233 Decatur Street

Late 19th century details abound at this passionately preserved four-story townhouse, located on the Stuyvesant Heights Historic District's centerpiece block. Decatur Street between Stuyvesant Avenues is known for its diverse architectural fabric, including monumentally scaled townhouses and ecclesiastical buildings.

233 Decatur Street, a four-story Renaissance Revival sandstone-fronted townhouse, offers both a rich historic interior and a host of modern upgrades. Behind the decorative plaster walls, ornate picture rails, intricate wood flooring, and original wood trim, numerous modern upgrades indicate a high level of care and dedication to historic preservation.

Built in 1897 by prolific local developer Eli Bishop to the designs of architect Axel Hedman, this 17-foot-wide townhouse is currently configured as a three-family residence. Modern upgrades through current ownership include facade and roof upgrades, a full electrical upgrade including new wiring, extensive plumbing upgrades, and all new windows.

Current configuration:

The garden floor includes original layouts, with an entry hall, front room with fireplace, a full-width room with kitchenette at the rear, and a full bathroom in-between. A nicely manicured garden is accessible from this level.

Up the stoop, the parlor floor is entered via original doors and a tiled vestibule. Massive pier mirrors adorn both the entry hall and the front parlor room, with south light streaming through preserved stained-glass transoms. The center of the parlor floor is currently used as a kitchen, leading to a full-width room in the rear, and a full bathroom.

The original staircase carries you up to the third floor, with a bright and spacious south-facing bedroom, complete with an original fireplace and the room's focal point; a semi-circular built-in bench which makes graceful use of the house's four-story bow window. A private corridor leads to a full bath and another full-width room in the rear.

The top floor contains another dramatic front room with the semi-circular bench, and clearer views across the street to an 1894 Romanesque Revival church. At the center there is the home's fourth full bathroom. Facing the gardens, you'll find another bedroom beside a potential home office space.

Overall, the current configuration provides an ideal layout for a single-family conversion or use. Major upgrades to the electrical, plumbing, and building envelope will prove valuable assets for new ownership.

Location:

The Stuyvesant Heights Historic District, designated 1971, plays host to a rich collection of late 19th century townhouses, houses of worship, and flats buildings. 233 Decatur Street is just a few blocks away from the A and C-trains' Utica Avenue station with express subway service. While the tree-lined streets contain mostly rhythmic rows of houses, the avenues provide retail spaces and great restaurants. The building is located just a few blocks from express subway service for the A and C trains at Utica Avenue.

Please note that select photos have been virtually staged.