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BROOKLYN HEIGHTS LANDMARK HOUSE AND GARDEN TOUR

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

The Brooklyn Heights House Tour, sponsored by the BHA, will be held on Saturday, May 12th from 1-5 PM.

Tickets will be $40. We'll have more information about the tour on our website in April.

E-WASTE RECYCLING EVENT

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

E-WASTE RECYCLING DAYS Saturday, May 5: 10 AM – 4 PM
Sunday, May 6: 12 PM – 2 PM
CHAPEL OF FIRST UNITARIAN CHURCH
PIERREPONT ST. BETWEEN CLINTON ST. AND MONROE PL.

ACCEPTING RESIDENTIAL WASTE ONLY. LISTED BELOW ARE THE ITEMS TO BE ACCEPTED:

Personal Computers Answering Machines (& Computer peripherals)
Batteries (including Household Batteries) Printers
Cables and wiring Printed Circuit Boards
CD Players Radios
Cell Phones Remote Controls
Copiers (floor and desk models) Scanners
DVD players Servers
Electric Typewriters Stereos
FAX Machines Tape Players
Hard Drives Telephones
Laptops Transparency Makers
Mainframes TV's
UPS Systems VCRs
Modems
Pagers

Co-Sponsored By:
Brooklyn Heights Association, First Presbyterian Church, First Unitarian Church, Grace Church Brooklyn Heights, and Plymouth Church of
the Pilgrims.

For more information, call (718) 624-5466

E-WASTE RECYCLING EVENT

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

E-WASTE RECYCLING DAYS Saturday, May 5: 10 AM – 4 PM
Sunday, May 6: 12 PM – 2 PM
CHAPEL OF FIRST UNITARIAN CHURCH
PIERREPONT ST. BETWEEN CLINTON ST. AND MONROE PL.

Accepting residential waste only.

ITEMS ACCEPTED:
Personal Computers Answering Machines (& Computer peripherals)
Batteries (including Household Batteries) Printers
Cables and wiring Printed Circuit Boards
CD Players Radios
Cell Phones Remote Controls
Copiers (floor and desk models) Scanners
DVD players Servers
Electric Typewriters Stereos
FAX Machines Tape Players
Hard Drives Telephones
Laptops Transparency Makers
Mainframes TV's
UPS systems VCRs
Modems
Pagers

Co-Sponsored by:
Brooklyn Heights Association, First Presbyterian Church, First Unitarian Church, Grace Church Brooklyn Heights, and Plymouth Church of
the Pilgrims.

For more information, call (718) 624-5466

PS 8'S REGISTRATION FOR PRE- KINDERGARTEN STARTS MARCH 5TH.

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

The Pre- K admissions period will begin on March 5th and end on April 6th.

Hard copies of the application will be available at PS 8, 37 Hicks Street. Applications will also be available online at http://www.schools.nyc.gov. We recommend doing the online version because you will receive a receipt using that way. Using the hard copy/paper version you’ll need to mail it in and consequently have no guarantee that it was received.

The next Open House for tours of the school is March 7. It starts punctually at 9 AM and ends at 10:45 AM.

BHA ANNUAL MEETING TO HOST NY TIMES EDITOR SAM SIFTON AS GUEST SPEAKER. -

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Join us on Wednesday, February 22 at 7:30 PM for the BHA'S Annual Meeting, taking place in the St. Francis College Auditorium, 180 Remsen Street.

This year our guest speaker is Sam Sifton, until recently the restaurant critic for the NY Times. Before that, he was the paper’s culture editor. He is now the NY Times’s national editor. With a background like his, you know you’re in for a special evening!

Sam was born in Brooklyn Heights, grew up on Willow Street and has spent a lifetime eating his way across the Borough, from Lundy's to Junior's while growing up, from Park Slope to Williamsburg today.... he knows what goes on in the kitchen and out front.

True to his roots, Sifton still lives in Brooklyn, with his wife and daughters. No one is better equipped to talk about the pleasures and challenges of Brooklyn's tumultuous food scene.. and no one can do it with more zest.

But a fascinating guest speaker is only part of our program. BHA President Jane McGroarty will report on the Association’s activities in 2011; the controversies, the victories, the endless struggles (think Resident’s Parking).

Then our long-time favorite voice and wit, Tom Stewart of Channel Thirteen (and Remsen Street) will present the BHA's Community Service Awards to: SUNY Downstate at Long Island College Hospital, Deputy Inspector Mark DiPaolo, Commanding Officer of the 84th Precinct. Awards for Restoration Excellence will be given to Amy Klein and Jeremy Lechtzin, owners of 58 Hicks Street and 177 Columbia Corp., owner of 177-179 Columbia Heights.

And then… and then… refreshments!

The BHA meeting is open to the public. For more details, call the BHA office at 718-858-9193. Reservations are not required.

STREET TREES IN BROOKLYN HEIGHTS ARE RECEIVING ATTENTION FROM THE CITY AND THE BHA.

Sat, 18 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

J & J Tree Service is now at work in Brooklyn Heights under contract with the NYC Parks Department to prune all the street trees of the south Heights, between Atlantic Avenue and Pierrepont Street and between Court and Furman Streets.

This work is part of a cyclical block pruning program that attempts to reach every city neighborhood every ten years. During the past decade, it has been up to the BHA to care for our street trees. Since 2001 we’ve spent $38,000 on pruning and $27,000 on planting, using funds accumulated from BHA member donations earmarked for tree care. In 2012 we have $12, 000 to commit to pruning, and we are pleased to be able to partner with the city for the first time, enabling us to extend J & J’s coverage to include a few blocks further north of Pierrepont.

Last May, BHA members volunteered their time over two days to survey all of the trees in Brooklyn Heights, recording the location and condition of every single tree and tree pit.

In determining the neediest trees for immediate pruning, we relied on that survey to identify the following six blocks where more than 35% of trees on the block were marked as needing pruning. These blocks are as follows: Pierrepont Street, between Willow and Henry Streets; Columbia Heights between Clark and Pierrepont Streets; Clark Street between Henry and Hicks Streets; Monroe Place between Clark and Pierrepont Streets; Henry Street between Clark and Pierrepont Streets and Cranberry Street between Columbia Heights and Willow Street. There are a total of 177 trees on these blocks.

The Parks Department’s pruning standard focuses on long-term growth. Consequently, trees are limbed up to prevent branches from being hit by trucks. Crossing, damaged, diseased or dead branches are removed, as are branches that come close to touching the sides of buildings or extend over a rooftop at a height below 6 feet. People sometimes think they’re pruning too much but, because the pruning cycle is ten or more years, they need to be proactive in predicting potential problems.

We wish we had the funds to take care of many more that were considered to be in need of pruning, but we’re glad to be able to do this much to make a difference in the greening of Brooklyn Heights.

GreenMarket Composting Pilot Will Continue

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

through June, 2012. So bring your vegetable and plant scraps (no meat or dairy) to the GreenMarket on Saturday mornings. So far, NYC has contributed nearly 350,000 pounds of scraps for composting. You can buy your compost back as dirt. Here's a link for more information.www.grownyc.org/compost

THE NYC COUNCIL HAS VOTED TO AFFIRM THE BOROUGH HALL SKYSCRAPER HISTORIC DISTRICT. THE BHA THANKS COUNCILMAN STEVE LEVIN FOR LEADING THE WAY.

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

When the NYC Council voted nearly unanimously to affirm the designation of the Borough Hall Skyscraper Historic District in downtown Brooklyn, another jewel was added to Brooklyn's crown.The BHA applauds Councilmember Stephen Levin for his leadership at the City Council. This is Brooklyn's 26th historic district, bringing the City's total to 105 historic districts, and it is a proud accomplishment!

The designation and the name for the Borough Hall Skyscraper Historic District began with an idea advanced by the BHA, the New York Landmarks Conservancy and Municipal Arts Society. Together we submitted the proposed boundaries and building descriptions to the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission's Preservation Department, whose staff did the research to determine the district's architectural and historical worthiness.

In the words of BHA Governor Phil Magnuson, who chairs the BHA Landmarks Committee (and also lives in the new District): "The Borough Hall Skyscraper Historic District with the splendid Greek Revival Borough Hall and North Plaza at its focus is, both figuratively and functionally, the Urban Center of Brooklyn. This assemblage of important, large scale, early 20th Century skyscrapers along Court Street, including the spectacular Court Chambers Building at 75 Livingston Street, frames and embraces Borough Hall and the Court and Montague Street corridors with a richness and scale befitting the official and commercial heart of Brooklyn.

The designation of the Court Street skyscrapers for their architectural qualities, coupled with their contribution to the integrity of the greater Borough Hall District, is a timely step in recollecting, acknowledging and preserving Brooklyn’s urban richness. We believe that the Borough Hall Skyscraper Historic District will safeguard and support the present and future renaissance of this unique place at the heart of the Borough."

The creation of this district has not been without controversy. The most heated opposition was expressed by some commercial property owners and shareholders at 75 Livingston Street. Although 75 Livingston is arguably the most beautiful example in the district, co-op residents expressed fears about financial burdens associated with being a landmarked building and concerns about restrictions that might be placed on future alterations. The Real Estate Board predicted that landmarking would "send Court Street back to the bad old days of empty stores and dirty streets." We disagree. Throughout NYC there is evident improvement in commercial areas that have been landmarked, a notable example being the now-thriving Fifth Avenue's Ladies Mile District.

Unquestionably, the owners of 75 Livingston Street deserve high praise for their building maintenance over the past two decades. We hope that in time they will view the landmarking as an honor and reward for their stewardship, and the BHA is glad to help in any way needed with LPC procedures going forward.

The BHA commends Councilman, Stephen Levin, who took the lead on this issue in the City Council with his colleague, Councilman Brad Lander (who chairs the City Council's Landmarks Subcommittee), in making certain that everyone on both sides of the issue received a fair hearing to hear all sides of the issue. Preservationists' Note: Steve Levin represents the 33rd Council District which boasts 8 historic districts including Brooklyn Heights.

NEW CONSTRUCTION IN THE BROOKLYN HEIGHTS HISTORIC DISTRICT

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

The BHA takes a stand before the LPC -- advocating for the "best contemporary design of our time."

The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission lost no time approving the design for a new building proposed to be built at 30 Henry Street (which formerly housed the newspaper offices of the Brooklyn Eagle).

30 Henry Street 's new owner and developer is Fortis Manor, LLC. His architect for the project is Stephen Byrns, partner in BHSK Architects. Byrns' design has been the subject of much neighborhood debate because - when it comes to new buildings in a historic district - opinions differ on what is meant by "appropriate" architectural style. The image below (provided by BKSK) shows the Henry Street and Middagh Street facades, as approved last month by the Commission.

At the BHA, we welcome modern architecture for new buildings in the Brooklyn Heights Historic District. As BHA President Jane McGroarty puts it, " A new building in Brooklyn Heights should represent the best possible contemporary design, reflective of our time – that is, today."

And in the words of the BHA's Landmarks Committee chair, Philip Magnuson, " The Brooklyn Heights Historic District finds its quality not in a frozen assemblage of period streets and buildings, singular in spirit and style or comprised of buildings from one moment in history. Rather the Heights District embodies a vital record of architecture, urban planning, social and commercial growth, where street after street of row houses and brownstones, commingled with commercial and industrial buildings, comprise a rich context, enlivened by bold, unique buildings of exceptional design. Structures by well known architects Lafever, Upjohn, Renwick, Post, A.T.White, and more recently the modernist designs of Ulrich Franzen and Joe Merz represent the best architecture in their day. "

It is in the spirit of stewardship and support of these qualities that the BHA has objected to the design for 30 Henry Street which has been approved by the Commission.

As a gateway site at the northeast edge of the Heights, with its interesting mix of commercial, industrial and residential architecture that spans the18th - 20th centuries, we consider 30 Henry Street to be a special location, one that offers a unique opportunity for expressive, outstanding design. Alas, this is not to be.

Background note: As preservation stewards and advocates, the BHA Landmarks Committee seeks to preserve the historic integrity of the Brooklyn Heights Historic District. Working as volunteers for the BHA, the members of our committee are practicing architects and architectural historians. The BHA testifies at public hearings of the Landmarks Commission when matters of significance to Brooklyn Heights are brought before the Commission, and it is in this context that we have been speaking out about 30 Henry Street.

HELICOPTER NOISE POLLUTION CONTINUES IN THE HEIGHTS. The BHA's research sheds more light on this huge quality of life problem in our neighborhood, urging a ban on non-essential tourist helicopters. To find out what you can do to help, read more...

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Heights residents continue to live with near-constant helicopter noise, despite the efforts of our elected representatives to solve the problem. The marked increase in noise pollution over the 1 1/2 years was caused largely by the discontinuance in March, 2010 of tourist flights from the West 30th Street Heliport in Hudson River Park, and the relocation of those tourist helicopter companies to the Downtown Manhattan Heliport (DMH), which is located directly across the East River from the Heights. West 30th Street’s closure leaves the DMH as the only heliport in New York City that allows tourist flights. (The East 34th Street Heliport, NYC’s third heliport, was closed to tourist traffic in 1997, following litigation.)

Although the DMH will not release its current traffic figures, information from the Federal Aviation Agency indicates that the DMH now supports an average of 200 takeoffs and landings per day, over 70% of which are tourist flights. (see http://www.airnav.com/airport/KJRB and http://www.airnav.com/airport/KJRA for the most recent available traffic data for DMH and West 30th Street). That is a significant increase over prior years, and amounts to one takeoff or landing every 5 minutes. Since approach and departure each take a few minutes, the noise to anyone nearby is incessant.

Michael Van Valkenburgh, the designer of the Brooklyn Bridge Park, weighed in on the helicopter problem in a New York Daily News article: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/brooklyn/2011/01/13/2011-01-13_stop_the_choppers_calls_to_enforce_helicopter_ban.html
"We have started to build a park that everybody seems to like quite a lot at considerable public investment, and the noise is horrendous and disturbing," Van Valkenburgh told the Daily News. Other Heights residents continue to voice their exasperation with the helicopters in the Brooklyn Heights Blog and call the BHA to register complaints.

Our elected officials have recognized this as a serious quality of life issue. In April of last year, Congressional Representatives, Jerold Nadler and Nydia Velasquez, State Senator Daniel Squadron, State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, Councilwoman Margaret Chin, Councilman Steve Levin, and Councilwoman Gale Brewer wrote a letter to Mayor Bloomberg proposing a series of solutions to the helicopter problem. As a result, in April 2010, the New York City Economic Development Corporation released a Helicopter Sightseeing Plan which:
• eliminated short (4-8 minute) tours
• eliminated sightseeing tours over Central Park, the Empire State Building, and Brooklyn
• Adopted two approved sightseeing tour routes
• Established a 311 protocol for helicopter noise complaints

In December, the EDC held a meeting (which representatives of the BHA attended) to review the data on helicopter noise complaints received through the 311 system from June - November, 2010. A close review of the data showed that half of all of the 311 helicopter complaints throughout the City came from Brooklyn, and over two thirds of those came from Brooklyn Heights and Red Hook—two neighborhoods facing the DMH. This concentration of complaints reflects the extraordinary concentration of helicopter traffic in the area of the harbor bordered by the Heights, Governor’s Island, and the DMH. Unfortunately, no additional steps were taken by the EDC to alleviate the helicopter problem following the December meeting. Instead, EDC's recommendation was to continue using 311 for helicopter complaints, promising another six month's review to take place in the spring.

Last May, 2011 Senator Squadron organized a rally at Pier 6, attended by US Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez, US Congressman Jerry Nadler, Assemblywoman Joan Millman, Councilman Steve Levin and Councilwoman Gail Brewer-- ALL calling on Mayor Bloomberg to ban tourist helicopters from the DMH. To date, there is been no change.

Our bottom line: We're calling for a ban on all non-essential (tourist) helicopter traffic at the DMH. We appeal to all affected and concerned residents to report helicopter noise pollution to the 311 system, either by calling 311 or through the NYC.gov helicopter complaint page www.nyc.gov/apps/311/. Then type 'helicopter complaint' in the 311 search bar to navigate to the right online complaint form. A high level of input from residents should help us and our elected officials to reach the Mayor's ears.

SKYSCRAPER DISTRICT SOARS IN DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN: The NYC Landmarks Commission has approved the designation of the Borough Hall Skyscraper Historic District, a cluster of 21 distinctive tall office buildings and skyscrapers in Downtown Brooklyn....

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0400

The following Press Release was Issued by the NYC Landmarks Commission:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2011

BOROUGH HALL SKYSCRAPER HISTORIC DISTRICT APPROVED
Brooklyn’s 26th Historic District Encompasses 21 Skyscrapers and Tall Office Buildings Surrounding Borough Hall, Including the Municipal Building.

The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission today unanimously approved the designation of the Borough Hall Skyscraper Historic District, a collection of 21 architecturally distinctive office buildings constructed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in the vicinity of Brooklyn’s Borough Hall.

“The cluster of tall office buildings that form the district had a central role in Brooklyn’s development and illustrate an important chapter of New York City’s history,” said Commission Chairman Robert B. Tierney. “These skyscrapers of their day gave Brooklyn not only a commercial heart, but also a new skyline.”

The first wave of commercial development in the district came in the 1850s along and near Court Street, after the completion of the imposing Greek Revival-style Brooklyn City Hall (now Borough Hall and an individual New York City landmark) in 1848. Most of the stores and commercial structures were low-scale buildings that reached only four stories. After the Civil War, these buildings were replaced by taller ones as insurance companies and financial services institutions arrived in the neighborhood. One of the buildings built in this period is the Franklin Building at 186 Remsen St. It was completed in 1887 with 7 ½ stories and named after the Franklin Trust Company, one of its early tenants. Designed in the Romanesque Revival style with a muscular round-arched entrance and rock-faced stonework, the building was designed by the Parfitt Brothers, one of Brooklyn’s most successful architecture firms in the late 19th century.

Spurred by a population increase and transportation improvements, building heights in the district continued to rise in the 1890s. The tallest and perhaps the most important was the massive 13-story Temple Bar Building, at 44 Court Street, which was built on speculation and named for the lawyers whom the developers hoped would occupy its 300 offices. The building, featuring three prominent curved copper cupolas, was designed by George L. Morse, a well-know architect of Brooklyn skyscrapers, and executed in the Beaux-Arts style. It was completed in 1901, three years after Brooklyn was consolidated into Greater New York, and was hailed as the borough’s tallest building.

A number of similarly sized buildings were constructed along Court, Joralemon and Montague streets in the early 20th century, when the City began planning for a new Municipal Building (at right). Although that building wasn’t completed until 1926, its anticipated construction was viewed as a signal that the area was ready for more development. The first of the new and larger buildings constructed during this period was a 22-story limestone, granite and brick Colonial Revival style building at 32 Court Street. It was designed by the well-known architecture firm of Starrett & Van Vleck, and completed in 1918, surpassing the Temple Bar Building as Brooklyn's tallest building.

The 1920s saw the completion of three buildings of at least 30 stories or taller along Court Street, forming the borough's definitive skyscraper row. Each structure, located at Court and Montague, Court and Livingston (the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce Building aka 75 Livingston, see photo left)and Court and Remsen, features setbacks, slender towers and architectural detailing in the neo-Romanesque and neo-Gothic styles rivaling those completed at the same time elsewhere in New York City.

In the 1950's and 1960's, the area surrounding the district was redeveloped, as more than 300 buildings were diminished to make way for several superblocks consisting of housing projects, government buildings and a large park at Cadman Plaza. Two buildings within the district's boundaries date from this era: A c.1960 Modernist four-story building at 200 Montague Street and a c.1962 12-story Modernist office tower at 175 Remsen Street.

To see the full designation report for photos and more details click here.

THE BHA'S 2ND ANNUAL DOG SHOW WAS A TAIL-WAGGING EXTRAVAGANZA OF DOGGIE TALENTS AND AWESOME DOGGIE TREATS! CHECK OUT THE WINNERS AND VIDEO CLIP OF THE SHOW.

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0400

The BHA's 2nd Annual Brooklyn Heights Dog Show brought joy to Montague Street last Sunday! Judging by the huge turn-out, smiling faces, wagging tails, best hairdos, tricks and GREAT prizes, the SHOW was a big hit with the dogs, their owners and audience members of all ages. And the WINNERS were:

Best Smile = Bear owned by Diane Kepple

Best Tail Wagger = Wa-Wa owned by Ginny Chen

Cutest Small Dog = Remy owned by Lyne Connor

Cutest Big Dog = Rosie owned by Vanessa Solly

Best Hairdo = Elliot owned by Arturo Rosales

Best Trick = Lola owned by Jeff Marks

Most Affectionate = Woodley owned by Jared and Deena Wells

BEST IN SHOW = Woodley

SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR MERCHANT DONORS: Awesome Doggie Treat bags (given to the first 50 dogs to pre-register for the show) were generously donated by Pets Emporium, Perfect Paws and Rocco & Jezebel. The BHA donated T-shirts to the winning dogs' owners. Gift certificates for the Best in Show winner were donated by Fringe, at 91 Montague Street and Oh, My Pasta! at 142 Montague Street.

ALSO, THANKS go to The Watchtower for loaning us the stanchions and tables used in the show, the Issue Project Room for generously providing the sound equipment for this event and Heather Quinlan for producing this adorable VIDEO, which captures the spirit of the dog show!

CALLING ALL PHOTOGRAPHY ENTHUSIASTS! MONTAGUE STREET BID ANNOUNCES PHOTO CONTEST. The BID is especially interested in images that showcase Montague Street's beauty or capture the street's unique character.

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0400

PROMOTING THE MONTAGUE STREET PHOTO CONTEST!

We are calling on all professional and/or amateur photographers, from Brooklyn Heights and beyond, to submit your best photos of Montague Street to the Montague Street BID's Photo Contest. Grand Prize: $500 Design Within Reach Gift Certificate.

Residents, visitors, photography enthusiasts from far and wide are invited to submit their favorite shot of Montague Street, from Court Street to the Brooklyn Heights Promenade. Whether the photographs are of scenes from recent days or past decades, we welcome your most striking digital images showing Montague Street's architecture, storefronts and displays, people, streetscape elements or a combination thereof. The BID is especially interested in photos that showcase Montague Street's beauty or capture the street's unique character.

Twenty (20) photographs will be selected for the finalists' round and displayed at a preview reception at Design Within Reach, 76 Montague Street, on Thursday, September 15 from 6-8 PM. The event is open to the public. The 20 finalist entries will be on view there, as well as on the BID's website, Facebook and Twitter. A public vote to decide the winner will be held on Sunday, September 18 at the Summer Space booth on Montague Street.

Click here for more info on the prizes and how to enter the contest. September 1st is the photo submission deadline.

BHA's ANNUAL HOUSE TOUR ON SAT. MAY 7th! It's that time of year again: You are invited to visit five historic townhouses in New York City's first Historic District as part of the BHA's 28th Landmark House & Garden Tour. Get all the details.

Thu, 31 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Join Us for the BHA's Annual House Tour on Saturday, May 7th!

The Brooklyn Heights Association will sponsor its 28th annual house and garden tour of five privately owned historic townhouses in Brooklyn Heights on Saturday, May7, 2011 from 1-5 PM.

This go-at–your-own–pace, self-guided tour, for the benefit of the BHA, allows visitors a rare opportunity to experience the architectural grandeur and contrasting styles found in the finest private homes and gardens of Brooklyn Heights, New York City's First Historic District.

HOMES ON THE 2011 TOUR

ESSENTIAL INFORMATION

The Brooklyn Landmarks House and Garden Tour is self-guided.

It takes place, rain or shine, from 1 PM to 5PM on Saturday, May 7th. Houses close at 5.

Included in the price of the ticket is a delightful repast of pastries and tea served in the arcade of the Plymouth Church of the Pilgrims on Orange Street. Tea hours are from 3-5 PM. Docent-led tours of the historic church sanctuary are given at 3:30 and 4:30 PM. A trio from the Brooklyn Symphony Orchestra will provide music during the tea.

All tickets are $40 per person and tax deductible. Tickets may be purchased on the day of the tour at 129 Pierrepont Street, starting at 12:30 until 3:30 PM. The ticket is actually a guidebook, containing a map of the neighborhood and a brief written description of the houses.

NOTE: ALL ADVANCE RESERVATIONS ARE BEING HELD FOR PICK-UP FROM 12:30 - 4 ON SATURDAY AT 129 PIERREPONT STREET BECAUSE WE DO NOT MAIL TICKETS.

REMEMBER, THE HOUSES WILL CLOSE AT 5 PM.

Except for infants in front packs, children under 13 will not be allowed to go into the houses. Taking photographs inside the houses is prohibited.

We wish to thank our very generous corporate benefactors whose support of the BHA House Tour is essential to its success.

LEAD SPONSORS: BROWN HARRIS STEVENS, PRUDENTIAL DOUGLAS ELLIMAN REAL ESTATE

PRINCIPAL SPONSOR: CORCORAN

SIGNATURE SPONSOR: HALSTEAD BROOKLYN

We will not be able to answer phone calls or responding to emails on Saturday because everyone is working at the tour!

Subways: M, R, 2,3,4,5 to Borough Hall/Court Street; A, C to High Street or Jay Street

TICKET PICKUP at 129 Pierrepont St. (in the lobby of Saint Ann's School)

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HOMES ON THE 2011 TOUR

Here's a preview of some of the stunning rooms awaiting you on this year's tour.

Photographs by Judith Angel

A c. 1843 Greek Revival brick townhouse is owned by an artist whose inventive decorating style and eclectic textile and painting collections are combined with her own fanciful creations to create a warmly personal home. The country kitchen, with its painted cabinets and early 18th century Welsh dresser, once graced the cover of Family Circle Magazine. Artwork includes pieces by Saul Steinberg, Frederico Castellon and Matthew Bruckner. The tour will also show tenant's apartments on the parlor and garden levels which look out onto a magnificent English perennial garden. Photo taken in the living room.

A sculptural, laser cut stair screen is the stunning focal point in the parlor of this 1880's townhouse. Originally a four-family house, it has been stylishly transformed by the current owner whose architect Steven Harris has created an open floor plan, adding extensions to all four stories with floor to ceiling height windows. There's even a sleeping porch off the master bedroom. Furnishings are a mix of modern, vintage and antique pieces. Extensive artwork in the house ranges from large scale paintings to black and white photographs. Photo taken in an upstairs bedroom.

A three-storied Federal frame house, listed in the 1826 city directory, is the oldest house on the tour. Decorative chair rails and plaster moldings are found throughout this house, which features English and French antiques, rich wall coverings and draperies, elaborate chandeliers from Paris, and a dining room table where Winston Churchill is said to have dined. A collection of photographs include works by Ansel Adams and Cortege. A large cherry tree grows in the garden. Photo shows the parlor.

Built in 1905, the facade of this house embodies two architectural styles popular at the turn of the century, Renaissance Revival and Colonial Revival. It has its main entry at street level. The current owners undertook a substantial renovation, keeping as much of the original design of the home as possible, turning what was a service entrance (still intact) into a "mud room", and retaining the fully functioning dumb waiter. Its furnishings include family heirlooms, a 19th century kimono, Danish Modern ladder-back chairs, black and white photographs by Zoe Leonard and a vintage goatskin desk by Karl Springer. Photo is of the kitchen.

This 1831 Federal style house was renovated in 1885 by famed New York architect, William B. Tubby, who is especially known for his Dutch Revival and Romanesque style. Tubby flourishes are still seen in the formal living room where the ornamental ceiling rosettes are painted with gold leaf, on the second floor in the ornamental chimney and on the fourth floor in the gable windows. The owners' decorating theme is marked by Asian influences including 18th century panels and a 19th century Japanese screen. Sumptuous furnishings and fabrics are evident throughout the house. Photo is of the dining room.

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SPRING PREVIEW ON THE PROMENADE NOW Take a look! You won't have to get down on your hands and knees to admire these delicate harbingers of spring on the Promenade...

Sat, 12 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0500

SPRING PREVIEW ON THE PROMENADE NOW

No need to wait for the crocuses, the Promenade garden is blooming right now thanks to the Promenade Partnership volunteers and their leader, gardener Jonathan Landsman.

Last year, the Partnership planted a new variety of hellebore (aka Lenten rose); the flowers face upward so you don’t have to get down on your hands and knees to admire them. You’ll find these beauties between Pierrepont St. and Clark St., near the “thunderbird”.

As for those slug-a-bed crocuses, they’re beginning to pop up now… hundreds upon hundreds of them, to be followed by thousands upon thousands of tulips, all thanks to the hard-working Promenade Partnership volunteers. Please show your support. Email them at promgarden@aol.com.