LPC Designates Fiske Terrace-Midwood Park
As expected, yesterday the Landmarks Preservation Commission designated Fiske Terrace-Midwood Park in Victorian Flatbush a historic district. The designation covers 250 houses and is Brooklyn’s 20th historic district. The areas, which include many houses in Arts and Crafts, Colonial Revival and Dutch Colonial Revival styles, were primarily built up by two local builders in the…
As expected, yesterday the Landmarks Preservation Commission designated Fiske Terrace-Midwood Park in Victorian Flatbush a historic district. The designation covers 250 houses and is Brooklyn’s 20th historic district. The areas, which include many houses in Arts and Crafts, Colonial Revival and Dutch Colonial Revival styles, were primarily built up by two local builders in the early 20th century. Flatbush Gardener has a couple of nice photos of houses in the area here and here. Not a moment too soon.
Victorian Flatbush Landmarking, in Drips and Drabs [Brownstoner]
Fiske Terrace/Midwood Park Designation Two Weeks Away [Brownstoner]
Photo from the LPC.
I’ve lived in Fiske Terrace for over 28 years, and hope to live there 28 more. It’s a wonderful neighborhood, with beautiful homes and great neighbors. That we are now part of NYC’s newest Historic District is thrilling. We can now rest assured that no developer will be able to tear down one of these irreplaceable homes, as has often been the case in other parts of Brooklyn. Yeah, I have to get LPC approval to paint my house or re-do my driveway. A small price to pay indeed…
It’s not New Jersey.
This place looks like New Jersey. What’s so special about it?
Congratulations to both Fiske Terrace and Midwood Park. I would like to see the other Victorian Flatbush neighborhoods landmarked as well but I would also like to see an overhaul at LPC. Some of their rules are just too restrictive and simply do not make sense. It’s having to go through LPC’s bureaucratic red tape that causes some area residents to fight landmark designation. One example of a LPC bad policy is the house for sale on Ablemarle Road in Prospect Park South that has been sitting empty and half renovated for years. This house is a ranch style house that looks like it was built in the 1960’s. From what I understand, if I purchased the home, I would have to complete the ranch style renovation because that was the style of the home at the time the PPS was landmarked. I could not change the ranch style of the house to a style more historically appropriate to the area. Why would anyone want to live in a high ranch in PPS?
Beverley Square West, Ditmas Park West, and the other remaining VF neighborhoods sill retain much of their Victorian character, despite alternations over the years. Much of this is siding, which can be replaced with shingle, or even has the shingle preserved in decent condition underneath it.
Beverley Square West also has a number of houses, which, like PPS, are not the products of pattern books (which Midwood Terrace is, not to say that lessens its worthiness at all), but are one off custom designs.
There are many reasons to save the remaining enclaves, not least of all because together they consitute one of, if not the, largest surviving example of continguous free standing single family wood frame houses in the nation. Each time a house is demolished or “remuddled” as they said in teh Times, VF is closer to losing that special distinction, and NYC to losing this Brooklyn treasure.
Prospect Heights has NOT been caledered by LPC as of yet. It might happen in the next few months but no promises.
Also, the area is extraordinarily mixed racially and ethnically – it’s really neither black nor white.
1:23 keep an eye out for the Victorian Flatbush house tour usually held in June. You can get to see inside a selection of these great houses!.
Here is the link to the 2007 tour
http://www.fdconline.org/housetour.html
I was just in Ditmas Park and Prospect park South for the first time and I’ve lived in Brooklyn for 20+ years.
Gorgeous, jaw dropping homes surrounded by brick ugliness.
Next visit for me, will be this area. Can’t wait.
#10:46, that is mostly a black neighborhood.