Part of the Linden Street Historic District. Image Credit: LPC.
On May 9, 2023, the Landmarks Preservation Commission voted to designate the Linden Street Historic District in Bushwick. The district consists of 32 brick and brownstone row houses located from 3 through 13 Linden Street on the south side of the street and 15 through 55 Linden Street on the north side of the street between Bushwick Avenue and Broadway. The historic district is the first within Bushwick.
The row houses were constructed from 1885 to 1901 by various Brooklyn architects in the Queen Anne, neo-Greek, and Renaissance Revival styles. The houses retain good integrity despite minor repairs to doors, windows or metalwork. For more information about the features of the houses, click here.
The historic district also represents Bushwick’s growth from one of the original six towns in Brooklyn. While much of Brooklyn remained underdeveloped over the 18th and 19th centuries, the arrival of the elevated train service in the late 1880s resulted in rapid expansion for Bushwich and surrounding areas.
The designation had received support from many residents, community members and preservation advocates at the public hearing in February.
Landmarks Chair Sarah Carroll stated, “The Linden Street Historic District is the first historic district designated in Bushwick, and advances LPC’s equity goals. The district contains some of the most strikingly artistic row houses in Brooklyn and is truly meritorious for its significant architecture, high integrity, and a strong sense of place. Today’s action is very important as the agency continues to designate landmarks and historic districts in areas that are not as well represented by designations.”
Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez stated, “The designation of Linden Street as a New York City historic district is a triumph for the Bushwick community. As one of the original six Brooklyn towns, Bushwick’s rich history is unfortunately often overlooked. This historic district’s striking collection of architecturally significant row houses stands out as an intact and distinctive example of South Bushwick’s late-19th-century development, and its preservation is a testament to our commitment to safeguarding our city’s heritage. With so few landmarks remaining in Bushwick, lost to fires, gentrification, and speculation, it is all the more important that we protect and celebrate the ones that remain. I am delighted that this harmonious streetscape will be recognized as a landmark for generations to come.”
By: Veronica Rose (Veronica is the CityLaw fellow and a New York Law School graduate, Class of 2018.)