At last, the townhouse at 70 Willow Street—famously rented at one point by Truman Capote—is showing signs of its original 1839 glory. A tipster tells Curbed that the sidewalk shed has been removed, exposing the restored red brick facade that it once proudly wore.
A massive (and controversial) renovation of the townhouse was approved by the Landmarks Preservation Commission in 2015. That makeover would not only restore the exterior but also replace the entryway, add shutters, change windows, and add a pool among other things.
Video game mogul Dan Houser (the creator of Grand Theft Auto) purchased the Greek Revival-style home owned by the Breakfast at Tiffany’s author in 2012 for $12.5 million, the most expensive sale in Brooklyn at the time (oh, how things have changed).
His plans for restoration and upgrades were met with disdain by some Brooklyn Heights residents and commissioners who called his plans "replicating" rather than "restoring." Call it what you want, this project is making progress.
NOTE: A previous version of this article mentioned that Truman Capote owned the townhouse when in fact he rented a unit in the townhouse. Curbed regrets the error.
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