Building of the Day: 1165 Sterling Place

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: 1165 Sterling Place, between Virginia and Hampton Places
Name: Garage/carriage house
Neighborhood: Crown Heights North
Year Built: Early 20th century
Architectural Style: Neo-Colonial (kinda)
Architects: Unknown
Landmarked: No

Not all interesting buildings are important masterpieces. I have a fondness for the ordinary and the functional, especially when they occur in proximity of what most consider to be much more important or even beautiful buildings.

This little garage/carriage house is a perfect example. Probably built for cars, not carriages, but well designed, with great detail in the peaked roof, especially the arched window.

Did that ventilated cap prevent noxious fumes from permeating the space, or is it simply a design throwback to the barn days of yore? I would love to see someone put wooden or metal replica period double doors back on the front.

The garage and the one next door were added well after the houses on the block, which were developed and built in 1899-1905, all by the same developer, as a united enclave.

The houses are all light red or light golden colored brick and limestone Renaissance Revival rowhouses. This little guy was meant to stand on his own.

[Photos by Suzanne Spellen]