Building of the Day: 341-345 Waverly Avenue

Brooklyn, one building at a time.

Name: Row houses
Address: 341-345 Waverly Avenue
Cross Streets: Lafayette and Greene Avenues
Neighborhood: Clinton Hill
Year Built: 1869
Architectural Style: Italianate
Architect/Builder: James Brunley
Landmarked: Yes, part of Clinton Hill HD (1981)

The story: Waverly Avenue was originally named Hamilton Street, for Alexander Hamilton. By the late 1800s, it was primarily a service street for the mansions of Clinton and Washington Avenues, with carriage houses and stables being the most familiar buildings on the blocks between Willoughby and Gates Avenues. But before the carriage houses, the block was taken up by modest middle class dwellings that add a nice touch of normalcy to a neighborhood that would soon be one of the most expensive and exclusive neighborhoods in Brooklyn.

These three houses are great examples of this; tidy homes with some great stuff going for them. These brick houses have low stoops over a basement, and nice little porches. The parlor floors have full length windows, all behind gates and fencing allowing for shrubbery and plants. 343 is the only one that has its original cornice, which shows how important this detail is, 341 definitely could use one. The roof there looks slightly raised, perhaps for some attic space. Number 343 has an added-on dormer for more upper room, while 345 was raised with a mansard roof and extra story.

The twin porches of 341 and 343 are especially inviting, and have been kept intact and in pretty good shape. The dentil courses are echoed by the much larger dentil brackets of the only remaining cornice. Since the rest of this block is rather nondescript, with the exception of the Tudor style carriage house a few doors down, these houses are the stars of the block. They are of a classic type, found throughout the Northeast; sturdy brick with brownstone lintels and sills. To me, houses of this kind are warm and inviting, and conjure up wide plank wood floors, a fireplace and cozy furnishings, with just enough space – not too little, and not too much. At least that’s what I think. GMAP