Maple Street runs through the center of the \?Lefferts Manor Historic District\?. It is widely considered the jeweled necklace of an unblemished row of limestone Neo-Renaissance townhouses built by E.H. Bishop & Sons who stated in their original advertising in 1909 were built to appeal \?only to people of refinement and culture\? these homes were built with no skimping, no substituting\?. Over a century later, these important and well-built homes are esteemed as some of the finest examples of their kind. Indeed, these single-family townhouses designed by Architect Axel Hedman, were granted landmark status by the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission in 1979 and placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1992. Could 171 Maple Street be your opportunity to own one of its incredibly rare gems\?
As you walk down the tree-lined Brooklyn street toward 171 Maple, you\?ll notice it is part of an exuberant pattern of row houses which include remarkable, projecting, galvanized-iron cornices crowning the buildings\? curved bays. These rise from front yards, which also set the houses back from the street, adding to the idyllic view and unquestionably right, human-scaled, proportions of the streetscape. You are greeted by this home\?s original wooden front doors surrounded by an ornate stone entablature. Upon entering, you\?ll quickly realize that this fine historic home is not at all shy, with Renaissance inspired carved ornamental forms: cartouches, garlands, swags and foliate details which add true vintage beauty to the house both inside and out.
The high-ceilinged parlor floor includes a living room, den, formal dining room with the original wood pocket doors, and a modern kitchen with cherry cabinets, stone countertops and plenty of storage; a convenient powder room is adjacent to it. Dine alfresco just past the kitchen\?s back door, which opens onto a large deck with a roll-out awning for shade. Below the deck is the garden with its towering 100-year-old heritage rosebushes. Up the sky-lit stairs, you\?ll find three full-sized bedrooms, plus another that could be a home office, nursery, or guest room; plus two full baths. Throughout the house, the plaster and carved wood details are perfectly preserved. There are three decorative fireplaces with mantles, a pier mirror, wainscoting, bordered hardwood parquet floors, crown moldings, and wooden bannisters that are all intact, gorgeous, and original. There is a very nice finished basement too that is currently used as an art studio, recreation room, laundry, mechanicals, and tool shop. The house has a front facing southern exposure, and is a desirable 20 feet wide\?measuring approximately 20\? x 65\?, on a 20\? x 100\? lot; with 2,456 square feet spread over two floors + basement; including a two-story extension at the rear of the property. This is one of the larger mid-block homes that was built. The generous proportions and rich vintage details remind us of Jazz-Age elegance in New York City. From your stoop, it's not hard to imagine horse-drawn carriages, trolley cars, and the Brooklyn Dodgers at Ebbet's Field. Today the house is just a few blocks from the B/Q/2/5 trains for a convenient commute into Manhattan.
On nearby Flatbush Avenue you\?ll find restaurants, bars, a Biergarten, bakeries, butcher & artisan food shop, pet supplies, and wine shops. Community supported groceries are available with subscriptions to PLGCSA and the PLG Food Co-op. Health aficionados can find yoga studios, acupuncture, a local gym, and City Bike. Green thumb\? Check out the community garden with mulching and composting. The Maple Street community enjoys a tight knit group of neighbors who participate in book clubs, diner parties, block parties, organized stoop sales, and an annual \?MapleStock\? potluck on Labor Day. As part of the larger Prospect Lefferts Gardens neighborhood, the buyers of this majestic house will enjoy access to some of Brooklyn\?s best recreational and cultural amenities nearby including: Prospect Park, The Brooklyn Botanical Gardens, The Brooklyn Museum, and The Brooklyn Public Library\?s main branch.
