Cobble Hill

July 28, 2015

$4.4M for Turnkey Updates and Designer Flair in an Historic Brooklyn Heights Townhouse

All told, $4.4 million isn't really a lot to ask for a four-story townhouse in prime Brooklyn Heights–in fact, the longtime sales record-holder, Truman Capote's former home at 70 Willow Street, sold for $12.5 million back in 2012 and was recently bested by the $15.5 million sale of a Cobble Hill townhouse. And this landmarked home at 73 Joralemon Street is no fixer-upper; quite the opposite. A top-to-toe, no-expense-spared redesign was just completed, helmed by designer Nick Olsen. Not only were the home's interiors transformed with dramatic flair, modern updates took place throughout: new windows were installed, stairs replaced and hardwood floors refinished; all mechanicals were replaced including central heating and air.
Take a look inside, this way
July 2, 2015

Cute Cobble Hill Condo with Fun Pops of Pink Asks $800k

The listing calls this 800-square-foot condo a studio, but given its spacious duplex layout, we think it functions more like a one-bedroom. Located at 473 Hicks Street in Cobble Hill, the apartment puts a contemporary spin on its classic bones. The huge, geometric bookshelves, translucent kitchen stools, and funky bedroom wallpaper all elevate the home from a boring box to a designer-worthy pad. But what especially draws us in is the subtle use of pink, which doesn't read girly, but rather sophisticated and fun.
See the rest here
June 19, 2015

After Selling 190 Bowery, Photographer Jay Maisel Buys Record-Breaking Cobble Hill Townhouse

If you've been following the saga of 190 Bowery, the former Germania Bank Building turned private mansion, you know that photographer Jay Maisel sold it to developer Aby Rosen of RFR Realty for $55 million back in February (he paid just $102,000 for it in 1966). Since that time, it's been all eyes on Rosen. Is he removing or preserving that iconic graffiti? What the heck happened with that "public" art show inside the building? But what about Maisel? Well, he certainly made out well, swapping one mansion for another. The Times reports that he is the buyer of the $15.5 million brick carriage house at 177 Pacific Street in Cobble Hill, the most expensive single residence ever sold in Brooklyn. He did downsize a bit, though. As Curbed notes, 190 Bowery was 37,000 square feet, while his new townhouse is 10,000.
More on Maisel's new home
June 15, 2015

Beastie Boy Mike D’s Brilliant Brooklyn Townhouse Can Be Yours for $5.7M

Back in 2013, news that Michael Diamond—a.k.a. Beastie Boy Mike D—and his wife, Tamra Davis, had acquired a townhouse on a beautiful tree-lined Cobble Hill block and given it a creative and modern—yet totally livable—redesign led to a spate of articles showcasing the cool and quirky pad, including a New York Times house tour aptly titled "Licensed to Grill." All the attention likely led to Diamond's recent side project helping his architect friends design a new-construction townhouse in nearby Boerum Hill that recently sold for just under $5 million. Now the original Cobble Hill Beastie house at 148 Baltic Street is on the market for $5.65 million, funky custom toile wallpaper and all.
Tour the delightfully decorated townhouse, this way...
June 10, 2015

An Apple Tree Grows in Brooklyn, and It Could Be in Your Own Backyard

Want to live in the city without giving up your greenery? This $1.45 million two-bedroom garden apartment in Cobble Hill might be the perfect solution. It offers 1,020 square feet of space in a 25-foot-wide brownstone co-op, with a beautifully manicured backyard and a gorgeous patio. We're talking enough green space to entertain you, friends and family, Fido, and your weedwhacker. Now that sounds promising.
More pics inside
June 4, 2015

Cobble Hill Townhouse Sets Record for Most Expensive Home Sale in Brooklyn at $15.5M

You know the real estate market is getting shaken up when Brooklynites are abandoning their beloved borough for the cheaper island of Manhattan. And today's record breaker just goes to show how hot Brooklyn is right now. The Daily News reports that the super-modernized Cobble Hill carriage house at 177 Pacific Street sold for $15.5 million, setting the record for most expensive home sale ever in the borough. The four-story, six-bedroom house takes the top spot from Truman Capote's former home at 70 Willow Street in Brooklyn Heights, which sold in 2012 for $12.5 million.
More details about this Brooklyn record breaker
May 27, 2015

A Brick Cottage in Brooklyn Is Up for Sale at the Warren Place Mews

The Warren Place Mews is one of the most charming blocks of Cobble Hill, if not all of Brooklyn. It's a gated street with 34 modest brick cottages that face a private courtyard. The mews dates back to the 1870s, when it was built by wealthy merchant and philanthropist Alfred Tredway White. White advocated for housing for the working class and built affordable housing all around Brooklyn. These homes in particular were used as workman's cottages. But the mews has come a long way since then. This home, at 21 Warren Place, is now on the market for $1.495 million.
See the interior here
May 15, 2015

‘Eat, Pray, Love’ Firehouse in Cobble Hill Sells for $6.25M

The 19th century Cobble Hill carriage house featured in the Julia Roberts movie version of Elizabeth Gilbert's "Eat Pray Love" has just sold for $6.25 million, according to the Observer. We’re reminded of the boho-fabulous Park Slope townhouse featured in Noah Baumbach’s "The Squid and the Whale," which changed hands for its ask of $3.45 million back in 2012, so this may be a testament to how much the market has shifted since then–or one could compare indie film cred with Julia Roberts-grade mainstream appeal. Either way, this charming 1840s former firehouse at 172 Pacific Street on a pretty, shade-dappled Cobble Hill block has cinematic qualities on its own. The home, which had been on the market for nearly a year, is unique even on this block of quaint 19th century houses.
Take a look inside here
February 10, 2015

Modern Bucolic Townhouse in Cobble Hill Asks $4M

It’s homes like these that make us appreciate the diverse architecture of New York. A glance at these photos would have you think you’re looking at an idyllic countryside setting, but don’t get out your riding boots just yet. You’re in Cobble Hill. That’s right, this Brooklyn townhouse has all the old-style charm you could dream of in a modern package with a convenient location, and it’s asking $3.995 million.
Take a look inside
January 29, 2015

Modern Smart Home in Cobble Hill Sells for $6M

The blogosphere was not impressed last year when they saw the contemporary brownstone conversion at 325 Degraw Street in Cobble Hill, calling the grey structure a "sad transformation." And while the nondescript façade may pale in comparison to its neighboring historic homes, what lies beyond is an impressive 5,800-square-foot smart home, complete with over 800 square feet of outdoor space, a landscaped roof deck, and a basement media room. Known as the Light House, the modern mansion designed by architect James Anzalone has now found an owner, a couple who paid a hefty $6 million, according to city records released today.
Check out the rest of the smart home
January 20, 2015

This Turn-Key Cobble Hill Townhome Comes with a Backyard Playhouse

What if we told you we found a beautiful move-in ready Brooklyn townhouse with a landscaped garden and a great location, and the only downside is it has one green bathroom? Well, you can’t have it all. But this four-bedroom townhouse in Cobble Hill comes pretty close. The owner “lovingly updated” the home, and it seems to have had a pretty successful run on the rental market over the last few years, but it's back on the market again, asking $12,500 a month.
More pics inside
November 8, 2014

Neighborhood Revival: Brooklyn’s Columbia Street on a Comeback

It’s not a shocker that some Brooklyn neighborhoods are outselling their Manhattan counterparts. What’s a bit of a surprise is that the Columbia Street Waterfront District, a quirky 22-block enclave wedged between Red Hook and the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, is one of them. Until recently, Columbia Street was known as a far-flung and largely forgotten strip that fell victim to Robert Moses’s highway expansion project—the BQE—which, when built on a below-ground slice of Hicks Street in 1957, severed the area from the rest of Carroll Gardens and Cobble Hill, breaking up what was then “South Brooklyn” into distinct neighborhoods.
More on Columbia Street's Comeback
October 10, 2014

Brooklyn Courtyard House by DXA Studio Is Arranged Around a Central Atrium

It's not often that a New York City architect gets to work with an extra-wide townhouse, but the Brooklyn Courtyard House afforded DXA Studio just that opportunity. The client had purchased a standard 17-foot-wide townhouse in Cobble Hill, as well as the adjacent vacant lot, giving DXA over 30 feet of developable space. The firm used this chance to create a 5,600-square-foot, three-story home that blends with its Italianate neighbors from the outside and is entirely arranged around a central courtyard inside.
Check out the Brooklyn beauty
September 11, 2014

Converted Cobble Hill Firehouse Comes with a Magical Secret Garden

Even if this rustic carriage house at 172 Pacific Street in Cobble Hill hadn’t been featured in various films over the years (including Eat, Pray, Love), its star-quality is more than evident. Although currently configured as a two-unit home, its three loft-like levels can easily be converted into a spacious four-to-six bedroom residence with some very minor adjustments.
No fire pole but lots more to see here
September 2, 2014

This Cobble Hill Apartment with Lofted Bedroom is a True Brooklyn Gem

There’s something about this $1.5 million loft at 44 Cheever Place that truly captures the best of Brooklyn living. Residing in a converted former Catholic schoolhouse, this two-bedroom, two-bathroom condo has more than just a rich history. The quintessential loft also has an open floor plan, soaring ceilings, exposed brick walls and hardwood floors. Yet, its most impressive features may be a lofted second bedroom and well-concealed storage.
Take a look inside, here