Firebox installation

BSW - more like lows 9s. Location is prime outside of PPS. Very nice street. Houses are well preserved/restored, close to Cortelyou and the Park. 7-8 is more accurate for a similar house in West Midwood.

I will eat my hat if Miss Muffett EVER actually purchases a house. I'm beginning to wonder if she is a fictional creation. Her posts are such a yawn now.

Posted by: Erin Joslyn at July 17, 2009 7:42 PM in response to Open House Picks

I vote with 3:02 on this one. Victorian architecture, as a term, refers to a plethora of styles popular during the reign of Queen Victoria. The popularity of these various styles - ranging from Gothic revival, neo-tudor, second Empire, stick, shingle, Eastlake, etc... continued through the first decade of the twentieth century, unil Arts and Crafts/Mission/Bunglalow replaced the revival mentality with a new aesthetic. Homes built between 1900 and 1910 sometime incorporate elements of both, and are best described as transitional. I find a lot of this, especially with respect to interiors, in Ditmas Park/Victorian Flatbush/Flatbush.

Posted by: Erin Joslyn at February 21, 2008 1:13 PM in response to House of the Day: 491 East 17th Street

A quality contractor can finish the tile work, start to finish, in about three days. I had a much larger kitchen floor (also mosaic) done in about that time.

Posted by: Erin Joslyn at December 16, 2007 12:00 PM in response to Clinton Hill Bathroom Reno: The Race Is On

I suspect the windows on the third floor have had some serious alterations. Is this house sided? I think it's likely there may have been a third window on the third floor. If you give me your address, I can root around for an early picture of the house.

Posted by: Erin Joslyn at December 8, 2007 12:14 PM in response to Can I enlarge windows on a landmarked Victorian?

Absolutely. As did St. Paul's, which, interestingly, was one of the first streets in Flatbush to experience tear downs of wood frame homes to make way for apt. buildings.

There are still a handful of really wonderful houses in Manhattan Park. I've posted pix on my website.

I'm actually making a new year's resolution to update my website and maybe even turn it into an architectural history blog. I would love to have reps/contributors representing different Brooklyn nabes.

Bob Marvin? You out there? Crown Heights Proud? Anyone else? Especially anyone with good computer design skills! Mine are pretty lacking

Posted by: Erin Joslyn at December 8, 2007 12:12 PM in response to Today on the Forum

Well observed, Guest at 2:47. It is an old Brooklyn Eagle postcard. Great fun and relatively easy to collect. This is one of my favorites. Hard to believe Ocean Avenue ever looked like this. The wrecking ball started visiting this section of Flatbush as early as the 1920... The scene could be anywhere south of Prospect Park, all the way down to Avenue M - the southern border of Manhattan Terrace.

Posted by: Erin Joslyn at December 7, 2007 4:19 PM in response to Today on the Forum

The zoning for most of BSE is R3, so no high rises going up on most streets, although the Beverley Rd. border is zoned R6 and there is a high rise building going up at the moment.

BSE has some houses with great bones, but it has, generally speaking, declined more significantly than other parts of Victorian Flatbush over the years (check out the language used in the Victorian Flatbush House Tour guide). That used to mean that bargains were still to be had there, relatively speaking, and that was part of the appeal for buyers looking to get a foothold in the neighborhood. There are several houses in BSE that are undergoing highend renovations, reshingling etc... so seems to be some transitioning going on.

Posted by: Erin Joslyn at November 19, 2007 5:27 PM in response to House of the Day: 325 East 17th Street

Ahem....

"I think the author (of the above mentioned mebsite)also posts here from time to time. Hi if you're out there."

9:34 - Not only are you an asshole, but you are also an ignoramus. And it's Erin Joslyn, not Joslyn, btw. Unlike most who post here, including yourself, I'm not afraid to stand behind my words.

Posted by: Erin Joslyn at November 11, 2007 8:50 PM in response to Prospect Park South Community Garden Taking Shape

I'm here, a day late.

The property is actually owned not by 1510 Albemarle(the white house with the impressive columned facade adjacent to the gardens), but by 159 Marlborough, the beige house around the corner, designed by John J. Petit and the first home to be constructed in PPS. The current owner purchased the derelict property c.1979. 1520 Albemarle, the enormous Tudor home which occupied the garden, burned in the 50s. Apparantly the Matz (ex-lax) daughters preferred to live elsewhere and the house was inhabited by vagrants. At one time there was talk about building a dorm there for a local medical school program. (not sure which one). Brooklyn Borough Historian Ron Schweiger has a great photo of the original mansion. They are not many out there.

The Gardens were on the Victorian Flatbush House Tour several years ago. The owner also had a lovely collection of old photographs of PPS and environs. The recent tornado took out several trees on the property, which used to appear much more secluded. There is a pre-tornado photo on my website.

As for the Japanese style home located at 131 Buckingham - it was designed in 1902 by Petit and Green. The house is constructed of wood and stucco and the fine, Japanese detailing was exectued by three highly skilled Japanese artisans, one of whom also designed the original garden. It was actually built on spec and wasn't an easy sell. Advertisements were placed in Country Life and the list price was $26,500 - high at the time. Eventually it was purchased by a German doctor by the name of Kolle. He was the inventor of the modern x-ray.

Posted by: Erin Joslyn at November 9, 2007 10:12 AM in response to Prospect Park South Community Garden Taking Shape

Oh, and I have seen some very lovely work with very dark brown paint on trim.

Posted by: Erin Joslyn at November 7, 2007 7:57 PM in response to bathroom division: serious black

I can vouch for the pine woodwork. We have tiger oak on the main floor, less intricate pine moldings on the second and third floors.

As for oak and other "high end" wood: I'd love to strip, but many of us have little ones and lead paint on our moldings. Short of a complete abatement, painting is often the only way to go.

Posted by: Erin Joslyn at November 7, 2007 7:57 PM in response to bathroom division: serious black

Well said, Brenda. Once again, you have my undivided admiration.

Posted by: Erin Joslyn at October 24, 2007 10:54 AM in response to Ocean's 13: Landmarking Against a Ticking Time Bomb

I think you're talking about the single story home with the Arts and Crafts vibe on the corner of Ocean Pkwy and one of those Avenues mentioned: S, T or U. I've always adored that house. It's got a large front lawn. Can't miss it. Definitely worth a drive (or bike ride) down Ocean Avenue.

There are still some interesting homes dating from the 20s or 30s in these now largely Orthodox neighborhoods. Although most have been "McMansioned," there are a handful that appear to have been restored. Tend to be homes that were always sprawling, on larger lots. Still some amazing slate roofs out there.

Posted by: Erin Joslyn at October 19, 2007 10:10 AM in response to Gravesend Sales Price Falls Just Short of Brooklyn Record

This house is in Fiske Terrace, which, as above posters have noted, is soon to be landmarked.

Although Fiske Terrace is not far from Brooklyn College, I have never heard it called "Brooklyn College Neighborhood," although I have heard South Midwood, which is on the opposite side of Ocean Avenue and which abuts Brooklyn College, referred to as such.

Fiske Terrace is extremely tranquil, and has suffered from relatively few inappropriate exterior renovations over the years.

My money says it will go for ask. And if memory serves me correctly, it won't be a record for the area south of Ditmas Park. I seem to recall several Midwood Park houses getting high prices over the last year.

Posted by: Erin Joslyn at October 17, 2007 9:07 AM in response to House of the Day: 795 East 19th Street

Care to back that up, 4:22?

Posted by: Erin Joslyn at October 12, 2007 5:10 PM in response to Open House Picks

Make that country.

Posted by: Erin Joslyn at October 7, 2007 11:35 PM in response to Fiske Terrace/Midwood Park Designation Two Weeks Away

As a group, the remaining freestanding, contiguous, frame Victorian homes comprise one of the largest, if not the largest surving example, of such a neighborhood in the county.

From that perspective, the architectural merit of each, individual home is subordinate to their value as a group.

Yes,8:41, 8:31 did explain himself. I chose to disagree. See my above post for details as to why.

Posted by: Erin Joslyn at October 7, 2007 11:33 PM in response to Fiske Terrace/Midwood Park Designation Two Weeks Away

I'm late on this thread, but, yes, walk along Avenue H again. See the large, meandering Tudor on the corner lot? The hulking Victorian hiding behind the bushes just across the street? There are a handful of homes in Fiske Terrace that are particularly distinguished and clearly an architectural cut above the sort of homes you take issue with.

Posted by: Erin Joslyn at October 7, 2007 11:28 PM in response to Fiske Terrace/Midwood Park Designation Two Weeks Away

Take a walk along Avenue H in Fiske Terrace. Then get back to me.

Posted by: Erin Joslyn at October 1, 2007 7:10 PM in response to Fiske Terrace/Midwood Park Designation Two Weeks Away

2:13

Is that what you really think? Or is that just what you think is cleve to post?

I could argue with you as to why these homes merit designation, but somehow I think my time is worth more.

Posted by: Erin Joslyn at October 1, 2007 4:24 PM in response to Fiske Terrace/Midwood Park Designation Two Weeks Away

Yes, but is Soho the epicenter of the universe? Of New York, or Manhattan, even? Perhaps for you it is, but maybe not for 9:24. Certainly not for me. Maybe 9:24 wants to be in Gramercy Park or the West Village. Maybe they want to be in Fort Green or Boerum Hill. Or maybe right where they are, wherever that is.

Posted by: Erin Joslyn at September 25, 2007 4:18 PM in response to House of the Day: 1407 Dorchester Road

Brenda - you tend to be the most eloquent? Any chance of writing a letter to the Times?

Erin

Posted by: Erin Joslyn at September 25, 2007 12:19 PM in response to Christopher Gray Not Optimistic About 1000 Ocean Avenue

Still not sure exactly what sort of info/insight you're coming here for... This site isn't really aimed at tenant or landlord issues, for the most part. Are you originally from Brooklyn?

As for making it in Manhattan. Congratulations. But I'm sure you know, a lot of people in Brooklyn pay as much or more for their homes as they would for a co-op in Soho. Or have cashed out of Manhattan to buy a house here. Sometimes people really do choose Brooklyn.

Posted by: Erin Joslyn at September 25, 2007 9:48 AM in response to House of the Day: 1407 Dorchester Road

Also, if this guy's such a great architectural historian, he should know that the only actual bungalows out here are the fabulous arts and crafts examples on East 16th Street (yes, there are also a few one- offs scattered on nearby blocks).

Posted by: Erin Joslyn at September 25, 2007 9:19 AM in response to Christopher Gray Not Optimistic About 1000 Ocean Avenue

As for the house - I wouldn't be surprised if it got ask or close to it, although it does lack some of the more appealing amenities of Victorian Flatbush (a driveway, a somewhat more tranquil location). It's also smaller than most houses out here - but I don't think that's a disadvantage for the seller. Smaller homes tend to sell more quickly and for more per square foot. There's just a larger pool of potential buyers in that price rang. Given the limited turnover in housing stock... who knows. I like the idea of placing bets, though.

Posted by: Erin Joslyn at September 25, 2007 8:19 AM in response to House of the Day: 1407 Dorchester Road

Coop in Soho -

Just curious - what's your interest in this blog? I wonder what's in it for those without some stake here. What's the attraction?

Posted by: Erin Joslyn at September 25, 2007 8:15 AM in response to House of the Day: 1407 Dorchester Road

Brenda, I couldn't agree with you more. My blood was boiling after I read the article in yesterday's times. After the initial thrill of seeing the two photographs, my heart sank as I read the lazy, unimaginative and sometimes inaccurate reporting. BUNGLALOWS? TRASH EVERYWHERE? Please.

Posted by: Erin Joslyn at September 24, 2007 9:11 PM in response to Christopher Gray Not Optimistic About 1000 Ocean Avenue

B Square - point taken about demographics of BSW, BSE, WM, etc... I was of course, referring to PPS, and certain isolated properties in DP and FT, many of which are lovingly owned and maintained by those with far fewer means that their original inhabitants.

That the direct decedents of Ackerson, etc... should have a say in the evolution of the neighborhood, was, of course, meant as gross hyperbole. The point is, clearly, no particularl individual has the right to dictate how a given neighborhood should evolve. Not even our friend, Phantom.

Posted by: Erin Joslyn at September 19, 2007 12:00 PM in response to What's on Tap for Cortelyou Road?

Phantom -

Who do you think lived in this neighborhood before you? You think these homes were built for the middle classes? Do some research. They were built for the filthy rich. Gilette, Baldwin, Moran, Guggenheim, etc... The hard working, middle class home owners that currently live here and have lived here over the intervening decades have made significant financial sacrifices to preserve the architectual beauty of your neighborhood. And if these folks happen to want a few amentities that cater to their own needs/desires, well, why don't you suck it up for a change?

Unless you're a direct desendent of Alvord, Pounds or Ackerson, you don't have any more claim to this neighborhood or how it evolves than anyone else who lives here.

Oh, and it's Erin JOSLYN, BTW. And yes, my husband and I DO keep a can of silver paint in my garage and frequently repaint tagged lamp posts. We DO pick up the garbage that blows up our block from Cotelyou Road. We don't whinge about living in a neighborhood we love, despite its flaws. But, yeah, I enjoy a good restaurant, a decent bottle of wine, shopping locally for a cute pair of shoes for my kid. If that's not your scene, fine. I'm not villifying you for it.

Posted by: Erin Joslyn at September 19, 2007 10:11 AM in response to What's on Tap for Cortelyou Road?

Phantom - why don't you at least register as Phantom?

Posted by: Erin Joslyn at September 18, 2007 5:23 PM in response to What's on Tap for Cortelyou Road?

Also, if I remember correctly, the new condo building just across from this strip was supposed to have retail on the ground floor.

Posted by: Erin Joslyn at September 18, 2007 12:34 PM in response to What's on Tap for Cortelyou Road?

Make that a "thorough" cleaning.

Posted by: Erin Joslyn at September 18, 2007 12:33 PM in response to What's on Tap for Cortelyou Road?

I spoke to someone at the FFC yesterday, and they told me that they will not be moving into the old Associated space for several months, as they plan to make some changes to the interior. Not sure what that means, exactly, but I do know the whole space needs a through cleaning.

Posted by: Erin Joslyn at September 18, 2007 12:29 PM in response to What's on Tap for Cortelyou Road?

Allstate dropped us last year.

Posted by: Erin Joslyn at September 12, 2007 11:30 AM in response to Insurers See Storm Clouds Over Brooklyn

The house was sided a few years ago. No shingle.

Posted by: Erin Joslyn at September 12, 2007 10:08 AM in response to House of the Day: 1306 Albemarle Road

http://www.doughnutplant.com/

Posted by: Erin Joslyn at September 11, 2007 8:14 PM in response to House of the Day: 1306 Albemarle Road

Guest at 6:47 has a good point. Spontaneous proximity to Manhattan was one of the reasons my husband and I decided to stay in Brooklyn (despite having four children). Living in the suburbs seems somehow limiting. "Visiting" the city, especially with kids, always feels like some elaborate ordeal. We wanted our family to be part of the city, and to regularly enjoy and learn from all it has to offer.

I always lived below 23rd street before making the leap to Brooklyn, and the Q gets me to my old haunts in less than half an hours. And you can't beat the 15 minute, traffic free drive to the Donut Plant on Sunday mornings.

Posted by: Erin Joslyn at September 11, 2007 7:06 PM in response to House of the Day: 1306 Albemarle Road

There are people in finance and banking in both Park Slope and Flatbush. I know this from experience. There's currently a wider net for people buying in all parts of Brooklyn, including Flatbush, than there was just a few years ago. The reasons for this are varied. It's not a case of all media types stick to Brooklyn and Rhinebeck or Woodstock, money people head for Greenwich or stay in Manhattan (although many do I suppose). I know investment bankers who have bought in the Slope, and to a lesser extent, in Victorian Flatbush. Why? Who knows for sure. It's a personal choice.

Posted by: Erin Joslyn at September 11, 2007 6:38 PM in response to House of the Day: 1306 Albemarle Road

I remember a few years ago the Village Voice described the neighborhood as "where aging hipsters go to retire." Presumably, they meant breed.

Posted by: Erin Joslyn at September 11, 2007 4:54 PM in response to House of the Day: 1306 Albemarle Road

I know several Manhattanites who have moved directly to Flatbush over the past few years, bypassing the Heights, Cobble Hill, and the Slope, entirely. This would have been unusual a few years ago, but hardly so now.

I find it odd when people post saying they don't care for Victorian interiors in a Victorian era home. OK? So what? Why are you posting? I'm not trying to be snide. I really just don't get the point.

Posted by: Erin Joslyn at September 11, 2007 4:28 PM in response to House of the Day: 1306 Albemarle Road

Jackson Heights is a nice place to live. If I were apartment hunting, I would seriously consider it.

Posted by: Erin Joslyn at September 7, 2007 12:39 PM in response to Up and Coming Neighborhoods in BK?

Sunset Park is a registered Historic District? I didn't know that.

Posted by: Erin Joslyn at September 7, 2007 10:36 AM in response to Facade Easements: Worth the Risk of Audit?

Thanks, Bob. That's what I thought - it would have to be a National Register property.

Posted by: Erin Joslyn at September 7, 2007 10:09 AM in response to Facade Easements: Worth the Risk of Audit?

I'm confused - why would the IRS think that prospective Landmarked properties deserve the write off, but not currently landmarked ones?

Posted by: Erin Joslyn at September 7, 2007 10:02 AM in response to Facade Easements: Worth the Risk of Audit?

Agreed, Bob.

Guest at 7:31:

I agree with your observation about the foursquare form, which was the norm at that time; however, it is true that some Flatbush developments were custom designed and show more architectural innovation and diversity than others which were taken from pattern books.

The Ackerson homes on Marlborough and the southern end of Rugby, which were custom, are architecturally diverse. His houses on Argyle, however, repeat forms. There is a particular narrow, turreted model that repeats with almost no architectural variation (details are another story - pattern books permitted for that sort of customization) four or five times on Argyle.

Posted by: Erin Joslyn at September 2, 2007 9:22 AM in response to House of the Day: 500 Marlborough Road

Does PLG have a home grown power house? Like Mary Kay over here in Victorian Flatbush. Just curious.

Posted by: Erin Joslyn at August 31, 2007 12:30 PM in response to Hey Corcoran, Won’t You Be Our Neighbor?

Actually, only several neighborhoods have houses that were one offs. Prospect Park, most of Ditmas Park (proper), Beverley Square East, and a portion of Beverley Square West. All of Midwood Park, for example, was constructed from pattern books. No slight on Midwood Park, which is a beautiful enclave. T.B. Ackerson, the developer of Beverley Square West, switched from custom to pattern book half way through building, as the custom houses were losing money. If you walk down Argyle between Beverley and Cortelyou, you will see many variants of the same handful of designs. This is also true of the homes constructed by Walter Lusher, who built the homes on Stratford and Westminster between Beverley and Cortelyou. Walter Lush also built many of the houses on Marlborough between Ditmas and Dorchester - the street in question on this thread. If you walk down the block, you will see that the same designs are repeated again and again, with some small modifications. This leads me to suspect pattern book. Lush's homes are noted for their third stories, which have projecting, arched rooflines above a recessed, curvlinear arch window. Their are several of these on this block.

Posted by: Erin Joslyn at August 30, 2007 8:34 PM in response to House of the Day: 500 Marlborough Road

This house is definitely not an Eastlake Victorian, which sounds to me like what you are describing. You're right- houses built in this era (post 1900) tend to be transitional, although they are still frequently referred to as "Victorians," by lay people and experts alike.

The block looks like it might be pattern book, but I'd have to research that to be sure. It's a pretty basic, cookie-cutter design. However, these houses do have, or at least had, a fair amount of interior detail, in terms of carved woodwork and glass. The glass in this house is generous and certainly more Victorian than craftsman.

However, if you are looking for real Victorian follies - try Prospect Park South. Plenty to gawk at there. You can also try Bedford Ave. in South Midwood (turrets and campaniles galore), Ditmas Avenue (in Ditmas Park), and Ocean Parkway (Ditmas Park).

Posted by: Erin Joslyn at August 30, 2007 5:43 PM in response to House of the Day: 500 Marlborough Road

I think the Brooklyn Borough historian may have qualified his claim with the phrase "contiguous." That would certainly make sense.

Posted by: Erin Joslyn at August 30, 2007 12:25 PM in response to House of the Day: 500 Marlborough Road

Kuroko!

I LOVE Port Townsend. I was just thinking about it the other day, in fact... But, alas, no - I am pretty sure it doesn't have a larger number of surviving freestanding single family/two family wood frame Victorian homes than Victorian Flatbush.

As for Victorian Flatbush... one hundred years ago it had more than twice the number of such homes... Entire neighborhoods were swallowed up by apartment buildings after the war. Vanderveer Park, the first such development, was roughly equal in size to what suvived in all of Flatbush today.

Posted by: Erin Joslyn at August 30, 2007 12:21 PM in response to House of the Day: 500 Marlborough Road