Boerum Hill

June 26, 2018

New Historic District more than doubles the landmarked buildings in Boerum Hill

In a vote today, the Landmarks Preservation Commission designated the Boerum Hill Historic District Extension. The 288-building district is split into three distinct sections, all adjacent to the existing 250-building Boerum Hill Historic District that was designated in 1973. According to an LPC press release, the extension "represents the diverse cultural and economic history of Boerum Hill, as well as its largely intact 19th-century architecture." It's mostly residential blocks, made up of late 19th-century brownstone and brick townhouses, along with a block-and-a-half commercial stretch of Atlantic Avenue.
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May 15, 2018

The buzz on Boerum Hill: How an iconic Brooklyn neighborhood blends old and new

Shelly Place, an agent with Triplemint, describes Boerum Hill as “the perfect blend of old and new. Geographically, it is smack dab in the middle of Brooklyn, convenient to downtown [Manhattan], and close enough without being in the middle of the hustle and bustle. You can go days or weeks without ever leaving Boerum Hill but, if you want, you have the rest Brooklyn right there.” Known for tree-lined streets filled with historic brownstones, Boerum Hill is one of those unique neighborhoods that has successfully blended past and present in a way few communities have been able to. There are a ton of great restaurants and creative cocktail lounges and independent specialty stores alongside the big brands, like Apple, Whole Foods’ 365, and Lululemon, lining Smith Street and Atlantic Avenue. And with a slew of new contextual developments springing up, it's time to turn your attention to the buzz on Boerum Hill.
Everything you need to know about Boerum Hill
April 26, 2018

Where I Work: Inside Stephen Powers’ colorful world of studio art and sign making in Boerum Hill

6sqft’s series “Where I Work” takes us into the studios, offices, and off-beat workspaces of New Yorkers across the city. In this installment, we’re touring artist Stephen Powers' Boerum Hill studio and sign shop. Want to see your business featured here? Get in touch! Walking along Fourth Avenue in Boerum Hill, the storefronts all look pretty similar--pizza shops, laundromats, cute cafes--until you come to the corner of Bergen Street and see the large, colorful collage of signs gracing the side of the little brick building. This is ESPO's Art World, artist Stephen Powers' sign shop. But as you can imagine, this space is much more than that. Powers, who painted graffiti under the name ESPO for much of the '80s and '90s in NYC and Philadelphia, also uses his shop as a retail store and informal gallery where passersby can walk in and peruse his graphic, pop-art-esque, text-heavy work. Stephen recently gave 6sqft a guided tour of his shop and chatted with us about his transition from graffiti to studio art, why he dislikes the term "street art," his love for Brooklyn, and where he sees the art scene heading.
Get a look around and hear from Stephen
April 18, 2018

Our 2,200sqft: The founders of Ample Hills ice cream give the scoop on their sweet Boerum Hill home

If you've ever indulged in an Ample Hills ice cream cone, you know that their fanciful flavors (Ooey Gooey Butter Cake, the Munchies, and Snap Mallow Pop, just to name a few!) are perfectly matched by the Brooklyn company's whimsical shops. But founders Jackie Cuscuna and Brian Smith definitely didn't grow in seven years from their first storefront in Prospect Heights to nine locations, including one in Disney World, and a forthcoming Red Hook factory where they'll produce 1 million gallons a year, without a lot of hard work and business smarts. And it's this combination of playfulness and attention to detail that they've carried over to their adorable Boerum Hill home, which they moved into two years ago with their eight-year-old son and 11-year-old daughter. A triplex in a quintessential Brooklyn brownstone, their home has cheery pops of color, mid-century-modern furnishings, and an eclectic mix of decor and family mementos. 6sqft recently visited the couple to tour their space, hear why they love Brooklyn, and learn about Ample Hills' plans.
Tour this sweet home and hear from Brian and Jackie
March 19, 2018

Wunderbroker Ryan Serhant bought Jonathan Safran Foer’s perfect Brooklyn brownstone–at a discount

“Million Dollar Listing New York" star Ryan Serhant had recently taken over the listing for novelist Jonathan Safran Foer's gorgeous five-story Boerum Hill home, asking $8.995 million; the award-winning scribe first listed the home with Compass for $10.5 million last May. Now, according to The Real Deal, Serhant is the new owner of the 8,000-square-foot townhouse. Safran Foer bought the 1899 Greek Revival home at 374 Pacific Street for $5.4 million in 2014, so while the sale price represents a price chop, he didn't do too badly on the deal.
Take one last look
January 26, 2018

City selects de Blasio donors to build pair of towers on NYCHA property in Boerum Hill

The city announced on Thursday their selection of two developers, Arker Companies and Two Trees Management, to build two 16-story apartment towers on parking lots at Wyckoff Gardens, a New York City Housing Authority property in Brooklyn. However, according to the Daily News, the owners of both companies have raised a total of $124,600 for Mayor Bill de Blasio, bringing into question the influence of donations on the city's choice of the two developers.
More this way
October 11, 2017

The Hub, Brooklyn’s tallest building, unveils even more awesome amenities

In addition to being Brooklyn’s tallest tower, the Hub might also take the title for having the borough's best amenities. The Dattner Architects-designed 610-foot tall luxury rental at 333 Schermerhorn Street in Boerum Hill will feature a 75-foot indoor/outdoor lap pool, a gym, outdoor fitness level, a dog park and much more (h/t Curbed NY). The more than 40,000 square feet of amenities will provide residents with grilling cabanas, a landscaped terrace, club lounge and party rooms.
See the amenities
June 20, 2017

Hunt Architecture’s garden studio offers a tiny backyard retreat in Boerum Hill

Sometimes you don't need to go far to escape the frenzy of the city. Forget about charming mountain retreats or luxury seaside homes, this humble beauty provides the perfect place to escape it all right in a Boerum Hill, Brooklyn backyard. Crafted by local studio Hunt Architecture using salvaged cedar and fence pickets, the Brooklyn Garden Studio is a grown-up version of the classic treehouse.
Learn more about this small wooden shed
June 13, 2017

Be my roommate: Live in a Cobble Hill apartment steps from transit and Trader Joe’s for $1400

To help our fellow New Yorkers on their hunt for a good roommate, we present "Be My Roommate." If you have an empty room you'd like to see featured here, get in touch with us at [email protected]! Meet Marie, a laid-back bookworm searching for a roommate for her Cobble Hill two-bedroom. Marie, a Florida native, moved to the neighborhood just over four years ago after a spending several years in Chicago and more than a year living out of a backpack in Central America. Up until a week ago, she shared her Brooklyn apartment with a friend who has since flown the coop to teach in Paris. This has left Marie with an extra bedroom, and for anyone looking for new digs, a great opportunity to live in one of the city's best neighborhoods.
Find out more here, plus pics!
June 12, 2017

$1.56M Cobble Hill condo has a garden, rooftop terrace, and laid-back loft style

This bright, loft-like Cobble Hill condo pulls off a pretty neat trick: It’s on the ground floor (giving it a private garden) and it also has the penthouse perk of an enormous skylight and a private roof terrace just above. How is this possible, you ask? The apartment occupies the rear extension of a 25-foot-wide brownstone at 56 Bergen Street, combining penthouse perks and garden level access. The two-bedroom 1,413 square-foot home is at the crossroads of Boerum Hill, Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn Heights and Fort Greene, within walking distance to everything from Trader Joe’s to the Promenade and antique shops on Atlantic Avenue.
Check out the rest
May 19, 2017

$3M Boerum Hill townhouse is ready for summer with a deck, backyard, and roof deck

With the weather heating up and summer around the corner, it's time to start drooling over private outdoor spaces up for sale. A deck, backyard and roof deck designed by a landscape architect adorn this Boerum Hill townhouse at 459 Pacific Street, now on the market for $2.996 million. The 19th-century townhouse was gut renovated into a modern owner's triplex, with a separate one-bedroom apartment with its own entrance under the stoop. An open floorplan, built-in shelving, and fancy appliances complete the interior.
Check it all out
May 15, 2017

For $935K this Boerum Hill co-op is both Downtown loft and Zen retreat

In a classic pre-war loft building at 96 Schermerhorn Street known as Boerum Court, where Boerum Hill meets Downtown Brooklyn, this solidly-built co-op offers a flexible loft layout and the high ceilings and proportions to match. Custom additions have transformed the space into a unique home with Japanese-inspired details and modern conveniences. The apartment currently offers one bedroom and a home office but could easily gain a second bedroom.
Take the tour
May 3, 2017

Bowerbird architects create a custom nest in a Boerum Hill loft with details in steel and reclaimed wood

"Everything evolves," begins the mission statement by architecture and design firm Bowerbird, explaining how their namesake (the bowerbird) evolved to design and decorate its home with an eye for detail. The firm explores the idea that good design and creativity similarly "does not spring forth in a single moment of inspired genius;" they work to produce an uncommon solution for each undertaking. Evolved design is definitely in effect in this Boerum Hill loft, resulting in a home with a fresh look that leaves crowded, overdone design and cold, unfinished lofts in the dust. Rooms are polished, elegant and comfortable without being fussy. And natural and reclaimed details aren’t contrived, but rather fit in well with the former factory’s big-shouldered loft bones.
See more of this timeless loft design
May 2, 2017

Acclaimed novelist Jonathan Safran Foer lists lovely Boerum Hill townhouse for $10.4M

Award-winning novelist Jonathan Safran Foer, author of "Everything Is Illuminated" and "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close," has listed his brownstone at 374 Pacific Street in Boerum Hill for $10.4 million, according to Variety. When his first book in ten years, "Here I am," was published last year, the Times referred to it as "often brilliant, always original but sometimes problematic," and though we can't find anything at all problematic about this 1899 Greek Revival residence, the former two accolades certainly apply. It was brilliantly renovated to include a three-story atrium cut through its core and a full rear wall of kitchen windows that overlook the private garden, and it's full of original touches like a charming mix of mid-century-modern and rustic furniture and plenty of built-in bookshelves (of course). Perhaps all of this, plus the fact that there's a separate garden floor apartment, is why Foer thinks he can double his profits after paying $5.4 million for it just a few years ago.
Take the full tour
April 16, 2017

Dreamy duplex in a 19th century Boerum Hill townhouse asks $6,100/month

If you love the historic aesthetic of the Brooklyn brownstone, this Boerum Hill duplex will charm you. It's located on the top two floors of 433 Pacific Street, a 19th century rowhouse that's well intact. Any renter willing to pay $6,100 a month will have the benefit of living alongside two working fireplaces with marble mantlepieces, refinsihed original wide-plank floors and the original moldings. The listing says the space boasts "wonderful character," and we can't disagree.
Take the interior tour
March 21, 2017

Author Chuck Klosterman lists Boerum Hill condo for $1.4M

Author Chuck Klosterman--perhaps best known for his essay collection "Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs"--is looking to unload his cheerful Boerum Hill condo. According to a tipster, he and wife Melissa Maerz are moving to Portland and are therefore trying to make a semi-sizable profit on the 88 Wyckoff Street apartment, listing it for $1,369,000 when they bought it for $960,000 in 2010
Check it out
January 20, 2017

$12,000/month to rent this triplex townhouse beauty in Boerum Hill

Renters can enjoy Brooklyn townhouse living in all its glory here at 306 State Street, a Boerum Hill property now asking $12,000 a month. The 25-foot landmark home spans three floors and holds five bedrooms, four-and-a-half bathrooms and an upgraded chef's kitchen. Better yet, a dramatic glass extension was added to the back of the home, making for a sunroom you don't see in many historic New York townhouses.
Check it out
December 13, 2016

Historic districts and landmarking: What they mean and how they could affect you

In New York City, where buying and selling real estate is a high-stakes endeavor, the topic of historic and landmark designation is frequently raised. There are heated discussions on the subject of listing neighborhoods or buildings on the State and National Register of Historic Places or having them designated by the city’s Landmarks Preservation Commission. It's important to know what those organizations do and the distinctions between them. You could even be eligible for significant financial aid for your renovations if you own property in an historic district.
Find out what these designations mean, how you could benefit from them and why they're sometimes controversial.
October 25, 2016

‘Talk Stoop’ host Cat Greenleaf selling $3M Boerum Hill townhouse with reclaimed beams from a Catskills barn

If the stoop of this Greek Revival brick rowhouse at 92 Wyckoff Street in Boerum Hill looks familiar, that's because it belongs to Cat Greenleaf, host of NBC's "Talk Stoop" talk show where she interviews celebrities on her front steps (h/t Curbed). She and husband Michael Rey bought the home in 2006 for $850,000, and have now listed it for just a hair under $3 million. This comes after a significant renovation that outfitted the charming house with wide-plank wood floors, barn doors, exposed brick walls, and a mix of the original ceiling beams paired with those reclaimed from a Catskills barn.
Take a look
October 16, 2016

A 14-foot, floor-to-ceiling library decorates this $1.7M Boerum Hill apartment

If you've got 14-foot-tall ceilings in your apartment, you may as well take advantage of them. This architect-designed co-op at 423 Atlantic Avenue, in Boerum Hill, utilized its soaring ceilings in unique ways. The apartment boasts a floor-to-ceiling library with custom shelves that span nearly 30 feet. It's accessed by a steel-construction mezzanine built into the space. If you're a fan of such quirky details (or at least own a lot of books), you'll be happy to know the one-of-a-kind pad has just hit the market for $1.695 million.
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September 26, 2016

Landmarked church in Boerum Hill gets transformed into a modern-industrial home

This landmark-district building in Boerum Hill was most recently a church, and before that a warehouse. The design team at Delson or Sherman Architects recently led the conversion of the property into a modern home that pays homage to both of these former incarnations by leaving raw materials visible while creating a bright and open floorplan.
See the whole space
August 26, 2016

$3.5M Boerum Hill carriage house comes with a three-family townhouse in the front for rental income

And that's only one of the many possibilities for this unusual Brooklyn property. On a quaint and classic Brooklyn block in Boerum Hill, this three-family row house at 104 Butler Street is currently being used as a source of income from three separate apartments. Through the picturesque garden at the back, a three-story, four-bedroom carriage house is occupied by the home's current owners. A new owner could leave the setup as-is, use both of these 19th-century houses as a multi-generational home for family, or create condos in the front, with many more options imaginable. The ask is $3.45 million.
See some of the interiors and get ideas
June 7, 2016

A True Loft at Brooklyn’s Former Ex-Lax Factory Asks $875K

There are a lot of New York apartments trying to sell themselves as lofts that just aren't. That makes it especially refreshing to see this loftier-than-thou apartment, from the former Ex-Lax factory at 423 Atlantic Avenue in Boerum Hill, hit the market. The factory was constructed in the 1920s and was eventually combined with adjacent buildings that were being used as a bottling plant. In 1981, the complex went co-op -- and as a residence it still retains some of the Ex-Lax advertising memorabilia. This apartment was designed by an architect to maximize all available space. They especially took advantage of the 15-foot ceilings, building out not one but two lofted living spaces.
Check out the sleeping loft
April 27, 2016

Cheery Two-Bedroom in Boerum Hill Asks Less Than a Million

Though not by much -- this pretty second-floor, two-bedroom co-op on a prime Boerum Hill street comes in at $925,000, to be exact. Friendly and quaint yet urban and diverse, this neighborhood was pricey and sought-after long before Brooklyn nabes were vying for “coolest in the world” status. The apartment for sale at 368 State Street has plenty going for it in the looks department. Pre-war details like decorative moldings, high ceilings and hardwood floors complement interiors that have been updated for modern comfort. It’s only one flight upstairs, and a common roof deck even puts outdoor space into the equation.
Get a closer look
April 21, 2016

Checking in on Adam America’s Trio of Developments on a Single Boerum Hill Block

At the southern edge of Boerum Hill, where the quaint brownstone enclave meets Park Slope and Gowanus, a trio of sleek residential buildings is taking shape by developer Adam America Real Estate. Along a single block, bound by Third and Fourth Avenues and Baltic and Warren Streets, the Brooklyn-centric firm is busy constructing a 31-unit condo building at Six Ten Warren, a 70-unit rental at 595 Baltic Street, and a 21-unit rental 577 Baltic Street. 6sqft visited the block to see how construction is progressing and put together all the renderings and details for the projects.
Check it all out right here
March 23, 2016

Morris Adjmi’s 465 Pacific Street Tops Out, Only One Penthouse Unit Remains

When 6sqft checked in on Boerum Hill's 465 Pacific Street in November, it was little more than a hole in the ground with roughly 50 percent of its 30 condo units already in contract. Now, a little more than four months later, its seven-story concrete skeleton has topped off and just a sole penthouse unit remains. The $55 million development was forged through a partnership between Avery Hall Investments and ARIA Development Group, who purchased the block-through lot for $18 million in 2013. With Morris Adjmi Architects at the helm, the development is composed of two seven-story wings encompassing 85,000 square feet of floor space. Lower levels of the building are faced in a uniform skin of red brick and red mortar joints, while upper levels are finished in dark steel to pay homage to the Mohawk ironworkers who once maintained a community within the neighborhood.
Find out more right here
March 11, 2016

New Renderings of Boerum Hill’s Nevins Condominium, Teaser Site Launched

Walk down any of Downtown Brooklyn's high streets -- Court, Fulton, or Atlantic Avenue -- and you'll experience a palpable energy that can now rival any American downtown. Thanks to its cost advantages relative to Manhattan, the surging city economy, and attractive building stock, the district seems to have reached a level of vibrancy worthy of its borough's 2.1 million inhabitants. Since a major upzoning in 2004, the one-gritty hub has attracted thousands of residents and now has more than 41 million square feet of residential, commercial, and institutional space completed, under construction, or in the pipeline, according to an NYU Rudin Center report. Along the district's southern periphery, where its new soaring tower blocks transition into the genteel streetscapes of Boerum Hill, the Nevins condominium rises at 319 Schermerhorn Street. Now Curbed has spotted the first renderings of the 21-story, 73-unit development and the newly launched registration site for prospective buyers.
More details ahead