Hunters Point Historic District
Also known as: Dominie's Hook; Bennetts Point
The pin is a point inside the NPS boundary polygon, not a surveyed location.
Why it's listed
Forty-fifth Avenue between 21st and 23rd Streets in Hunters Point, Queens, holds a compact group of 19th-century town houses. Many keep their original stoops, cornices, pedimented doorways and arched lintels carried on brackets, and the cornice line is nearly uniform along the block. The land was once part of the Van Alst farm and was later owned by Union College. Spencer B. Root and John P. Rust bought it in 1870 to develop what was then East Twelfth Street. The stone houses stood out in a neighborhood of mostly wooden buildings and became known as "White Collar Row." Residents were largely of Irish descent, and many worked in the government of Long Island City. Hunters Point had become the seat of government for both Long Island City and Queens County. The district is valued for its range of 1890s styles and for having been spared the changes that altered similar areas. The Manhattan skyline forms a backdrop to the avenue's trees, stoops and facades.
Significance in brief: The district is argued to be a microcosm of New York City domestic architecture from the Civil War to the turn of the century. It is notable for its range of 1890s styles, from Italianate rows to later vernacular houses, and for its unusually well-preserved original detail. It also reflects the history of Hunters Point as the seat of government for Long Island City and Queens County.
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 73001251, listed September 19, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Along 45th Ave., between 21st and 23rd Sts., New York |
|---|---|
| County | Queens |
| Listed | September 19, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73001251 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 19th Century |
| Architect / builder | Development begun by Spencer B. Root of Springfield, Massachusetts, and John P. Rust of Brooklyn, who bought the land from Union College in 1870. |
| Architectural style | Italianate rows and later vernacular interpretations |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition is listed as excellent; present use is private residence, with various private owners. Houses were converted to multi-family dwellings during the Depression. |
| Acreage | 1.5 |
| Coordinates | 40.74715, -73.94634 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 73001251.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q3143364
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.