« LPC Turns Its Back on Underground Railroad Houses Largesse and Largeness for Quadriad in The Burg »

June 11, 2007

2007 Victorian Flatbush Tour: The Day After

From the looks of the massive photoset that local blogger Flatbush Gardener uploaded to Flickr last night, this year's house tour of Victorian Flatbush was a winner, a sentiment echoed in his blog post on the day. "This was the third year in a row I've gone on the house tour [and] this year was actually one of the best overall," he writes. "There was variety in the houses shown, largely because nearly every neighborhood of Victorian Flatbush was represented on the tour." Were other readers also impressed? What were the highlights of the tour?
2007 Victorian Flatbush House Tour [Flatbush Gardener]
2007 Victorian Flatbush House Tour [Flickr]

Trackback Pings

TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.brownstoner.com/mte/mt-tb.cgi/1354

Comments

Flatbush Gardener, whoever he is, deserves a round of applause for these excellent photos.

As do the tour organizers and participants.

Superb!!!

Posted by: Anonymous at June 11, 2007 9:45 AM

This may have been the best house tour I've ever participated in, especially if the primary evaluative criterion is just the sheer jaw-dropping affect of some of the homes--many of which were truly spectacular. Unfortunately, any effort by me to describe them would be superfluous in light Xris's photo set, so I'll save my breath.

The tour was lucky that it escaped rain. In the early morning it looked a little gray outside and I was concerned.

The tour was fun! People were nice, lots of sidewalk sales were taking place. I scored a few neat little items as I walked from place to place.

Can we do this again next weekend??? I sure saw a lot of homes not on the tour that I'd love to see sometime.

Posted by: Anonymous at June 11, 2007 10:05 AM

Interior photos were allowed this year which was great. All houses (with the exception of one with a basement apartment) were only showing the first floor. Would have loved to see more of the bedroom areas.

Posted by: Anonymous at June 11, 2007 10:10 AM

i am ready to trade in my Brownstone!!!

Posted by: Tom at June 11, 2007 10:22 AM

Didn't go on the tour this year, but I always have fun watching folks moseying around, clutching their guide-pamphlets and peering up at "detail." Makes me feel like I live on the celebrity homes tour-bus route in the Hollywood Hills! To temper all the romance, the owners should all have to post their Keyspan bills on the front porch...

Posted by: Brenda from Flatbush at June 11, 2007 10:30 AM

Anon 9:45 and 10:05: Thanx!

There was at least one home in which interior photography was NOT allowed. I was informed firmly and pleasantly by the volunteer when I entered with my camera. I thanked her, put the lens cap on and stowed my camera. This may also have been the case for the South Midwood and Ditmas Park West homes, but my camera battery died before I got to those, so I didn't ask, and I didn't take note of whether or not others were photographing.

There were also at least three homes in which the second floor was also shown. These are interesting, but few have any architectural details of note, especially compared to the rich details of the ground floors. Most of these homes were originally built as single-family homes, with the ground/first floor as the public area for receiving guests, entertaining, and so on. The first floor has the richest architecture and details: the tallest ceilings, inglenooks, round and oval rooms, fireplaces (often more than one), built-in cabinetry and storage, stained glass, wood inlay floors, and lots and lots of wood, (usually oak, rarely mahogany) trim. The upstairs living quarters tend not to have so much detail, and what there is usually adorns the center stairs.

Posted by: Xris (Flatbush Gardener) at June 11, 2007 10:33 AM

Oh come on Brenda, our Keyspan bills aren't that bad! It's just a few months a year ;)

Posted by: tag482 at June 11, 2007 10:35 AM

I don't know, Brenda, my keyspan bills aren't that bad... But my house is a lot smaller than yours!

Posted by: Marlborough Neighbor at June 11, 2007 10:38 AM

I found the tour satisfying, but didn't compare to the jaw-dropping selection of homes featured two years ago... three story cantilevered stair case with a stained glass oculus, private double lot gardens... etc.. Sigh.

Posted by: Anonymous at June 11, 2007 10:43 AM

I concur with all the praise for the homes above, but I was equally impressed with the neighborhood. It's kinda weird how one second your cruising down Ocean Avenue, make a turn, and all of a sudden you're going down streets lined with enormous trees and old Victorian homes. If you're not used to it, it's a spectacular transition...very cool. And the neighborhood seems to have a great vibe about it. Should be interesting to see where this nabe is in a couple of years, after some of the big plans for the continued development of Cortelyou Road have been implemented.

Posted by: Billyburger (not hipster) at June 11, 2007 10:57 AM

Does anyone know the different neighborhoods in Flatbush. It seems like a large area, and I'm not clear on if Victorian Flatbush is truly and area or just an knickname. I know Prospect Lefferts Gardens is an area, but Midwood falls outside of Flatbush, as does Prospect Park South.

Also anyone know the best side of the park to be on? I know PLG is near the botanical gardens but let's face it there is a wendy's across from there so something tells me it's not the most desirable corner of the park.

Posted by: anonymous at June 11, 2007 11:13 AM

Maybe this will help: http://www.marykayg.com/html/large_map.html

Posted by: Anonymous at June 11, 2007 11:16 AM

First year I did this tour, and while it was very enjoyable and the number of great houses in the area is amazing, I didn't feel like there were that many blockbuster/over-the-top homes being shown. The first house with the oval dining room and original Tiffany fixtures was pretty amazing, but even that one had aluminum siding. I didn't make it to the last 3-4 houses, so maybe I missed something great.

Posted by: JerseyCityVictorianOwner at June 11, 2007 11:20 AM

After the tour, I'm betting Mark Kay's latest listing will sell for the ask in a heartbeat! Gorgeous! And price seems more than reasonable, given the current market.

http://www.marykayg.com/html/0486.html

Posted by: Anonymous at June 11, 2007 11:22 AM

The house on Albemarle was resided just a few years ago...

Posted by: Anonymous at June 11, 2007 11:25 AM

I'm going to disagree that this year was the best, I thought there were more stunning houses on last year's tour.

Although most of the houses had a really nice amount of wood trim details, stained glass and other period goodies, there were fewer that had me wanting to pack my bags and be adopted by the home owner. The standout house on the 2007 tour was the one with the oval dining room.

But overall the quality of the interior of houses was really nice, but not that many were knock outs on the exterior. Of course it's wonderful to spend hours strolling through the area and looking at all the houses.

Posted by: Arsenicandoldlace at June 11, 2007 2:13 PM

Hard to find houses that have beautifully preserved interiors and exteriors... Lots of houses that are slathered in asbestos and asphalt shingles are heaving with unpainted woodwork. Others (like mine), have jaw-dropping exteriors and have been pillages of most interior detail, or it's covered in fifteen coats of paint.

Posted by: Anonymous at June 11, 2007 2:31 PM

I have nothing to add but another compliment. This was my first year attending the house tour and I thought it was wonderful. Kudos!

Posted by: CarolineCohen at June 11, 2007 4:06 PM

Anon. 1:13 AM

Flatbush is a very large area, after all,it was the second largest town in Kings County prior to being annexed by Brooklyn in 1894.

PLG is part of Flatbush (the northern tip), but, although there are many "Victorian"brownstones, it was never considered part of "Victorian Flatbush."
I'm not sure of the reason, but I think it's either because there was already an active neighborhood association at the time the Flatbush Development Corp. was set up, or because people here feel stronger ties to the other brownstone neighborhoods than to the more southern parts of Flatbush.

Prospect Park South IS considered part of Victorian Flatbush. Midwood was originally just an alternate name for Flatbush, going back to Dutch Colonial times. AFAIK the name started to be applied to the part of Flatbush south of Ave. H sometime after WW II. In any case,Midwood is NOT part of Victorian Flatbush. To compllicate things even more "Midwood Street"is in PLG, far from what is now calledd Midwood, but, of course, the distinction didn't exist in the early 1890s.

As to the "best" side of Prospect Park to be on, there's no question that, if your criteria is real estate price, it's the west side. Beyond that I will not venture. My own neighborhood, PLG, is centered on Lefferts Manor (although I'm betraying my LM orientation by saying that)which is a couple of blocks from the park, although there's a beautiful row of limestones facing the park on Ocean Ave.

Posted by: Bob Marvin at June 11, 2007 4:10 PM

Actually, Manhattan Terrace, one of the original Victorian Flatbush neighborhoods, has been absorbed into what we consider to be Midwood. The Victorians there, just south of Avenue H between Ocean Avenue and the subway cut, survive in mostly altered states.

Some of the pictures are down, presently, but will give you an idea:

http://home.att.net/~ebasics/manhattanterrace.html

Posted by: Erin Joslyn at June 11, 2007 4:38 PM

Bob Marvin-
To add to what you wrote and to complicate matters even more- the neighborhood known as "Midwood Park" (not really part of Midwood in spite of the name) is indeed part of Victorian Flatbush.

Posted by: Anonymous at June 11, 2007 4:38 PM

4:38,

It's SOOOO complicated because "Vlachtebos" and "Midwout" were intended to be the same thing:-)

Posted by: Bob Marvin at June 11, 2007 5:08 PM

And SOUTH Midwood is NORTH of Midwood!

Noone's ever been able to explain that one to me.

Posted by: Xris (Flatbush Gardener) at June 11, 2007 5:36 PM

I did not get to see all of the homes on the tour but what I saw was impressive. The guidebook is a big help and assisted in sorting out the perimeters of each sub-neighborhood. Each of the Victorian Flatbush neighborhoods had at least one home on the tour with the exception of Caton Park, West Midwood and Ablemarle-Kenmore Terrace. Arsenicandoldlace noted that there were not many knock out exteriors. Homeowners probably renovated interiors before venturing outside. I did notice several homeowners having their clapboards and shingles painted though. Kudos to them for not opting for vinyl siding. Tour well organized and enjoyable.

Posted by: Anonymous at June 11, 2007 6:48 PM

Xris,

Interior photos were not allowed this year. As a Victorian Flatbush resident, I voluteered to work on the tour. All volunteers received written instructions from FDC which included instructions that "No food, beverage or photo taking within the homes of our hosts unless specifically allowed by the host." Some homeowners granted permission and others did not. Some visitors asked volunteers for permission to take photos but if the homeowners were not present to give consent at that moment, the volunteers politely informed the guests that photos would not be allowed. I think that this may be standard on all of the tours. You did manage some very nice photos though.

Posted by: Anonymous at June 11, 2007 7:08 PM

Before people get too snooty about vinyl siding, let me note that we put it on our VF house after an extensive interior renovation and mechanical upgrade did not leave us the funds to remove the nasty asphalt-and-whatever shingle on the exterior and re-side with authentic and high-maintenance materials. The house looks far, far better than it did when we bought it. So, for some houses, vinyl is an improvement rather than an abomination.

Posted by: Vinyl siding at June 11, 2007 8:22 PM

Anon 6:48 here. Certainly no snootyness intended on my part. I understand all too well about "funzalo" syndrome. As I stated, most people have probably concentrated on the interiors. I am sure that to have one of these enormous homes stripped of old siding, housewrapped and reshingled is more than I would care to spend. Just as I am sure that it costs a pretty penny to restore a Brownstone or Limestome facade. Beautiful neighborhood with or without vinyl though.

Posted by: Anonymous at June 11, 2007 8:32 PM

Vinyl siding is not in keeping with the architectural heritage of the Victorian Flatbush. Houses in landmarked neighborhoods, such Prospect Park South and Ditmas Park, are not allowed to put up siding (unless siding was put in place prior to landmarking). There are currently movements to landmark the remaining neighborhoods of Victorian Flatbush. New vinyl siding will not be permitted if these neighborhoods are given landmark status.

Posted by: Anonymous at June 11, 2007 9:21 PM

Anon 6:48PM: There was no house from Ditmas Park on the tour this year, either. That's unusual.

Anon 7:08PM: The past two years, the "No interior photos" rule was clearly labelled, so I didn't even ask. This year, I couldn't find anything in the tour guide nor at the houses. As I explained in my blog, I asked for permission at each house before I took any photos inside. At only one house was I told, without asking, that no photos were allowed; in that case, I thanked the volunteer and capped my lens.

Any rules must be clearly indicated to visitors, not just volunteers, both in the tour guide, and at each house. It also helps for volunteers to express the policy verbally, reminding visitors with cameras that no photos are permitted, in my example. In the press of visitors, it's a challenge for volunteers to repeat all the rules to everyone entering the door.

Overall, the signage and other materials this year was excellent; this one small change would help visitors follow the rules.

Posted by: Xris (Flatbush Gardener) at June 12, 2007 1:40 PM

Xris,
Perhaps you should volunteer for next years tour and voice your suggestions to FDC.

Posted by: Anonymous at June 12, 2007 3:47 PM

Anon 6/12 3:47p: I don't volunteer because I want to be able to go on the tour! Volunteers have to be available for at least a half-shift, which is not enough time to visit everything, even this year.

I've been trying to think of a way I could get my gardens on next year's tour. Maybe as a refreshment stop.

Posted by: Xris (Flatbush Gardener) at June 18, 2007 3:49 PM

« LPC Turns Its Back on Underground Railroad Houses Largesse and Largeness for Quadriad in The Burg »

June 11, 2007

2007 Victorian Flatbush Tour: The Day After

Trackback Pings

Comments

Post a comment

Latest Restaurant Additions