6 Brooklyn rentals with incredible outdoor space
Renters everywhere, but particularly in dense urban cities like New York, want access to outdoor space in some form. A recent survey of more than 15,000 potential renters from Apartments.com found that 37 percent of respondents ranked access to a balcony, patio, or other outdoor space as crucial for their next home. And developers of luxury apartment buildings have responded, leaning into resort-style amenities for both renters and homeowners. From Williamsburg to Brighton Beach, developments in Brooklyn are offering waterfront esplanades, private parks, rooftop pools, and open-air sky lounges, meeting a need New Yorkers have for fresh air and community.
Some of the properties featured here are part of paid partnerships, which help support our editorial work. All buildings are selected and independently reviewed by the 6sqft team.
240 Willoughby
Fort Greene
Not many apartment buildings in New York City sit on top of a 30-acre park, making 240 Willoughby in Fort Greene a true find for Brooklyn renters. Developed by Fetner Properties, the new development consists of two 32-story towers across the street from Fort Greene Park, a lovely green oasis with tennis courts, a basketball court, a playground, and community programs every week. In addition to being next to one of the city’s finest public parks, the complex offers private outdoor terraces or balconies at most of its 460 apartments.
The indoor-outdoor living continues across 240 Willoughby’s 30,000 square feet of amenity spaces. On the landscaped roof deck, residents have access to barbecues and dining, ideal for any soiree.
Unobstructed views are on full display from the building’s floor-to-ceiling windows, private terraces, and roof decks, showing off stretching from the tree tops and rolling hills of Fort Greene Park to the Manhattan skyline and East River.
The building offers units ranging from studios to two-bedrooms. Penthouse units that take up the top four floors enjoy sweeping 360-degree views. The net effective rent starts at $3,618/month for studios.
Society Brooklyn
Gowanus
While Gowanus was never known for its access to green space, unless you enjoy spending time canalside, a flurry of new developments is bringing new public space to the evolving neighborhood. Developed by PMG, Society Brooklyn consists of two 21-story towers with over 500 apartments and a host of luxury amenities next to the Gowanus Canal. One of the biggest perks is its abundance of outdoor space, starting with the waterfront esplanade and park.
Designed by landscape architecture firm SCAPE, the park features a picnic grove for communal dining, play structures inspired by the history of oysters along the canal, and benches made of reclaimed wood.
Other outdoor amenities include a yoga and fitness lawn, a garden deck, an herb garden, and lots of areas to lounge and dine al fresco. Another warm-weather perk is the development’s outdoor pool, which feels like a world away from city life.
Current availabilities start at $3,258/month for a studio and go up to $8,606/month for a three-bedroom, two-bath.
Sky Three Residences
Brighton Beach
A massive new development in Brighton Beach is redefining what outdoor space could mean as a residential amenity in New York City. Stretching a full block in South Brooklyn, just minutes from the beach and Coney Island boardwalk, Sky Three Residences includes three buildings with over 100,000 square feet of amenities. This includes the largest outdoor pool in Brooklyn (which is heated for all-season swimming), a pool deck with cabanas and loungers, outdoor showers, and a quarter-mile outdoor running track around the expansive outdoor spaces.
Sky Three Residences really embraces the resort-style amenity lifestyle, with a sports club that would please any athlete or workout aficionado. There’s a strength and cardio room with free weights, a dedicated yoga and Pilates studio, an indoor half basketball court, and group fitness classes.
The wellness spaces go even further with a spa club, equipped with a dry sauna, relaxation lounge, wellness treatment room, and sound therapy.
The development is now leasing one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, priced from $3,400/month for a one-bedroom to $5,575/month for a three-bedroom with two baths.
1515 Surf Avenue
Coney Island
A beachfront location might be the ideal outdoor space for a residential building in New York City, especially in the summer months. But at 1515 Surf Avenue in Coney Island, the Atlantic Ocean takes center stage all year long, with its private amenities offering stunning views of the waterfront and legendary amusement parks across the street.
Developed by LCOR, 1515 Surf Avenue is a 100 percent electric two-tower development with over 460 apartments.
Residents can enjoy a landscaped outdoor garden equipped with barbecue grills, a pool deck with lounge seating facing the sea, and a top-level sky lounge that offers the best views, stretching from the ocean, boardwalk, and Brooklyn Cyclones’ Maimonides Park to the Manhattan skyline.
Additional perks include a fitness center, an indoor basketball and handball court, a playroom, beach lockers, resident lounges, co-working spaces, and on-site parking.
Current availabilities start at around $3,000/month for a one-bedroom, with a concession of two months free on certain leases.
Magnolia Dumbo
Dumbo
One of the city’s largest private parks can be found at this Brooklyn development. Designed by prolific architect Morris Adjmi and developed by RXR, Magnolia Dumbo at 160 Front Street offers 320 luxury rentals minutes from Brooklyn Bridge Park and the East River waterfront.
One of the biggest highlights of this apartment complex, which also has a little over 400 condo units, is the sprawling green space designed by Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates. Found at the center of the apartments, the park measures a half acre and is the perfect gathering space, with hand-carved sculptural seating and a magnolia grove with bistro tables.
Magnolia Dumbo’s outdoor space continues in the form of a rooftop pool and deck that offers lovely views of the Manhattan Bridge and the city skyline and a terrace lounge with an outdoor fireplace. Other amenities include work-from-home space, a media and gaming lounge, a pet spa, on-site parking, a children’s playroom, and a three-level Life Time gym that has an indoor pool, a full-sized basketball court, and a cafe.
Magnolia offers studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom residences that face either the lush private park or quintessential Dumbo. Current availabilities start at $5,666/month for a one-bedroom with a large terrace.
Williamsburg Wharf
Williamsburg
Developed by Naftali Group and designed by Brandon Haw Architecture, Williamsburg Wharf is a new waterfront development with three 22-story residential buildings and 20,000 square feet of amenities on the north Brooklyn waterfront. The rental collection comprises Two, Three, and Four Williamsburg Wharf, offering light-filled apartments with incredible views. The development includes a promenade along the East River, with pathways and green spaces that create a connection to the waterfront.
The amenity suite, dubbed the Williamsburg Wharf Resort & Recreation Club, adds to the resort-style living, with 20,000 square feet of amenities. The impressive package includes an outdoor pool (that converts to an ice rink in the winter), a landscaped riverfront patio with seating and a dog run, terraces with an outdoor kitchen and fire pit, and a landscaped roof deck with sweeping Manhattan views. Rounding out the list of perks are co-working lounges, media lounges, private dining rooms, a pet spa, and a state-of-the-art fitness center.
Luxury apartments are nice and bright, with floor-to-ceiling windows and private outdoor space for select units. Net effective rents at Williamsburg Wharf start at $3,662/month for a studio.
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