Hubbard House
Also known as: Hubbard--Lucchelli House; Luchchelli, Theresa, House
Why it's listed
Set among warehouses and auto body shops on a busy commercial avenue in Brooklyn's Gravesend section, this small white farmhouse is an unexpected reminder of the borough's rural Dutch past. It has a one-and-a-half-story main section with flaring eaves and a two-story wing remodeled in 1924. Its look suggests the early or mid-eighteenth century, but construction details such as window muntin profiles point to a date between 1825 and 1835. The house is considered significant for architecture. It is the smallest and most primitive Dutch Colonial in Kings County, the only one there with wood clapboards, and it still sits on its original farm site with its original orientation. Its linear plan and curved eaves illustrate how the Dutch Colonial style changed over time. After its last occupant died in 1997 the house deteriorated and was boarded up, though it remains structurally sound, and a new buyer is working to restore it as a residence.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a rare surviving Dutch Colonial farmhouse in New York City and the smallest, most primitive one in Kings County. It is Brooklyn's only Dutch Colonial with wooden clapboards and keeps its original orientation on its original site. Its linear plan and flaring eaves show how the style evolved, and its details suggest a date a century later than its look implies.
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 00000575, listed June 2, 2000. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 2138 McDonald Ave., Brooklyn |
|---|---|
| County | Brooklyn |
| Listed | June 2, 2000 |
| Reference number | 00000575 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1825-1835 |
| Architect / builder | unknown |
| Architectural style | Dutch Colonial |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Deteriorated since the last occupant died in 1997 and boarded up after burglars stole the plumbing, but structurally sound. A new buyer is working to restore it as a residence. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.60011, -73.97310 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 00000575.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5926851
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.