Building of the Day: 1450 Pacific Street
The BOTD is a no-frills look at interesting structures of all types and from all neighborhoods. There will be old, new, important, forgotten, public, private, good and bad. Whatever strikes our fancy. We hope you enjoy. Address: 1450 Pacific Street, between Brooklyn and Kingston Avenues Type: Private House Neighborhood: Crown Heights North (CHN Historic District)…
The BOTD is a no-frills look at interesting structures of all types and from all neighborhoods. There will be old, new, important, forgotten, public, private, good and bad. Whatever strikes our fancy. We hope you enjoy.
Address: 1450 Pacific Street, between Brooklyn and Kingston Avenues
Type: Private House
Neighborhood: Crown Heights North (CHN Historic District)
Year Built:1882
Architectural Style: Italianate/Neo-Grec
Architect: George Damen
Landmarked: Yes
This freestanding brick Italianate, set back on a small hill, overlooks the rest of Pacific St, and must have had an amazing porch view, when built. It is a beautifully preserved home, with an impressive wooden cornice and Neo-Grec detailing in the lintels and porch.
It also has a garage, built before 1940, squatting in front of the house cutting off the fine gardens and walkways. In spite of that, it is a remarkable survivor, constructed when the area was a suburban retreat, just before the opening of the -Brooklyn Bridge in 1883.
Correction: In our very first post, we credited the architectural firm of Halsey, MacCormack and Helmer with the design of the Hanson Place Central Methodist Church, getting that information from a reputable source, a well regarded architectural guide to Brooklyn.
An intrepid reader thought differently, did some digging, and wrote in that the actual architect was Lessing Whitford Williams, a contemporary, and sometimes colleague, of HM&H. His evidence is overwhelming. The address was incorrect, as well. It should be 9-13 Hanson Place. Thank you Mr. H.P. for that information.
[Photos by Suzanne Spellen]
I’d love to, Tina. Email me at montrosemorris@yahoo.com.
bfarwell, I think lot sizes vary. After the street grids were set up, there are standard sizes, but if you ever just look at a map on property shark, there are exceptions galore. Older places often have larger and odd sized lots, depending on how much they had in the first place, before buildings went in around them. Also people with large lots often sold pieces off over time. I always think it’s sad to see a freestanding house wedged in between apartment buildings, but it happens all the time.
MM are you stalking me? 😉 Yet another excellent piece about a building right down the street from our humble rented abode. The porch must be further pissed that there’s a ginormous new school (in a crap style- flat sheets of brick with some pediments stuck on it for ‘contextuality’) going up across the street from this place. In addition to not helping the view, I can’t imagine it will aid the sunshine on the porch.
Do you know what the lot sizes were like back in the day? I know you mentioned expansive gardens on one of the last places; would one of these houses have had a brownstone-lot worth of lawn on either side? I’m trying to imagine the streetscape…
I’d be happy to drive you around, MM. Have a couple of buildings I’d love for you to see, especially here in Red Hook.
Is that type of work (on the porch and cornice) even still possible nowadays?
Absolutely gorgeous. Really adds character.
That cornice and porch are terrific. Happy it’s still standing.
what a pretty house. it looks so delicate and prim and yet it has survived in Brooklyn! impressive.
(hope it’s landmarked)
MM, this new feature is just great. Have you thought about writing a book? Bricks and Brownstones revisited, or some such.
I’ve got a research question: how does one go about finding out who the architect/builder of their house is?Does DOB keep those records? I’ve tried to see my house’s folder in the archives there, but it’s missing.
“sufficient”
CG…it’s no frills! You’re asking a lot for the pittance I get paid! Besides which, I don’t think too many homeowners are going to let the back of their house get plastered over the internet with the address listed.
Seriously, I can post up to 5 photos in this feature. When I have them, I will, but most of the time, I just have one shot which hopefully gives suffienct detail.
Glad people like it, it gives me a chance to bounce around and show all kinds of buildings. As the weather gets warmer, I’m going to trek out to the hinterland, hopefully getting to Bay Ridge, Wmsburg, Flatbush and other places I don’t often get to. If anyone wants to drive me, I’ll gratefully accept a ride.