House at 332 Franklin Avenue
Why it's listed
Built in 1888 on a relatively large lot in the heart of Sea Cliff, this two-story house at 332 Franklin Avenue was constructed as a boarding house during the village's resort boom. It has shingled and clapboard walls, a hipped roof, dormers, bay windows, four tapered chimneys, and a wraparound porch with a decorative balustrade and a round-arched entrance cut into a gable end. The design recalls the Queen Anne style through its asymmetrical composition, varied wall sheathing, and assorted window types. Sea Cliff grew from a camp meeting ground into a vacation retreat within commuting distance of New York City, but after 1910 automobiles drew vacationers elsewhere. Most summer houses became year-round homes, and many hotels and large boarding houses were lost to neglect. This house is one of the few boarding houses that survive from that era. The interior was converted to apartments in the 1930s but keeps some original brass hardware and a wooden fireplace surround with a beveled mirror. A mid-twentieth century garage is non-contributing.
Significance in brief: It is presented as a distinguished late nineteenth century summer house reflecting Sea Cliff's original seaside resort community. It is one of the few surviving boarding houses from the resort era. Its design and details recall the Queen Anne style.
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 88000038, listed February 18, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 332 Franklin Ave., Sea Cliff |
|---|---|
| County | Nassau County |
| Listed | February 18, 1988 |
| Reference number | 88000038 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne (design and details reminiscent of the style) |
| Areas of significance | Entertainment/Recreation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Exterior relatively unaltered and in good condition; interior converted to apartments in 1936-1937; present use is multi-dwelling. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.84506, -73.65049 (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 88000038.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q15225980
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.