Aaron Dessner of Brooklyn Band The National Gets $2.3M for Ditmas Park Beauty
There’s lots of big-name news happening in Ditmas Park this week. Just yesterday, 6sqft found out about Michelle Williams’ plans to renovate her Colonial Revival mansion in the neighborhood, and now the Observer reports that Aaron Dessner of Brooklyn-based band The National has sold his beautiful, historic home for $2.35 million.
The sale will affect the whole Grammy-nominated band, since their studio space is located in the converted garage. As the Observer notes, “A three-story Victorian-style house isn’t exactly where we pictured an indie rock band recording their album,” but nonetheless Dressner bought the 3,282-square-foot residence for $700,000 in 2003. He then renovated and restored it extensively, doing most of the work himself. He configured it as a two-family home and at one point rented out the top apartment to band co-founder Matt Berninger, who now lives in Prospect Heights.
Built in 1899, the home recently received new cedar siding and an Ipe porch. Inside are original details like a tiger oak staircase, wainscot paneling, stained glass windows, and a working fireplace.
The modern kitchen leads right out to the back deck, perfect for outdoor entertaining.
Currently, the first floor is a two-bedroom unit, while the second and third floors make up the other unit, which can have up to five bedrooms depending on the layout. The listing notes that “the property has great rental income potential or can easily be converted and used in its original layout as a single-family.”
The studio has heating and cooling, oak floors, and skylights. The listing suggests that it could be converted to a yoga studio, art studio, or outdoor entertainment area. The lucky new buyers are Joel Sternfeld (possibly the noted photographer) and Anne Stuart Hawkins, who paid the exact asking price.
[Listing: 236 Stratford Road by Rebekah Carver of Brooklyn Hearth Realty]
[Via NYO]
RELATED:
- Michelle Williams Submits Plans to Renovate Historic Prospect Park South Mansion
- This $2.35M Artist-Renovated Ditmas Park Victorian Is Both Cozy and Cool
- $2.5M Ditmas Park Beauty Has Awesome Green Space and an Artist Studio
Photos courtesy of Brooklyn Hearth Realty
