After a Million Dollar Plus Haircut, 28 Middagh Sells

By on March 10, 2011 5:11 pm in Brooklyn Heights

In 2009, it went on the market for $4.2 million and today Brownstoner reports that 28 Middagh Street has been sold for $3 million.

The home was also part of our thinkpiece “Out of Context, Fugly or Brilliant” covering many of the architectural “curiosites” of Brooklyn Heights:

Despite the fact that it has an award winning interior restoration, this 1829 home draws the ire of the current AIA guide which says that its facade has been “mutilated beyond recognition.”

As for how it got that way, Brown Harris Stevens broker Gabriel Ford told the Brooklyn Eagle, “Sometime after 1940, someone removed the front stairway, added asbestos shingles, created a side entry and added a two-car garage…In their mind they probably thought they were modernizing it, but it looked horrible.” Cranky preservationists aside, the one car garage here makes it a sweet deal for some.

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  • AEB

    Considering what 3 million will buy you in the NYC real estate market–a studio in the West Village?– I suppose the current owner did well enough, considering the debauched, vinylite exterior, and apparently tiny room within. Guess the car space sold it.

  • Cranberry Beret

    What vinylite exterior?

    Anyway the AIA guide comment is about the pre-renovation version of this house, not what’s here today.

  • AEB

    Sorry–my error. I thought the house in question was the one on the south side of Middagh a few doors west of the firehouse.

    Also has parking, but through an entrance to the right of the structure.And most assuredly, ersatz shingling.

  • AEB

    …75 Middagh.

  • stuart little

    this is a lovely house that was renovated with great care. I think it probably would have sold for a higher amount in Cobble Hill or Park Slope. The Heights is slipping in terms of desirability. Our rival communities are getting better every year while we are more or less stuck in 1991.

  • Cranberry Beret

    Think what you may about a rivalry, but actual sale prices in those neighborhoods don’t support your guess. There are more $3 million plus sales here than in CH or PS, and on a percentage basis, the proportion is much higher. I don’t say this to be a booster against our “rivals” – it’s just a fact.

  • Gerry

    It was the garage that sold this house in Brooklyn Heights a garage is a great perk.

  • Cranberry Beret

    I know. All the houses here should be renovated with garages. Just think what it would do for our property values.

  • Andrew Porter

    This was part of the BHA House Tour several years ago. The interior is totally new, totally without architectural details, totally modern and bland. The only thing remaining from the original house is the shape or outline, as the exterior and interior have been replaced.

  • nabeguy

    Andrew, people crave their mod-cons. If it weren’t for the Landmark laws, I’m sure we’d also be seeing gut renovations of exteriors as well.

  • Linda

    To Stuart Little:
    What makes you think that Brooklyn Heights is “slipping in terms of desirability”.
    If you check the listings on Streeteasy you will see that the most expensive homes for sale are in the Heights.

  • nabeguy

    Linda, I think Stuart’s point is that the Heights is no longer the only “go to”neighborhood in Brooklyn in terms of desirability and exclusivity. Yes, house values are still up there, but stock is down, so people are looking elsewhere, such as Boerum and Cobble Hills. Not quite the same cache (or subway access), but the prices reflect that.

  • Linda

    Thanks Nabeguy for clearing things up for me.

  • Karl Junkersfeld

    “I think it probably would have sold for a higher amount in Cobble Hill or Park Slope. The Heights is slipping in terms of desirability.”

    Thought Stuart statement was quite clear. He feels the same house would have sold for more money in a neighboring community.

    Of course, he is incorrect.

    There isn’t a promenade one block away along with excellent transportation choices in Cobble Hill and Park Slope isn’t as close to Manhattan. In short, Stuart is flat out wrong.

    Maybe he should talk to a real estate agent before making such a silly statement.