Atlantic Avenue Control House
Why it's listed
Built in 1908 on a triangular traffic island where Atlantic and Flatbush Avenues meet in Brooklyn, this small building once served as an entrance to the IRT subway. It resembles the 72nd Street Control House in Manhattan but is distinguished by large, shaped gable ends with the words "Atlantic Avenue" executed in terra-cotta. Today it is no longer a station entrance. It operates as a concession stand and is enclosed by a modern steel structure, though the gables and overall outline remain clearly visible. No important interior features survive. It was listed as part of a group of four early twentieth-century control houses, which are described as the only remaining original entrances to New York's subway system, the first such system in the United States. Reviewers acknowledged the alterations to the Atlantic Avenue building but concluded that its role in the history of urban transportation still made it eligible.
Significance in brief: The control houses are described as the only remaining original entrances to New York's subway system, which is described as the first such system in the US. The Atlantic Avenue building has been altered, but reviewers judged the case for historical significance strong enough to outweigh the loss of integrity. Eligibility rests on its association with the history of transportation.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 80002643, listed May 6, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Flatbush and Atlantic Aves., New York |
|---|---|
| County | Brooklyn |
| Listed | May 6, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80002643 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Areas of significance | Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | No longer used as a station entrance; presently used as a concession stand and surrounded by a modern steel structure. No important interior features remain. |
| Acreage | 0.1 |
| Coordinates | 40.68456, -73.97798 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 80002643.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q121048480
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.