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14

Second Act for 1136 Dean Street

Categories: Crown Heights, Development

1136-Dean-Street-0209.jpg
This put a smile on our face when we biked by on Saturday: The charming brownstone at 1136 Dean Street in Crown Heights, which had sat gutted and exposed to the elements for years, is getting a new lease on life courtesy of the new(ish) owners who bought the place for $690,000 in late 2006. According to the building permit, the 4,000-square-foot house will remain a two-family. Great news! GMAP P*Shark



By Brownstoner at February 25, 2009 10:45 AM | Comments (14)

14 Comments

By Amzi Hill on February 25, 2009 11:22 AM

I really hope that the new owners do something interesting to this house.. There are some many lovely homes like this all over Brooklyn that need some TLC. I wish banks would make it easier for people to obtain them.

By NOP on February 25, 2009 12:02 PM

Brownstoner:

Architecturally, this is one of the best corners of Crown Heights, where I grew up during the 1950s.

Grant Square is bordered by the Montrose-Morris designed Imperial Apartments and by the former Union League Club, several fine apartment houses, and the Armory (although currently burdened as a homeless facility still one of New York's great buildings).

There used to be a movie theater on the square, where Dad would bring his boys for a double feature. I think it's been converted to a church. And there's the triangle of the "square" itself, which flows nicely into Bedford and Rogers Avenues.

In terms of basic quality, Grant Square's blocks can compete with most in Brooklyn Heights, Park Slope, Clinton Hill and Fort Greene.

Today's house was a missing tooth in the ensemble. Great to see it brought back!

Nostalgic on Park Avenue

By Montrose Morris on February 25, 2009 12:43 PM

What Amzi and NOP said.

In addition, Grant's Square was seen as equal to Grand Army Plaza, in terms of social significance. The Union League Club, a Republican Party hall, hosted the hoi polloi of the political and social scene, and the building itself was a state of the art facility, with its own power plant and generator, at the dawn of the electric age, as well as a bowling alley, ballroom, auditorium, etc. Terra cotta reliefs of Lincoln and Grant grace the face of the building, and the Club erected the statue of Grant in the Square.

The 23rd Regiment Armory on Bedford and Atlantic also had great social significance. This magnificent building housed a working, active regiment with office space and finely appointed social spaces for the officers and guests. The Armory was also a community space for sporting events such as track meets and other competitions. Large balls and parties were held there, and were an important part of upscale Brooklyn's social scene.

The Imperial apartments are a massive and impressive part of the Square, and were once the most posh apartments in Brooklyn, and were favorably compared to the Dakota in Manhattan. The Swedish Hospital, then Chatelaine Hotel, now senior apartments contribute to the look of the square, as does the theatre NOP speaks of, which is now a very active church. The other large apartment buildings, private houses, former Medical Association Club, and St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church all complete this very large square, one of the architectural highlights of Crown Heights, and thankfully, most of it is landmarked.

By NOP on February 25, 2009 1:12 PM

Montrose:

Thanks for the more complete description of Grant Square. And did you see the price asked for a floor at the Montauk Club, posted today on Brownstoner? The Union League is every bit as good!

I'm conviced that Grant Square would be perfect for another farmers market. Combined with landscape, lighting, and street improvements, its impact would radiate up the avenues and bring fresh retail and new restaurants to Crown Heights, much as the market did at Union Square.

As nice as the Grand Army Plaza market may be, it's relatively isolated from commercial streets. A market at Grant Square could set off exciting synergies!

Has the community ever discussed this? It seems a natural.

NOP

By Big Jugs on February 25, 2009 1:22 PM

Wow, MM's post shows just how far Crown Heights has fallen.

By Montrose Morris on February 25, 2009 1:25 PM

That's a great idea, NOP. The only obstacle is the current battle over the City's proposed intake center for all of the homeless, which they want to house in the Armory. It's not a done deal yet, as there is a lot of community opposition.

I'm going to float that idea around, though. That is a brilliant idea. There are storefronts on Bedford and Rogers that could definitely benefit, and work into a plan. Hmmmm.

Loved the Montauk Club apartment. A tad over my budget, however. If I had that kind of money, I could develop Grant Square. That leaves Mega Millions and Lotto.....

By Montrose Morris on February 25, 2009 1:28 PM

Yeah, Jugs, but we're coming back. We are definitely coming back.

By NOP on February 25, 2009 1:43 PM

Actually, Montrose, a farmers market would be a good counterbalance to the intake center. They aren't mutually exclusive. There may even be opportunities for tie-ins, e.g., food for the center, jobs for the guys setting up and taking down the market, maintenance work, etc. There's a non-profit group that arranges such things in the Grand Central area (although I don't remember its name).

Nice to hear the old movie house is active as a church -- although neighborhoods need movie houses, too. The old Kameo on Eastern Parkway was one of my brother's and my favorites. (It's become a church, too -- and with a parking pad out front! Frederick Law Olmsted must be spinning in his grave. How is such a thing permitted on an officially designated landmark thoroughfare like the parkway?)

Do you know if the old Savoy Theater is in operation? I recall it being on Classon Avenue, somewhere between Bergen Avenue and the parkway. My brother and I would choose between taking the bus to it or buying popcorn for the movie. And guess what we always did! Our parents were never pleased about that because there was an industrial area between the theater and Grant Square. Still, we were Brooklyn kids and not easily intimidated and our parents -- more typical of their generation than the current -- gave their boys free reign. (And I was no more than nine or 10 and my brother six!)

NOP

By Amzi Hill on February 25, 2009 1:54 PM

Montrose did you ever send you the old photo I have of the The Union League Club. That was one beautiful building maybe I will post it in the forum.

By Montrose Morris on February 25, 2009 3:11 PM

NOP, I don't know about the Classon theatre. I don't get over to that part of CH that much, but will look next time I'm over there. The building may still be there, but I don't think a theatre is, at least not a movie theatre. Is the Kameo the one on the corner of EP and Nostrand? With the terra cotta trim?

Amzi, I don't think you did. Please do post it, or send it to me. Thanks.

By East New York on February 25, 2009 3:18 PM


"I'm conviced that Grant Square would be perfect for another farmers market."

I also think this is a very good idea.

By Amzi Hill on February 25, 2009 3:42 PM

I put it in today's forum. You might have it already.. Such a great building....

By NOP on February 25, 2009 3:57 PM

Montrose:

Yes, the Kameo was at Nostrand and Eastern Parkway. It's now a "cathedral."

Before my time, it was famous for the roof that slid back to cool things off during summer nights. That stopped with the advent of "talkies" and neighbors complaining.

Gee, I miss the matinees there!

Sometimes I'd play hookie from school and sneak in the place. And on Saturdays it was 100-percent kids and possible to stay all day.

NOP

By mopar on February 25, 2009 11:21 PM

My bf's grandfather was a waiter at the Union Club.

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