My Life In Brooklyn

A few weeks ago I uploaded a series of images on my Flickr account, documenting the number of tear-downs and new builds of a particularly ugly nature between Maple and Midwood streets, New York and Brooklyn Avenues.  You can have a look at the images or map here, if you wish.

In the middle of this area I noted a section that is not being touched (on the linked map, the area is in green).  It is an interesting group of smaller homes, almost cottage-like in nature, clustered together.  There are definitely some element of this area that has declined and would benefit from general clean up, maintenance, and landscaping, but for the most part the buildings seem intact.  Given a little TLC, this would be a very cute little enclave that — for some reason — brings to mind Pomander Walk on the upper west side.  Anyway, I like walking around here now and then, and hopefully the grouping will prevent tear-downs.

Last week amid general business and friends from Australia visiting, I managed to spend a little bit of time at the BPL, where I have been researching non-real estate topics.  Looking though a 1925 reel of The Brooklyn Eagle, I happened upon a press release for the building of this very block.  Having this unexpected bit of info, I just thought it worth the share. 

I did wonder about the names I had seen: Miami, Tampa and Palm — and seeing it was named “Coral Gardens” did make me smile.  I walked over and photographed the same group of houses appearing in the 1925 article, remarkably similar as you are able to see from the two images.  This stretch is actually on New York Avenue — the worst part of this particular block is they must live amid the ugliness of Feddersland.  High res images are linked, though the panorama itself is far from perfect, you will get a sense of the place.

Entire article is reproduced on the jump.

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Its October 31st after all. A Flatbush Legend Substantiated by Ancient Chronicles.

TRAGIC FATE OF THE FAIR ALVA.

Immured in a Secret Chamber She Died Of Starvation and for Many Years Her Restless Spirit Haunted the Old Mansion, Which Still Stands on Bedford Avenue, Between Clarkson and Winthrop Streets.

No one would suspect that the peace of that venerable, orderly, conservative old town of Flatbush has ever been disturbed by a ghost, and if it were not for the haunted house, part of which stands to this day, and the testimony of well authenticated chronicles, nobody would believe it. But there are those in Flatbush at the present time, intelligent, educated, and quite sane, who would make a long detour rather than pass a certain spot there between 12 and 1 o’clock at night. That spot is the old site of Melrose hall on Bedford avenue, between Clarkson and Winthrop streets.

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