Why this Blog Exists

To make the case for expanding the Park Slope Historic District

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Pohlman & Patrick for Louis Bonert in 3rd Street

3rd Street between 6th and 7th Avenues is one of the grandest blocks in Park Slope. The extra-wide street and the uniform white apartment houses marching uphill lend a dignity and majesty to this block.

Way back in our retrospective of the work of Louis Bonert, one of the most prolific builders in Park Slope, we reviewed evidence for his role as builder of much of this block. However, only recently have we uncovered evidence, from the Real Estate Record and Builders' Guide, that the architectural firm of Pohlman and Patrick designed at least 8 apartment houses for Bonert in this block in 1903.

The RERBG evidence suggests that Pohlman and Patrick designed four of the 8-family apartment houses on each side of 3rd Street, toward the 6th Avenue end of the block.

North side:

"Projected Buildings," RERBG v. 71, no. 1835 (May 16, 1903): p. 1020. -803- 3rd st, n s, 107.9 e 6th av, four 4-sty brk tenements, 38.3x68, 8 families, steam heat; total cost, $60,000; L Bonert, 319 6th av; ar'ts, Pohlman & Patrick, 1235 3rd av.

437-449 3rd Street
Pohlman and Patrick, architects - 1903
Louis Bonert, builder

South side:

"Projected Buildings," RERBG v. 71, no. 1834 (May 9, 1903): p. 972. -774- 3rd st, s s, 106.9 e 6th av, four 4-sty brk tenements, 38.3x68, 8 families, steam heat; total cost, $60,000; L Bonert, 319 6th av; ar'ts, Pohlman & Patrick, 1235 5th av.

450-462 3rd Street
Pohlman and Patrick, architects - 1903
Louis Bonert, builder

The apartment houses are generously sized. The 38' width allows the individual apartments, 2 per floor, to be 19' wide, which is as wide as many Park Slope row houses.

450 3rd Street - entrance detail

Further uphill, on both sides of the street, stand some nearly identical apartment houses, also erected by builder Louis Bonert. Interestingly, Bonert chose a different architect for these other apartment buildings, as we shall soon see.

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