Landmarks Chair Sarah Carroll and Council Member Farah N. Louis joined local residents and advocates to celebrate the installation of the historic district marker for the East 25th Street HD. Image Credit: NYC LPC.

The markers commemorate Flatbush’s first historic district. On December 8, 2021, the Landmarks Preservation Commission revealed the historic district marker that will commemorate the East 25th Street Historic District in East Flatbush, Brooklyn. The historic district, which runs on East 25th Street between Clarendon Road and Avenue D, was designated last year.  (more…)

Houses on the west side of the proposed East 25th Street Historic District. Image Credit: LPC

Residents on the block worked with Landmarks leading up to the calendaring. On August 11, 2020, the Landmarks Preservation Commission voted to calendar the East 25th Street Historic District for designation. The East 25th Street Historic District consists of 56 row houses on both sides of East 25th Street between Clarendon Road and Avenue D in Flatbush, Brooklyn. The historic district consists of the houses between 314 – 378 East 25th Street. (more…)

New historic district will be Brooklyn’s largest. On June 23, 2009, Landmarks voted to designate 21 blocks in the Prospect Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn as a historic district. Developed in the mid and late 19th century, the area is largely characterized by rowhouses spanning a variety of styles, including Italianate, Romanesque, Renaissance Revival, and Second Empire. The eastern portion of the district along Flatbush Avenue includes larger scale, mixed-use structures. At the hearing, community residents expressed support for designation, and spoke of the need for protection from the encroachment of out-of-character development into the area. 5 CityLand 172 (Dec. 15, 2008). (more…)

EDC intends to transfer property to non-profit trade group. On September 18, 2007, Landmarks heard testimony on the possible designation of the former Public School 90 building in Flatbush, Brooklyn. Architect John Y. Culyer, also responsible for the nearby Flatbush Town Hall, a City landmark, designed P.S. 90 in 1878, before Flatbush assimilated into the city of Brooklyn. P.S. 90 built additions to the school in 1886 and 1906. Chair Robert B. Tierney stated that Landmarks originally considered the building for designation and held a hearing in 1989.

At the hearing, Christina DeRose from the Economic Development Corporation testified that the EDC had entered into a partnership with the Caribbean-American Chamber of Commerce and Industry in 2005 with the intention of transferring the vacant school to the group to use as its headquarters. DeRose testified that the EDC supported designation if Landmarks designated only the building and not the surrounding lot, which the Chamber plans to convert into an exhibition space. Flatbush’s Council Member Kendall Stewart, speaking in support, stated that the building by itself “is not able to accommodate everything we propose and plan.” (more…)

Landmarks takes first steps towards designation of historic district in Flatbush. On September 19, 2006, Landmarks voted unanimously to hold a public hearing on the proposal to designate 250 single-family homes in Flatbush, Brooklyn as the Midwood Park – Fiske Terrace Historic District.

Fiske Terrace features single-family homes developed from 1905 to 1920 by Theodore B. Ackerson on a 30-acre, densely wooded estate purchased from George Fiske. In 1905, Ackerson cleared the land, set out streets, installed sewers and water lines, and developed over 150 single-family homes within 18 months. Ackerson built uniform three-story homes in series of ten, using stock plans, but allowed each owner to vary the exterior details.

John Corbin similarly developed the Midwood Park community, allowing home owners to choose from 30 distinct models that used the same materials and construction methods. Corbin cut all the needed beams, frames and trims at his East 56th Street factory on Jamaica Bay and shipped the materials to the construction site. Landmarks research staff noted that Corbin’s factory had the capacity to turn out 1,000 pre-fabricated homes a year. (more…)