The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) has officially designated two new historic districts in Flatbush, Brooklyn: Beverley Square West Historic District and Ditmas Park West Historic District. Both districts feature well preserved residential architecture from the turn of the 20th century, reflecting the neighborhood’s transition from rural farmland to a suburban enclave. The new designations recognize more than 240 homes that remain largely intact and represent a significant chapter in Brooklyn’s urban development.
The Beverley Square West Historic District comprises 118 houses built between 1894 and 1910. Situated between Beverley Road and Cortelyou Road, the neighborhood features designs by notable Brooklyn architects such as John J. Petit, John B. Slee, and Benjamin Driesler. The houses are set along tree-lined streets and exhibit popular architectural styles of the era, including Queen Anne, Colonial Revival, and Shingle.
Beverley Square West Historic District, via LPC.
Adjacent to the existing Ditmas Park Historic District, the newly designated Ditmas Park West Historic District includes 127 houses constructed between 1902 and 1910, nearly half of which were designed by architect Arlington D. Isham. The development of these neighborhoods coincided with Flatbush’s rapid suburbanization, driven by infrastructure improvements and increased housing demand at the start of the 20th century.
Public transportation access played a significant role in the area’s growth. The Brooklyn, Flatbush & Coney Island Railroad, which began operation in 1878, ran along the eastern edge of Beverley Square West and helped catalyze development. Today, the neighborhoods are served by nearby subway stations including Beverley Road and Cortelyou Road on the Q train.
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I’ll never forget the first time I biked down these streets, a bit shocked that I had been transported to an old Midwestern neighborhood. NYC truly has every type and sort of urban design.
That’s cool and all but why does the LPC ignore interwar apartment buildings? Flatbush has loads of excellent prewar buildings that are vulnerable
Why does the city in general ignore interwar apartment buildings? Every week there’s a gem of a building being mutilated by unscrupulous facade contractors performing “needed services” thanks to the misguided and overburdensome Local Law 11.
Meanwhile the LPC spends time and concern reviewing whether a backyard flower pot adheres to landmark guidelines.
That’s frustrating of course, but the city in general is mostly ran by people who don’t know or care about architecture.
While the LPC is ran by people who are very knowledgeable about architecture and architectural history in NYC. I have a feeling that they have a strong bias towards the 1800s and view 1920s/1930s buildings as being less worthy of protection.
While this is cause for celebration, there were homes left out of this designation that does not make sense.. I too felt transported to another country like the commenter above, the first time my family accidentally drove down Ditmas Ave when I was 13 and my family was instantly in love…My parents soon looked for and rented an apt in one of these glorious historic homes. When I married, my husband and I looked elsewhere but nothing felt right for us, until we found our home here.. We always get a thrill when seeing our neighborhood in so many Hollywood films, or see folks stop and take photos of our homes..
What about Williamsburg,Brooklyn ? There is a lot of houses there were built a long time ago.
The caption under the first photo in your story is incorrect. It states, “Ditmas Square West.” The two new designated historic districts are, Beverley Square West and Ditmas Park West.
Thiagneighborhood is so beautiful you really get that suburban feel while still being in NYC. I love that you can be here and still just hop on the train into Manhattan. Honestly, they should landmark all those homes