RENTALS
Rental #1
#1 — $1093 — 1 BR: This is a no brainer. It’s cheap and clean with a separate kitchen and it’s close to the A express train. You’ve got a nice grocery store nearby at Restoration Plaza so you’ll never have to do the Fresh Direct thing. Go for it. Hancock and Nostrand Nostrand AC
PICK OF THE WEEK! 
#2 — $2475 — 2 BR: This is a good-looking duplex apartment on the border of Bed-Stuy and Clinton Hill. It’s walking distance to the Bedford YMCA and it’s near the up-and-coming strip (Kuma Inn, Rustik and Sucre Coffee & Jazz Lounge) on Dekalb between Classon and Bedford. It’s also not too far from two great vintage/thrift shops, Blue Bass and Collecther. The kitchen is nice but nothing spectacular and it has two baths which is good, but the real bonus here is the nice deck out back. It’s easy to imagine enjoying that deck in the spring and summer.
Greene and Classon Classon G
#3 — $2200 — 1 BR: I like the Chocolate Factory lofts. Even though they are not in the most convenient location in Bed-Stuy, they are light-filled and spacious. This one has some really cool red ceiling fans. But the price! It seems that space and light come at a cost.
Myrtle and Spencer Myrtle-Willoughby G
#4 — $1350 — 2 BR: This is a simple apartment without a lot of flash and a tiny kitchen, but it has two bedrooms and that means that the price is right. I personally don’t find Patchen Avenue that much of a draw, but at least this apartment is close to Stuyvesant, Lewis and Fulton with their eateries and shops and it’s reasonably close to the express train. Macon and Patchen Utica AC
SALES
Sales #1
#1 — $819,000 — 4 family: The reno in this building is unusual to say the least. I’m not sure what the framed brickface spaces are for (is it a recess for a flat screen?), and it looks like the designer was going for a lot of different styles here. The ad doesn’t give the cross street but given that the ad says it’s near the AC line I’ll assume it’s in the area just north of Fulton Park. If this is in fact where the apartment is located, then it’s in a decent location. What do you think about the price? Macon Nostrand AC
#2 — $499,000 — 2 BR/1 BA: This condo (which advertises on our site) is located at 83 Halsey Street and has undergone some a significant price reductions since coming on the market. The first time I saw it, it was featured on Brownstoner back in July 2008, and it was priced at $550K. Recently it was reduced to $519K and last week it was cut down to $499K. Think it’s priced to sell?
Halsey and Nostrand Nostrand AC
The property on Macon is right off Marcus Garvey on the north side of the street.
Thanks, Ken. It seems like a decent location only because of its proximity to Fulton. Any idea what the block is like?
I’m on macon TnT and I walk up Macon past lewis and marcus garvey all the time to go to peaches
That block is beautiful. not to mention food 4 thought and olivino are nearby.
So it’s a nice block. Thanks Vettie Vette. That makes it a little more depressing to see this interior that lacks character. If it were a terrible-looking block, I’d probably be less offended by the renovation choices. For the record I’m particularly turned off by the dark cabinets and white appliances (of course, that’s something that can be easily changed).
Uh-oh, the first Hancock and Nostrand link is incorrect. It should be this link:
http://newyork.craigslist.org/brk/fee/1051742148.html
I forgot to add my sentiments on the decor of the Macon house…it doesn’t look like they left any original details and why does it look like an Ikea ad? Yes, I buy a few things from there – but don’t believe in making a HOUSE look like an Ikea catalog gone wild.
Personally, I’m a little surprised to see that the prices on some of these rentals seem so high, particularly the Chocolate Factory and the duplex on Classon. I’ve been knee-deep in the moving hoopla lately and have found, overall, that prices have come down in many areas.
That spot on Classon is nice, though, I will say that. The Chocolate Factory is a pain in the ass as far as trains go, tough, and the BQE in your face is not pleasant.
I think that this is *the other* Chocolate Factory. There are two in the area and I think that both of them were once former chocolate factories. (Remember that played out method of naming a condo a few years back? Developers simply named their condo project whatever it once was. Former bra factory? Now: The Bra Factory Lofts! Former crack corner? Now: Crack Corner Lofts!) This uninspired condo nomenclature becomes a little tired when you end up with 2 Chocolate Factories. Lesterhead wrote about this:
http://www.clintonhillblog.com/2007/05/21/chocolaty/
The one above is the 2nd Choc Factory.
Oooooh, I see now, Changeling. had no idea there were 2 Chocolate Factories. I still find the price a little high for the area.
What I want to know is this: are people really dropping the cash on these “luxury” spots when they can live in a better area for the same or less?