By Maddie McGay
Once a run-down, three-family rental property in the heart of downtown Jersey City, a historic brownstone has been transformed into a charming duplex that blends classic architecture with a modern flair.
And one of the two units in this unique property, located at 647 Jersey Ave. in Jersey City, is currently listed for $3.1 million by Peter Cossio of Brown Harris Stevens.
"Very few opportunities like this become available in this neighborhood because there's a lot of old townhomes and brownstones with beautiful turn of the century architecture, but there's not a lot of new construction projects," Cossio said.
This newly renovated condo boasts three bedrooms and four bathrooms across 3,313 square feet of living space. While properties like this typically duplex up — where the second level, typically with the bedrooms, is located one floor higher than the main level — Cossio said this unit was specifically designed to duplex down, with the main level being on top.
"They did that on purpose to take advantage of the light and the view of everything from that top floor," he said.
To go along with this, the property's renovation included the addition of a private elevator. Cossio said they did this so that when you go to enter the unit, you don't have to climb several flights of stairs to get there.
The historic brownstone at 647 Jersey Ave. in Jersey City recently underwent a full renovation and was reconstructed into two duplex condominiums. Listed for $3.1 million, Apartment #2 offers a blend of preserved architectural details and modern updates. Brown Harris Stevens
"They put an elevator in it, and so when you open the elevator door, you actually have this huge expanse on the top floor of the building," he said. "And it has three exposures, so you basically have windows all the way around the apartment that are over the roof line, so you get this really great view."
Overall, the unit's main level features a custom-designed gourmet kitchen with high-end appliances, a grand 10-foot island and an under-counter beverage refrigerator, as well as a sun-filled living room space with an exposed brick wall.
The main level also has a steel staircase, lined by another exposed brick wall, that leads to a private rooftop deck with panoramic views of surrounding Jersey City. Because the building as a whole stands a bit taller than the surrounding properties, Cossio said it offers a "tree house" like feel.
The historic brownstone at 647 Jersey Ave. in Jersey City recently underwent a full renovation and was reconstructed into two duplex condominiums. Listed for $3.1 million, Apartment #2 offers a blend of preserved architectural details and modern updates. Brown Harris Stevens
The primary suite, housed on the unit's lower level, features a spacious walk-in closet and a luxury bathroom. This level also has the home's remaining three bedrooms, bathroom and laundry room.
Other amenities include a state-of-the-art HVAC system, smart home technology, a video intercom system and a cloud-accessible building surveillance system, among others.
As for the property's location, it's situated about a block away from Hamilton Park, and is part of the Hamilton Park Historic district. Named after Alexander Hamilton, the park itself was landscaped in 1851 on the land left to the town by New York Senator and flour merchant John B. Coles. And the historic district was established in 1979 to preserve the Victorian brownstones that surround the park, and the size of the of the district was expanded in 1982.
"It's rare to have this type of renovation, property location, level of finishes and the way it's laid out altogether like this," he said. "So I think having this kind of unique opportunity so close to the park definitely makes it a great value."
