OSSO on the Ditmas Park Concert Series, This Thursday

Thursday, June 12, 2008
7:00-8:00pm
PS 217 Auditorium
1100 Newkirk Ave. @ Coney Island Ave.
Brooklyn, NY 11230
B/Q train to Newkirk Ave.
www.myspace.com/ossonyc
www.myspace.com/ditmasparkconcerts

Urban Martial Arts -- Just Opened on Coney Island Ave.

Urban Martial Arts , just opened on the corner of Coney Island Avenue and Newkirk Avenue. Carmen Van Kerckhove, wrote in:

We've been open for about a week doing pre-sales, and our regular
group classes start on Monday, March 17th.

Your readers might be interested in taking advantage of our special:
for just $19.99 they can get 2 private lessons one-on-one with the
Sensei, as well as a free official Urban Martial Arts uniform. No
further commitments. That goes for both adults and kids.

If they'd like to do the special, they can either call us at
718-287-5500 or fill out this form, here.

A Sleeping Giant... Will Pomme De Terre open by March 20

Pomme De Terre, Ditmas Park West's future French Bistro, has gained some "pre-open" press from New York Magazine. This is the latest venture for the Farm of Adderly's Gary Jonas. As a resident of Ditmas Park West it's nice to have a restaurant "right around the corner". Hopefully they can open by the International Day of Francophonie, which is the the day French speakers rejoice in their knowledge of the French language. More to come..

Connecticut Muffin

Finally, Connecticut Muffin has opened. The place is big, clean with tons of room to sit. They offer good bagels, muffins, and scones. They even have milk and chocolate milk in a box for those with young kids who want there milk fix. For lunch they will have panini and salads. I bought a red velvet cup cake and a piece of chocolate cake. My wife and I did not have them yet, but can't wait to try it.

They will be offering waiter service soon for lunch and weekend brunch.

Map of 3 Open Houses in Victorian Flatbush Sunday Sept 9th

About mapVine

Modern Comfort in a True Victorian Home in Ditmas Park West
500 Marlborough Road 2:00 - 4:00 pm

On The Market [NY Times]

Subway Directions

The Old Fashioned Way in Beverley Square West
271 Stratford Road 2:00 - 4:00 pm

Subway Directions



Prime Location on Bedford Avenue - Brooklyn College Area
2792 Bedford Ave 2:00 - 3:30pm

Subway Directions

Discovering Ditmas - Victorian nabe gets fresh look from buyers eager for more Brooklyn space

A seven-bedroom home at 484 East 17th Street sold for a record-breaking $1.9 million. Time seems to have forgotten Ditmas Park, a neighborhood that may not be familiar to even some longtime Brooklynites. With its sprawling Victorian homes, many tree-lined streets in the area, located south of Prospect Park, appear to belong to another era -- or at least the suburbs. But many heads snapped to attention recently when a seven-bedroom, three-and-a-half-bath Victorian at 484 East 17th Street sold for $1.9 million, a record high for the neighborhood.

The deal was brokered by local agent and longtime resident Mary Kay Gallagher, who said the condition of the house was exceptional for the neighborhood.

"[This house] was in pristine condition, which is not the case with most of the houses we sell," she said, adding that the owners, who put a lot of work into modernizing the place, had to move unexpectedly for work. The deal closed in one day and was, according to Gallagher, an "all cash" transaction that occurred without an open house.

That record deal is not the only reason buyers are paying attention to Ditmas Park. Although it is a long commute from Manhattan at about 45 minutes, it is appearing on the radar screens of buyers eager for more space that are willing to spend more than $1 million for a "fixer-upper." It is seen as a bargain for buyers priced out of other Brooklyn neighborhoods and, of course, Manhattan, where the average price for a townhouse is just over $4 million, according to appraisal firm Miller Samuel. continue reading...

-Rachel Deahl

Discovering Ditmas - Victorian nabe gets fresh look from buyers eager for more Brooklyn space [The Real Deal]

Brownstoner House of the Day - 500 Marlborough Road

This new listing at 500 Marlborough Road in Ditmas Park West looks like a lay-up at $1,350,000. The three-story Victorian woodie is in excellent shape as far as the original architectural elements go. (Love those parquet floors!) The bathroom and kitchen also look like they've been recently redone in a way that fits with the overall vibe of the house. There's also a shared driveway, to boot. Other than the heating bills, what's not to like? Is there anything negative we've glossed over?
-Brownstoner

500 Marlborough Road [Mary Kay Gallagher] GMAP P*Shark
House of the Day: 500 Marlborough Road [Browstoner]

Just Sold in Victorian Flatbush

735 Westminster Road - $1,200,000 - West Midwood

7 bedrooms, 3 full baths, closed August 7th, 2007. A 1910 clapboard house, legal 2 family with renovated owners duplex, 3 gas fire places, new kitchen and baths, new windows, original wood detail, with driveway and garage.
Broker - Mary Kay Gallagher

Recent Sales [Mary Kay Gallagher Real Estate]

1403 Ditmas Avenue - $1,550,000 - Ditmas Park West

BIG. BRIGHT. BEAUTIFUL.

"Like New" Home on Rugby Road
Special Features include:
-Cherry hard wood floors throughout
-Cable & Internet ready
-2 zone heating and A/C
-3 wood burning fireplaces
-2 driveways and a 2 car garage
-Great office space

Broker - Mary Kay Gallagher

Recent Sales [Mary Kay Gallagher Real Estate]

169 West Minister Road- 1,175,000 - Prospect Park South

6 bedrooms, 2 full baths, 2 half bath, closed August 2nd, 2007. A 1899 historic landmark home with an enclosed front porch with private entrance for a 2 room office with half bath. Formal living room and family room, formal dining room with original wood panels and mantel. Large kitchen with separate eating area, elevator to 2nd floor, private driveway and garage with a lovely private rear yard.
Broker - Mary Kay Gallagher

Recent Sales [Mary Kay Gallagher Real Estate]

1409 Albermarle Road - $300,000 - Prospect Park South

1 bedroom Co-op, full bath, closed July 31st, 2007. Most desirable location on Albermarle road with an eat in kitchen, great view, and 95% ownership 1000 sqft.
Broker - Mary Kay Gallagher

Recent Sales [Mary Kay Gallagher Real Estate]

Forgotten NY Bedford Fellows - Part 1: Emmons to Beverly

Kevin Walsh of Forgotten NY features Victorian Flatbush within his latest neighborhood tour Bedford Fellows - Part 1: Emmons to Beverly.

North and NW of Flatbush Brooklyn consists of myriads of what used to be separate developments, wrought from the minds of visionary developers such as Dean Alvord, who purchased a parcel of land in Flatbush from the estate of Luther Voorhies and the Dutch Reformed Church in 1898. Alvord, with the aid of architect John Petit, set about building sumptuously-appointed buildings for the well-to-do. By 1898 Flatbush had evolved into a well-established community that boasted good schools, decent local transit (trolleys) and the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company offered easy transport to Manhattan via the Brooklyn Bridge.
Alvord’s idea was to extend Prospect Park South and adapt it to residential use. He foresightedly buried utility lines underground and paved the streets in an age when many were still dirt roads or Belgian-bricked. Streets were given British-sounding names, and brick fence posts bearing the interlocking Prospect Park South monogram can still be seen on many intersections.
Different developments such as Caton Park, Beverly Squares East and West, Ditmas Park and Ditmas Park West, Midwood Park and South Midwood, and Fiske Terrace developed around the same format.
Bedford Avenue traverses South Midwood for one block, between Farragut Road and Flatbush Avenue, and for one block, it attains glory.

Bedford Fellows - Part 1: Emmons to Beverly [Forgotten NY]

Victorian Flatbush House Tour

With over 330 tickets sold the 2007 Victorian Flatbush House Tour was another successful event.

The Flatbush Gardener has a recap and photos from the 12 homes on the tour this year.

Many thanks go to the Flatbush Development Corp. the volunteers, and the sponsors who were responsible putting together this year's tour.

Victorian Flatbush House Tour [FDC]
2007 Victorian Flatbush House Tour [Flatbush Gardener]
2007 Victorian Flatbush House Tour [Flickr]
2007 Victorian Flatbush House Tour: The Day After [Brownstoner]
135 Westminster Road [MKG Real Estate]

Ditmas Park West Lawn Sale June 10th 11-4

From: fdconline@yahoogroups.com
On Behalf Of dpwprez@aol.com
Sent: Wed, June 06, 2007 6:05 PM
To: fdconline@yahoogroups.com
Subject: DPW Lawn Sale this Sunday, June 10

The Ditmas Park West Lawn Sale is this Sunday, June 10, from 11 AM - 4 PM.

Come, enjoy, browse, buy. The borders of DPW are from Coney Island Avenue to the Brighton (B/Q) Line, and Cortelyou Road to Newkirk Avenue.

(Click on flyer to enlarge)

Flatbush Development Corporation [Yahoo Groups]

Fresh Direct expands delivery into Victorian Flatbush

Fresh Direct has expanded it's service into Victorian Flatbush and other neighborhoods of Brooklyn by adding zip codes 11230, 11210*, 11229*, 11226, 11223, 11218* to the list of available home delivery zones. *(partial)

Now everyone living within the new delivery zones can add Fresh Direct along with Associated, The Flatbush Food Coop and other local shops to the options for your neighborhood food shopping.

Delivery should begin sometime next week check in the new delivery zones, check with Fresh Direct for exact dates for your area. New members receive a 25% discount on their first and second orders using the password THYME.


Delivery Info [Fresh Direct]
Map of Victorian Flatbush [MaryKayG]
Fresh Direct Brooklyn [Brooklynian]
Fresh Direct Expanding to the Other Side(s) of the Park? [Brooklyn Record]

The Four Borough Neighborhood Preservation Alliance (FBNPA) seeks landmark status for Ditmas Park West and West Midwood

With the Victorian Flatbush neighborhoods of Fiske Terrace (11) and Midwood Park (9) already in the process of becoming landmarked by the Landmarks Preservation Commsion, with an upcoming hearing in April, The Four Borough Neighborhood Preservation Alliance announced this week that it has nominated Ditmas Park West (6) and West Midwood (8) as two of the nine historic districts and 19 buildings it has recommended for landmark status as well.

The Victorian Flatbush neighborhoods on the list, Furman said, represent a logical next step to what has been happening in the area where some neighborhoods already have landmark status. “The Commission has designated a few of them, and calendared a couple of others,” Furman noted. “This would just be a continuation of that process.”

Group touts new ‘landmarks wish list’ - 18 historic homes part of Four Borough Neighborhood Preservation Alliance effort
[Flatbush Life 3/22/07]
4BNA Announces It's Preservation Wish List [Brownstoner]
Map of Victorian Flatbush [MaryKayG.com]

Victorian Flatbush Headed to Landmark Status? [Flatbush Life 10/12/06]

Just Sold in Victorian Flatbush - New York Post Real Estate

BEVERLY SQUARE WEST $1,375,000
1410 Beverly Road
Prewar four-bedroom, 3 1/2-bath, three-story 30-foot-by-37-foot center hall house on a 5,000-square-foot lot, with two formal living rooms with fireplaces, formal dining room with fireplace, eat-in kitchen with butler's pantry, attic storage, original details, pocket doors, parquet floors, basement and central AC. Taxes $3,800. Asking price $1,395,000, on market three months. Broker: Alexandra Reddish, Mary Kay Gallagher Real Estate.

Just Sold in Brooklyn 3.15.07 [NY Post]

Just Sold in Brooklyn [Brownstoner]
Residential Sales Around the Region [New York Times]
Recent Sales - Beverey Square West [MaryKayG.com]

DITMAS PARK $996,000
1416 Ditmas Avenue
Renovated prewar two-family house on a 4,000-square-foot lot, with five-bedroom, two-bath duplex with dining room, foyer, Jacuzzi, enclosed porch, rear deck and private yard under studio with new kitchen, new bath and attic storage; home features finished basement, parquet floors and two-car garage. Taxes $3,500. Asking price $1,050,000, on market four months. Broker: Alexandra Reddish, Mary Kay Gallagher Real Estate.

Just Sold in Brooklyn 3.8.07 [NY Post]

Just Sold in Brooklyn [Brownstoner]
Recent Sales - Ditmas Park West [MaryKayG.com]

Save the Date - Historic Districts Council Candidates' Forum on Preservation and Development

New York City 40th District

Canidate Forum on Preservation and Development

Thursday, February 8, 2007

7:00-9:00pm

Sponsored by the Coalition of Concerned Preservation Voters in the 40th District

Public School 217

1100 Newkirk Avenue

Brooklyn, NY 11230

This forum is an opportunity for residents, business owners and community members to hear candidates present their perspectives on preservation and development concerns. All questions presented to the candidates will be focusing on these issues, including questions of landmark designation, community rezonings and building codes within the district.

The following candidates have confirmed their participation: Jesse Hamilton, Jennifer James, Zenobia McNally, Harry Schiffman and Leithland Tulloch.

Other candidates invited include Mozell Ducton Albright, Mathieu Eugene, Moe Razvi, Wellington Sharpe, and Joel Toney.

The Coalition of Concerned Preservation Voters in the 40th District is a group of eleven neighborhood and civic organizations that are interested in preserving the unique character of the community. The Coalition believes we must reach out to elected officials and candidates and begin a dialogue about preserving the neighborhoods' cultural, architectural and historical heritage.

Members of the coalition are the Historic Districts Council, Beverly Square West Association, Caton Park Neighborhood Association, Ditmas Park Association, Ditmas Park West Neighborhood Association, Fiske Terrace Association, Flatbush Development Corporation, Lefferts Manor Association, Midwood Park Homeowners Association, Prospect Park South Association and West Midwood Community Association. This coalition is non-partisan and does not endorse a specific candidate for office.

For more information on this forum, please contact the Historic Districts Council
at 212-614-9107 or ftolbert@hdc.org

Historic District Council: District 40 Special Election Voters Guide

Update: The Flatbush Gardener has has full coverage of the event along with photos

Brooklynian.com: Flatbush/Midwood/Ditmas Park/Kensington

For those of you looking for more information about Victorian Flatbush and would like to get your answers from people who live in the area, we would like to direct you to a growing neighborhood forum covering Flatbush, Midwood, Ditmas Park, and Kensington from Brooklynian.com. As with all message boards the more readers the more informed and up to date the messages are.

Ditmas Park West Kitchen Renovation - Before and After!!

The old kitchen in this house dates back to 1979. The stove was from the 1950's (it still worked) and the refrigerator was from the 1980’s. The kitchen was overdue for a major renovation and the owners decided that everything had to go. Luckily, the home owner is also a contractor.

The first decision was to move the powder room from the back of the kitchen and relocate it to under the staircase (not pictured). There was a closet full of unused items jammed inside and this seemed like a good location.

The next decision was to take down the wall, which enclosed the back staircase. Opening up the back stairs gave the room a whole new look and feel.

The basement door was relocated and a door which led to the side porch was removed to make room for additional counter and cabinet space.

The built-in pantry along the back of the kitchen was taken out. This allowed the owners to install cabinets and a wet bar sink. As well as providing additional space for a 5’ double hung glass door which opens up onto the back deck.

The owners wanted a 6 burner stove and by moving the powder room out of the kitchen, they were able to achieve that goal. They also installed a pot-filler and a spice cabinet right next to the stove.
The new sink and dishwasher stayed in the same place. However, the 2 windows above the sink were replaced with a large bay window, allowing for a large granite covered ledge in front of the sink. The removal of the side door and moving the basement door allowed for increased counter top and cabinet space. They also installed a pull out garbage and recyclable cabinet.

The owners wanted a granite topped center island. In order to mange this, they had to replace their deep refrigerator with a Sub-Zero, which is only 24" deep. The sub zero fit in the same space, but was flush with the chimney. The old fridge stuck out beyond the chimney about 8”. The island had three large drawers and a space for a microwave. A broom closet and additional cabinets fit in on the other side of the chimney.

The owners did not want clutter and exposed areas which were hard to dust. The cabinetry is easy to clean and shields most items from dirt. The cabinets are made of cherry wood and the top cabinets have beveled glass.The floor is natural stone tile which blends in with the brick chimney and wood burning stove. Finally, the owner designed and constructed an oak ceiling which replicated a ceiling in an old hotel in Lviv, Ukraine.

Please submit your before and after story of your home renovation to alexandra@marykayg.com.

Brownstoner - Going, Going...Almost Gone on Newkirk

Brownstoner has the latest on the Thomas Brush House, which is being put up for auction next week:

Are you an adrenaline junkie who's been having a hard time finding a house in Victorian Flatbush? Have we got the place for you. On Thursday, this 1931 mansion, which is currently classified as a church, is going on the auction block to satisfy an outstanding lien of $878,821. Given that this house sits on a large lot and there's tons of unused FAR, don't be surprised if one of the unscrupulous developers tries to take you out with his auction paddle. Has there been any chatter locally about this? What's this stretch of Newkirk like? The auction takes place on November 16 at 3 o'clock at the Kings County Courthouse, Room 261, 360 Adams Street. Good luck!

Going, Going...Almost Gone on Newkirk [Brownstoner]
Ditmas Park [Victorian Flatbush: An Architectual History]

Farmer's Market Harvest Celebration! Saturday September 30th!

The Friends of Cortelyou, Flatbush Development Corporation, and Flatbush Family Network present the Farmer's Market Harvest Celebration. The event will take place on Saturday, September 30, 2006. The Festival will include Produce, Local Restaurant Tastings, Pumpkin Painting and More. The event will take place in the P.S. 139 schoolyard on Argyle Rd. between Cortelyou Road and Beverly Road. The celebration will be from 10 AM to 1 PM. Market hours will still be 8.30 Am to 3 Pm.

The "Stratford" Frolic...

This year the annual Flatbush Frolic has been canceled due to construction improvement projects along Cortelyou Road . Not to be deterred the Cortelyou Road Merchants Association is filling that void with The Stratford Frolic which will take place on 9/16/06 from 12-6pm. Please come out an support the party. More details can be found over at CORMA's blog, here.