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October 12, 2006

Manhattan Grandeur in Middle Class Brooklyn

building
We have to thank relatively new blog My Life in Brooklyn for bringing our attention to the Chateau Frontenac, a beautiful apartment building on Tennis Court in Flatbush. The 1929 design was an extremely successful attempt of Irish architect W.T. McCarthy to bring the grandeur of a Manhattan-style courtyard residence to middle-class Brooklyn. "The building itself and the courtyard look very well maintained to me," notes MLIB, "and given the fact it is such a gorgeous building and essentially a five minute walk from the Church avenue Q & B – I’d say this is an important building to keep an eye on." Thanks. We will.
Tennis Court [My Life in Brooklyn] GMAP
Shelter [South Street Seaport Magazine]




Posted by Brownstoner at 9:57 AM | Comments (9)
Categories: Architecture

Comments

Is that rail tracks to the West of the building? The Map doesn't show it, but if you go into the Satellite view you can defintely make them out. Doesn't look like it could be the subway.

Posted by: cobblestoner at October 12, 2006 10:20 AM

that's the Q line, it's above ground after the Prospect Park stop, heading south. well, "above" ground. there's no roof over it, but it's lower than street level, so the streets that cross it form little bridges over it.

Posted by: sylvia at October 12, 2006 10:30 AM

Years ago, my mother and I looked at a rental in this building - it is amazing and the apartment was huge. Back then the interior was a tad run-down, i hope that they have made some improvements because it is a grand building.

Posted by: Anonymous at October 12, 2006 11:00 AM

This is the original Chateau Frontenac, in Quebec City:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%C3%A2teau_Frontenac

Posted by: JF at October 12, 2006 11:07 AM

i can't believe no one's cracked a joke about "tennis court" yet.

Posted by: diana at October 12, 2006 12:36 PM

I remember when all those apartment buildings was considered luxury. Each one of them had their own doorman and luxury style with it. The tennis courts where actually used, I think they are still there from looking at google satelite. Also, Aberlmarle was actually connected with a walking bridge over the train track. But I also remember when you couldn't walk down Tennis Court after a certain time. That particular building seemed to be the central point, ppl shooting at cops and whatnot. It may of gotten better but this was when Kenmore was still up and there was a Walbums & Carvel on Church Ave.

Posted by: only1kairi at October 12, 2006 1:17 PM

This area of Flatbush, at the turn of the last century, was known as Tennis Court because it was adjacent to the Knickerbocker Tennis Club. The landmarked Clubhouse was destroyed by arsonists about 25 years ago, sadly. The Frontenac and other luxury apartment buildings were built on sites that were previously occupied by grand freestanding wood frame homes, such as those in Prospect Park South, Ditmas Park, etc... Not one of these houses survives today.

Posted by: Erin Joslyn at October 12, 2006 1:41 PM

Ocean Avenue and environs are lined with once-gorgeous vintage apartment houses, some of which housed early silent film stars in the brief interlude before Hollywood's ascendancy when the film industry flourished here--I believe the apt house on the corner of Ocean Av and Beverly was home to Doug Fairbanks Sr and Fatty Arbuckle, if memory serves from a long-ago walking tour. Unfortunately, the area is still more than a bit dodgy, as evidenced by the sad prison-vibe steel doorways that have replaced many of the once-elegant entrances. This blogger is an intrepid explorer--I'd sure love a walking tour that would gain entry to those interior courtyards, and some intact interiors or PHs, without quite the same frisson of adventurousness.

Posted by: Brenda from Brooklyn at October 12, 2006 1:44 PM

Aren't there bars on the enterence to the Dokota's courtyard? that doesn't seem unexpected...

Posted by: OE at October 12, 2006 8:33 PM

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