13 Brooklyn condos with the best waterfront views
Way back in 1992 when David Dinkins was mayor, a Department of City Planning report began, “New York City’s waterfront is a valuable but still untapped resource. Decades of declining maritime activity have left much of the city’s waterfront dormant. Today, after years of neglect and revitalization attempts stalled by the clash of competing interests, New Yorkers are coming together to fulfill the public’s claim to productive use and increased enjoyment of this resource.” Today, this transformation is perhaps the most evident along the Brooklyn waterfront, where views of Manhattan and beyond are enjoyed from contemporary towers, restored industrial buildings, and cool, open lofts. Ahead, we round up 13 condominiums with the best views on the waterfront in Brooklyn.
Credit Laurian Ghinitoiu
One John Street was developed by Alloy with partner Monadnock who acquired the parcel, the last waterfront site in Dumbo, in late 2013. The 12-story building is situated entirely within Brooklyn Bridge Park, and residents have access to a landscaped roof deck complete with grills and cabanas, a parkside lounge area, gym, laundry room, and more. Plus, the building is home to Mediterranean restaurant Celestine. Another distinguishing factor of One John Street is that all of its 42 units are overly spacious, ranging from 1,500 to 3,000 square feet and boasting incredible East River, Manhattan, and Brooklyn Bridge views. The penthouses are even more spectacular, as some have private rooftop terraces with outdoor fireplaces and sunken outdoor living spaces.
2. Front & York
Rendering courtesy of Williams New York
A Morris Adjmi masterpiece, Front & York is a luxury residential building occupying a full city block just across from the York Street F station. With 728 rentals and condos, it’s the largest development yet in Dumbo and boasts a large private park designed by Michael Van Valkenburg Associates (who’s also responsible for the nearby Brooklyn Bridge Park) and street-level space for a slew of new retail opportunities. Other amenities include a 712-spot underground parking lot, a rooftop pool with a lounge area, a Porte-cochere, co-working lounges, private chef’s kitchen, wine room, and teen lounge. Front & York will also be home to NYC’s largest Life Time gym, which will have a full basketball court, fitness studios, a Kids Academy, a full-service salon, and a café. Residences feature 10-foot ceilings with floor-to-ceiling factory-style windows (perfect to take in those views) and high-end fixtures like Gaggenau kitchen appliances and Waterworks cast iron tubs. Condo listings launched this past September, and the building is expected to be fully completed in 2021.
The Clocktower Building overlooking Brooklyn Bridge Park, photo by Wgreaves via Wikimedia Commons
It’s been 22 years since Dumbo’s iconic Clocktower building was converted to 124 condominiums, and it’s still one of the most coveted addresses in Brooklyn. The triplex penthouse in the pinnacle has become the stuff of real estate legend, and the rest of the building is comprised of renovated lofts, some of which are split-levels, all with high ceilings and direct waterfront views. All residents can utilize a large common roof deck that opens onto panoramas of the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges, as well as a fitness center. They also have easy access to the southern edge of Brooklyn Bridge Park.
4. Pierhouse
Credit David Sunderbg/Esto.
In Brooklyn Heights, the Marvel Architects-designed Pierhouse is a stunning green building that seems to be a virtual extension of Brooklyn Bridge Park. Thanks to the way the residences bow in front of each other, each of the 108 units has unobstructed views of the Manhattan skyline. All of the one- to five-bedrooms are duplexes, and some have double-height living rooms and large terraces. In addition to being super dog-friendly, Pierhouse is adjacent to 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge, where you’ll find farm-to-table restaurant The Osprey, a rooftop cocktail bar, a more casual cafe, and a lobby farmstand.
Photo by CityRealty
Located at 360 Furman Street in Brooklyn Heights, One Brooklyn Bridge Park was originally built as a warehouse in 1928 and was converted to condos in 2008. The 450 residences, which range from studios to three bedrooms, have 13-foot ceilings, walls of windows, and kitchens and bathrooms with high-end appliances. The many amenities include a 500-car garage, two landscaped garden terraces, an outdoor putting green, a billiards room, a grand piano room, a children’s playroom, and a gym.
6. Quay Tower
Via Moso Studio
Located at the southern end of Brooklyn Bridge Park at Pier 6 (where there’s an East River Ferry stop), the 126-unit Quay Tower was the last residential development site at the park (along with the rental 15 Bridge Park Drive, also at Pier 6). Designed by local architects ODA with interiors by Marmol Radziner, the 30-story building was built with the highest quality materials, like custom quartzite countertops in the kitchens and Alabastrino Rustico travertine marble in the bathrooms. The 126 units, ranging from two- to five-bedrooms, also come outfitted with Amazon Alexa devices. This is all in addition to the incredible views of the Manhattan skyline, Downtown Brooklyn, and New York harbor. Amenities include a 4,000-square-foot rooftop terrace, a fitness center, pet wash, music room, and a state-of-the-art fitness center including the first-ever partnership with Gleason’s Boxing Gym and Peleton bikes.
7. & 8. 1 River Park and 2 River Park
View of the entire River Park development, rendering courtesy of Williams New York
Cobble Hill’s River Park development encompasses five buildings on the former Long Island College Hospital campus, right near the start of Brooklyn Bridge Park. The tallest tower is the 28-story 2 River Park (at 475 feet, it’s also the tallest in all of South Brooklyn). Completed this year and designed by Hill West Architects, 2 River Park features 116 condo units and amenities such as a fitness center, indoor pool, spa, porte cochère, and a third-level sky park. Many of the units come with private balconies. The 15-story, 48-unit 1 River Park was designed by FXCollaborative and offers residents a fitness center, on-site parking, outdoor heated pool with East River views, outdoor space for grilling and dining, and a rooftop terrace.
As 6sqft previously reported, phase one of River Park included sales at Polhemus Residences and Townhouses and the 25-unit 5 River Park. Numbers 1 and 2 satisfy phase two, while phase three includes 3 and 4 River Park, which are expected to launch sales in 2020 and 2021.
Rendering via Morris Adjmi Architects
In 2017, architect Morris Adjmi–the master of reviving New York’s contextual history while adding a sleek, modern flair–renovated the 1915 Austin, Nichols & Co. building originally designed by Cass Gilbert (of Woolworth Building notoriety) into luxury, waterfront lofts reminiscent of their industrial past. The Williamsburg building features 338 high-end, contemporary apartments with preserved concrete interior columns, Shaker-ish kitchen cabinetry that mirror Gilbert’s tall, narrow windows, and 12-foot ceilings with herringbone floors. Amenities include a waterfront fitness center, cafe, theater space and music rehearsal rooms, as well as many outdoor, landscaped courtyards and terraces for residents to enjoy those inspiring views.
The two Edge towers on the left with the two Northside Piers towers on the right, photo by Jim Henderson via Wikimedia Commons
10. & 11. The Edge (North Tower and South Tower)
Completed in 2009, contributing to the larger revitalization of the Williamsburg waterfront, the Edge is an eco-friendly development that spans two full city blocks with more than 1,000 units. The 30-story south tower has 360 condos at 22 North 6th Street, while the 15-story north tower has 205 condos at 34 North 7th Street. In addition to the incredible skyline views, the best part about this development is probably the location. Situated across from East River State Park where Smorgasburg and Brooklyn Flea set up shop in the summer and where the North Williamsburg ferry stop is, the Edge is also just a quick walk to the L train and all the shops/restaurants at Bedford.
Because of the sheer size, the development’s amenity offerings are also extra-large with a glass-enclosed indoor pool with a heated floor, an adjacent plunge pool with waterfall, multiple fitness centers including a group fitness/yoga room and a court for basketball or volleyball, a spa with saunas, steam rooms, and a communal fire pit, an outdoor terrace with barbecues, playroom, game room, and more.
12. & 13. One Northside Piers and Two Northside Piers
Located just south of the Edge along Kent Avenue between North 4th and 5th Streets, One and Two Northside Piers were completed in 2008. One is 29 floors and has 180 apartments, while Two is 30 stories and has 269 apartments. Of course, the buildings benefit from the same views and location perks as the Edge, and they also feature waterfront esplanade, concierge service, a heated indoor pool, fitness centers, children’s playrooms, a residents’ lounge, a full-time doorman and a restaurant.
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