1372 Madison is a pretty little two-family on a cute, leafy block right near the imposing gothic Bushwick High. I believe the reason this block and the one next to it are so short — about half a normal block — is that the Long Island Railroad Ridgewood Depot once stood across Ridgewood Place. It has an “accessory unit” *wink* in the basement, like almost every house in Brooklyn. I’m surprised this is a short sale at this price — someone definitely got in way over his head. It’s still a huge house for $540K, and in a very convenient location for commuting.
1372 Madison Street | $540,000
2700sqft | 20ft-wide | 2-family, 9br/3(?)ba | brick
Myrtle-Wyckoff LM
This week we’re focusing on Troutman Street, once the center of Bushwick’s crack trade, now it’s latest snazzy condo row and the residential and cultural backbone of the new Bushwick. In between all that is hundreds of units of rentals in various states of renovation. I picked out the best among what is available right now on Troutman:
$1650 — 2br: For a change, a kitchen that is not that lame, honey-colored country-looking Home Depot line, in a moderately-priced apartment. A proud old row of buildings in a great location close to everything cool. Don’t get me wrong, you can still buy a rock downstairs, but everyone minds their own business.
PETS OK | Troutman and Irving | street view | Jefferson L
$1600 — 2br: This place is solid, if not fashionable. It does have nice old floors, the bathroom is newish, the kitchen, *sigh*, those HD cabinets I mentioned above. But it’s clean-looking, still in a great location, and has a backyard you are encouraged to spiff up and use.
PETS OK | Troutman and Irving | street view | Jefferson L
Late 2000s Bushwick, meet early 1990s Boca Raton. No, I swear this is not Rooms-to-Go’s version of Ikea’s in-store houses, it’s a new condominium development called Menahan Gardens that is bafflingly targeted at 50-year-old ladies — but priced for yuppies. The neighborhood is fine and the space is probably decent for new construction, but who is doing the marketing over there? Punch it up, people! Women who wear their reading glasses on chains around their necks are not buying 350K condos in Bushwick.
Oh. My. God. This is crushingly pathetic. 1) How do the 358 Grove people think this is cool? 2) How does DAPHNE think this is cool? She can’t sing, the lyrics are embarrassing, and 358 Grove is still ugly. Thanks to Curbed for scraping this off YouTube.
1330 Decatur Street is another beautiful example of the blocks of bow- and bay-front brick housing on Bushwick’s south end. There are unfortunately no photos for us to see how it looks inside. Considering the price per square foot, it’s not likely this place is pristine, but it’s also probably not destroyed. There’s not much to do on this end of the hood, but it’s a mere two-minute walk to the Wilson L stop so you can flee the area when you need to do something fun. The location keeps it cheap.
1330 Decatur | $550,000
2940sqft | 20ft-wide | 2-family, 7br/3ba | brick
Wilson L
This week, I picked out the cheapest apartments I could find, to show you it’s possible to live by yourself in Bushwick without being rich, or even fully employed. For those of you in the market for something bigger and nicer and more convenient, make sure to check out the beautiful three-bedroom in the Stockholm Street Historic District!
$1200 — 1br+alcove: Not bad, this little apartment with wood floors, cool archways, and a separate alcove you could rent out if you were enterprising and a little sleazy. Otherwise, it’s a way to have an office that’s not on your coffee table. Rent includes utilities! This is a steal.
PETS OK | Harman and Central | street view | Central M/Kosciuszko J
$800 — studio: Nothing at all spectacular, the location is meh, but it’s the cheapest thing you will find in Bushwick that is not a room in someone else’s apartment and looks decent enough to live in. It even has an eat-in kitchen. Greene and Evergreen | street view | Kosciuszko J
$975 — studio: More cheapness on beautiful St. Nicholas. One block to the train, our new wine shop, and the best espresso this side of Arthur Avenue. Old wood floors, lots of light, good storage, new and basic kitchen and bath.
CATS OK | St. Nicholas and Stanhope | street view | DeKalb L
Screenshot of Prudential Douglas Elliman Broker-Associate Janet Corona’s personal harassment of the editors of this website.
Taking pains not to be libelous, I will use quotes, paraphrases, and links to describe the completely incorrect claims of Prudential Douglas Elliman Broker-Associate Janet Corona of the firm’s Flushing, Queens office. I will also document all of her ridiculous threats against me and this website.
Strange thing, this new condominium development at what I think is 326 Melrose Street: nobody seems to know anything about it, but it continues to be listed on Trulia, with several units from 299-399K. The link to the Prudential site still doesn’t work after several weeks. The agent we contacted claims the property has been sold, which seems wrong considering it can’t possibly have a certificate of occupancy yet.
86 Cooper is a completely trashed two-family at the far end of Bushwick. The block itself is actually quite leafy and somewhat well-kept, and pretty convenient to both the L and J subway lines. If you have the know-how and extra scratch to fix a place up, you could unlock a bit of equity from this cute little house that’s just down on its luck. The price is certainly right.
86 Cooper Street | $349,900
1800sqft | 20ft-wide | 2-family, 5br/2ba | frame
Wilson L/Chauncey JZ
$2000 — 3br: Here’s your chance to live on one of the best blocks in “Greater Bushwick” — a beautiful, bow-front apartment full of original details and modern amenities where they count. New kitchen and bath fit right in with old moldings. There’s even a crystal chandelier. Check it out! Stockholm and Onderdonk | street view | DeKalb L
