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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: 405-425 Rogers Avenue, between Sterling and Lefferts
Name: Flats buildings
Neighborhood: Prospect Lefferts Gardens
Year Built: 1907
Architectural Style: Renaissance Revival with Classical detail
Architects: Lewis Berger and Co.
Landmarked: Yes

Why chosen: This group of flats buildings is exceptional. They, along with the far less ornate buildings across the street, were built by Louis Berger for developer Charles Lerner. With the exception of the two anchor buildings on the ends of the blocks, they are all classic dumbbell tenement flats buildings, with an air shaft in the middle of the adjoining buildings to allow light. Originally, they had two apartments per floor, which ran the length of the building. These were built for the new middle class population coming to this area of Brooklyn after the building of the subways in the late 1880′s-early 1900′s. Developers knew their prospective clients wanted nice, quality looking buildings, and Berger and Lerner were highly influenced by the prevailing White Cities Movement, and its use of lighter colored building materials and Classical details. The facades of these buildings are bursting with fine terra-cotta Classical busts of Minerva-like goddesses with laurel leaf wreaths, swags, elaborate keystones, arched windows,and an ocean of dolphins, which are symbols of prosperity and hospitality. By the 1960′s and 70′s, half of these buildings were sealed up and abandoned, and photos from Property Shark in 2007 show them being gutted and reborn, at least two of them a part of a HUD program. Remarkably, almost all of the exterior detail on the entire row has survived, from the ornament to the cornices and doorways. These buildings have been landmarked since 1979, preserved at a crucial time in this neighborhood’s social and economic history. They really are great.