225-247 E.31St, 225, NS, PS

Brooklyn, one building at a time.

Name: Row houses
Address: 225-247 E. 31st Street
Cross Streets: Cortelyou and Beverly Roads
Neighborhood: Flatbush
Year Built: around 1905
Architectural Style: Renaissance Revival
Architect: Unknown
Landmarked: No

The story: The town of Flatbush, in Kings County, did not become a part of the City of Brooklyn until 1894. They liked their independence, and had remained a separate entity since the Dutch began farming there in the 1600s. The architectural development of the neighborhood was sporadic, and is a combination of all kinds of urban and suburban styles, ranging from mega-mansions on large lawns to huge block long apartment buildings, and everything in between.

I’ve always found Flatbush fascinating from an architectural perspective. In taking the bus through the various parts of the neighborhood, and later, driving, you can pass late 19th century row houses, early 20th century two family houses, wood-framed suburban houses and six story apartment buildings all in a three block radius.

Aside from the row houses in Prospect Lefferts Gardens, many people don’t realize that Flatbush has many more areas with row houses. They were built in the early 20th century, before 1910, and feature both single family houses and two and three family houses. Most of them are attractive Renaissance Revival limestones, almost identical to houses found in Crown Heights North and South, Sunset Park, and parts of Ocean Hill and Windsor Terrace.

They were probably all designed by the same group of about 5 architects/firms who were all working off the original stylings of Axel Hedman, the first and greatest of the Renaissance Revival limestone architects. Most were also developed by larger development companies that bought up and built on entire blocks, sometimes on both sides. The days of the little guy building 2 or 3 houses on a block were more or less over. The houses are much simpler and much less ornate than Hedman’s, who loved ornament, but are quite nice, bringing a more 20th century approach to middle-class housing.

This particular group is especially handsome. In fact, this block is really attractive. Both sides have similar houses; all two story limestone fronted houses, designed in rows with alternating bow front and angled bays. The houses are all tied together with similar doorways (originally) and alternating patterns on the pressed metal cornices; swags on the angled bays, a floral pattern on the bow fronts. This is a short block, so there are only about twenty houses on the entire block. All of them are in great shape, and many still have their original doors and other period details. It’s a lovely block.

The houses today are both one and two family. The corner houses, which are slightly bigger, have garages and small side lawns large enough for flowers and shrubbery, giving the houses a gracious air. A block away, and around the corners are more groups like this, as well as row houses of different materials and styles. And then in the next block out, a street of small wood-framed detached houses. Like I said, Flatbush is quite interesting.

(Photo:Nicholas Strini for Property Shark)

GMAP

225 E. 31st St. Photo: Nicholas Strini for Property Shark
225 E. 31st St. Photo: Nicholas Strini for Property Shark
233 E. 31st St. Photo: Nicholas Strini for Property Shark
233 E. 31st St. Photo: Nicholas Strini for Property Shark
247 E 31st St. Photo: Nicholas Strini for Property Shark
247 E 31st St. Photo: Nicholas Strini for Property Shark
Photo: Google Maps
Photo: Google Maps
Photo: Google Maps
Photo: Google Maps

What's Your Take? Leave a Comment

  1. cool! thanks for writing about these! my boyfriend bought a house just up the street from these and we’ve ridden our bikes through this block plenty of times, often stopping to admire how graceful and intact it all is. So many of the houses have their original doors, and many of the trees have iron tree guards, which is a telling sign it is a block inhabited by residents who care about their homes and community. i really wish more people knew that things like this existed in our area of Flatbush!

    That said, if you ever gave a Flatbush walking tour, i’d be first in line.