Press Release

For Immediate Release: November 25, 2025
Contact: lpcpressoffice@lpc.nyc.gov, 212-669-7938

LPC Designates Two New Historic Districts in Flatbush, Brooklyn

With distinctive homes set along tree-lined streets, Beverley Square West Historic District and Ditmas Park West Historic District appear much as they did a century ago

NEW YORK – Today, the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) voted to designate two new historic districts in Brooklyn: Beverley Square West Historic District and Ditmas Park West Historic District. Both new historic districts feature distinctive homes built around the turn of the 20^th century as Flatbush transitioned from a farming village to an early suburban development.

The Beverley Square West Historic District includes 118 houses built between 1894 and 1910 along three tree-lined streets between Beverley Road and Cortelyou Road, just south of Prospect Park. Nearly all of the homes were designed by well-known Brooklyn architects, including John J. Petit, John B. Slee, and Benjamin Driesler.

The Ditmas Park West Historic District contains 127 houses, nearly all built between 1902 and 1910, located immediately west of Ditmas Park Historic District, between Dorchester Road and Ditmas Avenue. Nearly half of the houses in Ditmas Park West Historic District were designed by one architect, Arlington D. Isham.

Fueled by the demand for suburban houses as the population of New York City dramatically increased at the turn of the 20th century, both Beverley Square West Historic District and Ditmas Park West Historic District rapidly added houses in a short period of time, resulting in a remarkable architectural cohesiveness rooted in that period, and today the two historic districts appear much the same as they did a century ago.

“Beverley Square West Historic District and Ditmas Park West Historic District represent a remarkable period in Brooklyn’s development, as the area transitioned into a vibrant suburban neighborhood,” said Landmarks Preservation Commission Vice Chair Angie Master. “Today’s designations celebrate the history of this unique neighborhood, and will help safeguard this important piece of the borough’s history for years to come.”

“In preserving the Beverley Square West and Ditmas Park West Historic Districts, we are honoring the rich architectural heritage that has shaped Flatbush for more than a century. I’m proud to have worked in lockstep with our community and dedicated advocates to ensure these neighborhoods receive the protection they deserve,” said New York City Councilmember Rita Joseph. “Today’s landmark designations are a testament to what we can accomplish when we stand together to safeguard the character, culture, and history of our communities.  As a lifelong resident and Council Member of District 40 I remain deeply committed to continuing the fight for preservation in all its forms—protecting not only our buildings, but the people, stories, and vibrancy that make District 40 home.

Flatbush’s transition from a rural area to Brooklyn suburb began in the 1880s, driven by the establishment of a street grid and the introduction of an array of city services, including the formation of the Flatbush Gas Co., the Flatbush Water Works, as well as expanded public transportation via the Brooklyn, Flatbush & Coney Island Railroad, which opened in 1878 along the eastern boundary of Beverley Square West Historic District.

From the beginning, the appeal of both neighborhoods was aesthetic and functional, with tree-lined streets and houses on large lots that featured the latest modern conveniences, including gas lighting, hot and cold running water, indoor plumbing, and coal-burning furnaces.

Most of the homes in both historic districts are designed in the Queen Anne, Colonial Revival, and Shingle styles. Though diverse in styles, the well-preserved houses in Beverley Square West Historic District and Ditmas Park West Historic District represent excellent examples of the design preferences of the period, and together form a harmonious and appealing suburban streetscape. 

Images

Designation photos can be found here.

About the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC)

The Landmarks Preservation Commission is the mayoral agency responsible for protecting and preserving New York City’s architecturally, historically, and culturally significant buildings and sites. Since its creation in 1965, LPC has granted landmark status to more than 38,000 buildings and sites, including 1,470 individual landmarks, 125 interior landmarks, 12 scenic landmarks, and 159 historic districts and extensions in all five boroughs. For more information, visit www.nyc.gov/landmarks and connect with us at www.facebook.com/NYCLandmarks, www.instagram.com/nyc.landmarks/ and www.x.com/nyclandmarks.