Rent

A quirky Brooklyn Heights duplex with a lower-level lair for the kids

By Jennifer Laing  | September 8, 2014 - 3:59PM
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At first glance, this 1,820-square-foot two-bedroom, two-bathroom garden duplex renting for $5,500 a month in leafy Brooklyn Heights seems a bit unusual: The second bedroom is actually a lower level rec room—which may strike some families as inconvenient, but upon further consideration we couldn’t help but think this was actually an ideal arrangement.

This lower level has three closets, a bathroom and access to the building's shared garden

The lower level also has its own bathroom and access to a shared garden (so great for when the little ones need some airing out). Its downstairs location means it’s nicely separated from the rest of the living space, so the kid gear is contained and children can make as much noise as they want without disturbing parents and neighbors.

The kitchen is large enough to fit a table and chairs—and many cooks

If the downstairs is a kid haven, the upstairs is decidedly gown-up, with an open living room-dining room-kitchen setup and another (albeit smaller) bedroom. Among the more sophisticated design elements that will appeal to adults are rustic hardwood floors and ceilings, exposed brick walls, a large chef’s kitchen (with plenty of room for eating in), a decorative fireplace and a second bath. Bonus, the apartment has a washer/dryer and the rent includes a parking space in a gated lot.

The red brick co-op is located on a pretty, tree-lined street in picturesque Brooklyn Heights

The apartment at 30 Willow Place is zoned for PS/MS 8, a popular K-8 school with an involved parent body and a curriculum that focuses on problem solving and creativity, says Inside Schools. The five-story, 15-unit co-op requires board approval of renters, but that may be a small inconvenience to bear for a well-priced (comparable two bed/two baths in the area are asking at $6,875 a month, per StreetEasy), good-size home in a beautiful neighborhood.

Related:

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A family-friendly Crown Heights brownstone—but at Brooklyn Heights prices?

Moving with kids? Three need-to-know tips for finding a family-friendly apartment

A Morningside Heights duplex that's more house than apartment

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