46 Willow Place Brooklyn, NY 11201

The New York Times has just published a story about this historic home: If you are not a Times subscriber, you can use this link: Built in 1849 and owned by the same family since 1969, 46 Willow Place presents a rare opportunity to restore or reimagine an iconic 21-foot-wide brick townhouse on a serene low-traffic street just one block long in Brooklyn Heights. The sole survivor of a row of four Greek Revival colonnade townhouses, 46 Willow Place is now framed by two award-winning Modernist houses built in 1965, a contrast which has fascinated architectural observers. Across the street four colonnaded houses show how the row would have looked originally. In “An Architectural Guidebook to Brooklyn,” Francis Morrone references that quartet and writes that “46 Willow Place is a single house of exactly the same design, as though it were originally a part of the row but decided it preferred living on its own and moved across the street.” Coming home to 46 Willow Place, you’ll enter through the house’s original wrought iron gate and front garden to a wide porch with a double-height portico and columns evocative of a bygone era. Inside you will find an elegant procession of spaces, designed with perfect scale and proportion. Many historic details remain, including the original staircase, wide plank floors, and four fireplaces -- including one clad with black Portero marble, which was used in the finest Brooklyn townhouses and in the original Waldorf Astoria Hotel. The parlor floor is graced with ceilings ten feet high and comprises a front parlor, a large eat-in kitchen, and a full windowed bath. Upstairs there are four large bedrooms, three multi-purpose side rooms, two walk-in closets, and another full windowed bath. The garden level, which is hidden from the street, has a stairwell that leads discreetly up to the front yard. In the back, the garden level steps out on the same level as the backyard, which allows for an array of architectural design options. You’ll find that the spacious backyard, which is currently festooned with ivy, gets great light. It is a perfect place to put your green thumb to good use or simply to relax, entertain and enjoy everyday life. Known as Willowtown to those lucky enough to have lived on Willow Place over the past 175 years, this quiet enclave is a refuge from the bustle of the city. While the street fair each spring may make you feel like you’re living in a small town, the acclaimed restaurants, shops and other amenities of Brooklyn Heights and Cobble Hill are all close by. These include the River Deli, Colonie, Chez Moi, Hibino, Henry Public, the Long Island Bar, and many others. Trader Joe's, Sahadi's, and Della Pietra's are also nearby. Brooklyn Bridge Park is practically at your doorstep, offering everything from pickleball to sunset yoga. The 2/3, 4/5, F, G, R, and A/C subway stations and the NYC Ferry at Pier 6 are within close range for a quick commute to Manhattan and the rest of the city. While this rare historic gem is on the market, feel free to bring your contractor and architect as you consider the possibilities for an uncommon residence.