In a NY Times Cityroom post about real estate brokers a person calling themself “lower manhattan” releases the hounds (as it were) on an unnamed Brooklyn Heights coop board: (more…)
NYT Commenter Goes Apenuts on Brooklyn Heights Coop Board
by Homer Fink on 25. Aug, 2010 in Real Estate
Eagle: 101 Clinton Flipping Some Units Residential
by Homer Fink on 25. Aug, 2010 in Commercial Real Estate, Development, Real Estate

BHB photo by C. Scales
The Brooklyn Eagle notes that 101 Clinton Street (aka 165 Joralemon Street), following the example of nearby 75 Clinton, will be flipping some units from commercial to residential:
Brooklyn Eagle: With Eagle staffers and other passersby noting that the building is ”scaffolded and shrouded” (with netting), a check of Department of Buildings (DOB) documents was made.
That search revealed that a permit has been issued for the conversion of the second-through-sixth floors of the six-story building. (more…)
Brooklyn Green Roofs: Sitting On Top of the World
by Heather Quinlan on 20. Aug, 2010 in Home Improvement, Nature, Real Estate, Video
I recently met up with Inger Yancey, architect and founder of Brooklyn Green Roofs, a company that designs and installs green roofs atop city homes and offices. Green roofs not only bring a bit of nature back to the city, but create more energy-efficient buildings as well. More information after the jump! (more…)
Vacate Order on Old Fulton Street
by Heather Quinlan on 11. Aug, 2010 in Architecture, DUMBO, History, Neighborhoods, Real Estate
A source close to the situation told us that 11-15 Old Fulton are going through the process of what is called “demolition by neglect”, which means that the City is trying to compel the owner of these buildings to maintain the property so that they do not deteriorate to the point where they will have to be demolished. Allowing buildings like this to deteriorate to that point is a tactic sometimes used by landowners who deem it cost-ineffective to renovate the existing structure, and who would prefer to raze the building and start over.
Regarding 9 Old Fulton, the owners submitted an application for a “hand demolition of one story structure”. They are probably going through the approvals process in preparation to construct a new building on that site.
All in all, sounds like the resolution—whether it’s demolishing the buildings or waiting for them to crumble—will take awhile.
Here’s more about Old Fulton (and New Fulton) from Forgotten-NY.com.
Welcome Art Institute of NY Students to Brooklyn Heights
by Homer Fink on 10. Aug, 2010 in Real Estate
Crain’s NY Business reports that the Art Institute of NY is moving students into 67 Livingston Street:
Crain’s : The Art Institute of New York has signed a five-year lease for the entire 41,500-square-foot building at 67 Livingston St. in Brooklyn. The 26-story Glory Capital-owned building, built in 1987, will allow AiNYC to consolidate at one location student housing that is currently scattered across Brooklyn and Manhattan. Although there wasn’t any posted asking rent, schools typically charge students the equivalent of roughly $75 per square foot for such dorm rooms.
The building—features include newly carpeted and painted rooms, a new fitness center and flat-screen television sets in every room—will accommodate 182 students, all of whom are scheduled to move in by mid-August. New York University had used the building for housing prior to AiNYC taking occupancy. NYU recently moved out.
Ricky’s Costume Superstore Moving In
by Caitlin Heikkila on 08. Aug, 2010 in Brooklyn Heights, Real Estate, Shopping
With 83 more days until Halloween, Ricky’s Costume Superstore plastered signage into the vacant ex-Jennifer Convertibles space at 121 Montague Street. The shop will be temporary for the Halloween season, offering an extensive selection of costumes, wigs, makeup, and scary accessories. Perhaps the seasonal store will spark a permanent business to take the empty space?
Eight Out, One In at 23 Pierrepont
by Claude Scales on 07. Aug, 2010 in Real Estate

BHB Photo by C. Scales
As reported by the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, the townhouse at 23 Pierrepont Street, between Willow Street and Columbia Heights, has been sold for $1.65 million to a buyer, described as “a private investor”, who plans to convert it from its present configuration of eight apartments to a single family residence. According to the broker, John Horowitz of Marcus & Millichap, it’s an all-cash deal to close within thirty days.
Cranberry Street Townhouse Heights’ Highest This Year
by Homer Fink on 06. Aug, 2010 in Real Estate
Curbed reports on the sale of 13 Cranberry Street:
Curbed: When we first set eyes on Brooklyn Heights’ 13 Cranberry Street, we were a little bit enchanted with the house, designed by an English sea captain. So, apparently, was whoever just handed over $6.2 million to buy it (sadly, not us). On its long voyage to closing, the house dropped many dollars off its pricetag, going all the way from $8 million in 2008 to—after some time off the market—$6.5 million back in March. Even so, the final sale price appears to make it the neighborhood’s highest residential sale of the year so far. We’re lookin’ at you to beat that, Truman Capote.
Floorplan and photos at Curbed.
Brooklyn Bridge Park Community Council: Tobacco Warehouse Should Stay Public, Multi-Use Facility
by Homer Fink on 05. Aug, 2010 in Brooklyn Heights, Development, Government, Landmark Preservation

BBPCC rendering of proposed alternative use of Tobacco Warehouse open space
Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Tobacco Warehouse must remain a public, multi-use facility and maintain its current mix of indoor/outdoor space, says The Brooklyn Bridge Park Community Council in a report provided exclusively to BHB.
The BBPCC, a coalition of neighborhood groups and supporters of the park, states that, “the Tobacco Warehouse should remain a stabilized, architectural ruin, activated with enhancements that allow it to be a flexible, public, multipurpose outdoor space accommodating a wide variety of activities, and not dominated by one use or group.” It includes proposals for enhanced use of the space as well as a historical perspective from Francis Morrone.
Read the full document after the jump. (more…)
Watchtower Properties: $1 Billion? Really?
by brooklynheightsblog on 29. Jul, 2010 in Real Estate, Watchtower

Brooklyn Heights resident and real estate broker Donald Brennan files this guest post:
After reading the ‘Real Deal on Watchtower Properties’ post here last week I got to thinking – a billion dollars, for 25 properties, where did that number come from? While I am aware of the impeccable condition of these properties, inside and out, my initial reaction was – that’s crazy! Isn’t it? Maybe not. (more…)
BHB Poll
Recent Posts
- Brooklyn Bridge Rehab Update: No Lane Closings This Weekend
- Atlantic Tunnel’s Bob Diamond Shipping Out
- Paul Giamatti is Busy with Barney, Clooney and 30 Rock Appearance
- School’s Back in Session or Copy Editing Gone Very Wrong
- BBC Covers Heather’s Knishes
- Newsweek Writer with Brooklyn Heights Connection Ponders Downtown Mosque
- Brooklyn Heights People: Doug Biviano
- Cop Who Denied CPR to Asthmatic Girl is from the 84th Precinct
- Open Thread Wednesday 9/1/10
- 84th Precinct Police Blotter – 8/31/10





Nabe Chatter