Goodbye Neighbors

The ever on-it Brownstoner scooped me on my neighbor-building and its success turning rentals into condos  - SOLD condos. We half thought the managing agent John was joking when he told us about the conversion effort a couple years ago. The Mrs. and I noticed last night that nary a light could be seen on the side of the building facing us...a ghost pre-war of its former rowdy self. Usually by this time of year (near Carnival and J'ouvert), many of the apartments would be blasting music, and not all Caribbean! A thump war would sometimes erupt, and summer would end with intense volume punctuated by late-night screams of revelry (and occasionally screams of another sort, but not often). End of an era? Absolutely. I wonder how many buildings will follow suit?

From the Brownstoner.com:

More than half of the apartments in the 40-unit building at 35-41 Clarkson Avenue in Prospect-Lefferts are already spoken for, according to Brian Meier, a broker with Douglas Elliman. Fourteen of the units were released in early June, and within a night, all had offers at their asking prices — between $200,000 and $400,000 — along with backup buyers. Now there are 16 units under contract, with another 6 ready for release on Wednesday.

The prewar, four-story building is a conversion from rentals to condos and will be 100 percent occupant owned, Meier added. “We are working with tenants to leave the building and then releasing the apartments in batches,” he wrote in an email.

As a commenter pointed out - what does it mean that they are "working with tenants" to get them to leave? A rational, sweet and warm conversation I imagine, and some help finding a new place. Maybe a little cash to sweeten the blow? It's a win-win all around, really!

photo by Brownstoner