Brooklyn

September 9, 2021

Beautiful Fort Greene apartment once home to Notorious B.I.G. lists for $1.7M

Not far from the Clinton Hill apartment where he grew up, the former Fort Greene home of the late rapper Notorious B.I.G. and his wife Faith Evens has hit the market for $1.7 million, as the NY Post reported. The two-bedroom duplex is located in a former stable building at 159 Carlton Avenue and is today owned by a well-known costume designer who infused the apartment with a gorgeous mix of historic architecture, art, and stylish upgrades. According to the Post, Biggie Smalls released his famous album "Ready to Die" while living here in 1994.
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September 7, 2021

A new Brooklyn Trader Joe’s is opening in Williamsburg this year

Rendering of 200 Kent Avenue courtesy of Cushman & Wakefield Cauliflower gnocchi and dark chocolate peanut butter cups will soon be easier to come by in north Brooklyn. As was first reported by Greenpointers, Trader Joe's will be opening its third location in the borough this year. Currently, the beloved grocer has stores at City Point in Downtown Brooklyn and in Brooklyn Heights. The new outpost will be in Williamsburg at 200 Kent Avenue, a new commercial building between North 2nd and 3rd Streets near the waterfront.
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September 7, 2021

$2.9M Red Hook rowhouse with a live-work setup has rough-hewn details and a green roof

The owner of this Red Hook rowhouse, a local architect and designer, bought the property at 373 Van Brunt Street in 2007 for just $700,000. He then created a "soaring industrial chic" home, as the listing describes, using repurposed salvaged beams, exposed brick, and structural steel. It's set up as a live-work owner's triplex, complete with a roof deck and a green roof, along with a ground-level commercial space that's currently an art gallery. It's now on the market for $2,875,000.
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September 2, 2021

Stained glass transoms and lacy woodwork steal the show at this $4M Bed-Stuy brownstone

In Stuyvesant Heights, this beautiful brownstone was fully gut renovated and restored to perfection by Shakespeare Gordon Vlado Architects. But that doesn't mean there aren't plenty of historic details. From stained glass transom windows to tons of tracery to delicately carved moldings, the home is dripping in elegant 19th-century architecture. For the 21st century, there's a large skylit extension on two floors and more than 5,000 square feet of living space, including a garden-level rental unit. All of this and more is asking $3,950,000.
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August 25, 2021

$2M Red Hook loft offers rare views of Brooklyn’s industrial waterfront

This Red Hook loft at 160 Imlay Street has incredible views of the lower Manhattan skyline, New York Harbor, and Statue of Liberty, but what truly sets it apart is how it overlooks the Red Hook Container Terminal, an active reminder of Brooklyn's industrial past. The nearly 2,000-square-foot home is on the market for $1,995,000 and has two bedrooms, a separate study, and massive floor-to-ceiling windows.
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August 24, 2021

Wait list for 39 affordable apartments opens at rental near the Williamsburg waterfront, from $1,999/month

The 19-story rental at 321 Wythe Avenue opened in 2019, just two blocks from the South Williamsburg waterfront. After initially opening a lottery for 39 middle-income units, the building is relaunching its waitlist for these apartments. Currently, there are two vacant units, but all applicants will be placed on the list for future vacancies. Those earning 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the units that range from a $1,999/month one-bedroom to $2,459/month two-bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify
August 24, 2021

$1.8M Midwood Victorian is overflowing with flowery, vintage appeal

We sincerely hope that whoever buys this Victorian home in Midwood decides to keep at least some of the floral wallpaper, and there's really no choice when it comes to preserving vintage elements like clawfoot tubs, a vintage Kenmore stove, and stained glass windows. The home was built in 1899, and today it's an intriguing mix of 19th-century architecture and 1950s retro. It has six bedrooms, a covered porch, driveway, two-car garage, and both front and rear yards, and it's on the market for $1.8 million.
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August 23, 2021

Get full skyline views from the 57-foot-long terrace at this $2.75M Brooklyn Heights condo

Designed by prolific architect Emery Roth, Brooklyn Height's St. George Tower was constructed in 1929 as part of the full-block St. George Hotel complex. The 30-story Art Deco tower at 111 Hicks Street was converted to 275 co-ops in 1984, leaving its east-facing apartments with views just as prolific. This three-bedroom duplex on the 22nd and 23rd floors has a 57-foot-long terrace that overlooks the entire Manhattan skyline, the Statue of Liberty, and the Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Verrazano bridges--views that are completely protected and enjoyed by every single room in the home.
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August 19, 2021

The world’s first air conditioner was invented in Brooklyn in 1902

Photo of Willis Carrier (left) courtesy of Wikipedia; Photo of air conditioners in NY building courtesy of Marcel Oosterwijk on Flickr It figures, but history shows us yet another way Brooklyn was cool, like, forever–though this particular example is a bit more literal. A classic New York City heatwave was just enough to turn up the Brooklyn ingenuity in a junior engineer named Willis Carrier, who devised a system of fans, ducts, heaters, and perforated pipes that became the world’s first air conditioner. The problem: blistering temperatures that were literally melting the equipment in a Williamsburg printing house. The solution was one that had eluded centuries of inventors through sweltering summers. The system was installed in the summer of 1902, according to the New York Times, and Carrier went on to found Carrier Corporation. He had hit on the idea while walking in the fog.
It's the humidity
August 19, 2021

$2M Bed-Stuy two-family is an art-filled beauty with laid-back outdoor space

Asking $1,995,000, this Bed-Stuy townhouse at 781 Putnam Avenue is set up as an owner's duplex and an income-generating garden-level apartment. Though the home was built in 1901, it's been completely restored and renovated, resulting in a beautiful backdrop for the current owner's art and contemporary furniture collection. The rear deck and backyard have also been done with a creative sentiment, offering a laid-back oasis.
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August 18, 2021

Cheery Park Slope two-bedroom with a roof deck and a mix of pros + cons asks $775K

There's technically nothing spectacular about this Park Slope co-op, but it's got a cheerful disposition that makes us happy. The $775,000 price tag is also quite eyecatching for a two-bedroom plus roof deck, but it should be noted that the bedrooms are both on the small side, there's minimal closet space, and the rooftop is still mostly raw. However, on the plus side, the home is located at 813 8th Avenue, just one block from Prospect Park.
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August 17, 2021

1,300-foot-high duplex at Central Park Tower asks $150M

For $150,000,000, a luxury apartment situated 1,300 feet above ground can be yours. As first reported by Bloomberg, the available duplex is located on the 127th and 128th floors of Central Park Tower, the tallest residential building in the world. According to the listing, the eight-bedroom "trophy home" is the highest duplex in the skyscraper, which stands more than 1,500 feet tall over Central Park. If it fetches the asking price, it would become the third most expensive sale in New York City ever.
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August 13, 2021

Green-Wood Cemetery honors Battle of Brooklyn’s 245th anniversary with revolutionary event

The first major battle to take place during the Revolutionary War after the United States declared independence took place in Brooklyn on August 27, 1776. During the Battle of Brooklyn, fighting took place across the borough, including throughout present-day Prospect Park, Fulton Ferry Landing, and Green-Wood Cemetery. To commemorate the 245th anniversary of the historic struggle, Green-Wood Cemetery is hosting a family-friendly event this month with Revolutionary War reenactors, music, demonstrations, and other activities.
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August 10, 2021

Brooklyn Nets are giving away home game tickets this week at pop-up Covid vaccination site

Take a shot and receive a free ticket to a Brooklyn Nets home game. The basketball team is partnering with Maimonides Medical Center and Industry Center to open a coronavirus vaccination site in Brooklyn this week. On Thursday, August 12, individuals aged 12 and older who receive their first dose of the Pfizer vaccine at the Sunset Park pop-up will go home with a complimentary ticket to a game next season and some Nets swag.
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August 10, 2021

Apply for 13 middle-income apartments in a new Midwood building, from $1,850/month

New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income can apply for 13 apartments in a brand-new Midwood, Brooklyn rental. Located at 1941 Coney Island Avenue, the building is called The Posh and offers tenants a roof deck, parking garage with electric car charging, gym, and more. The apartments, which include $1,850/month studios, $2,250/month one-bedrooms, and $2,750/month three-bedrooms, have sleek interiors with big, floor-to-ceiling windows.
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August 5, 2021

Portraits of Barack and Michelle Obama are coming to the Brooklyn Museum this month

The famous portraits of President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama are coming to the Brooklyn Museum in Prospect Heights this month. At the beginning of 2020, the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery announced a five-city tour for the two popular paintings, which kicked off in June in the Obamas' hometown of Chicago. Kehinde Wiley and Amy Sherald are the first African American artists selected by the Portrait Gallery for the museum's official portraits of a president or first lady.
Details here
July 29, 2021

On the 66th floor of the world’s tallest residential building, a carefully curated condo for $22M

As residents start to move into the world's tallest residential building, we're getting another look at one of the impressive residences there. The three-bedroom, three-bathroom on the 66th floor of the Central Park Tower, the 1,500-foot tall condo tower on Billionaires' Row, has interiors designed by Australian-based Blainey North & Associates and features bold and elegant, but welcoming, elements throughout. The 3,165-square-foot sky-high home with incredible city and Central Park views is asking $21,890,000.
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July 28, 2021

$5.5M Arts & Crafts home in Bay Ridge has modern period interiors and a magical backyard

It's always fun to see the big, suburban homes of Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, with their varying architectural styles. This six-bedroom Arts & Crafts beauty is on the market for $5.5 million, and it's certainly something different. Inside, a recent renovation restored period details from its construction in 1910 like coffered ceilings, marquetry floors, and built-ins, while adding modern takes on the style like barrel-vaulted ceilings and a wine cellar. Outside, the property feels like a magical garden, with a pool, waterfall, and fire pit.
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July 27, 2021

Robert A.M. Stern’s affordable housing building Edwin’s Place opens in Brownsville

An affordable housing development designed by an architecture firm known for its pricey condo towers officially opened in Brooklyn this week. Located on the corner of Livonia Avenue and Grafton Street in Brownsville, Edwin's Place was designed by Robert A.M. Stern Architects (RAMSA), the team behind renowned buildings like 220 Central Park South, 15 Central Park West, and 70 Vestry Street, all of which have apartments that cost millions of dollars. At Edwin's Place, there are 125 units of affordable and supportive housing set aside for formerly homeless families and low-income New Yorkers.
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July 23, 2021

New Clinton Hill rental opens middle-income housing lottery, units from $2,431/month

A new rental building in Clinton Hill has launched a middle-income housing lottery for 13 units. The apartments, which are available to those earning 130 percent of the area median income, include $2,431/month studios, $2,592/month one-bedrooms, and $3,090/month two-bedrooms. By comparison, market-rate units in the building start around $3,000/month for studios and $4,800/month for two-bedrooms. The boutique building is located at 26 Quincy Street and offers tenants an on-site gym, rooftop, covered parking, and laundry in each unit.
Find out if you qualify
July 20, 2021

Billionaire Joe Tsai revealed as buyer of $157.5M condos at 220 Central Park South

As was first reported by the Wall Street Journal in June, a buyer shelled out $157,500,000 for two units at 220 Central Park South. Property records showed the $82.5 million purchase of the 60th-floor unit and the $75 million purchase of the 61st-floor unit, both made using an LLC. But CNBC has now revealed that the buyer is billionaire Joe Tsai, Alibaba co-founder and owner of the Brooklyn Nets. The sale is the second biggest in New York City history and the third-largest ever in the U.S. The number-one spot occurred at the same Billionaires' Row tower, with billionaire Ken Griffin's $238 million purchase in early 2019. 
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July 19, 2021

Construction set to begin on five-building Alloy Block development in Downtown Brooklyn

After securing $240 million in financing, Alloy Development announced construction will kick off this month on its huge mixed-use, multi-building project in Downtown Brooklyn. Formerly known as 80 Flatbush, Alloy Block includes five buildings with 850 apartments, 200,000 square feet of office space, 40,000 square feet of retail, and two public schools designed to meet Passive House standards. Since first announcing the project roughly four years ago, developers have cut the height of the residential towers, swapped out planned office space for additional residences, and pushed back the expected completion date.
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July 19, 2021

For $1.25M, an attached house in Bay Ridge with sunny interiors and a lush backyard

In Manhattan (or many parts of Brooklyn for that matter), a three-bedroom townhouse would cost you at least three times the asking price of this home. But in still relatively affordable Bay Ridge, $1,250,000 goes quite a long way. This attached brick beauty was recently renovated and has airy, restored interiors, a finished basement, and a beautiful backyard that has a deck, patio, and garden.
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July 16, 2021

Thomas Edison’s brother-in-law once owned this Prospect Park South Tudor, asking $2.9M

The original owner of this Prospect Park South Tudor was Charles Stilwell, an inventor and associate of Thomas Edison whose sister Mary actually married Edison. Located at 187 Marlborough Road and on the market for $2,895,000, the home spans 4,500 square feet and has five bedrooms, eight wood-burning fireplaces, a driveway, and a backyard carriage house. The interiors, which date to roughly 1905, have all been beautifully preserved, as has the facade and porch.
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July 15, 2021

On a private mews in Brooklyn Heights, this creatively restored carriage house is asking $5.5M

The dead-end street known as Hunts Lane in Brooklyn Heights is a charming mews lined with former horse stables built in the 19th-century. One such carriage house, 4 Hunts Lane, is on the market for $5.5 million, and it might just be the most beautiful on the street. In addition to its gorgeous modern interiors, the four-bedroom home has a one-car garage, artist's studio, and soaring sky-lit spaces in the former hayloft.
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July 13, 2021

Clinton Hill’s famous Pfizer mansion sells for $9.05M, setting neighborhood record

After three years on the market, the grand Queen Anne townhouse at 280 Washington Avenue in Clinton Hill has closed for $9,050,000, setting a sales record for the neighborhood. The previous record-holder was 315 Vanderbilt Avenue, which sold for $7,200,000 in 2015. The 10,000-square-foot mansion is known as the Pfizer mansion as it was built in 1887 for Charles Erhart, co-founder of the Pfizer pharmaceutical company and brother-in-law to Charles Pfizer. The opulent home features historic details like an original Otis elevator, moldings and woodwork galore, eight fireplaces, and stained glass. There's also a sunken "speakeasy" party room, seven bedrooms, a wine cellar, and a beautifully landscaped backyard.
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