House at 240 Sea Cliff Avenue
Why it's listed
Built in 1888, this house at 240 Sea Cliff Avenue began as a Methodist parsonage, the second one the congregation built in the village of Sea Cliff, and it is now a private residence. It is an irregular two and one-half story building with multiple cross-gable roofs and a central three-story tower with a tent roof. Saw-tooth shingles cover the gable ends and tower, while clapboard covers the main body. A pedimented canopy with scroll-sawn bargeboard marks the entrance. An east wing was added in 1908, and the original front porch was removed in the 1930s. The house was built as Sea Cliff changed from a Methodist camp meeting ground into a fashionable resort near New York City. Today it is a rare surviving resort-era residence in the commercial center of the village. Its asymmetrical composition, decorative sheathing, varied windows and engaged tower illustrate the village's Victorian architecture.
Significance in brief: The house is presented as a distinguished late nineteenth century summer house tied to Sea Cliff's growth as a seaside resort. It was the second parsonage built by the village's Methodist congregation. It shows eclectic late Victorian features and survives as a rare resort-era residence in the dense central business district.
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 88000006, listed February 18, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 240 Sea Cliff Ave., Sea Cliff |
|---|---|
| County | Nassau County |
| Listed | February 18, 1988 |
| Reference number | 88000006 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Eclectic late Victorian era architecture |
| Areas of significance | Entertainment/Recreation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a residence; condition marked deteriorated on the inventory form, though the exterior is described as relatively unaltered. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.74989, -73.64756 (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 88000006.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5914158
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.