For an old-house lover or preservationist, the recent renovation of one of Brooklyn Heights’ oldest houses, now on the market, is heartbreaking.

While the exterior of the circa 1820s wood frame at 24 Middagh Street has been beautifully restored, per the Landmarks Preservation Commission requirements, the rare almost fully intact historic interior has been gutted and reconfigured so that, apart from one or two mantels, it is unrecognizable.

What was needed, perhaps, was a deep-pocketed preservationist to guide the house gently into the 21st century, making what structural reinforcements were needed without disturbing the historic fabric. But such an approach can be more costly than gutting, and such characters are thin on the ground — and evidently none stepped forward.

Contrast the fate

See Full Page