A meticulously preserved 1870s Neo-Grec brownstone in Brooklyn's Clinton Hill neighborhood has hit the market for $4.199 million, showcasing an extraordinary collection of original architectural features that have remained intact for nearly 150 years. The property at 309 Vanderbilt Avenue stands as a rare example of Victorian-era craftsmanship, complete with marble mantels, ornate ceiling medallions, pocket doors, and a unique pass-through connecting bedrooms.
The historic brownstone, measuring just under 19 feet wide, offers a surprising amount of living space with a hidden setback third floor tucked behind the building's cornice line. Built in 1877 by developer Benjamin Linikin, the property is located within the Clinton Hill Historic District and has remained in the same family for decades, allowing its period details to be lovingly maintained rather than modernized away.
According to the historic district designation report, this brownstone was part of a row constructed by Linikin, who was actively developing properties throughout the area during the 1870s. Period advertisements show Linikin building similar brownstones on Clifton Place, Greene Avenue, and Grand Avenue, with his 1878 marketing materials promoting "houses on Vanderbilt Avenue near Dekalb with brownstone fronts and all modern improvements." Remarkably, Number 309 was noted as the only house in its row to retain all original architectural features, including the rusticated basement, incised ornamental details, high stoop, and distinctive iron cornice.
The interior layout follows traditional brownstone configuration, with the kitchen and formal dining room positioned on the garden level. The main floor features elegant double parlors connected by pocket doors adorned with ornamental fretwork, while the second floor contains bedrooms linked by an unusual pass-through equipped with dual marble-topped vanities. The surprise third floor adds another bedroom, full bathroom, and finished attic space, significantly expanding the home's livable area.
Visitors enter through arched doors into a grand stair hall featuring the first of several ceiling medallions found throughout the house, along with the original wooden staircase. The front parlor impresses with soaring ceilings, hardwood floors with decorative inlaid borders, another ornate ceiling medallion, and a stunning marble fireplace mantel. Pocket doors lead to the rear parlor, which boasts its own impressive mantel and an architectural niche framed by decorative corbels.
The property's historical significance extends beyond architecture, having been documented by renowned photographer Dinanda Nooney in 1976 as part of her project capturing Brooklynites in their homes. Her black and white photograph shows the rear parlor configured as a casual family room, with the same marble mantel and 19th-century lighting fixture that remain in place today, testament to the home's exceptional preservation.
The garden level dining room features a slightly less ornate but equally well-preserved marble mantel, complemented by original interior shutters, hardwood floors, and another decorative ceiling medallion. A built-in storage-lined passageway leads to the kitchen, which maintains a vintage aesthetic with beadboard wall treatments, a tile-faced alcove for the stove, and a center island incorporating a sink and dishwasher. An adjacent powder room contains period-appropriate fixtures including a petite wall-mounted sink and corner shower.
The second floor's master bedroom faces the street and includes another corbel-adorned architectural niche, while the innovative pass-through to the rear bedroom creates a unique suite-like arrangement with the dual vanities. A full bathroom on this level features traditional beadboard wainscoting and an original clawfoot bathtub, maintaining the home's period authenticity.
The top floor bedroom, according to floor plans, includes its own sink for added convenience, plus access to a full bathroom equipped with a modern large shower. The property extends outdoors to a private rear yard accessible from the kitchen, featuring a paved patio with ample space for outdoor dining and entertaining. Kathleen Perkins of Compass Real Estate holds the exclusive listing for this exceptional Clinton Hill residence, which represents a rare opportunity to own a piece of Brooklyn's architectural heritage.
