The early architecture and streetscape that shaped Brooklyn sprouted after the war where the British had control over New York. This led to a rise in economical and industrial development through trade and businesses opening up and attracting new comers to migrate to find work. New immigrants would come in by boat at the most convenient point to dock which was Manhattans low water edge. Creating a focal business point to provide immigrants with the necessities they needed as new settlers. All these factors influenced this seaports growth to keep up with its up and coming trade for goods and services. Brooklyn land owners also recognized its potential for growth by providing rented housing on its high grounds for those who wanted to escape the stress from the city. The molding of New York and Brooklyn’s streetscape was directed by their geographical water edge and the revival of federal and Greek styles and influences from the Dutch.

Brooklyn’s geographical features didn’t allow it to have a focal seaport like the one in Manhattan. The existing water edge is man made composed of landfill, it was originally met by a cliff. Manhattan had a lower water edge for boats to conveniently dock. This began to separate settlers that wanted to leave the city and move to the edge of Brooklyn facing Manhattan. Those who settled at the top of this cliff were able to experience a clearer view of Manhattan along with winds brought from the sea that hit the cliff.

This particular area became populated with wood houses. The land owners in Brooklyn heights became very rich and filled their properties with gardens in their front lawns. Many neighboring Brooklyn houses looked fairly similar because building developers would buy adjacent lots. Several facades in the 1830’s had a Flemish block binding pattern that came from the Dutch. Many of the designs in the front doors in Brooklyn were inspired by Greek revival or return of Romanesque from the 1840’s and 1850’s which included an arch around the front of the door. Manhattans streetscape was more influenced by the federal style being more decorative with its office and commercial spaces in its seaport side in south street where immigrants would arrive as opposed to the residents that settled in Brooklyn who had more houses than commercial or office spaces because of their differences in water edge conditions.