Brooklyn home that appeared in multiple shows asks $2.99M

New York Post

a day ago

In Brooklyn's Ditmas Park, one home has taken center stage, stealing the spotlight again, again — and again.
A wraparound-porch-clad Victorian at 500 E. 18th St. isn't just a showstopper — it's a frequent scene-stealer, appearing in more television and film credits than some of the actors who have shot there.
Now listed for $2.99 million with Heather McMaster of Corcoran, the cinematic stunner is hitting the market after a decades-long real-life renovation story nearly as dramatic as the scenes it has hosted.
19 In Brooklyn's Ditmas Park, a grand Victorian home that has doubled as a beloved television and film set is now for sale at $2.99 million.
Russ Ross for Corcoran
19 The property has been featured in multiple productions.
Russ Ross for Corcoran
From 'Saturday Night Live' to 'Boardwalk Empire' to 'Blue Bloods,' the six-bedroom dwelling has become a go-to for location scouts seeking old New York charm in the middle of the borough.
'Ditmas Park is actually quite famous for people filming out here because our homes are so large that they can do several locations in one spot,' said homeowner Dana Vance, who, along with husband Frank Gauthier, has owned — and painstakingly restored — the home since 1994.
Set on one of the neighborhood's most picturesque blocks, the home boasts an ornate façade with spindle-trimmed gables and stained glass.
Its porch alone has earned its share of screen time — Hugh Grant filmed a night scene on it for 'The Rewrite,' opposite J.K. Simmons, though Vance, 72, said, 'I love Hugh Grant, but I didn't get to meet him because they shot it at like 2 o'clock in the morning … I was so mad at myself because I couldn't stay awake.'
19 Known for its cinematic appeal — thanks to its expansive layout, ornate woodwork, stained glass and storybook wraparound porch — the home has become a sought-after location for directors looking to capture old New York charm.
Russ Ross for Corcoran
19 Homeowners Dana Vance and Frank Gauthier, both actors, inherited the property in 1994 in a state of complete disrepair after Frank's reclusive cousin, Bill, passed away.
Courtesy of Dana Vance
Built in 1910, the house stayed in Gauthier's family for three generations, but fell into disrepair when a reclusive relative lived alone there for decades.
'He had no plumbing, no heat, no air conditioning. Fifty windows in the house, 28 were broken. Pigeons were living on the third floor,' Vance said. 'There were 10,000 pounds of newspapers, twigs, aluminum pipes, a piano, garbage cans collecting rainwater. It was a complete disaster.'
When that relative, named Bill, passed away, the house was on the verge of demolition — until Vance, seeing potential through the wreckage, convinced Gauthier not to sell.
'I said, 'Oh, I think we're gonna fix this house up. I think it's got great bones,'' she said. 'And he thought I was completely crazy. And to tell you the truth, I was, because I had no idea what work was in front of me.'
19 The couple often remained in the house during filming, retreating to the top floor while scenes played out below.
Image Entertainment
19 At the time, the house had no plumbing or heat, broken windows, pigeon infestations and was packed with decades of hoarded debris.
Courtesy of Corcoran
19 Vance saw potential where others might have walked away, convincing Gauthier to renovate rather than sell.
Courtesy of Corcoran
What followed was a years-long gut renovation fueled by maxed-out credit cards, a single affordable contractor and the couple's own elbow grease.
'We took out probably well over 500 garbage bags,' Vance said. 'It was a labor of love and I view that house as if it's a part of me … every piece of wood, every pillar, [the] wainscoting.'
Today, the result is a blend of restored craftsmanship and functional luxury.
Inside, the home is flooded with natural light thanks to oversize windows — including a statement stained-glass pane on the main stair landing. Original mahogany doors, intricate woodwork and custom-designed oak floors with mahogany inlays run throughout.
19 What followed was a decades-long restoration project — one they took on themselves with limited resources and limitless perseverance.
Russ Ross for Corcoran
19 Today, the home is filled with carefully restored original details, including oak floors with mahogany inlay.
Russ Ross for Corcoran
19 A formal dining room wrapped in vintage wallpaper.
Russ Ross for Corcoran
The gracious living room, anchored by one of two woodburning fireplaces, opens into a formal dining room wrapped in vintage wallpaper and crowned by a statement chandelier. The updated eat-in kitchen overlooks one of the largest private backyards in the district.
Upstairs, the primary suite boasts a bay window, a fireplace and even a built-in marble sink in its adjacent sitting room — a remnant of the home's turn-of-the-century design.
'It's lovely,' Vance said. 'It's got the little sinks in the bedrooms and beautiful mahogany doors, broom closets and linen closets that you don't see in a regular house.'
Still, it's the home's distinctive character and ample space that has made it a favorite for film and TV production crews, who can move through its sprawling three floors and outdoor areas with ease.
19 The kitchen.
Russ Ross for Corcoran
19 A breakfast nook.
Russ Ross for Corcoran
19 One of the largest backyards in the district.
Russ Ross for Corcoran
'There was a location scout that came by one day, maybe about 18 years ago … they take pictures, go to several houses, then bring back a team of like 10 people to scout it again,' Vance said.
'We have one of the largest backyards in Ditmas Park, and that served us. And we have a big wraparound porch, so those little things are interesting to film directors.'
The house has since also played host to productions ranging from CBS dramas like 'The Equalizer.'
But perhaps the most widely recognized appearance came courtesy of a viral 2014 'SNL' skit, 'Back Home Ballers,' that has garnered more than 14 million views over the years.
19 The dwelling starred in 'The Rewrite.'
Image Entertainment
19 A scene from 'Back Home Ballers' on 'SNL.'
NBC
19 The home's cinematic legacy has been built organically, one shoot at a time — thanks in part to its grand proportions and authentic historic charm.
NBC
'I met all the girls from 'Saturday Night Live' and Cameron Diaz,' Vance said. 'They turned our living room into a discotheque … their green room was our bedroom. I took pictures with all of them. It was really great.'
Though the couple often stays in the home during shoots, they make way for the crew when necessary.
'Sometimes the crew is so large that I just go to the third floor … and then we hear them go, 'cut,' and then we can go downstairs and grab a snack and go back upstairs again,' Vance said.
Watching their home on screen remains a rush.
'A lot of the location scouts or the ADs will call and tell me when it's going to be aired. And I'm so thrilled to see either the front of my house … or the living room, and family will call and say, 'Is your house on 'The Equalizer?''
But after 30 years of loving care and on-screen cameos, the couple has decided it's time for a new act.
'We're old. We're seniors now, and it's time to move on,' Vance said. 'It's 3,400 square feet, just the interior — not counting the attic and the basement … When you're young, it's very easy. It's still easy for us now, but I can see myself huffing and puffing every once in a while.'
The couple — both actors, now retired — plans to relocate out of state.
'Frank and I will always be New Yorkers. We love New York with all our heart. But we've done New York,' she said. 'We're looking for a new adventure.'
19 A sun-filled primary suite with a fireplace and a bay window.
Russ Ross for Corcoran
19 A third-floor living space.
Russ Ross for Corcoran
19 One of 2.5 bathrooms.
Russ Ross for Corcoran
As they prepare to say goodbye, Vance admits it's an emotional parting.
'I've been talking to the house this whole time, letting the house know how much I loved it … I hug the staircase or hug something and just say, 'Thank you. Thank you. Thank you so much.''
One visiting contractor may have said it best. 'He told me, 'You will find that once you start working on a house like this, it will not let you work on it. It will resist you until it knows that you have its best interests at heart.' And it's true,' Vance said.
That same character — the kind that can't be fabricated on a soundstage — has kept filmmakers coming back, and may now captivate a new buyer.
As Vance put it, 'If they appreciate it half as much as we do, then I'll be satisfied.'