Bedford Historic District buildings we love

Eye On Real Estate

January 4, 2017 By Lore Croghan Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Welcome to the Bedford Historic District, where the Alhambra Apartments (shown here) and many other buildings designed by prominent architect Montrose Morris can be found. Eagle photos by Lore Croghan

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It looks like a castle. What’s not to like?

Sixteenth-century Loire Valley chateaux served as the inspiration for renowned Brooklyn architect Montrose Morris’ design for 480 Nostrand Ave., AKA the Renaissance Apartments.

The building, constructed in 1892, was designated as an individual city landmark three decades before the area where it’s located became the Bedford Historic District in December 2015.

So was Morris’ stunning Alhambra Apartments at 500-518 Nostrand Ave. That building, constructed in 1889-1890, is a combination of Romanesque Revival and Queen Anne architectural styles.

Morris also designed a smaller but thoroughly charming Bedford Historic District apartment building called the Clinton at 425 Nostrand Ave. It was constructed around 1888.

And he was the architect and developer of numerous distinctive Queen Anne-style rowhouses in the landmarked area.

Other terrific Queen Anne-style houses in the historic district include 73-75 Macon St. and 122-132 Halsey St., which prominent late 19th-century Brooklyn architect Amzi Hill designed. They have distinctive-looking wood front porches.

There are oh-so-many lovable buildings in the Bedford Historic District. Here are photos we took of some of them.

As the LPC’s designation report about the neighborhood explains, at the time of the American Revolution, there was a small village in the area called Bedford Corners.

None of the buildings that were constructed within the historic district’s boundaries before 1870 are still in existence today. Most of the properties there were constructed between 1870 and 1900.

In the 20th century, it became a major residential area for African-American and Caribbean-American families. Local luminaries over the years included the late Rev. Milton A. Galamison, who was the pastor of Siloam Presbyterian Church at 260 Jefferson Ave. He was a civil rights activist who led pro-integration boycotts in New York City schools.