98 Pioneer Street

The best Red Hook has to offer, this historic mint-condition townhouse with a secret garden perfectly marries airy modern living with lots of rustic charm. With three levels of outdoor space, three bedrooms, two baths, a fantastic loft-like open living space and a garage/studio, everything you need is included in this efficient and delightful compound.

Light floods each level of this house. Enter from tree-lined Pioneer street into the open plan living room, distinguished by white beamed ceilings, an original marble-mantled wood burning fireplace and wide plank hardwood floors. The modern country kitchen has rich butcher block counters, white lacquer cabinets, and an industrial six-burner cast iron Garland stove. Slide open floor-to-ceiling glass doors and step onto an oversized terrace set with hand-laid herringbone bricks; perfect for dining al fresco and equipped with a natural gas grill.

Upstairs are two sun-drenched bedrooms, a spa-like bathroom, a second terrace with views, another wood burning fireplace, two skylights and lofty high, beamed ceilings.

Downstairs on the garden level is an open studio space, currently used as guest quarters and a home office that offers ultimate flexibility: an income producing apartment, a live/work space or a possible fourth bedroom. With a full kitchen, full bath, plenty of living space and a private entrance the possibilities are limitless.

The last two pieces of this enchanting property are what make it so special. Your own garage -- big enough for a car and a workshop -- accessible via a private alley. And a meditative garden, defined by a mature crepe myrtle tree with vibrant pink flowers.

Best of all, you'll live remarkably inexpensively for NYC with extremely low taxes and overhead.

Additional features include: a brand new roof and high-efficiency boiler/hot water heater, and lots of care and improvements over the last few years, not to mention additional FAR if you want to expand.

Considered among the best blocks in the neighborhood, Pioneer is a quiet tree lined street of late 19th century row houses that epitomizes Red Hook's rich seafaring history. Beautiful Coffey Park is at one end of the block, Pioneer Works, a thriving arts center, is at the other. Walk down Van Brunt for all the restaurants and shops this unique area has to offer. Like a New England fishing village transplanted to Brooklyn, Red Hook is beloved for its slow, easy pace of life and wonderful community devoted to preserving the neighborhood's historic, low-key, artsy character.