Frederick Law Olmsted lived in a Staten Island farmhouse when he was experimenting with the ideas that he would eventually incorporate into his designs from Central Park and Prospect Park. Some of the trees he planted still grow there. The house was later occupied by Carlton Beil, a noted Staten Island naturalist, and his family.
The house was named a New York City designated landmark in 1967 and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2020. The Beil family sold the house to the City in 2006 and the grounds were made a City park.
Unfortunately, the house and grounds were not maintained. The New York Landmarks Conservancy began a campaign in 2017 to raise awareness of the house’s importance and begin restoration.
So far they have restored foundation walls, waterproofed the basement, shored up beams and other structural supports, and dismantled unstable brick piers and beams that once supported a porch. The house’s windows were boarded up with plywood for years. It looked like a vacant building and was susceptible to vandalism.
This month, the plywood was removed and clear, protective Lexan was installed over the window openings. The interiors are now flooded with natural light, showing their true potential for a site that is expected to be open to the public someday. Now that the historic windows can be examined, some of them will be restored.
The Staten Island Foundation has supported the Conservancy’s efforts and funded this latest improvement. Fifty Three Restorations, Inc. performed the work. Friends of Olmsted-Beil House and the New York City’s Historic House Trust helped to coordinate the project.
Olmsted–Beil House is located at 4515 Hylan Boulevard (near Woods of Arden Road) in the South Shore of Staten Island. Learn more here.
Photo of window installation and exterior of Olmsted–Beil House provided by The New York Landmarks Conservancy.
