A historic, Victorian and Romanesque Revival-style complex in Cobble Hill
At nearly 150 years old, Cobble Hill Towers — a six-story, red brick and wrought-iron complex — was one of the borough’s first residential developments dedicated to housing the working class in a new, improved model. Disgusted by the horrible conditions of tenement buildings throughout the city, developer Alfred Tredway White, along with architect William Field, set out to provide livable units for the average New Yorker, complete with private toilets, open breezeways outlined with decorative ironwork (reminiscent of French-inspired or New Orleans-style balconies), and an expansive interior courtyard. The nine buildings, completed in 1879, continued to provide affordable housing well into the late-20th century, even after local broker Frank Farella bought the complex nearly 100 years later for a mere $450,000.
At the time, in the 1970s, according to an article in the New York Times, no one was interested in buying the buildings, especially in their aged condition, but Farella hired architects Maitland, Strauss & Behr to gut renovate the apartments, completing the project in 1986. In 2011, the rental buildings converted to condominiums, however many units are frequently rented out by their individual owners.
Exterior breezeways, prewar design cues and a mix of finishes and renovations
“At the time [it was built], it was a working-class, affordable situation,” says Shelly Place, an agent with The Agency, a global boutique real estate brokerage. “When the building went condo, people were offered a buyout, or they were able to purchase their apartments.” And the fact that it’s a condo — and not a co-op like many buildings in the Historic District — makes Cobble Hill Towers even more unique: “One thing we have [here] is a lack of prewar condos. Most historical, landmark buildings are co-op, so if someone really loves the prewar charm and they can’t buy a co-op, there just aren’t many options for that,” Place says. The sponsors of the condo held on to a few of the apartments, and either rented them out or renovated them again and put them on the market.
There’s a mix of finishes, restorations and upgrades throughout the complex. For units that were renovated during the conversion (and not the units that had existing tenants who chose to buy), upgrades included open kitchens with islands, new hardwood floors and stainless-steel appliances, including dishwashers. Bathrooms were clad in white subway tile with mosaic flooring. “They didn’t really change much about the layout. There are units that are quite old in terms of renovation, and some that have been renovated in the last couple of years, which is cool because it breaks up the price point,” Place says. “If you can’t afford to buy something super new, you can do your own renovations.”
Perhaps the most unique aspect of the complex, especially considering its location, are the exterior breezeways outlined in lattice ironwork, which is how residents access their units. The common walkways and staircases were originally created for fire safety, but the lack of interior hallways also allows for larger units. Prospective buyers should note there are no elevators and units, even those on the sixth floor, can only be accessed via the staircases.
Rare to market studios to two-bedroom offerings
Studios are limited, with the most recent listing selling for $344,760 in 2021, and most units are one-bedrooms. Pricing varies widely for the latter, ranging anywhere between $450,000 to just over $700,000. Two-bedrooms garner between $620,000 and $775,000. “On a smaller side, there are units that are just under 500 square feet, but there are larger, one-bedrooms that are up to 750 square feet,” Place says.
Prospective buyers should note that the building is currently undergoing some facade work and there’s a special assessment, which runs just over $500 per month, on top of the common charges. “That’s the trade-off with these prewar buildings. It’s just something you have to put up with. But you want your management to be keeping up with the maintenance and take care of the building,” Place says. “Cobble Hill also has a very tight inventory and is very small geographically — there just aren’t many apartments because there are only so many blocks in Cobble Hill. And when it’s 150 years old, it’s going to cost more and [issues may] happen more frequently than in new buildings. But it’s not always the case, because I’ve seen brand new buildings have to issue the special assessment, too.” As of September 2024, there is no specific end date for the special assessment.
A live-in super, onsite management company and two large courtyards
One perk of the building is the two courtyards within the complex. “Everybody who lives in the buildings gets access to both courtyards. There’s a Warren Street gate and Baltic Street gate, so if one courtyard is busy, you can always go to the second one,” Place shares. “That’s really key about this community because I’ve seen a lot of outdoor spaces that, frankly, go underutilized. Either they’re not inviting or on rooftops that get super hot or cold.” Place notes the courtyards have real grass, trees, picnic tables and a “cool gazebo with a climbing plant over it.” Neighbors tend to leave toys out for the kids. “It’s really comfortable and usable. It sets it apart from other complexes because people genuinely want to hang out in the space. It creates a sense of a community — they’re talking to the neighbors because they actually enjoy it.” Also within the courtyard, residents have bike storage and barbecues. While there is an indoor community space, it’s currently empty and building management is still deciding on its future use. “Last I heard, they were deciding whether they were going to turn it into a gym or co-working space. It’s currently empty, but either one is coming soon. There’s shared laundry, as well.”
Since residents enter their units from exterior breezeways, there’s no doorman at a centralized location, but residents have access to an on-site management company. “When I rented one of the units, I explained to prospective renters, ‘Yes you are renting in a condo, so your landlord is not a massive landlord or entity, it’s two real people — real Brooklyners that bought a unit for themselves, a small mom-and-pop kinda thing — but if you need anything, there’s a super and a management company on site.”
A popular historic neighborhood on the western edge of Brooklyn
Cobble Hill is one of Brooklyn’s most coveted neighborhoods. It may be small, but it’s mighty in terms of its desirability, so snagging an apartment there can be a rare opportunity. Known for its Historic District, quiet streets lined with old-world brownstones and plenty of restaurants along Court Street, it’s a family-friendly neighborhood with a laid-back energy. However, buyers should note that the BQE is right next to the building, which can be quite noisy and congested. Van Voorhees Playground is one block north of the building and Brooklyn Bridge Park (including ferry service at Pier 6) is within a short walking distance. Public transportation in Cobble Hill is a bit cumbersome, as the closest trains (the F and the G line) are located at the Bergen Street station, which is roughly an 11-minute walk from the building.
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Quantarium
Current List Price
Sold Price
Area Factors
Low Crime
Crime Score®
2/ 10
Biker's Paradise
Bike Score®
91/ 100
Walker's Paradise
Walk Score®
94/ 100
Rider's Paradise
Transit Score®
100/ 100
Sources: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com, Walk Score
Sources: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com, Walk Score
WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com, Powered by CAP Index provides objective, accurate, and consistent data to help measure, compare, and mitigate crime risks. Walk Score® measures the walkability of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Environmental risk data is provided by First Street Foundation® and is designed to approximate risk and not intended to include all possible scenarios.
Parks in this Area
Cobble Hill Park
3 min walk
Picnic Area
Trails
Playground
Van Voorhees Playground
4 min walk
Tennis
Playground
Adam Yauch Park
5 min walk
Dog Park
Picnic Area
Trails
Boerum Playground
10 min walk
Basketball
Trails
Playground
Mother Cabrini Park
11 min walk
Playground
Brooklyn Heights Promenade
12 min walk
Trails
Playground
Pierrepont Playground
12 min walk
Playground
DiMattina Playground
12 min walk
Baseball/Softball
Dog Park
Playground
Carroll Park
14 min walk
Baseball/Softball
Basketball
Playground
Schools
Source:
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