395 Clinton Street: New Meets Old With Regrettable Results

East side of Clinton Street between Union and President Streets. (looking towards President Street)

Beginning of construction at 395 Clinton Street back in September 2013

395 Clinton Street today

Back in October 2014, PMFA checked on the construction of a new 2 family, 3 story with penthouse townhouse residence being constructed at 395 Clinton Street between Union Street and President Street, amidst some of the most beautifully preserved and elegant brownstones in Carroll Gardens.

All the homes on the east side of the block where the new building is going up still have their cornice, decorative window lintels and corbels, as well as their stoop and iron railing.

The new building at 395 Clinton Street is being constructed on a parking lot that belonged to the stand-alone house at 393 Clinton Street at the corner of Union Street.  The owner of #393 filed paperwork to separate the two lots a few years back in order to be able to build on the site.

Construction on the new building began in the fall of 2013, but has progressed very slowly. A Department of Buildings Partial Stop Work Order currently exists on this project.  The architect on record is TMP Architectural, LP in Manhattan.

A few days ago, I stopped by to check on the progress at 395 Clinton Street and was dismayed to see that no attempt had been made to make the new building fit in contextually. With its recessed entrance and first floor, 395 Clinton Street is certainly one of the most unusual new buildings in the neighborhood. Sadly, it destroys the historic streetscape and distracts significantly from its brownstone neighbors.

Since this block, as well as most of Carroll Gardens, is regrettably not protected by NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission*, I had hoped that the owner and architect of the new townhouse were nevertheless going to be respectful of the integrity of the neighboring buildings. Unfortunately, that does not seem to be the case.

What is your opinion?


* The Carroll Gardens Historic District,  the smallest landmarked district in the city, only includes the buildings on President and Carroll Streets between Smith and Hoyt Streets and the western ends of the two blocks between President and First Streets. The district was created in 1973.



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Amidst A Row Of Pristine Brownstones, A New Townhouse (Slowly) Rises On Clinton Street In Carroll Gardens

Row of Brownstones on Clinton Street between President and Union Street, 

looking towards Cobble Hill

Same row looking towards President Street

The lot at 395 Clinton Street as it appeared in September 2013

Beginning of construction at 395 Clinton Street in September 2013

Construction of new row house at 395 Clinton Street in September 2014

Carroll Gardens has many beautiful blocks of ornate brownstones, but one of the most well preserved and elegant rows of old townhouses in the neighborhood must be the east side of Clinton Street between Union and President Streets.

All the homes still have their cornice, decorative window lintels and corbels, as well as their stoop and iron railing.

Until recently, the only gap on the block was created by an empty lot that belongs to the stand-alone house at 393 Clinton Street at the corner of Union Street. It was used as a parking lot for many years. The owner of #393 filed paperwork to separate the two lots a few years back in order to be able to build a brand new 3 story, 2 family residence with a penthouse on the site.

Construction on the new building, 395 Clinton Street, began in the fall of 2013. The architect on record is TMP Architectural, LP in Manhattan.

Construction has slowed down of late. The New York City Department Of Buildings issued a partial stop work order for the site in July 2014 for work without proper permits

Since this block, as well as most of Carroll Gardens, is unfortunately not protected through landmarking, one can only hope that this new building is going to be respectful of the integrity of the neighboring buildings.



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