Today the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission is designating Melrose Parkside in Flatbush as a Historic District.
“The city’s 155th historic district is a truly stand-out block in the Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn,” said Landmarks Preservation Commission Chair Sarah Carroll.
“The Melrose Parkside Historic District is a distinctive collection of early-20th-century row houses and duplexes designed in the Neoclassical style by two well-regarded Brooklyn architects. These incredibly well-preserved rows create a strong sense of place, which continues to reflect the history and diversity of Flatbush.”
The Melrose Parkside Historic District is a group of 38 single- and two-family row houses located on Parkside Avenue between Flatbush and Bedford avenues. They were built between 1909 and 1915 and were designed by two of Brooklyn’s most prolific architects, Benjamin Driesler and Axel S. Hedman, for developers William A. A. Brown and Eli H. Bishop & Son.
Of the 38 houses within the district, 20 were constructed as two-family duplexes, sometimes referred to as “Kinko houses,” a distinctive residential building type that originated in Brooklyn.
All 38 houses remain well-preserved.
“Congratulations to the residents of Parkside Avenue for the designation of Melrose Parkside as a Historic District,” said Council Member Rita Joseph.
“I love our neighborhood for so many reasons, but the distinct architecture of it is one that often does not get enough attention, and this designation will ensure that future generations are able to appreciate the beauty of Flatbush. I thank the City Landmarks Preservation Commission for their expertise and leadership in this process.”
