The BOTD is a no-frills look at interesting structures of all types and from all neighborhoods. There will be old, new, important, forgotten, public, private, good and bad. Whatever strikes our fancy. We hope you enjoy.

Address: 404 Nostrand Avenue at Monroe Street
Name: Flats Building
Neighborhood: Bedford Stuyvesant
Year Built: 1890′s
Architectural Style: Renaissance Revival
Architects: Unknown
Landmarked: No

Why chosen: I bet this is a color the architect or original owner didn’t think of. I have to admit that while I would never let this particular shade of green into my life in any way, this building makes me smile. It’s a great 8 family flats building with some beautiful detailing in expertly patterned cream colored brick, with Classical-motif terra-cotta ornamental friezes, pressed metal bays, cornices and a fine corner torch turret thingy. Before this paint job, which took place sometime before March, when I took the photos, the painted details were a dull brownish burgundy color. That is certainly more traditional, but have to admit the green brings out the richness of the detailing in the pressed metal, as well as the other highlighted ornaments. Personally, I would not have painted the stone brackets, entryway or bands in any color, but this paint job only replicated the paint placement of the earlier brown. I’m just grateful no one decided to paint most of the terra-cotta. That would have been awful. Nostrand Avenue can be a little grim in this area, in spite of the magnificent former Jenkins Trust/IBM building at Nostrand and Gates, which appears in the background, and this tropical-looking spot of green is a mood lifter. The traditionalist MM likes this particular painted grand dame, but would never try this at home.

(Photo: Property Shark)