Park Slope

The Tracy Mansion’s makeover plan needs tweaking

Eye On Real Estate

February 3, 2016 By Lore Croghan Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Park Slope's Tracy Mansion is headed for a makeover after decades as a Montessori school. Eagle photo by Lore Croghan
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After decades as a Montessori school, the Tracy Mansion will have people live in it once again.

But first, Raymond Zagami needs to square away his remodeling plan.

His proposal to create seven apartments in the stunning neo-Classical white limestone house at 105 Eighth Ave. in Park Slope failed to pass muster with the city Landmarks Preservation Commission at a public hearing in January.

The commissioners sent Scott Henson Architect LLC back to the drawing board after objections were voiced about proposed design elements such as incongruous-looking metal balconies on rear windows.

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Though the mansion is located in the middle of the block, the balconies would be visible from nearby cross streets — President Street and Carroll Street — because of gaps between neighboring buildings.

Zagami bought the century-plus-old Tracy Mansion through an LLC for $9.5 million last year, city Finance Department records indicate.

The 50-foot-wide house with Corinthian columns and bronze front doors was built for the founders of tugboat and barge operator M. & J. Tracy. Its high-profile architect, Frank J. Helmle, also designed Brooklyn Heights’ Hotel Bossert.

The Tracy Mansion hit the sale market in 2012 with a $25 million asking price. Halstead had the listing.

We toured the mansion in November 2013, after the asking price had been sliced to $15 million. Despite long usage as a school, it was really something — from its bookmatched flame Honduran mahogany paneling to its butler’s pantry with a safe for storing the family silver.

According to The Real Deal, “Sex and the City” star Sarah Jessica Parker and her actor husband Matthew Broderick had been interested in buying the Tracy Mansion.

 


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