It was odd stumbling upon this development the other day on the corner of St John and New York. For whatever reason it never stood stood out before, yet it’s poised to be such an anomaly on this block that’s filled pretty much with 2-3 family units. But oh well, what comes up must…

It is simply amazing the variety of architecture you encounter when walking around Crown Heights. We encountered this beautiful enclave of 1 and 2-family (semi) detached brick homes on Sullivan Place and Montgomery Street between Bedford and Franklin Avenues. A similar style of housing exists on Union and President Streets.

Photo Credit: Nostrand Park (Brick Homes on Sullivan Place and Montgomery Street in Crown Heights)

We were not able to dig up much information about the houses, but we were able to speak with one proud Jamaican homeowner, who has owned his home on Sullivan Place since 1978. He spoke of the changing complexion of the neighborhood over time.  An area which, when he purchased was predominantly African/Caribbean-American owned, is now becoming more integrated as more white residents move back into the neighborhood.

The other day we strolled along Prospect Place, between Albany and Kingston Avenues, and juxtaposed this tree-lined oasis to the neighboring Albany Housing Projects. Continuing in our stroll down Prospect between New York and Brooklyn Avenues we encountered a  quaint set of green and white row houses – another pleasant surprise of our stroll. (The variety of buildings we encountered in this short, four block walk is a testament to the eclectic mix of architecture in the neighborhood.)

Photo Credit: Nostrand Park (Prospect Place between Brooklyn and NY)

This tiny villa of single family homes on Prospect is quite remarkable when seen in context of the buildings that it is tucked between – to one side towers a pre-war apartment building about 6 stories high. To the other side is a large abandoned (and abused) building littered with graffiti and garbage located at 172 Brooklyn Avenue (click this link for a very interesting piece about this building), which is catty corner to the Brooklyn Children’s Museum.

The row houses fall within the Phase I Historic District of Crown Heights North (as do the other buildings on the block). According to the Crown Height North Historic District Designation Report:

This group of Arts and Crafts style row houses was designed by A. White Pierce and built in 1920-22 by Thomas H. Fraser.  These are the only Arts and Crafts style houses in the district and are among the last row houses built in this section of the Crown Heights North area. The houses have shared chimneys and driveways with garages set back in the rear yards. The houses at either end of the row are set closer to the street with the four houses in the middle set back. They are constructed of stucco and have slate roofs, and feature intersecting gables and multi-pane windows. Most of the original multi-pane windows have been replaced.

Apparently the owner of 939 Prospect Place (aka “Prospect Manor”), a home within the villa, has created a website in its honor.  Anyone out there have any additional knowledge on these homes?

Crown Heights boasts a number of beautiful, tree-lined blocks. But recently we came across one block – a stretch of Prospect Place between Kingston and Albany – that takes the cake.

This colorful row of pre-war limestone houses, in and of itself, looks like many other Crown Heights blocks.  However, the tree-scape has a density and uniformity not seen on many Crown Heights blocks. It is – in some sense – reminiscent of Eastern Parkway.  Moreover, what makes the block particularly noteworthy is the contrast between it and the Albany Houses, which the block opens onto.

Courtesy of Nostrand Park: Prospect Place between Kingston and Albany

According to NYCHA’s website, the Albany Houses consists of six 14 story buildings built between 1950 – 1960.  During our walk-thru, there were lots of kids playing and people engrossed in conversation, but the overwhelming vibe of the complex is, like many government housing projects in the city, looming and sterile. Large. Square. Concrete. Not very warm. Not very inviting.

So it was quite a contrast, after checking out the Albany complex, to stumble upon this block. Walking through felt like escaping into an oasis. In the middle of the street are circular, bench-like structures that inspire memories of sitting in a park chatting with a good friend.  Also, the sidewalk is not traditional concrete.  It looks more like a quaint brick pathway. We walked by at night as well and the street lights along this residential row are just as plentiful as the trees themselves.  There must have been (and perhaps still is) a very active block association there.

If anyone knows anything more about this block, we’d love to hear more.

This past Tuesday, the Brooklyn Eagle reported about a portfolio of multi-family properties in Crown Heights with an asking price in excess of $9 million dollars:

Owned by G-way Management, the portfolio comprised 75 residential units and two retail stores in buildings that are all within walking distance of each other and of several major neighborhood attractions, including Medgar Evers College.

At least according to what the listing broker explained to the Brooklyn Eagle, the price is “very reasonable” given the quality of the properties and the rent roll they command.  More details on Brooklyn Eagle’s website and in Massey Knakal’s listing. 

Any of the properties look familiar?  Anyone got the skinny?

Today we peak at a beautiful rental apartment on Carroll Street, between Bedford and Rogers. $2,000 per month gets you a two bedroom, 1.5 bathroom apartment. According to Rentometer.com, the price of $2000 is “reasonable” for the area; 60% of the listings for 2-beds in the area are between $1400 – $2400. Listing by Prudential Elliman.

Taking a gander at the Crown Heights real estate market: 1501 Union Street (between Albany and Kingston), $725,000 2-Family, listing by Brooklyn Properties.