(Renderings and model photos courtesy of Compass and Perkins Eastman)
A historic Roman Revival-style gem in Greenpoint, Brooklyn has been cleaned up into a collection of nine condominium residences. Simply named Bath Haus, for its history as one of the city's longest-running public bathhouses, the stately four-story building is now a prime example of adaptive reuse, accommodating lofty studio, one, and three-bedroom apartments priced from $699K.
The 1903 Neoclassical-style building sited at 139 Huron Street between Franklin and Manhattan avenues was erected during the height of the City Beautiful movement when American cities strove to emulate the grandeur of much older European capitals. The building welcomed the unclean masses with a grand brick and marble facade of Corinthian columns, pediments, and an ornate projecting cornice-line.
According to Brownstoner, the Huron Street bathhouse was designed by Brooklyn architect Louis H. Voss and built during a time when indoor plumbing was rare. Male and female patrons entered through separate entrances which led to dedicated spaces that featured steam heat, two tubs, and 87 showers. By 1956, the Huron Street Bathhouse was the last operating in Brooklyn. After World War II, the city's 13 public baths were less needed as indoor plumbing became commonplace. The facility closed in 1959.
The 1903 Neoclassical-style building sited at 139 Huron Street between Franklin and Manhattan avenues was erected during the height of the City Beautiful movement when American cities strove to emulate the grandeur of much older European capitals. The building welcomed the unclean masses with a grand brick and marble facade of Corinthian columns, pediments, and an ornate projecting cornice-line.
According to Brownstoner, the Huron Street bathhouse was designed by Brooklyn architect Louis H. Voss and built during a time when indoor plumbing was rare. Male and female patrons entered through separate entrances which led to dedicated spaces that featured steam heat, two tubs, and 87 showers. By 1956, the Huron Street Bathhouse was the last operating in Brooklyn. After World War II, the city's 13 public baths were less needed as indoor plumbing became commonplace. The facility closed in 1959.
Huron Street bathouse in 2018
NYC tax photo from 1940 (NYC Municipal Archives) and a rendering of Bath Haus' restored and sensitively-altered facade
In 2016, the diamond in the rough was purchased by All Blue Heron LLC for $4.85 million. Led by Samuel and Christian Pompa, the developer commissioned the architectural expertise of Perkins Eastman and the interior designers at the Meshberg Group to substantially restore the street facade while carving out nine residential units inside. After several years of construction, sales kicked off this past February bringing to market two studios, four one-bedrooms, two townhouses, and a full-floor penthouse.
Floorplans of Bath Haus' penthouse and townhouse unit
According to the current offering plan, the developers are aiming for a $16.1 million sellout with current availabilities blending to a reasonable $1,556 per square foot with 503-square-foot studios priced from $699K and one-bedrooms from $949K. According to our closing data, over the past decade the condo sales average in Greenpoint has nearly doubled from $595 per square foot in 2012 to $1,180 today. Sale prices have come down since peaking in 2019 but have inched upward in recent months. A plethora of new rental and condo buildings are transforming the semi-industrial Polish neighborhood. Most notably, the waterfront condo-rental named The Greenpoint with closed sales averaging north of $1,500 a foot and available resales asking more than $1,800 a foot.
Bath Haus' crowning jewel is a 2,000-square-foot penthouse asking $3.95 million. It has a double-height living area with a massive full-width terrace, a marble-accented kitchen, and a primary bedroom with an en-suite bath featuring a walk-in rainfall shower. The bedrooms are positioned towards the rear, overlooking the building's garden, and caressed with soft northern light.
A pair of townhouse units are the other standout spreads in the development. On the market for $3.4 million, Townhouse A measures approximately 2,440 square feet and features a 26' double-height great room overlooking a private Tuscan garden with two 18' mature birch trees. The three-level home also comes with a recreation room and two additional large patios with a built-in gas grill. Upstairs are two bedrooms and a sitting room that can be converted into a third bedroom or home office.
Tuscan garden
All of the self-described Minimalist homes feature 7" PID European Oak flooring, a Bosch washer and dryer, kitchens with a fully-integrated Bosch and Liebherr appliance suite, and Carrara and Bello marble slabs that pay homage to the building's architecture.
Shared amenities include a common roof deck, resident storage, and a common recreational room for residents' use. Closings and occupancy are anticipated in the first half of 2021.
Shared amenities include a common roof deck, resident storage, and a common recreational room for residents' use. Closings and occupancy are anticipated in the first half of 2021.
Greenpoint closing condo sales average (CityRealty/)
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