Building of the Day: 258 New York Avenue

Brooklyn, one building at a time.
Name: Row House
Address: 258 New York Avenue
Cross Streets: Corner of St. Johns Place
Neighborhood: Crown Heights North
Year Built: 1899
Architectural Style: Dutch Renaissance Revival
Architect: Frederick L. Hine
Other buildings by architect: the entire row from 258 – 284 New York Ave.
Landmarked: Crown Heights North II, just designated in June, 2011

The story: The tales of the people who built are neighborhoods are often as interesting as the stories of the people who bought and lived in their buildings. Consider Frederick L. Hine, a hithertofore unknown architect in the pantheon of architects who have contributed to Brooklyn’s streetscapes. As of now, his only known buildings are in the newly designated Crown Heights North II district. But was he ever busy! Between 1897 and 1910, he designed 135 buildings, most in a four block radius, between Eastern Parkway, New York Avenue, St. Johns and Lincoln Places. He and his wife were a development team, wheeling and dealing in the ever contentious world of Brooklyn real estate.

All we know about the man is that he was born in 1853. We don’t know when he died. We know even less about his wife, Carrie E. Hine. Frederick Hine started building in 1889, opened an office in Clinton Hill in 1896, and practiced from there until 1913. Without a doubt, he designed other buildings besides the ones in Crown Heights North, but these are his only buildings in a landmarked district. He built a house for his family in the area, as well, on Prospect Place, between Nostrand and New York. That must have made it easy to go to work, as the Hine family business seems to have been development. And the Hine’s played hardball.

Carrie Hine is listed as the owner of all of the buildings they built and sold on spec. A search in the Brooklyn Eagle actually has more listings under her name than his, which is rare in turn of the century Brooklyn. Carrie was obviously not sitting home sewing. Carrie spent a lot of time in her lawyer’s office and in court. Their real estate ventures were often in foreclosure, had mechanic’s liens against them, and at least one bankruptcy. Yet they kept on building and selling homes. They were either hand to mouth most of the time, or very canny players. It would be interesting to find out.

It could be that their homes kept selling because Frederick had a very good eye, whether he had formal training or not. He designed very attractive row houses. One of their rowhouse groups is a delightful blend of Gothic and French detailing, and another is just nice Renaissance Revival styling, similar to Axel Hedman and other limestone rowhouse architects of the day. This particular row is in a Dutch Revival style, highlighted by the tall Dutch gables and other Low Country details that are especially evident in the corner buildings. The Dutch buildings stand out on a street of exceptional housing, and are part of the reason that Crown Heights North’s historic district continues to grow. GMAP