From Modest Beginnings to Million-Dollar Real Estate: The Story Behind 342 E. 29th Street and the Vision of Bernhard von Rappaport

 

From Modest Beginnings to Million-Dollar Real Estate: The Story Behind 342 E. 29th Street and the Vision of Bernhard von Rappaport

Today’s historic spotlight takes us to 342 E. 29th Street in Brooklyn, a modest yet million-dollar home that tells a far grander story than its quiet facade suggests. Built in 1899, this unassuming residence was once home to Bernhard von Rappaport and his wife Susan, key figures behind the Rappaport Realty Co.

Although difficult to fully appreciate through a modern Google Street View, the house stands as a symbol of early 20th-century Brooklyn architecture and the foundation of a family legacy that would help shape suburban Long Island.

A Real Estate Visionary

Bernhard von Rappaport wasn’t just a Brooklyn homeowner—he was a real estate mogul with an eye for opportunity and community development. By 1939, he had already made his mark across several neighborhoods including Flatbush, Bay Ridge, and Bethpage.

That year, local papers reported on one of Rappaport’s most ambitious projects: the Bethpage Parkway Estates.

"Sales of 10 homes since Columbus Day in the new Bethpage Parkway Estates on Hempstead Turnpike at Bethpage, were reported today by B. V. Rappaport, builder..."

The Birth of Bethpage Estates

These homes, located adjacent to the entrance of Bethpage State Park, were designed to be affordable yet stylish, attracting weekend crowds and eager buyers. Designed by Carl Salminen, a Flushing-based architect, the homes reflected English and Colonial influences and came in both bungalow and two-story styles.

Priced around $3,300—the equivalent of roughly $70,000 today—each home featured:

• A large living room, dining room, kitchen, and two bedrooms

• Space for two additional rooms upstairs

• A detached garage

• 60x100 landscaped lots

• Modern amenities like brass and copper plumbing, fully equipped linoleum kitchens, and poured concrete waterproofed foundations

Streets and sidewalks were also installed, making it a fully planned and livable neighborhood from the start.

A Builder with Vision

By the time of this 1939 article, Mr. Rappaport had:

• Filed plans for 26 more homes

• Already begun construction on 12

• Was completing foundations for another 12

• Controlled more than 800 lots in the area

He wasn’t just building homes—he was building neighborhoods.

From Brooklyn Brownstone to Long Island Dream

The story of 342 E. 29th Street is a powerful reminder that real estate history isn’t just about buildings—it’s about the people who dreamed big, saw possibilities where others didn’t, and changed the fabric of our communities.

Next time you pass by a quiet Brooklyn street or a suburban Long Island block, think of Mr. Rappaport and the legacy he left—starting from a modest home in Brooklyn and growing into a builder of dreams.

Do you live in one of the homes built in the Bethpage Estates? I would love to see a picture or hear a story from you!