36 Main St, Roslyn, NY, 11576

Estella Seaman House (Hicks Street)

15 Hicks Street, Roslyn

Date Built1888
Original UseResidence
Restoration StatusCompleted Restoration Date1985
Roslyn Landmark Society Covenant No
View House Tour Details 1998 (Page 68)

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Adapted from the 1998 House Tour Guide (Page 68)


The part of Roslyn Village bounded by West Shore Road, Old Northern Boulevard, Mott Avenue and the Flower Hill Village line, started to develop as an artisan's residential district during the 19th century. This area has survived as RoslynVillage's "Residence C" Zoning District. Several mid-19th century houses survive, some of significant architectural merit. One, the Henry Western Eastman Cottage, at the east end of Mott Avenue, is listed in The National Register of Historic Places. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, there was extensive residential construction with the result that many of the houses were built on lots only 50 feet in width.

In 1910, when the trolley line to Flushing was developed by the New York and North Shore Traction company, the West Turnpike Hill (now Old Northern Boulevard) was widened on its south side from Mineola Avenue to the Clock Tower, Clock Tower and a few of the houses on the south side of the Turnpike were relocated to the north. One of them, #1100 Old Northern Boulevard, an 18th century house on a concrete block foundation has been tentatively identified, and the possibility exists that #1147 Old Northern Boulevard, which may have been built as early as the 1840's also was relocated. This practice of relocation of houses into the district continued with each of the two subsequent substantial road alterations although it should be remembered that, with both of these, while some houses were salvaged many more were demolished.

With the construction of North Hempstead Turnpike, in 1948, the size of the district was substantially reduced, although #126 Mott Avenue and #14 Hicks Street were relocated and survived. With the West Shore Road improvement project of 961, several houses along Old Northern Boulevard and West Shore Road were demolished, including Stephen Speedling's West Toll-Gate House, although the best of these, #130 Mott Avenue, was moved a few feet and survived. Subsequently, several new houses were built, most of them architecturally less qualitative than the original group. Even more seriously, several early houses were robbed of their architectural quality under the heading of modernization. However, withstanding deterioration, traffic stresses and unfortunate renovation and construction practices; the district retains a large part of its picturesque vitality. In recent years, the standards of restoration quality have improved and the quality of the neighborhood has started to move upward. There are several reasons for this. First of all the massive increase in the price of property in Roslyn has placed most local houses out of the reach of many, who have recognized that picturesque 19th century houses with harbor views were still available right down the street. These are especially attractive to owners who have careers, but no children and who simply are not at home when traffic is a problem. Some of the new owners have completed substantial restoration projects which have been effectively guided by the Roslyn Village Historic District Board, after it acquired the power of enforcement in 1979.

The restorations improved in quality as owners became more cooperative and depended more upon the guidance of the Board. Early "restorations" as #9 Layton Street (1890-1900) and #17 Tatterson Street (ca. 1900) often were done without applying for building permits and then being forced to recant in part. As the reputation of the Historic District Board matured, and after the Village Government removed two-family houses from the Zoning Code, reducing density and making speculation less profitable, owners became more cooperative, especially those who felt that the Board would provide sound, economical advice. Recent restorations, as #11 and #ll b Layton Street (1875-1900), #13 Layton 69 Street (ca. 1890) and #1155 Old Northern Boulevard (1900-1910), as well as the new garage on Layton Street at the rear of #1101 Old Northern Boulevard, and the recently completed infill house just west of #1125 Old Northern Boulevard. All have achieved a much higher level of restoration standards. Even the correction of Building Code violations, as of the porch of the relocated 18th century house at #1100 Old Northern Boulevard, have been completed in compliance with the Historic District Board's requirements. These restored houses have added significantly to the quality of the district. However, several derelicts remain, as well as some unaltered, architecturally significant houses, as #12 Hicks Street.

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