Building of the Day: 86-96 St. James Place

Brooklyn, one building at a time.

Name: row houses
Address: 86-96 St. James Place
Cross Streets: Lafayette and Greene Avenues
Neighborhood: Clinton Hill
Year Built: 1884-85
Architectural Style: Queen Anne
Architect: Unknown
Landmarked: Yes, part of Clinton Hill HD (1981)

The story: I used to work a block from here, on St. James between DeKalb and Lafayette. My employer had a home office in his brownstone on that block. I was employed there for over a year, and it gave me the opportunity to really get to know Clinton Hill. That is one reason why Clinton Hill will always be one of my favorite Brooklyn neighborhoods. I used to walk home quite often and my route usually took me down this block. There’s such a variety of architectural styles here, not as fancy as over on Clinton or Washington, but certainly as interesting. Much of the housing stock on this side of Clinton Hill is also older than the mansions, and the progression of style, the changes in the use of building materials, trim, even landscaping makes a walk up St. James a delightful adventure.

I always liked this group. I think it’s a combination of the stained glass, and the unusual pointed oriels on many of the houses. The records are spotty here, and we don’t know who designed these, but they are in a British-influenced Queen Anne style, built for developer Thomas Thorp in 1884. I wouldn’t be surprised to find out that these were William Tubby’s work; he did similar houses for Charles Pratt. Those houses were also Queen Anne, also a narrow 16.5’ or even more.

They were built at a time when Clinton Hill was one of Brooklyn’s most successful and desirable neighborhoods, with the mansions of Clinton and Washington housing some of Brooklyn’s most successful and wealthy people. Everyone wants to live near success, so the blocks on this side of “The Hill” soon filled with comfortable houses for the middle class. These houses certainly aren’t all that fancy, by mansion standards, but are most certainly attractive houses.

The British-influenced Queen Anne row houses are usually much more subdued and quiet than their American cousins. Taking their influence from the architects associated with William Morris’ Arts & Crafts Movement, men like Phillip Webb, the architect of Morris’ own Red House, in 1859. He started a movement in residential architecture that celebrated brick, glass and iron as worthy materials, especially when hand crafted. These houses reflect that in the use of the herringbone brick panels, the limestone quoins, the simple stained glass windows, and the heavy wooden doors.

This group has seen its ups and downs, and although not all of the houses are in their original condition, enough remains to show us how good they really are. They are unique on this block, and a fine addition to the excellent building stock of Clinton Hill. GMAP