Oddity in New York: a fake house in Brooklyn
Among the old townhouses of Brooklyn Heights, there's one unlike any other... A curiosity well worth a detour!
What to know about Brooklyn’s fake house
- Just across from the Brooklyn Bridge, the residential neighborhood of Brooklyn Heights features beautiful red-brick townhouses known as brownstones. It’s a quiet, family-friendly area far from the hustle of Manhattan.
- This peaceful Brooklyn neighborhood holds a peculiar secret. At 58 Jarolemon Street, you’ll find an elegant townhouse unlike any other. No one lives here, and no one ever has. The façade, front door, and windows are nothing but a façade.
- This building is actually an emergency exit for the New York City subway directly beneath it. Built in 1848, it was purchased in 1908 by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to serve as a ventilation shaft. Later, it was converted into an emergency exit for the Lexington Avenue Line.
What to see at the fake house
- The visit is worth your time—the hyper-realistic façade is striking. You can freely take photos on the steps or in front of the door. If you’re lucky, you might spot MTA staff entering or leaving. The tunnels and emergency exits are regularly inspected.
- I once saw the door open, and it was surprising: a simple corridor leads down to the subway access.
- One note: if no MTA staff are around, don’t ring the bell or try to enter. Police keep watch over this unusual building.
