Wainscoting and other woodwork is still in place in the distinctive two-family residence, which briefly appeared in “Moonstruck.”
Photo via Corcoran
A striking presence at the end of a stretch of Park Slope row houses, this Romanesque Revival dwelling has a richly ornamental exterior and some period details still intact. The two-family residence has been updated, but stained glass windows, mantels, and wainscoting are still in place. In the Park Slope Historic District at 513 4th Street, it is just a short walk to Prospect Park.
While the house stands out from its neighbors, it was designed and constructed by the same firm that developed the adjoining row, Allan Brothers & Co. The end-of-the-row showpiece they designed is dominated by a towered bay topped with a tiled roof. Other details include a second story balcony, carved bands of brownstone trim, and a charming semi-circular dormer. The designation report describes the house as “a striking asymmetrical composition on a relatively narrow lot.”
By the time of the circa 1940 tax photo, the once single-family home was already converted to a four-family dwelling. An i-card from 1939 indicates the building had been occupied as a four-family since 1936, although ads for rentals pop up as early as 1934. The house was converted to a two-family in 2000, a certificate of occupancy shows.
According to the listing, the house has been featured in music videos, and it also makes a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it appearance in the 1987 movie ‘Moonstruck.’ The tower roof appears for a brief moment with a full moon glowing behind it. (The better known Moonstruck house, home to Cher’s character in the film, is on Cranberry Street in Brooklyn Heights.)
The two-family is set up with a triplex over a one-bedroom garden rental with its own entrance at the side. The triplex has a kitchen at the rear of the parlor level and two floors of bedroom space above. Thanks to the full-height tower, each floor has a street-facing room with a rounded bay. The semi-detached house also boasts windows on three exposures.
Pocket doors open from the entry hall into the front parlor. The latter has wood floors, stained glass transoms in the bay, a wood mantel with a mirror, and dentil molding.
Another set of pocket doors opens into the dining room, where there is a beamed ceiling, wainscoting, and the original stair.
The final set of pocket doors on the floor reveals the kitchen and its terra-cotta tile floor, exposed brick fireplace wall, and dining area. There are cream minimalist cabinets, a marble-topped island, and updated appliances, including a dishwasher. A full bath has been tucked into a corner, and the kitchen also has access to a rear deck.
Upstairs, the second floor could be used as a full floor suite. There are front and rear facing bedrooms with an office in between. The rear bedroom has an en suite bath and two closets while the front bedroom is sans closet but has a mantel and access to the petite balcony.
The third floor holds three more bedrooms and a full bath. The bedrooms on this floor all have a lighter finish. The bathroom on this level is the only one of the three full baths show in the listing photos. It is just a partial view, but the room has a brown tile floor and is windowed. The floor plan shows that a door leads to a separate small laundry room.
According to the listing, updates to the house include a new French drain, updated mechanicals, work on the roof, eight new windows, and a mini-split cooling system. LPC permits show approved work on the roof, including installation of condensing units.
Maxim Lockhart and Cara Sadownick of Corcoran have the listing and the property is priced at $5.25 million. What do you think?
[Listing: 513 4th Street | Broker: Corcoran] GMAP
[Photos via Corcoran]
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