{"id":284247,"date":"2026-07-01T22:50:32","date_gmt":"2026-07-01T22:50:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/284247\/"},"modified":"2026-07-01T22:50:32","modified_gmt":"2026-07-01T22:50:32","slug":"stunning-5-7m-brooklyn-duplex-hidden-in-historic-townhome-is-revealed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/284247\/","title":{"rendered":"Stunning $5.7M Brooklyn Duplex ‘Hidden’ in Historic Townhome Is Revealed"},"content":{"rendered":"

The upper duplex of a transformed 1800s Brooklyn<\/a> townhouse, the lower triplex portion of which recently sold for $7.2 million, is now exclusively revealed in renderings shared with Realtor.com\u00ae<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The former single-family townhouse at 181 Baltic Street in the Cobble Hill historic district was reimagined into two new boutique condos by luxury real estate developer Eckstr\u00f8m NYC<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The husband-wife developer duo, Carlos Saavedra and Nicole Eckstrom, specialize in finding historic Brooklyn properties<\/a> and revamping them for deep-pocketed buyers who want the combination of modern convenience and old world charm.<\/p>\n

Saavedra tells Realtor.com that he and Eckstr\u00f8m originally planned to return the 19th century abode into a single-family home\u2014as with most of their townhome developments, the former single-family dwelling had long ago been chopped up into apartments.<\/p>\n

However, its wide 25-foot footprint leant itself to carving out two “small homes” within the interior.<\/p>\n

An 1800s townhome in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn has been turned into two modern condos.Eckstr\u00f8m<\/p>\n

“One complaint we hear is that people only use half a house,” he says. “Unless you have a very big family, everyone congregates in one big space. Why pay for space you’re not actually using?”<\/p>\n

For the developer, the solution is “house-sized” apartments tucked away behind a single charming facade. <\/p>\n

At 181 Baltic, the landmarked property was split into an upper duplex and lower triplex. The lower portion sold for “very close” to its $7.2 million ask, making it the priciest contract in the borough for the week ending June 20.<\/p>\n

The upper half\u2014turned into a duplex with a $5.7 million price tag\u2014is making the rounds of Eckstr\u00f8m NYC’s private pool of motivated buyers and already has nibbles, says the developer. Both condos will be delivered completed in August.<\/p>\n

The duplex kitchen will have all the modern amenities including Miele appliances.Eckstr\u00f8mReimagining Brooklyn historic homes<\/p>\n

Saavedra notes that when he purchases a property, he goes into it knowing the structure will need an overhaul, and he categorizes the amount of worked it will require into “lift, Botox, or full surgery.” This building’s reconstruction was “full surgery.”<\/p>\n

While the two new condos retain their landmarked brick facade, inside, it’s a different story. All is upgraded and modernized with custom kitchens imported from Germany, Miele appliances, and Waterworks fixtures.<\/p>\n

But the vintage charm is retained with wide-planked oak floors, moldings, and, where possible, period features. In this case, a bygone-era fireplace trucked in from another project. <\/p>\n

The lower triplex spans 4,000 square feet, with four bedrooms, three bathrooms, a private entrance, garden, and terrace. There’s also a recreation\/media room, full bar, sauna, cold plunge, and a laundry room.<\/p>\n

The upper duplex spans 2,400 square feet with four bedrooms, three bathrooms with steam showers, a skylight, and a private terrace and a roof deck with an outdoor kitchen.<\/p>\n

Saavedra says the roof deck will be a coup for that area. “We looked around, and no one has a roof deck on that block,” he says. <\/p>\n

There are four bedrooms inside the condo duplex within the townhouse.Eckstr\u00f8mA period fireplace gives the old charm that the townhouse must have had when it was built in the late 1800s.Eckstr\u00f8mThe Little Black Book of invite-only buyers<\/p>\n

Eckstr\u00f8m says that 60% of its townhome sales happen off market, through its exclusive waiting list known as the “Little Black Book.”<\/a><\/p>\n

It’s through this private, off-market approach that the buyer for the triplex was ultimately found before completion\u2014and through which the duplex has multiple shoppers already circling.<\/p>\n

Buyers take the leap based off detailed renderings, a real life tour while the home is in progress, and trust in the developer, as well as familiarity with former projects.<\/p>\n

Two of the atelier’s major sales of 2026\u2014170 Clinton Street<\/a>, which sold for $14 million, and\u00a0307 Hicks Street<\/a>, which sold for $14.995 million\u2014were transacted through this off-market, subscriber-based approach.<\/p>\n

The developer duo currently have 24 other Brooklyn historic home listings in various stages of development, mostly located in picturesque Brooklyn Heights and the surrounding brownstone-flanked neighborhoods.<\/p>\n

The developer has also expanded into Manhattan, with the purchase of a landmarked residence in Greenwich Village and a two-family home in the West Village. <\/p>\n

“We look for nice blocks,” Saavedra says of how the firm chooses properties. “Blocks where everything seems nice and put together.” <\/p>\n

A typical picture-perfect block that passes muster likely has lots of mature trees, is near schools, and has historic character, where many\u2014if not all\u2014of the buildings are landmarked.<\/p>\n

Buyers of reimagined historic properties want charm and character but also all the modern conveniences. The bathroom will have steam showers.Eckstr\u00f8mThe duplex roof deck will have an outdoor kitchen, a special feature in the neighborhood. Eckstr\u00f8m<\/p>\n

Demand is brisk for one-of-a-kind historic homes that have been fully reinvigorated and modernized while nestled in quaint, tree-lined neighborhoods.<\/p>\n

In February, Eckstr\u00f8m sold a single family 5,000-square foot reimagined townhouse at 307 Hicks Street<\/a> in Brooklyn Heights for $15 million, which made it the most expensive sale of the year in the borough for a time.<\/p>\n

And in May, a long-abandoned 1860s Italianate brownstone<\/a> on one of the neighborhood’s most idyllic streets\u2014Columbia Heights\u2014hit the market for $15 million.<\/p>\n

It quickly sold for full price despite needing a gut job down to its landmarked shell. (Saavedra says he considered the property too but “could not make the numbers work.”)<\/p>\n

The developer says buyers who prefer an old townhome or brownstone over a modern glass tower are seeking something special\u2014they prioritize character<\/a>, charm, warmth, and history, and want a place that “has a soul.”<\/p>\n

“But they don’t necessarily want to deal with an old building, and they want the convenience of new construction,” he says. “This is a marriage of both.”<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

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