look of the brick," Insana said.
The living room's brick wall is complemented by a wood-burning fireplace, exposed wooden beams, stained glass windows and custom shelving.
The kitchen has custom-made ceiling-height cabinets, extra-wide marble counters and appliances by Liebherr, Miele and Futuro Futuro.
The bathroom now includes a soaking tub and vintage-inspired medicine cabinet.
"Every detail is curated," Insana said.
The master bedroom has three closets, one of which is a custom-built walk-in.
From the bedroom, one set of glass French doors leads to a smaller bedroom, now being used as a nursery. Another set of French doors exits onto a private terrace. A staircase from there leads down to the backyard.
"Although it's a parlor floor apartment, it has exclusive backyard access because there's a doctor's office on the first floor," Insana said.
The outdoor area adds 810 extra square feet to the apartment.
The owner completely re-landscaped the yard and wired it with lighting and two Bose speakers.
Every spring and summer, hydrangeas bloom; there's even a cherry tree.
Location: The building is one block from Grand Army Plaza, which is the northern entrance to Prospect Park and home to a popular farmer's market on Saturdays. The apartment is within walking distance of the Brooklyn Public Library and the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens.
The 2 and 3 trains at Grand Army Plaza are just a block away, with the B and Q trains at 7th Avenue about three blocks away.
Why put it on your open house calendar? “Besides the incredible outdoor space, it's the most customized apartment I've ever seen,” said Insana. “Nothing was left untouched.”
686 Putnam Ave., Bedford-Stuyvesant
Five bedrooms/four baths
Three-family townhouse
Approximately 3,440 square feet
$1.695 million
Real Estate Taxes: $480 a month
Open House: Sunday, Sept. 20, 2-3:30 p.m.
Lowdown: This historic Bed-Stuy brownstone is currently configured into three different apartments: a lower duplex, a one-bedroom unit on the third floor, and a two-bedroom unit on the top floor.
All three apartments are currently occupied, according to Compass broker mTkalla Keaton, making this an ideal property for an investor.
Each apartment has a washer and dryer unit and is metered separately for heat and hot water. Current tenants pay their own electric and heating costs.
The lease on the lower duplex will be up in January — “Meaning that by the time a buyer closes on the property, the apartment will be available,” Keaton said.
As for the top two apartments, they are on month-to-month leases.
Throughout the home, many of the original details are in place.
"Moldings, windows with pocket shutters, hardwood floors... it's all intact," said Keaton.
The third-floor apartment's kitchen, which has been renovated, still has exposed brick on display.
Other upgrades include new electric and plumbing systems in 2010, a new roof in 2009, and updated kitchens and bathrooms on each floor.
"Over the past 10 years, the house has been completely renovated," said Keaton.
The townhouse also has a backyard, which is currently only accessed by the lower duplex apartment. It's paved over with some landscaping on the edges.
Location: The home sits on a tree-lined brownstone block, just a few blocks outside the Stuyvesant Heights Historic District. It's around the corner from popular restaurants on Lewis Avenue like Sarghina and Peaches.
Roughly nine blocks north, you can catch the A or C trains at Utica Avenue.
Why put it on your open house calendar? The area is seeing three-story brownstones going for the same price as this four-story home, Keaton said. "You can also keep those top two apartments occupied for extra revenue," he added.
