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    • Architecture: Southern Brooklyn’s Brownstone Belt


    by on Jan 17th, 2012

    We were recently on Avenue U near West 8th Street when we saw something that made us smile. Some great examples of turn of the 20th Century architecture – a few of which actually appeared well maintained – called out to our senses like some sort of oasis in the Fedders Desert.

    From the tight joints of mortar between their bricks to the wonderful eye candy texture of their brick and stone facades – as well as the generous scale of their construction, these buildings are neighborhood gems that probably deserve landmark status.

    If you’re looking for some nice pre-1920 buildings in Southern Brooklyn, a good rule of thumb is to stick close to subway lines. The blocks immediately surrounding train tracks serve as sort of miniature brownstone belts. Lots located near what were once excursion railroads to Coney Island were usually the first to be built-up in a particular area, as evidenced by these old beauties – which went up on Avenue U over a century ago near the Sea Beach Line, otherwise known as the N train.

    Of the four buildings we shot on the north side of Ave U between West 8th & West 9th, this one appeared the most well maintained.

    This old brick and limestone townhouse on the south side of Ave U sports some nice two-over-two windows. It is currently being used as a chiropractors office.

    Unlike many neglected old buildings in Southern Brooklyn, it looks like this townhouse's gorgeous cornice has been proudly restored with new paint, including some nice detailing.

    While the townhouse's next door neighbor - which possibly served as a carriage house - looks a little worse for wear, it sure beats a Fedders Special.

    Another neighbor, this one on the north side of Ave U between West 8th and West 7th, shows off some Renniasance Revival belt courses. The 7-11 sign on the ground floor seems to add some kind of weird Art Deco effect.

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    • LuLu

      Nice photos!

    • MrArtTuro

      Nice article. It’s good to see photos of the better things around which we just take for granted on an ongoing basis. Architecture is a passion of mine. Thanks for pointing it out.
      How about an article on my favorite structure around – the funeral parlor on West 6th Street and Ave S. (I Think).
      If i gotta go, when I go, I’d love to go there.

      • http://bensonhurstbean.com Joe Teutonico

        Now that’s some property! I imagine its origin is probably similar to the Spanish tiled beauties of Ocean Parkway – for all we know, it might have even housed an early movie star during Brooklyn’s heyday as a center of movie production! I know from Cusimano and Russo’s website that it’s been a funeral home since at least 1948. Certainly an intriguing subject and one I will try to find out more about.

        • MrArtTuro

          Joe,
          I, for one, will be looking forward to that article of yours when it is published.
          Re: O.P.: There surely are magnificent homes in the initial blocks west of Ocean Parkway, between Ave. S & Ave. U.

          A reprise:

          “If i gotta go, when I go, I’d love to go there.” But before i go there, I’d like to visit some of those Ave. T area mansions.

          AR

      • Barkingspider07

        The funeral parlor on Avenue T and West 6th is Cusimano and Russo (and now Healy’s also). It is a beautiful building. I also love architecture. I love walking through NYC to look at the buildings. There are some gorgeous old buildings.

    • http://profile.yahoo.com/HQEDNDSWEEAG7USWWCN7UFMT64 joel

      Does anyone happen to remember the name of the Italian Bakery on 18th Ave. between 72nd and 73rd streets? It was next to Eddie”s candy store back in the 1950′s, 60′s and 70′s.
      Thanks for shaking up your gray matter and trying to help.Joel

      haboman4@yahoo.com

      • http://www.sheepsheadbites.com/ Ned Berke

        We brought your question over to our Facebook readers, and they say it was either Alba’s or Villabate.

        Follow Bensonhurst Bean on Facebook! http://www.facebook.com/BensonhurstBean