Building of the Day: 70 Eighth Avenue
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: 70 8th Avenue, corner of Union St. Name: Mrs. M.V. Phillips House Neighborhood: Park Slope (Park Slope Historic…
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: 70 8th Avenue, corner of Union St.
Name: Mrs. M.V. Phillips House
Neighborhood: Park Slope (Park Slope Historic District)
Year Built: 1887
Architectural Style: Queen Anne/Romanesque Revival
Architect: L.V. Holden
Landmarked: Yes
On a street of impressive mansions, this one stands out because, well, it stands out. You can’t overlook that turret with the bell dome, or the terra-cotta studs scattered across the facade, or the rest of the terra-cotta ornament, the stained glass, or just the massing of different shapes and structural elements.
This is such a fun building. It was built for Mrs. MV Phillips, who moved to Park Slope from Clinton Hill, where she lived in a 5 story Italianate brownstone on Washington Ave.
She must have enjoyed roaming around this huge house, with all of it’s quirky elements. My favorite ornament has to be the glass-jewel studded stained glass windows in the turret.
They are absolutely gorgeous. In the 1930’s, the house became a club and restaurant. It was abandoned for years, before becoming co-ops in the 1990’s.
The front entrance on the 8th Ave. side was made smaller, but the exterior has been preserved, and it remains one of Park Slope’s most interesting houses.
[Photos by Suzanne Spellen]
One of my favorite houses in the Slope. Brenda hit the nail on the head.
My parents owned a house (875 Union St.) about 1947. 70-8th Avenue THEN was an SRO and gradually was turned into “studio” apartments. I don’t think any original detail exists today. Most of it would have been ripped out at that time.
I’m remembering from the early 1980’s that this was not just “seedy” – this was the building where it seemed a motorcycle gang lived. There were many many bikes in the yard before the landscaping though the bones of the building were apparent even then.
Ah, our beloved Penis Building!
Six according to Streeteasy.
how many units are in that building?
*rob*
Wowza.
Apartments 1 and 4 sold in the building in 2008 for $1,545,000 and $1,400,000.
Unit 6 sold in 2009 for $999,000.
So yeah, sounds like it’s come a long way from the 70’s and 80’s.
Another house I always wondered about! Like Bob (above), I recall this place as occupied and seedy-looking–I lived on Garfield Place during the 80s.
The whole building was for sale during the late 80s real estate slump. I don’t remember if it was occupied or not, but I’m sure the price was a song!