By Charlotte Lytton 10/19/12 2:23pm

there goes

Video

pink

Park Slope Says Goodbye to Its Beloved Pepto-Pink Brownstone

It has long been heralded as the candy-colored jewel in the chocolate crown of Brooklyn’s brownstone belt, but the new owners of Park Slope’s wackiest house have decided, with the blessing of the city, to return it to its natural shade. The building has become something of a local landmark since Bernie Henry, now 92 years old, bought the place in 1961. He repainted it the fetching pink hue as a gift to his wife. Well, they do say love is blind. Read More

By Jess Schiewe 6/04/12 4:52pm

Mysteries of Brooklyn

Better act fast: brownstones in Brooklyn are snatched up like hot cakes.

The Manhattanization of the Brooklyn Brownstone Means Red Hook Is Hotter Than Ever

Christabel Gough, the secretary for the Society for the Architecture of the City and a resident of the Greenwich Village Historic District, has a simple, to the point message for New Yorkers: Beware. Manhattanization, she warns, is growing, encroaching on historical neighborhoods throughout the five boroughs. It is the real estate equivalent of kudzu and Brooklyn, Ms. Gough says, is the next victim. Yet unlike it’s leafy cousin, Manhattanization cannot be eradicated with sheep.

But first, a word on Manhattanization, as explained by Ms. Gough in her keynote speech, “Can Cobble Hill Avoid Manhattanization” at the Cobble Hill Association General Meeting on May 29th, and helpfully reprinted at Brownstoner. Read More

By Kim Velsey 4/17/12 6:34pm

THERE GOES THE NEIGHBORHOOD

Black = existing historic district, Green = expanded historic district, Brown = desired "North Slope" historic district

Park Slope Gets Expanded Historic District, Still Not Satisfied

Though many thought it was not possible, Park Slope is becoming even more perfect. (And no, the ice cream trucks have not agreed to vacate Prospect Park.)

Today, the Landmarks Preservation Commission approved a sizable expansion of the Park Slope historic district, making it one of the largest historic districts in the city, according to a release from City Councilmember Brad Lander.

The extension will include some 580 buildings and will stretch from roughly 7th Street to 15th Street, mostly between 7th Avenue and 8th Avenues. The brownstone bedecked South Slope blocks also include the former Ansonia Clock Works factory and the factory workers’ homes. Read More

By Elise Knutsen 9/29/11 3:13pm

Red Carpet Real Estate

Leornard Lopate

Cobble Hill’s Favorite Radio Personality Can’t Afford Cobble Hill

Leonard Lopate loves his Cobble Hill home. In a recent interview with the Post the radio host gushed about life in Brooklyn, where he moved in 2009 after spending 25 years in Chinatown. Currently a renter, Mr. Lopate claims that he would love to make his rented apartment a permanent home with his girlfriend Melanie Baker. One problem—the increasingly expensive Brooklyn hood may be out of his price range. Read More

By Thornton McEnery 9/07/11 1:57pm

House Porn

11 Photos

The floorplan.

You Can Live in This Stunning Fort Greene Brownstone for $120K a Year… With Just One Small Catch

We at The Observer pride ourselves on being able to tag these virtual house tours with a little witticism, which we think pokes fun at the property itself, and thus gives depth to its role in the circus-like New York City real estate scene. That said, we are finding ourselves at a loss for a snarky bon mot while taking in this seemingly flawless Fort Greene listing from Prudential Douglas Elliman.

Then again, we are also fans of having equity, so here goes nothin’… Read More

By Matt Chaban 5/11/11 2:14pm

BroBos

Park Dope: Riding the H-Train Through BroBo Paradise

It was a 70-degree day in mid-March of 2010 when Edwin Perez rode his cherry red Can-Am Spyder from a self-storage locker in Windsor Terrace up to the tree-lined brownstone streets of Park Slope, the place he conducted business, the place he referred to as “the office.” At 2:35, the well-built 32-year-old turned the Spyder, Read More

By William Alden 7/15/10 6:55pm

Brooklyn Brownstone Sales ‘Sort of Pre-Lehman’

Sellers of top-end brownstones, take heart! Brooklyn’s second-quarter housing numbers came out this morning, and we chatted with market wizard Jonathan Miller, CEO and president of Miller Samuel and author of the Prudential Douglas Elliman’s report, to get the full story on brownstones. The news isn’t bad, which these days means it’s good.

For “Brownstone Read More