120 Willoughby Avenue

Brooklyn, NY 11205

Fixer Upper Alert! One of a kind Fort Greene/Clinton Hill town house that's 75 percent finished for under $2MM! Bring your architect and GC and come finish this house and create your dream home ! It's a fixer upper that's unusual in that it's mostly done and what remains is the kitchens and baths. First time on the market in Fifty years, 120 Willoughby Avenue is a beautiful landmarked traditional Romanesque Revival Renaissance style four story building just off the corner of Waverly Ave and Willoughby Avenue.The house is a legal three family and there are approved plans for a three unit building: a lower owners garden and parlor duplex, and two upper two bedroom rentals. The building is 17.5ft x 46ft and the lot is 71.3ft plus there's a rear two story extension. The house has the best light and faces north across the front of Willoughby Avenue and in the rear, south over the historic Pratt house. Much of the initial work has been completed: electrical upgrades, new plumbing risers, three new baths, and new floors. The plumbing for the three kitchens has been done but not the appliances and cabinets. Mechanicals are in good working order ie boiler and roof. And because there are filed plans and an architect in place, the new owner could begin work very quickly. However, if a different layout is preferable, the filings can easily be changed to a triplex and garden rental or a double duplex. The options are limitless; it could also be a high income rental investment averaging $12,000 a month in rental income. 120 Willoughby Avenue is important historically: it was built in 1891 for four members of the Osborn family including Mary Osborn Pollak. The Osborns were friends with Clinton Hills' most famous inhabitant, Frederick B. Pratt, who lived next door in the Italianate renaissance style palazzo mansion on Clinton Avenue. Robertson & Manning were the well known architects at the time and they built the Osborn family mansion at the corner of Clinton Ave and Willoughby Avenue,(215-221 Clinton Avenue). Then, the family extended its compound around the corner from Clinton Avenue to Waverly Avenue for an additional six townhouses. 120 is the one of those six Osborn family houses and it's the second to last house just off the corner of Waverly and Willoughby. The Osborn block remains a classic example of brownstone Brooklyn in that all of the houses remain in good shape and they stand out with their interlocking relating architectural details. 120 Willoughby as well as its neighboring houses share distinctive architectural details that connect them including the dogged leg stoops, the two story galvanized iron "oriels" embossed with garland and rosettes, and round arched windows. And there are Interior period details too, including stained glass details on the front parlor floor windows as well as the rear parlor floor windows. There are several original fireplace mantels too. The parlor floor has the original oak inlaid floors and two floors have newly installed white planks. The upper floors have the original mahogany paneled window surrounds and window seats plus a beautiful 1920s intact bathroom with the claw foot bathtub, an original oval pedestal sink and white crackle tile. One of the house's most distinctive attributes is that its main view on the south side of the house is that of the family's friend, Frederick B. Pratt's Italian Renaissance mansion and its stunning Spanish tile roof, and copper cornice detail. A big time saver for any buyer is the fact that there are filed and approved plans with the DOB for the renovation of the existing 3-family building. Additionally, There's a three story fire escape in the rear. Regarding financing, There is a lender in place who can offer construction financing for qualified buyers. Annual taxes $11,739. Willoughby Avenue is a Gorgeous quiet tree lined block close to all the things in Fort Greene, such as the historic Fort Greene Park, the Farmers Market on the weekend