Building of the Day: 43-49 Willow 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: 43-49 Willow Place, between Joralemon and State Streets Name: Colonnade Row Neighborhood: Brooklyn Heights (Brooklyn Heights 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: 43-49 Willow Place, between Joralemon and State Streets
Name: Colonnade Row
Neighborhood: Brooklyn Heights (Brooklyn Heights Historic District)
Year Built: 1846
Architectural Style: Greek Revival
Architects: Unknown
Landmarked: Yes
Colonnade rows were very popular in the 1830’s and ’40’s. They added some interest and gravitas to what are basically very plain houses, and really put the Greek in Greek Revival, with those massive columns extending the houses further into the streetscape.
There were once many more of these rows in existence in New York City, but they have been the target of all kinds of efforts in modernization throughout the last 100 years.
The best known remaining colonnade is La Grange Terrace, on Lafayette St, across from Cooper Union, in Manhattan, and that is only a part of what was once a longer row, and has been altered quite a bit in its history.
Here in Brooklyn, this row is more modest in scope and substitutes stone columns for wood, and is still quite striking in appearance, and much admired. Across the street, another colonnaded home sits rather neglected.
Francis Morrone, in his Architectural Guide to Brooklyn, comments that the house looks as if it moved across the street and wanted to be off on its own. In reality, he notes, it is part of another group of four, of which only two remain, the other altered beyond recognition.
All of the colonnade houses are a significant part of Heights’ architectural history, and add greatly to Brooklyn Heights’ large range of architectural styles.
[Photos by Suzanne Spellen]
I’ve always thought these are among the most beautiful buildings in Brooklyn (love the ones on Astor as well.) It’s always such a strange thing to walk down the street and see those massive columns. However, I remember going to one for an open house two or three years back and thinking the interior did not really work that well. One or two of those were for sale, don’t know how much they went for. One of those buildings that look better on the outside than the inside. The New York Times also ran a profile on an apartment inside one of these on Astor where the guy had been nothing for rent since the 70s. He built sets for plays on Broadway and had really fixed it up but was about to get kicked out. That apartment was amazing.
And it’s just around the corner (and not to be confused with Columbia Heights!).
Never mind I misread the map. Iris Cafe on Columbia Place does have excellent food though.
MM,
What a great service you provide in bringing these beautiful structures to the attention of all. Columbia Place is dynamite and the iris Cafe down the block is pretty good eating territory. The map refers to this street as Columbia Street, the actual name is Columbia Place.
Seriously, south of Joralemon? Scandal! I’ve always loved these buildings and this block. Thanks again, MM!
a beautiful and very significant row of houses.
There is a famous 1930’s photo taken by Berenice Abbott of the row. It looked the same then as today except it was not as nicely painted and kept up. This was a poor street in the 1930’s.
One of my favorite spots in the Heights. I love taking people who don’t know Willowtown down this way, blows them away.
MM, the hits just keep coming!
Montrose, I was thinking of emailing you about this place!
Yes, this street is mesmerizingly idyllic.
Oh, I love this row. So OLD seeming!