FROM THE PAGES OF BROWNSTONER.COM Now on
COURIER L 36 IFE, APRIL 26–MAY 2, 2019 M BR B G
BY STEPHEN ZACKS
This brownstone in the Fort
Greene Historic District has
big proportions and well preserved
details. The exact condition
is unclear, but 259 Clermont
Ave. is already set up as
a triplex over a garden fl oor
rental and doesn’t appear to
need much.
Built around 1867 or 1868,
the four-story, two-family is 21
feet wide with tall ceilings and
nearly fl oor-to-ceiling windows
on the parlor fl oor. Its many
well-preserved details include
handsome carved marble mantels,
pocket doors with etched
glass, plaster crown molding,
and the original curved staircase
with (presumably) mahogany
railing and newel post.
The dark stained trim in the
entry and hall makes the most
of the property’s elaborate Italianate
arched details, such as
its arched double doors. The
parlor-level fl oors look to be
refi nished without stain, the
light wood and white walls accentuating
the contrast of the
dramatic doorway trim. Modern
light fi xtures and the light
fl oors give the space a loft-like
feel.
The marble mantels with
cast-iron summer covers and
keystones — there are seven
mantels altogether in the
house — also show off the Italianate
curves. In the kitchen in
the rear of the parlor fl oor, a
swooping alcove over the countertop
puts a last exclamation
mark on the public spaces of
the triplex.
The open kitchen has an
island and a door to a terrace
with steps to the garden. The
kitchen hasn’t been updated
with new appliances, but otherwise
most everything appears
to be in place.
Upstairs are fi ve bedrooms
spread over two fl oors, with
more of the light-colored fl oors,
marble mantels and another
arched plaster niche. Each
fl oor has a full bathroom and
abundant closets, according
to the fl oor plan. A circa 1900
bathroom retains its porcelain
hex tiles and clawfoot tub.
Located in a very central
area of Fort Greene a few
blocks from the park, 259 Clermont
Ave. belongs to a pair of
brownstone Italianate buildings.
The designation report
notes that they’re nearly identical
to the nine townhouses at
Nos. 237-253 built at the same
time. They all have heavy
bracketed and arched door
and window hoods and arched
wooden cornices accented with
dentils and foliate carvings.
The listing, from Douglas
(Doug) Bowen, Zia O’Hara,
and Simon Anderson of Douglas
Elliman, claims the house
measures 3,830 square feet. It’s
asking $3.695 million, or about
$965 per square foot.
Does that sound about right
for the location and historic details?
Fort Greene Italianate
Well-preserved with asks $3.695M
Built around 1867 or 1868, the four-story, two-family is 21 feet wide with tall
ceilings and nearly fl oor-to-ceiling windows on the parlor fl oor. Elliman
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