Section 19-131. Restrictions on Clinton avenue

a. The two strips of land,
  each twenty feet in width, which were added  to  each  side  of  Clinton
  avenue  in  the  borough of Brooklyn between Gates avenue and Willoughby
  avenue pursuant to chapter  two  hundred  fifty-seven  of  the  laws  of
  eighteen  hundred ninety-nine shall not be added to the traveled portion
  of Clinton avenue, but shall be reserved  and  preserved  as  ornamental
  court-yards for the benefit and improvement of such avenue.
    b. Any building erected and completed before the first of March in the
  year  eighteen  hundred  ninety-nine, or before that date so far erected
  that its foundations or walls were carried up so far as the level of the
  street, and any piazza or appurtenant structure erected before such date
  may remain or be completed with all rights as though  this  section  had
  not  been passed; but in case any such building is destroyed, or removed
  from such courtyard space, the right reserved therefor shall  be  at  an
  end.
    c.  The  several  parts of such court-yard space as adjoin the several
  lots fronting thereon may be used and occupied by  the  owners  of  such
  lots respectively for the following purposes:
    1.  Grass,  shade trees, shrubbery, statuary, fountains, walks, paths,
  pavements, sewer, gas, electric and other  house  connections,  and  low
  ornamental fences, and
    2. Ingress and egress, and
    3.  Stoops,  porches and piazzas, provided they are open at either end
  and are not less  than  ten  feet  from  the  line  of  such  avenue  as
  established prior to the enactment of chapter two hundred fifty-seven of
  the laws of eighteen hundred ninety-nine, and
    4.  Steps  and  approaches to a house, provided they are in usual form
  and do not interfere with the general intent of this section, and
    5. Such other purposes as are usual and proper for a plot fronting  on
  a street and appurtenant to a residence, hotel, apartment house or other
  dwelling-house.
    d. Nothing shall be erected, done or allowed on such court-yard space,
  that  will  interfere with its open and ornamental character, or that is
  not in accordance with the above uses and purposes.
    e. This section shall not affect the title, or the right to possession
  of the several lots or plots of land in such two strips of land,  except
  as  the  use  thereof  is  limited  and  restricted  as provided in this
  section.