realtor.com
When architect Michael Davis was just 19, he came across an abandoned warehouse in a part of Brooklyn that he says “time forgot.”
It was 1979, long before Brooklyn Heights became a hot spot for celebrities. But even then, the historic brick facade with an enormous clock at the top was a standout.
“The grandeur of the building and extraordinary views of the bridge, the river, and the skyline entranced me,” he says. He vowed to live there one day.
In 1997, after the building was converted to residential units, Davis bought the top unit with the clock. Now, 23 years later, the iconic clock tower penthouse is on the market for $2.3 million.
“It’s hard to find something that’s this rare and unique that’s in this [price] range,” says listing agent Nick Gavin of Compass. He and Josh Doyle, also of Compass, represent the listing.
“Besides the clock, you have two massive skylights, and the scale and proportion of the rooms are really large,” Gavin says. “It’s not like a cookie-cutter development.”
That’s putting it mildly—we’ve run across only one similar residence. In San Francisco, a rare clock tower penthouse became available four years ago, but is no longer on the market.
In the 1990s, the interiors of the Brooklyn unit didn’t measure up to what Davis had imagined. The developer had covered all the original details with Sheetrock and dropped the ceiling height.
“But there was the clock,” Davis says. The historic watch face also doubles as a window in the spacious living room, offering views of the Brooklyn Bridge, Empire State Building, East River, and Lower Manhattan.
Donna Dotan/ Compass
Donna Dotan/ Compass
Donna Dotan/ Compass
Davis opened up the space, removed the drop ceilings, restored the brick, and “returned its soul.” Now a one-bedroom, one-bathroom loft with nearly 17-foot-high ceilings, skylights, as well as large open spaces, light pours in.
The 1,260 square feet of living space also include a custom kitchen with extensive storage, a Viking convection stove, Fisher & Paykel dishwasher drawers, paneled Sub-Zero refrigerator, and stone countertops.
The spacious master bedroom comes with heated flooring, walk-in closets, millwork and exposed brick, and a skylight. The bathroom features a soaking tub. A washer and dryer has been installed next to the bathroom.
Originally constructed in 1892, the landmarked building was headquarters for the Brooklyn Eagle, a local newspaper once edited by poet Walt Whitman.
Since 1980, the Brooklyn landmark has been home to 85 residential units on nine floors. Amenities include a door attendant, live-in superintendent, on-site manager, bike storage, fitness center, and lobby.
The building is perfectly positioned at the entrance of Brooklyn Bridge Park, and close to shops and restaurants. The area is also close to the subway as well as ferry access to Lower Manhattan.
And thanks to the now-working clock—newly restored after years of dormancy—you’ll never have an excuse to be late.
As for Davis, he’s leaving for the countryside to raise his daughter. “After almost 25 years of caring for the clock, it is time to pass it on,” he says.
The post Ticktock, This Place Rocks: Brooklyn’s Clock Tower Penthouse Is Listed for $2.3M appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.
source https://www.realtor.com/news/unique-homes/brooklyn-iconic-clock-tower-penthouse/
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