181 8th Street

Built two decades before the Civil War, 181 8th St started life as a 2 story farmhouse. On the banks of the Gowanus, it was once surrounded by a 300 acre potato farm. A lot has changed since then but the house and its history live on. Rarely found in Gowanus or Park Slope, the clapboard house stands a proud 25' wide. A third story was added in 1888. The parlor and dining room both boast floor to ceiling windows, admitting beautiful sunlight into these high-ceiling rooms. The parlor has a wood burning fireplace and the dining room, a decorative mantle. Also on this floor are a walk-in closet and a full bath. A nearly 40' extension has been added to the original design. It allows for a light-filled kitchen and sitting area. Special features of the kitchen are high end appliances, a wood burning stove in the sitting area, and a built-in kegerator. Owned for many years by the founder of the iconic Brooklyn Brewery, the house continues to be steeped in Brooklyn history. Above the parlor, the width of the house gives rise to generously sized rooms. Here are an office, a den, a powder room, and the primary bedroom with en suite bath. From that bedroom, a door leads to a lovely terrace and a fully planted green roof. The top floor has 2 more large bedrooms, an art studio, an office, and a full bath. In the basement one finds the utilities, a laundry room, a rec room sized for a pool table, and a workshop. There is also the former canning/cold storage room, dating from a time when there was no refrigeration. The outdoor space at 181 8th Street cannot be over-emphasized. The wide and welcoming front porch overlooks a front garden, the rear garden has mature plantings, a barbecue area, and a deck, and the green roof over the extension is a joy to behold from the primary bedroom. Lest the age and history imply that 181 8th St has not been maintained, here are a few features: *A steel beam runs the length of the house, providing solidity. *A solar array has been installed on the roof. *Air conditioning has been installed in the kitchen and primary bedroom floor. *The bathrooms have all been updated. *The kitchen is state of the art. *The exterior of the house has been freshly painted. Here is a chance to own a rare house, dating from the time when Brooklyn was its own city. In the heart of Gowanus, within a block or three, you will find Four and Twenty Blackbirds, the Halyard, Bar Toto, Whole Foods, and so much more.