400 9th St

Own a piece of history -- Extremely rare "Kinko" Building in Prime Park Slope!! Separate entrances create two private units -- a lower duplex over basement with 2 outdoor spaces and an upper Triplex featuring a "Sky Garden" -- Stunning!

As Italianate Brownstones were falling out of fashion or being converted to multi-families, developers looked for other designs. Home buyers looking for 2 family buildings had little options. The Mead Family, land owners sensing the need for a new building style, were afraid more upscale home buyers would balk at being separated by one thin door from someone of "lesser means", and therefor wouldn't purchase. They hired Mann & MacNeille Architects for a solution, and the "Kinko" house (named for the Mead's Kings and Westchester Land Company) was born.

400 9th Street is a prime example of this style.

Built in the Romanesque Revival/Queen Anne style, a treasure trove of period details and design awaits, all summed up on the main level of the lower duplex. Enter in and you see the open floorplan with views directly out to the back garden. Coffered ceilings, parquet flooring with Mahogany borders, and turned oak mantels with hand-tossed porcelain tiles are here. Up the center "winder" staircase is more of the same fine detail. The master bedroom will easily fit a King sized bed and has it's own antique mantel. The other bedrooms are ample sized, one leading to its own private sun deck.

The upper triplex is a prize, and you see if from the front door. The main living room has large windows and a French doors leading to a Juliet balcony, allowing light and air to fill the space. A formal dining room is here as well as the kitchen and rear parlor. The second level has the bedrooms, the Master featuring oversized windows so sunlight streams in. But the true prize is up one more flight -- off of the attic room is a "Sky Garden" with sweeping views of Lower Manhattan, the Statue of Liberty and Prospect Park -- truly amazing!

The location is sublime, everything that makes Park Slope a destination address is at your feet. World class dining (Colson's Patisserie is 7 doors down), transportation (the subway is 1/2 block away), entertainment (BAX Children's Theater is around the corner and Nighthawk Cinemas are near), and of course Prospect Park are all within a 5 block radius.

The phrase "rare gem" gets tossed around a lot, but in this case, it fits. 400 9th needs to be seen to be appreciated for its innovation of the time. Call for more info or a deeper history of the place.

For more history of Kinko houses and 400 9th Street written by historian Suzanne Spellen, please click here.