Building: 361 Sterling Place

Architect: D.G. Malcolm

Original Owner/Developer: E.S. Delemeter

Type: Flats

Style/Ornament: Renaissance Revival

Material: Flemish bond brick with limestone and terra-cotta trim; metal cornice

Stories: Four and basement

History
This four-story and basement, brick-faced flats building was designed in the Renaissance Revival style by architect D.G. Malcolm, and was built in c.1902 by E.S. Delemeter at a time when multiple dwellings were gaining favor among developers due to increases in the population and property values in greater New York. The building’s facades display an array of Renaissance inspired ornament, such as rusticated brickwork, splayed lintels, brick quoins, Tuscan columns, rosettes, cartouches, and a bracketed cornice, decorated with metopes, guttae, and dentils. This fine flats building has survived as a remarkably intact and significant example of multiple-family residential architecture in early-twentieth-century Brooklyn.

Description
Sterling Place Façade: Nine bays at the basement and first story; eleven bays at the second, third, and fourth stories; brick quoins; brick foundation (painted); original windows sealed with cement; security lamps; projecting main entry portico (painted brick and limestone) with brownstone steps (painted), Tuscan columns, flat pilasters, historic wrought-iron and glass double doors and transom, coved ceiling, carved sign panel “Sterling” flanked by rosettes, non-historic wall lamps, and molded cornice with modillions and cartouches decorated with masks, wreaths, and guttae; molded water table incorporating the first-story window sills; recessed brick banding at the first story; splayed brick lintels; limestone keystones; non-historic glass transoms; and non-historic wrought-iron security gates at the first story; molded crown above the first story, incorporating the second story window sills; projecting window sills at the third story; splayed lintels with keystones at the second and third stories; foliated crown above the third story, incorporating the fourth-story window sills; molded surrounds at the fourth story and at some of the second-and third story bays; synthetic replacement sash throughout; historic wrought-iron fire escape; prominent roof cornice, decorated with metopes, guttae, dentils and modillions.

Underhill Avenue Façade: Two bays; similar to the Sterling Place façade. North Elevation (partially visible): Projecting window sills, segmental lintels, and non-historic wrought-iron security gates; metal roof coping.

East Façade: Two bays; quoins, moldings, and brickwork at the corner matching the Sterling Place façade; projecting windows sills and segmental lintels; non-historic wrought-iron fire escape; metal roof coping.

Significant Alterations: Modified configurations at some of the windows facing Sterling Place.

Site Features: Bluestone curb at the street; low bluestone retaining wall topped by non-historic metal fence at the planting bed; historic cast-iron tube fence and posts at the basement areaway; iron stair to the basement.