Brooklyn, NY
John And Elizabeth Truslow House
An individually designated New York City landmark, 96 Brooklyn Avenue is a three-story Queen Anne-style residential building that was once home to two of the earliest residents of Crown Heights, John Truslow–a businessman and philanthropist—and his wife, Elizabeth. The 50-room house was designed for the couple by one the most distinguished Victorian architectural firms of the day, Parfitt Brothers, and was completed in 1887. Today, it is one of the few remaining examples of the large suburban villas that once populated the neighborhood.
Role: Developer, Property Manager, General Contractor
Project Type: Affordable, Historic Preservation
Nonprofit(s): Brooklyn Neighborhood Improvement Association
Agencies:
After the death of her husband, Elizabeth sold the house and it passed from owner to owner until it was carved up into apartments, which were later deemed illegal. Plagued by a lack of repairs and a mounting number of violations, the city gained control of the abandoned, tax-foreclosed building in 2013.
At the request of HPD, ELH took control of 96 Brooklyn Avenue through the Third Party Transfer program (TPT) and executed a plan to rehabilitate and stabilize the building so that it could serve moderate and lower-income families. The building’s landmarked exterior was completely preserved, including its distinctive square oriel windows, while the interior was gut-renovated to create seven apartments. 96 Brooklyn Avenue reopened as affordable housing in 2016.
Read more about the restoration of 96 Brooklyn in the Brownstoner: Crown Heights Gem Shines Again: The 19th Century Truslow House
