Brooklyn Heights housing stock
Brooklyn Heights' housing stock spans an extraordinary range: from 1820s Federal-style row houses (some of the oldest residential buildings in NYC) through Greek Revival, Italianate, Romanesque Revival, and beyond. Construction on most blocks dates between 1820 and 1900, with the earliest concentration on Willow, Hicks, and Cranberry Streets.
The Federal-style early row houses are a particular specialty challenge — typically small in scale, with delicate proportions, original wood cornices and door surrounds, and brick that is among the softest and oldest still in use in NYC.
Common deterioration patterns in Brooklyn Heights
The Heights presents specific issues:
- Soft historic brick on Federal-era buildings, requiring lime mortar and very careful pointing techniques.
- Salt air exposure from the harbor — Brooklyn Heights buildings see more atmospheric salt deposition than inland brownstone areas.
- Multi-cycle restoration history — many buildings have been restored multiple times since the 1965 designation; some prior work was excellent, some was not.
- Wood cornices and trim on older buildings, requiring carpentry restoration in addition to masonry.
Landmark & LPC status
The Brooklyn Heights Historic District was the very first historic district designated in New York City — November 23, 1965. The district covers virtually the entire neighborhood. Standards are notably strict; LPC has decades of established precedent for what is and is not acceptable here, and the inspectors know this district intimately.
Working in Brooklyn Heights requires the right materials, the right methods, and a contractor familiar with the LPC review process. We are.
Serving Brooklyn Heights
Brooklyn Heights is well within our active service area, and we welcome new projects here. While our recent project history has been concentrated in nearby neighborhoods, the housing stock in Brooklyn Heights is closely related — and our knowledge of the materials, restoration techniques, and LPC processes carries over directly.
If you are the first Brooklyn Heights project we work on, you will get the same attention, the same on-site supervision, and the same standards of work we bring to every facade in Brooklyn or Manhattan.
How to start
The fastest way is a phone call to Sajin at 631-464-8200. We will set up a time to come to Brooklyn Heights and look at your building. The walkaround is free, takes 30–60 minutes, and there is no obligation to move forward.
If you prefer to send photos and details first, use the contact form. We typically respond within one business day.