Building of the Day: 308-310 Livingston Street
Editor’s note: An updated version of this post can be viewed here. 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: 308-310 Livingston Street, between Bond and…
Editor’s note: An updated version of this post can be viewed here.
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: 308-310 Livingston Street, between Bond and Nevins
Name: Commercial buildings
Neighborhood: Downtown Brooklyn
Year Built: 1910
Architectural Style: Flemish
Architects: Kirby and Petit
Landmarked: No, but should be.
Why chosen: Why these twin buildings have been forgotten and ignored in the architectural history of Brooklyn amazes me. I’ve wondered about them since the first time I ever went downtown, way back in the late 1970’s. I remember there used to be a bookstore in one of them, long ago. They are a fabulous Flemish inspired set of buildings, that would be right at home in Amsterdam or Brussels. Look at those detailed ornate polychrome terra-cotta figures, and the other trimmings on the gables! They were designed by the firm of Kirby and Petit, who later also later designed as Kirby, Petit and Green. Together, or separately, they are responsible for some great buildings in the NY area, and as far away as San Francisco. They were very eclectic and versatile, designing many different styles for many different kinds of buildings, ranging from the landmarked American Bank Note buildings in Manhattan and the Bronx, to row houses in Stuyvesant Heights, to mansions on Long Island, to the buildings of William Reynolds’ Dreamland Amusement Park in Coney Island. John Petit, especially, was very talented, and is best known in Brooklyn as the architect of many of the large and eclectic homes of Prospect Park South, in Victorian Flatbush. His most famous home there, one of many, is probably the Japanese and Arts and Crafts inspired home at 131 Buckingham Rd. He was the official architect appointed by the developers of PPS. These twin buildings are currently for sale for $3,450,000. Think of the possibilities!
Photo: Municipal Arts Society
I have loved these buildings for years. I used to live a few blocks away and always wondered about them. Just beautiful. Thanks, MM!
Brenda- I’ve always been fascinated by the rooflines in the city. I want to do a book on them someday (if I can twist MM’s arm to help me, that is). NY is a whole other (otherworldly) place when you look up.
These remind me of one of my favorite fantasies: a jet-pack for viewing wonderful old facades a few stories above street-level.
Neat buildings, nearly ruined by a horrendous pointing job. Shame.
I love Livingston street. It’s a little down at the heels, but it’s interesting. A lot of architecture like this in the area, and a lot more that no longer exists.
So funny – I was riding down Livingston on the bus this morning – we were stopped by these buildings and I thought they’d be great candidates for BOTD. And so here they are.
Thanks!
Thanks again, MM – grand old buildings. I wonder what the neighborhood looked like when they first went up
There is also a row of residential rowhouses in Bedford Park in the Bronx of the exact same style. They too have been neglected and have had all kinds of unhistorical work done to them. Really sad.
they remind me of old photos of Ziegfield Follies showgirls with the towering plumed headdresses.
who knows what motivates architectural historians? they are such an eccentric bunch,
-oops! I mean, some, not all.