House at 474 Ocean Avenue
Also known as: Luning House
Why it's listed
Built around 1838 on Ocean Avenue in Lynbrook, this two-story frame house began as a modest vernacular Greek Revival farmhouse and grew over time. The roof was raised and a porch with decorative brackets was added around 1870 to 1883, a room was added at the northwest corner in the late nineteenth century, and a sun porch followed in 1946. Inside, the center-hall plan, early staircase, wide plank floors and original window moldings survive. On the grounds are a summer kitchen with a root cellar and a lattice-covered brick well house, both reflecting the property's farming origins; a 1949 garage is compatible but non-contributing. The house is notable as a rare surviving farmhouse from the village's early period. Farmland around it was sold off and became suburban neighborhoods in the early twentieth century, and the Luning family, who owned it from 1894 to 1946, kept the property largely intact. Its architecture and its place in that transformation led to its listing.
Significance in brief: The house is significant under Criterion A as a rare surviving farmhouse from Lynbrook's early period that reflects the village's change from rural farmland to a residential suburb of New York City. It is significant under Criterion C as a vernacular Greek Revival building that retains much of its historic fabric and period details despite later additions.
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 07001455, listed September 15, 2008. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 474 Ocean Ave., Lynbrook |
|---|---|
| County | Nassau County |
| Listed | September 15, 2008 |
| Reference number | 07001455 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1838-1955 |
| Architect / builder | unknown |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a residence; the main house retains much historic fabric along with late-19th-century and 1946 additions. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.65606, -73.65802 (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 07001455.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14706441
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.