Pages

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

The Buschenschank Building At 320 Court Street Back On Market With Suggestion To Turn Into 1-Family

IMG_3230
IMG_3219
IMG_3220
Listing for 320 Court Street on Trulia

Exactly a year ago, restaurateur James McGown, tried to sell off  several of his Brooklyn properties at a "pre-foreclosure" auction held at the  Brooklyn Marriott Hotel.

Included in the March 2015 auction was the three-story brick corner property at 320 Court Street, which houses McGown's Buschenschank, a "farmhouse style tavern inspired by the Alto-Adige region in Italy" and the Ratskeller, an illegal private events space in the basement.
The estimated value of the building, according to the offering, was $9.4 million. The description stated that the storefront was owner-occupied and would be delivered vacant.

However, the auction did not go as planned and several properties failed to get any offers.
320 Court Street only received one bid for $3.8 million. McGown, obviously disappointed, released a statement saying that he was "reconsidering the sale process."

Now, twelve months later, the "Bankruptcy Baron" as he has been called in the press, has obviously come up with a new approach.  He is offering the Buschenschank building for the slightly reduced price of $7,200,000.  
A PMFA reader sent us the link to the listing on Zillow just yesterday. 
Strangely, the listing suggests turning the 6,000sqft 4 bedroom, 4 bath building into "a one family home.
"It seems like a weird suggestion for that building," wrote the reader.  
I agree, especially since the second floor has also been used as commercial space and currently houses Lift, which offers floatation pods for restricted environmental stimulation therapy

Do you think McGown will get his asking price this time?  How about the idea of turning the building into a one family home?


13 comments:

  1. If I'm buying a 7.2 million dollar home, I'm buying 393 Clinton Street over this eyesore.

    ReplyDelete
  2. McGown, not McGrath (last sentence).

    I don't know, if you can get $100 psf NNN for the ground floor, that's worth $4,000,000 alone, and then the upper floors you could probably get $5k/month for each, so that's worth maybe another $2 million? So it's getting closer to a realistic value, but still too high.

    And god help whoever signs a contract with this guy.

    ReplyDelete
  3. He is really unrealistic, and pretty crazy.

    ReplyDelete
  4. The apartments in the building were just listed for rent, one was a full time airbnb the last year or so
    http://streeteasy.com/building/320-court-street-brooklyn/3l
    http://streeteasy.com/rental/1748862

    ReplyDelete
  5. Those are actually lovely apartments. the description says that they are "located on the 3rd floor of a quiet walk-up on the corner of Court st and Sackett st.".
    I would not call this a quiet building, given that Buschenschank is right below.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Does the contract include all the beer you can drink?

    ReplyDelete
  7. While the building was listed as being "in contract" about a month ago, I now notice, that it is listed as being Back On The Market now and that the asking price has been reduced to $6.5M.
    There are so many outstanding DOB violations on the building I imagine it might be hard to find a buyer for it.

    I think it would be totally possible to make it into a single family home, the question is, does anyone want a home of that size and cost right on Court Street?

    ReplyDelete
  8. is it still listed with the same realtor?

    I honestly think that it only would appeal as an investment property or if you are a restaurateur and want to live right above your eatery. Def not as a residential 1 family home.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Yes. It is currently listed with the same brokerage firm.
    On the surface it is a great building in a great location. Of course, I have no idea what kind of illegal renovations have been done. From what I have heard of how Mr. McGown operates, I would imagine there are a lot. Alsi, the amount of outstanding violations and fines might be daunting for most reasonable, responsible and law abiding citizens.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I thought people would appreciate seeing the newest Grade for Buschenschank:

    Current Grade

    Grade Pending
    Inspected on
    07/13/2016
    Restaurant
    BROOKLYN BUSCHENSCHANK
    320 COURT STREET BROOKLYN 11231
    718-237-0325
    More Information
    How We Score and Grade
    Inspections
    Graded Inspections
    Date Points
    07/13/2016 19
    06/10/2015 7
    01/21/2015 13
    07/11/2014 10
    10/03/2013 48
    Ungraded Inspections
    Date Points
    06/02/2016 17
    01/09/2015 21
    05/30/2014 n/a
    05/30/2014 43
    11/29/2013 n/a
    11/21/2013 n/a
    11/06/2013 11
    08/26/2013 45
    Violations recorded in the following area (s) and a Notice of Violation issued at the reinspection conducted on 07/13/2016.
    "Critical" violations are displayed in red.
    Violation points: 19
    Sanitary Violations
    1) Evidence of mice or live mice present in facility's food and/or non-food areas.
    2) Filth flies or food/refuse/sewage-associated (FRSA) flies present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas. Filth flies include house flies, little house flies, blow flies, bottle flies and flesh flies. Food/refuse/sewage-associated flies include fruit flies, drain flies and Phorid flies.
    3) Food not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service.
    4) Facility not vermin proof. Harborage or conditions conducive to attracting vermin to the premises and/or allowing vermin to exist.
    5) Plumbing not properly installed or maintained; anti-siphonage or backflow prevention device not provided where required; equipment or floor not properly drained; sewage disposal system in disrepair or not functioning properly.

    © 2016 Google

    ReplyDelete
  11. Amazing that this place is still in business.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I know, right?

    ReplyDelete
  13. This is kind of interesting….
    http://patch.com/new-york/carrollgardens/brooklyn-buschenschank-carroll-gardens-may-be-closing-fall

    ReplyDelete