Cool Map: Flatbush Landmarks
One of seven documents Community Board 14 has assembled in anticipation of its hearing on the Flatbush Rezoning proposal now working its way through ULURP (and approved recently by City Planning) is a map of all the landmarked structures in the area. We cropped the area most densely populated by historic structures, but you can…
One of seven documents Community Board 14 has assembled in anticipation of its hearing on the Flatbush Rezoning proposal now working its way through ULURP (and approved recently by City Planning) is a map of all the landmarked structures in the area. We cropped the area most densely populated by historic structures, but you can click here to see the full, large version. The CB14 hearing on the matter is scheduled for 7 p.m. on April 2 at PS 249 at Caton Avenue and Marlborough Road.
City Planning OK’s Flatbush Rezoning Plan for ULURP [Brownstoner]
Public Hearing Scheduled for April 2nd [CB14]
The old Erasmus building was in pretty good shape as recently as 6 or 7 years ago. But the AP who took care of it and ran it as a museum retired and the existing schools were shut down and there’s no one left with any connection to it. Last I checked there were broken windows and the stench of cat pee was disgusting.
I hear you can visit the old Flatbush jail in the basement of a school around the corner – I think it’s where the old Town Hall was.
Yay! I can see my house from here!
Tragically, the Erasmus Hall museum (the house in the courtyard, which I’ve never gotten in to see) seems to be in limbo; the Times reported that it is crumbling (their slide show testified to its decay), and that there are feral cats in the basement. Incredible, that a colonial-era treasure in the middle of a public school is a forgotten relic instead of a centerpiece of their “themed” schools. Apparently an alum is trying to stoke some interest in renovating it, but the Dept. of Ed should hang its head in shame.
That entire area, epicentered at Church Ave. and Flatbush Ave. (the church described above) was so central to the life of Brooklyn that it figures in postcards going back more than a century. The landmarks tend to be lost amid the surrounding rough-and-tumble commercial strips these days, but as an elderly lady I knew used to comment pointedly, “Oh, it USED to be ‘bon ton.'”
I was in this area on Sunday, just walking around. We went by all the landmarked structures pointed out in the map. Erasmus High is beautiful. The Flatbush Dutch Reformed Church, Meeting House, Cemetery & Parsonage are gorgeous. I snapped photos. Here’s the link:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/33969369@N03/sets/72157615784192482/
We were lucky in that we were able to go into the Meeting house next to the church; they were getting ready for a meeting and looked around. We also went into the church but a Ghanaian service; which we stayed for; was going on so I couldn’t take any pics. It was great seeing all the church goers in traditional garb and I loved all the singing.
The parsonage was closed, but someone told us that it’s open during the week and can be visited.
The cemetery with limestone and brownstone headstones was wonderful. It was surreal being in that setting with all the buildings around.
Not too far away is a great Dutch Colonial house with a wonderful gambrel roof (there are pics of it).
There are also pics of a house on Clarkson Ave, which I loved but it’s falling apart and has been mutilated.
We also went on Albemarle and Kenmore Terraces which are so charming.
There are some great buildings which have wonderful architectural details. I wish I had time to really explore those, but we were driving by.
We’ll be back to explore the rest of the area in greater detail.