A BROOKLYN townhouse recently listed for $6million is a great buy for a family that doesn't mind living next to one of New York's best-kept secrets.
The six-bedroom, four-bathroom building at 60 Joralemon Street sits right beside a little-known NYC landmark.
Next door at 58 Joralemon St., there's a historic brick facade, eerily pitch-black windows, and absolutely no human inhabitants, but the building isn't completely empty.
The building at 58 Joralemon is owned by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which operates New York City's subway systems, and behind those specially-sealed windows is a ventilation system for the train lines below.
According to Gothamist, 58 Joralemon was built as a private, one-family residence in 1847 by judge Teunis Joralemon.
When the Interborough Rapid Transit Company purchased the building in 1908, developers chose to turn it into a "shaft house" instead of tearing it down.
While the MTA does run the ventilation system with some frequency and conducts regular tests, the enormous collections of fans inside 58 Joralemon is meant to draw smoke out of the subway tunnels in case of fire.
Originally some of the ventilation actually escaped through the townhome's windows, which people in the community found disruptive.
Most read in News
RED ALERT 
Eunice sparks ultra-rare RED weather warning as winds shred 02 Arena roof
Brits battered by killer 122mph winds – stronger than Great Storm of 1987
Full list of schools closed as 100mph Storm Eunice to batter UK
How Queen could write off Andrew payout using loopholes & secret wills
Today, smoke, steam and ventilated air can be seen escaping through a special apparatus on the roof.
The MTA had to receive approval for the modern, blacked-out Lexan windows since the building is in a historic district; those windows keep steam and smoke from escaping, but also keep people from trying to see inside.
Despite the heavy lock on the front door, the 58 Joralemon building is also an emergency exit for the 5 and 6 subway lines.
Since 60 Joralemon is on the market, potential buyers will have to consider whether living next to the ventilation system is worth the $6million price tag.
But one big perk may sweeten the pot: the family who previously lived in the townhome currently up for sale report they were able to lease the backyard of 58 Joralemon from the MTA at a steep discount, creating the kind of outdoor sanctuary that's a rarity in the city.
We pay for your stories!
Do you have a story for The US Sun team?
Email us at [email protected] or call 212 416 4552.
Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TheSunUS and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSunUS
Source: Read Full Article