See Inside the Mysterious Brownstone on Columbia Heights

The five-story Italianate brownstone at 194 Columbia Heights is on the market for the first time since the 1960s. After decades of being boarded up, the interior was recently cleared of accumulated debris to reveal original 19th-century details, including carved marble mantels, plaster ceiling medallions, arched doors, and "coffin corner" stair niches. The 1860-era home was originally built for the Dike family and later converted into apartments and rooming units in the 1920s.

Broker Vicki V. Negron recently led a tour of the property, which lacks electricity but features grandly scaled rooms and spectacular views of the Statue of Liberty and the Brooklyn Bridge. The rear of the property faces the Brooklyn Heights Promenade, featuring a garden-level dining room and a one-story addition. While some 20th-century partitions and vintage wallpaper remain, the house is largely a shell ready for a full architectural restoration.

Summary by Dispatch AI — read the full story at Brownstoner.