Crown Heights gets a new historic district

The designation will protect 640 buildings

Virginia Place in Crown Heights
Virginia Place in Crown Heights

This morning, the Landmarks Preservation Commission approved a new historic district in Crown Heights that includes 640 buildings, including many Renaissance Revival and Colonial homes.

The Crown Heights North III Historic District, which stretches between Brooklyn and Albany Avenues, also features a collection of two-family “Kinko” houses, designed by the firm Mann & MacNeille.

Built between 1907 and 1912, the houses each feature two duplexes with a private staircase, house number and cellar, according to Brownstoner.

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The presentation for the district’s designation was calendared in June 2011, and the unanimous vote to approve today took place after a brief meeting.

“I go into areas where they tore down beautiful churches and buildings, and I’m happy that won’t happen here,” said Community Board 8 member Adelaide Miller, who lives within the district on Virginia Place.

The Crown Heights North Association plans to push to have the district added to the National Register of Historic Places, which confers tax benefits on property owners. [Brownstoner] — Tess Hofmann