Brooklyn

October 15, 2019

This handsome $2.25M Midwood Park Victorian has enough room for guests to stay a while

Built around 1910, this charming Victorian home at 699 East 18th Street in the Fiske Terrace-Midwood Park Historic District of Brooklyn has over 4,900 square feet of interior space–more than enough room for family and friends on four floors. With a basement greenhouse and home office, a two-car garage and private driveway, a lovely back patio, and a gracious front porch, there's room for everyone's hobbies, too. The house, asking $2.25 million, is filled with well-preserved architectural details like high beamed and coffered ceilings, stained glass, and working gas fireplaces.
Take the tour
October 15, 2019

Live in a new Williamsburg rental with rooftop views and L train access, from $2,176/month

A lottery launched on Tuesday for 17 middle-income units at a new building in Brooklyn. Located at 188 Humboldt Street, the rental borders Williamsburg and Bushwick and sits just one block from the L train at Montrose Avenue. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the apartments, which range from a $2,176/month studio to a $2,758/month two-bedroom apartment.
Find out if you qualify
October 11, 2019

Reports find open space falls short of key goals in Bushwick, Long Island City, and part of Staten Island

New Yorkers for Parks has released three new Open Space Index reports, a series of in-depth “neighborhood snapshots” of parks and open space in Staten Island's Bay Street Corridor, Bushwick, and Long Island City. According to the reports, the Bay Street Corridor failed 11 of 14 open space goals, Bushwick failed 12 of 14, and Long Island City failed 11 of 14. The goals factor in characteristics including the total amount of open space, access, tree canopy, and overall maintenance. According to the City’s own standards, all of the neighborhoods lack sufficient open space and what does exist is often hard to get to or improperly maintained.
More details
October 10, 2019

For $1.2M, a lovely Greenpoint duplex with a private patio and proximity to McCarren Park

Two blocks away from Greenpoint’s bustling Graham Avenue and within walking distance of McCarren and McGolrick Parks, this garden-level duplex also comes with a charming private patio for the days when you don’t want to venture out. The two-bedroom home is located at 252 Richardson Street, a 12-unit condo building that was finished in 2002. Complete with central AC, a dishwasher, and in-unit laundry, the sunny pad was last sold in 2013 for $865,000 and has just hit the market seeking $1.2 million.
Look around
October 10, 2019

City will bring affordable co-living projects to East Harlem and East New York

A year ago, the city’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development announced plans for an affordable co-living pilot program. Known as ShareNYC, the initiative "lets developers seek public financing in exchange for creating affordable, shared-housing developments," as 6sqft previously reported. The city has now selected three proposals that will create or preserve accommodations for roughly 300 residents. Two of the projects, including one by co-living giant Common, will be located in East Harlem, while the third will be in East New York.
Learn about all the projects
October 9, 2019

132-year-old Peter Luger decides to start taking online reservations

The world-famous steakhouse in the shadows of the Williamsburg Bridge will finally start accepting online reservations, amNY reports. Opened 132 years ago, Peter Luger is the third oldest steakhouse in New York City, best known for its dry-aged steaks. After installing a new phone system, the restaurant learned first-hand that many diners were experiencing hours-long wait times trying to get a reservation. In fact, they were receiving up to 6,000 calls each day.
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October 8, 2019

This $765K Brooklyn Heights co-op may be narrow, but a private garden offers the great outdoors

Image credit: VHT, courtesy of The Corcoran Group Steps from the Promenade and Brooklyn Bridge Park in Brooklyn Heights, this one-bedroom co-op at 73 Columbia Heights, asking $765,000, doesn't transcend the average New York City shoebox. But a magical 335-square-foot private garden just out back is an urban outdoor space with room to roam.
Check out the private garden getaway
October 8, 2019

My 750sqft: A marketing strategist’s passion for sustainability is on full display in her Park Slope pad

Many New Yorkers fill their apartments with second-hand goods for that vintage aesthetic or because it's affordable. But Long Island-native Natalie Skoblow thrifts because it also benefits the environment. "From the clothes in my closet to the photos on the wall, almost everything in our apartment is either locally made, thrifted, or sustainably made," Natalie told us on a recent tour of her Park Slope apartment. What began as a hobby in high school became a "full-fledged love affair" with supporting sustainable, ethical brands. From the books found on the sidewalks of her neighborhood to the antique maps of Brooklyn above the piano, Natalie and her boyfriend Jesse's apartment brings new life into old pieces. Ahead, meet Natalie, along with the couple's newly adopted puppy Ollie, and tour her apartment, which she describes as "playful, vibrant, and welcoming."
Meet Natalie and see inside
October 8, 2019

Brooklyn’s tallest office tower tops out; see new interior renderings

Brooklyn just keeps getting bigger. In April, the borough's tallest tower, the condo tower Brooklyn Point, topped out at 720 feet. Now, Brooklyn's tallest office tower has also reached its full 495-foot height. One Willoughby Square (or 1WSQ as it's now being called) is expected to open at the end of 2020, at which time its architect, FXCollaborative, will also become the anchor tenant. The 34-story building will contain 500,000 square feet of office space; all of the floor plans are column-free and many floors have private outdoor terraces.
More looks and details
October 7, 2019

26-story boutique office building planned on top of Calvary Baptist Church on Billionaires’ Row

Developers are planning to build a massive office project on top of a Billionaires' Row church. The Real Deal reported on Monday that Alchemy and ABR Investment Partners have partnered to buy properties owned by Calvary Baptist Church at 123-141 West 57th Street. The proposed boutique office building would rise 26 stories atop church space and sit next to Extell Development's supertall, One57.
More here
October 3, 2019

Architect-transformed triplex in Brooklyn Heights’ landmarked Eagle Warehouse seeks $2.1M

A co-op in Brooklyn Heights’ iconic Eagle Warehouse & Storage Company at 28 Fulton Street—described by CityRealty as “one of the city’s great Romanesque-style landmarks”—is now available for just under $2.1 million. With a private street entrance, the residence is technically a maisonette spanning over three levels. Inside, the architect owners have added their touches to an already character-rich space.
Take a peek inside
October 3, 2019

Behold photos of Williamsburg’s new commercial office development 25 Kent, now complete

25 Kent Avenue, Williamsburg's first ground-up commercial office development in over 50 years, is now complete. The building spans a full city block and was designed by architects Hollwich Kushner (HWKN) and Gensler and to provide "a social campus for innovators, startup founders, and tech leaders." As 6sqft previously reported, the eight-story building holds 500,000 square feet of office space along the Williamsburg waterfront as well as retail at ground level and underground parking, with millennial-friendly rooftops and terraces and floor-to-ceiling windows.
Many more photos of 25 Kent, this way
October 3, 2019

CetraRuddy’s new tower will bring affordable rentals to Downtown Brooklyn

After breaking ground last month, the mixed-use development at 22 Chapel Street near the Manhattan Bridge now has more details to share. Designed by CetraRuddy, the 20-story tower will bring 180 rental units to Downtown Brooklyn, 45 of which will be affordable. Among other amenities, it will have a rooftop pool and terrace, along with ground-floor retail space and a new headquarters for the START organization. Completion is expected in 2021.
More details
October 2, 2019

Apply for 40 affordable apartments in East New York, from $590/month

A lottery opened this week for 41 affordable apartments in a newly constructed building in eastern Brooklyn. Located at 463 Livonia Avenue, the site is part of the city's Livonia Avenue Initiative, a program aimed at revitalizing the Brooklyn neighborhoods of East New York and Brownsville. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 40, 50, and 60 percent of the area median income can apply for the units, which range from a $590/month one-bedroom to a $1,449/per month three-bedroom apartment.
Find out if you qualify
October 2, 2019

Mixed-income development with healthy grocery store breaks ground in East New York

A groundbreaking celebration this week officially kicked off construction at 50 Pennsylvania Avenue in East New York. The Dattner Architects-designed project—referred to as 50 Penn—is led by Philadelphia-based developer Pennrose with RiseBoro Community Partnership, who will manage the property. It will bring 218 units of affordable and moderate-income housing to the neighborhood, alongside retail options on the ground floor that will include a healthy grocery store. The development is slated for completion in July 2021.
More details
September 30, 2019

Canarsie Tunnel rehab to wrap up early, full L train service expected in April

Repair work of the century-old Canarsie Tunnel will wrap up three months early, bringing full L train service to commuters as early as April, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Sunday. The original construction plan from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority called for the subway line to totally shut down for 15 months during the repairs. Last winter, a few months before work was set to begin, the governor stepped in with a new plan that avoided a full shutdown of L train service.
Find out more
September 27, 2019

Get to know Bay Ridge in the Urban Archive scavenger hunt

A scavenger hunt can be a great way to get to know a new neighborhood–or discover things about its history that you might never have learned. Join Urban Archive, the Historic Districts Council, and the New York City Department of Records for a scavenger hunt using the Urban Archive app in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn on Sunday, October 6th.
Start hunting, this way
September 27, 2019

Community board wants to rename Willoughby Square Park to honor area’s abolitionist ties

During a Brooklyn Community Board 2 meeting on Wednesday, the group's Youth, Education, and Cultural Affairs Committee voted to rename Downtown Brooklyn's proposed Willoughby Square Park, as Curbed NY first reported. Jacob Morris, a historian and the head of the Harlem Historical Society and the New York City Freedom Trail, initially brought forward a resolution to co-name the square Abolitionist Place Park. By the end of the meeting, the board decided to recommend a full renaming to the city's Economic Development Corporation. The resolution will be voted on by CB2's full board on Oct. 7.
Details here
September 26, 2019

The Nets reveal new Barclays Center court design, inspired by Brooklyn

Images by Mike Lawrence; courtesy of the Brooklyn Nets The Nets have revealed a new primary court design just in time for the 2019-20 season. It's the first full redesign of the court since the Nets moved to Barclays Center in 2012 and it's very much inspired by the team's roots.  The new floors retained their trademark herringbone pattern but got updated with a fresh gray hue—an unusual, but symbolic, choice.
More details
September 26, 2019

Chic Cobble Hill townhouse in converted Long Island College Hospital building asks $5.4M

This four-bedroom unit at 355 Henry Street is one of three townhouse conversions inside the former Long Island College Hospital's Lamm Institute building (previously 110 Amity Street). The French Renaissance-style structure was designed by William C. Hough and constructed in 1902. It originally served as nurses residence's before the Lamm Institute for Developmental Disorders moved in during the 1970s. The landmarked Cobble Hill building and three adjacent lots were sold to investors in 2007 for $6 million. The modernized residence sprawls over four stories and boasts a roof deck with harbor views for the asking price of $5.4 million.
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September 25, 2019

Sou Fujimoto will design co-living complex at former Slave Theater site, his first New York project

Days after filing building permits for 1215 Fulton Street in Bed-Stuy—the site of the former Slave Theatre—London-based co-living startup The Collective has announced it will be partnering with renowned Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto on the design, his first in New York. The 10-story structure will span over 240,000 square feet and be comprised of three buildings connected by an expansive “ground-floor hub” designed to feel like “an extension of the street.” The project aims to create “a new idea of how a community can come together in a building,” as the architects explained in a design statement.
Take a first look at the renderings
September 25, 2019

City’s Gowanus Canal cleanup plan gets squashed by Trump’s EPA

Photo by Danny Navarro / Flickr cc Since taking office, Donald Trump and his administration have been proposing cuts to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that would decrease funding for the cleanup of the Gowanus Canal. Declared a federal Superfund site in 2010, the Canal has a major issue with combined sewer overflow (CSO), which occurs when heavy rainfall overtaxes the sewer system and causes stormwater runoff and wastewater to empty into the waterway. As Brooklyn Eagle reports, the city's proposal to mitigate this issue was to "replace two [CSO] retention tanks holding 8 and 4 million gallons with a 16 million-gallon CSO tunnel running beneath the upper portion of the canal." However, in a letter obtained by the Eagle, Trump EPA appointee Pete Lopez said that they would instead install two large retention tanks along the Canal walls.
What next?
September 25, 2019

Famed Clinton Hill Pfizer Mansion with a rock-n-roll past and a $5M renovation lowers ask to $10M

Photo credit: Rayon Richards and Connie Zhou, courtesy The Corcoran Group In brownstone Brooklyn, there are dozens of grand homes that have historic significance and even more that are dazzling showcases of considered design. The unique 10,000-square-foot double mansion at 280 Washington Avenue in Clinton Hill happens to be one of Brooklyn's finest examples of both. Known as the Pfizer Mansion–it was built in 1887 by Charles Erhart, co-founder of the Pfizer pharmaceutical company and brother-in-law to Charles Pfizer–the block-through property had a full slate of interesting inhabitants, from a library to industrial band rockers, before receiving an epic renovation from its current owner. That same owner, designer Jessica Warren, who purchased the property in 2007 for $3.2 million, spent many years and many millions restoring the house to a stunning degree that surpassed even its former glory. The home, which has been featured in numerous design publications, has most recently been a beloved B & B known as The Notorious B.N.B. The current owners put the house on the market in 2018 for $13.5 million. After a year and a broker switch, it's now asking $9.995 million–and it's worth every penny, from its graceful, curving windows to a working Otis elevator and private parking space.
Tour this colorful and beautiful Brooklyn home
September 23, 2019

Site of former Slave Theater in Bed-Stuy will get a 10-story co-living and hotel building

London-based communal living company The Collective filed a building permit application last week for a planned development on the site of the former Slave Theater in Bed-Stuy, which the company bought earlier this year for $32.5 million. As Brownstoner first reported, the application is for a 10-story, roughly 161,000-square-foot structure that will comprise residential units, a hotel, and community space. Ismael Leyva Architects will lead the project, which is expected to include 136 apartments, 222 hotel rooms, underground parking, a restaurant, a public courtyard, spa lounges, and other amenities. The finished building is expected to open in 2022.
Find out more
September 20, 2019

$5.9M townhouse on Prospect Park comes fully loaded with a garage, gym, sauna, & so much more

Starting with a semi-private driveway and private garage, the attractive if unassuming neo-Federal townhouse at 31 Prospect Park West, built in 1919 by Brooklyn architect W. J. McCarthy, has just about every luxury you could imagine under its roof, and 600 square feet of irrigated, landscaped terrace on the actual rooftop. Recently given a truly spare-nothing renovation by local design duo Delson or Sherman Architects, this townhouse is already blessed with a prime Park Slope location across from Prospect Park. Asking $5.895 million, the home packs perks that include a fully-stocked gym and sauna to a wet bar and dual gas and wood-burning fireplace into its 2,800+ square feet of interior space. And that's without the fountain in the backyard.
Step inside this amazing townhouse