200 Congress St

Congress Gardens

In the heart of Brooklyn’s quaint Cobble Hill Historic District, Congress Gardens easily blends in amid 19th-century townhomes and Gothic Revival landmarks despite its postwar construction. On the site of a former orphanage, architecture firm Lama, Proskauer and Prober sought to complement the surrounding townhouses and gardens by crafting an unassuming six-story brick building encircled by a manicured lawn dotted with flowering trees and shrubs. Initially built in 1952 as rentals and converted to a co-op building in 1981, the 114-unit complex is divided into three wings that form an E shape, with a separate elevator and entrance portico for each marked by a bright red door fringed by white Neoclassical details. “It’s this charming little treasure that no one notices unless it’s on your radar,” says Patrice Mack, a broker with Brown Harris Stevens who recently listed a one-bedroom at the complex. “The location makes it special — it’s right by Brooklyn Heights and half a block from Court Street,” adds Heather McMaster, a Corcoran broker who has sold multiple residences at Congress Gardens. “Every unit I list in there sells in a week.” <br><br> "Even though the building is from the 1950s, it feels like prewar because of the room sizes, generous closet space and black-and-white tile bathrooms, which many people have kept. They have a lot of character," says Mack. "And because brownstones surround the building, if you get past the third floor, there are spectacular views of the Verrazzano Bridge.” There are 114 apartments across the development, with 200 and 210 Congress each having 36 and the remaining 42 in 220 Congress; most are one- or two-bedroom units, but a few studios can be found. “There are about five or six units per floor, so each floor feels intimate,” says McMaster. “It has a good vibe.” In terms of pricing, a studio sold in October 2023 for $514,000, while one-bedrooms can range between $699,000 and $790,000. A two-bedroom was acquired in August 2024 for $1.2 million. Taxes are included in the monthly maintenance fees, which total $1,640 per month for a one-bedroom listed at $675,000 <br><br>“The building isn’t chock full of amenities,” says Mack, but it does have the essentials. "An elevator, laundry room and storage are available, the last for an additional cost with a waitlist. The property also allows pets, and they recently made a little common outdoor space in the back of the building with tables and chairs." The property also includes an underground garage, although there is a waitlist. "To have parking in that area is worth a lot because no other place has that kind of perk,” says Mack. A live-in superintendent helps ensure maintenance needs are promptly addressed. <br><br>"Congress Gardens is located across from the most beautiful townhomes, and Cobble Hill Park is around the corner," says Mack. The half-acre green space is popular for picnics in the summer and features a playground with a sand pit and tables and benches. Several nearby playgrounds, including Van Voorhees and Toy playgrounds, speak to the neighborhood’s popularity among young families. Bustling Court Street is right down the block from Congress Gardens, brimming with cafes, restaurants and shops, as well as practical amenities like pharmacies, dry cleaners and salons. Standout dining destinations include Gersi, a seasonal Italian restaurant focusing on northern Italian cuisine and June, Brooklyn's first natural wine bar. Nearby retail hubs of Atlantic Avenue and Smith Street are also easily reachable and contain the bulk of the grocery store options, including Trader Joe's and Key Food. “You have those big chain stores as well as mom-and-pops. It feels like a neighborhood,” says Mack. <br><br>The complex is two blocks from the Bergen Street subway station, serviced by the F and G lines, while the Borough Hall/Court Street station offers access to the 2, 3, 4, 5 and R less than half a mile away. Bus service includes the B57, B61 and B63, which make a variety of Brooklyn neighborhoods — from Dumbo to Bay Ridge — easily accessible. A little over a mile away is Atlantic Terminal, a terminus for the Long Island Rail Road and Brooklyn's busiest subway hub. There's a Citi Bike dock across the street.