Brooklyn

On Friday, June 21, Brooklyn's Dumbo neighborhood will be celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Archway under the Manhattan Bridge–the "UMBO" of Dumbo (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass), so to speak. The Archway–one of the only covered outdoor spaces in New York City—has for the past decade served as the neighborhood's town square, giving hundreds of thousands of residents and visitors a prime public place for large-scale events, community gatherings, film shoots, art exhibitions and local start-up events. In celebration, expect food, music and visual arts exhibitions befitting a neighborhood with Dumbo's unique creative history.
Ahead, a transformation

Dorrance Brooks Square Historic District, St. Marks United Methodist Church. Image courtesy of NY State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.

June 17, 2019

Historic places in the UWS, Harlem and Sunset Park are recommended for state and national designation

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Friday that the New York State Board for Historic Preservation has recommended adding 18 properties, resources, and districts to the State and National Registers of Historic Places. The new nominations include the Upper West Side home of author and civil rights activist James Baldwin, the Dorrance Brooks Square Historic District and the former 32nd Precinct Station House complex in Harlem, and the Fourth Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church in Sunset Park, Brooklyn in addition to 14 other nominated places throughout the state.
Find out how New York continues to recognize varied historic places

City designation saves Brooklyn’s Weeksville Heritage Center from uncertain financial future

The Center’s historic Hunterfly Road Houses via Wiki Commons

June 17, 2019

City designation saves Brooklyn’s Weeksville Heritage Center from uncertain financial future

The Weeksville Heritage Center has been added to a list of 33 Cultural Institutions Groups (CIG), guaranteeing the museum will have its basic operating costs covered, as Curbed first reported. After revealing its precarious financial position earlier this year, Weeksville launched a crowdfunding campaign in May to meet the Center’s short-term operating costs. The effort ended up bringing in over $266,000 from more than 4,100 donors around the world. The coveted CIG designation—the first new addition in more than 20 years and the first black cultural center in Brooklyn to make the list—means that Weeksville will be able to enjoy greater stability as it continues to share its vital mission with visitors and the community.
All the details

Events & Things To Do

For under $700K, a colorful and cozy Greenpoint co-op close to McCarren Park

Listing images by Rise Media

June 14, 2019

For under $700K, a colorful and cozy Greenpoint co-op close to McCarren Park

Just a few blocks away from both McCarren and McGorlick Parks, this ground-floor Greenpoint co-op at 100 Newel Street is a rare find for the asking price of $699,000. It's full of pre-war elements like original hardwood floors and wainscoting, mixed with modern pops of color and a freshly renovated kitchen and bathroom. While the railroad layout is less than ideal, charming details in every room—including two fireplaces—make it a cozy and intimate place to call home.
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Distinctive Homes

VIDEO: See the city’s highest rooftop pool get lifted 680 feet atop supertall Brooklyn Point

Rendering courtesy of Williams New York/Extell

June 14, 2019

VIDEO: See the city’s highest rooftop pool get lifted 680 feet atop supertall Brooklyn Point

The tallest residential building in Brooklyn was crowned this week with the highest infinity pool in the Western Hemisphere. A video released by Extell shows a 27-foot-long pool being hoisted 680 feet in the air, taking its place atop Brooklyn Point. The 68-story tower, designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox, topped out in April and sits as part of the Downtown Brooklyn development City Point.
See the video

In a converted Cobble Hill school, this $1.5M co-op has three floors and a private patio

Listing images by Stephano Okmar

June 13, 2019

In a converted Cobble Hill school, this $1.5M co-op has three floors and a private patio

Located in the former St. Paul’s Parish School, a triplex layout and private patio entrance make this Cobble Hill co-op at 203 Warren Street feel like a townhouse, with the added benefit of double-height, lofty ceilings on the main floor. Currently listed for $1,495,000, the two-bedroom residence also has a flexible mezzanine that could easily be converted for any number of uses.
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Distinctive Homes

Historic Clinton Hill home that spawned ghost stories is back on the market for $3.6M

Listing images by Elizabeth Dooley

June 12, 2019

Historic Clinton Hill home that spawned ghost stories is back on the market for $3.6M

Here's a rare chance to own one of the city's most historic homes, the Lefferts-Laidlaw House at 136 Clinton Avenue in Clinton Hill (and part of the Wallabout Historic District). Built around 1836, the home "typified the villas that were erected in Brooklyn's early suburbs in the early-to-mid nineteenth century" and might be the "only remaining temple-fronted Greek Revival style residence in Kings County," according to the 2001 designation report. It's become known as one of the most haunted houses in the city, thanks to stories of "doorbells rung, doors rattled" on a nightly basis in the late 19th century—but the tongue-in-cheek tone of the original New York Times reports is hard to miss. Perhaps the scariest thing left about it is the asking price. The home has been on and off the market for years, last seeking $4.5 million in 2016. Now, the property is back for a significantly reduced $3.6 million.
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The Clinton Hill block where Notorious B.I.G. grew up has officially been named after the famous rapper

Images via New York City Council on Flickr

June 11, 2019

The Clinton Hill block where Notorious B.I.G. grew up has officially been named after the famous rapper

Despite the rainy weather, hundreds of people gathered at St. James Place in Clinton Hill on Monday to honor the legacy of Christopher Wallace, better known as Notorious B.I.G. or Biggie Smalls. As amNY first reported, the block between Fulton Street and Gates Avenue—where the famous rapper grew up—will now also be known as "Christopher 'Notorious B.I.G.' Wallace Way." Biggie's mother, Voletta Wallace, was present at the event and she remembered the last time she saw a huge crowd on the street, the day Biggie was murdered 22 years ago. “It was a sad day,” Wallace said, “and when I saw the crowds, tears came to my eyes and I said to my friend, ‘My son was well-loved.’” This time around, seeing everyone gathered there for the unveiling brought "happy tears" to her eyes.
More info

Celebrities

June 11, 2019

$340K Prospect Heights studio fits plenty of style and storage into its 300 square feet

At only 300 square feet, this Prospect Heights studio is very small, but its thoughtful design doesn’t miss a thing. The co-op at 400 Lincoln Place last sold in 2012 for only $85,000 and has been almost entirely reimagined since then. A custom built-in Murphy bed, storage solutions throughout, and a sleek stainless kitchen earn its $339,000 price tag.
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Distinctive Homes

June 7, 2019

Six fireplaces, stunning woodwork, and a steam room at this historic Park Slope home, now asking $3.99M

The gracious four-story brownstone at 228 Garfield Place—part of the Park Slope Historic District—has been impeccably maintained and boasts many original architectural details, including six fireplaces, pocket doors, inlaid wood floors, wood shutters, and stained-glass transoms. The longtime owners also updated the residence with some modern, wonderfully decadent creature comforts, like a steam room in the master suite. The property was first listed in January for $4.495 million and has received a couple of price chops over the months before settling on its current asking price of $3.995 million.
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June 6, 2019

For $5.2M, this Williamsburg townhouse comes with a charming carriage house and lots of outdoor space

Sparing no attention to detail, this Williamsburg townhouse at 74 Devoe Street is perfect for lovers of modern design and fine craftsmanship. Streetside, the Petersen brick facade enchants with a playful composition of differently-shaped windows. Inside, a palette of warm oak, concrete, and metal come together to create a space that is at once modern and warm. Currently set up as a two-family residence with a two-bedroom apartment on the garden level and a five-bedroom residence on the upper floors, the property also has a separate carriage house in the back of the garden and a large roof deck. This unique residence is now on the market for $5.2 million.
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Distinctive Homes

June 5, 2019

This loft-like Kensington townhouse with ground floor commercial space seeks $1.5M

Located in laid-back Kensington just a few blocks south of Prospect Park, this two-story building at 711 Church Avenue is neither a typical loft nor townhouse. The 2,590-square-foot building, asking $1.495M, may be compact, but it's full of opportunities. The building's ground floor is a commercial space perfect for an artist (it was formerly being used as a studio and gallery), doctor, dentist or retail shop and a great source of rental income. Upstairs the residential space is a chic, loft-like home.
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Distinctive Homes

Jeanne Gang’s first residential tower in NYC tops out in Downtown Brooklyn

Images courtesy of Studio Gang

June 4, 2019

Jeanne Gang’s first residential tower in NYC tops out in Downtown Brooklyn

The first residential tower in New York City designed by Jeanne Gang's Studio Gang topped out this week in Downtown Brooklyn. Reaching 620 feet tall, 11 Hoyt Street will offer 481 condos, an elevated park, and 55,000 square feet of amenities. Sales launched at the Tishman Speyer-developed building last September, with prices ranging from $690,000 for studios to about $3.5 million for a four-bedroom. Hill West Architects served as the architect of record for the project.
More this way

$2.8M Greenwood townhouse comes with cinematic cemetery views

Listing photos by DDReps, courtesy of Compass

June 4, 2019

$2.8M Greenwood townhouse comes with cinematic cemetery views

Listing photos by DDReps, courtesy of Compass Perched at the highest point in Brooklyn in Greenwood Heights, tucked into a quiet street surrounded by greenery, this contemporary townhouse at 614a 7th Avenue, asking $2.75 million, would be equally at home in California or the sun-baked tropics. Balcony doors can be thrown open for panoramic views, which include the Statue of Liberty–and the endless vistas of the adjacent Green Wood Cemetery. On the lucky additions side, there's a curb cut and a garage. Even better: A mural of Basquiat–a Brooklyn native–on the garage door.
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Distinctive Homes

Williamsburg shuttle bus route to shrink as L train slowdown goes mostly unnoticed

Image courtesy of MTA.

June 4, 2019

Williamsburg shuttle bus route to shrink as L train slowdown goes mostly unnoticed

The MTA's long-dreaded Canarsie Tunnel repairs are finally underway, and we're all still here. And, as AMNew York reports, we've even discovered other subway lines that function similarly enough to the beloved L train to meet our transportation needs. The result of the current transit non-apocalypse is that at least one of the backup solutions–the "Williamsburg Link" shuttle bus service intended to mitigate an anticipated crush of stranded riders–is being nixed and replaced by a shorter route after experiencing "extremely low" ridership.
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Transit

32 middle-income units up for grabs at new Sheepshead Bay rental, from $1,450/month

Design and rendering by EranArc pllc

June 4, 2019

32 middle-income units up for grabs at new Sheepshead Bay rental, from $1,450/month

By Dana Schulz

Several years ago, 6sqft referred to Sheepsheads Bay as "the once-sleepy waterfront community that’s almost as far out as Coney Island." Since then, a slew of new projects has started to rise in the neighborhood, including the tallest residential building in South Brooklyn and a luxury condo with prices up to $1.7 million. Adding to the buzz is a new affordable housing lottery at 2442 Ocean Avenue, a seven-story, 105-unit rental building that, thanks to its U-shaped design, offers an interior courtyard and many outdoor terraces. The 35 middle-income apartments up for grabs are available to those earning 130 percent of the area median income and range from $1,450/month studios to $2,499/month two-bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

This $1.8M two-bedroom in the Ansonia clock factory is a loft lover’s South Slope dream

Listing photos by Allyson Lubow, courtesy of the Corcoran Group

June 3, 2019

This $1.8M two-bedroom in the Ansonia clock factory is a loft lover’s South Slope dream

The Ansonia Court loft building at 420 12th Street, formerly a clock factory in Brooklyn's south Park Slope, has something of a cult following. Known for its European-style interior courtyard and rustic industrial-era interior architecture, the apartments within tend to be spacious, spare and cozy. Asking $1.775 million, this two-bedroom home is no exception.
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Distinctive Homes

$1.1M Park Slope co-op with a private terrace charms inside and out

Listing images by VHT

June 3, 2019

$1.1M Park Slope co-op with a private terrace charms inside and out

Just one block away from Prospect Park, this sunny two-bedroom co-op at 50 7th Avenue in Park Slope comes with a terrace that “allows you to enjoy a vast outdoor space without the compromises of a garden level unit,” as the listing notes. The apartment charms on the inside as well, where high ceilings, exposed brick, hardwood floors, and other pre-war details bring warmth and character, while a recent renovation adds modern comfort. The unit is now listed for $1.1 million.
Peek inside

Distinctive Homes

May 31, 2019

$2.2M Wallabout townhouse comes with multiple outdoor spaces and two parking spots

Adjacent to Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, and the Brooklyn Navy Yard is one of Brooklyn’s oldest but least known neighborhoods: Wallabout. Though somewhat isolated due to its lack of public transportation, the area boasts a rich history dating back to the 17th century. It was once home to the area’s second largest producer of chocolate (second only to Hershey’s), Brooklyn’s first free African-American school, and where Walt Whitman wrote the first edition of “Leaves of Grass” while living at 99 Ryerson Street. Wallabout contains the largest concentration of pre-Civil War wood-frame houses in the city, but amid the historic homes are some contemporary gems, like this 2011 metal-clad townhouse at 336 Park Avenue. The 2,500 square-foot property—complete with a side yard, a roof terrace, and two parking spots—is currently on the market for $2,200,000.
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Distinctive Homes

May 30, 2019

This $6.5M Brooklyn Heights carriage house has modern interiors, a basement studio and a garage

On a perfect narrow Heights mews lined with similar houses, this turn-of-the-century carriage house at 4 Hunts Lane is in mint condition, including a garage for your carriage (or car). Inside, bright white walls and mid-century modern design join maximum comfort in a mint-condition renovation designed with an eye towards maximum comfort, light and privacy. The home is currently configured as a three-bedroom home with a large artist’s studio/guest space in the cellar. Asking $6.5 million, this little carriage house has a lot more going on than the average "condo alternative," starting with private parking.
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Distinctive Homes

Listing photos by Russ Ross, courtesy of Corcoran

May 29, 2019

Asking $1.5M, this bright three-bedroom co-op in Brooklyn Heights overlooks an enchanting courtyard

The spacious and cheerful ground-floor apartment at 65 Montague Street--on a Brooklyn Heights block lined with elegant apartment buildings--is as classic as they come. The pre-war co-op, asking $1.495 million, overlooks a lovely landscaped courtyard and has been renovated to suit every whim of modern life.
Have a look around

Distinctive Homes

My 1,200sqft: Finger painting pioneer Iris Scott shows off her bright Bed-Stuy studio

Our series “

May 28, 2019

My 1,200sqft: Finger painting pioneer Iris Scott shows off her bright Bed-Stuy studio

My sqft” checks out the homes of New Yorkers across all the boroughs. Our latest interior adventure brings us to artist Iris Scott's Bed-Stuy loft. Want to see your home featured here? Get in touch! Nearly ten years ago, while living in Taiwan, artist Iris Scott didn’t feel like washing her blue-stained paint brushes. Instead, she used her finger to finish the piece and, to her surprise, discovered that this childhood arts and crafts project works really well on her own oil paintings. She searched online to see if any artists out there were already dedicated to finger painting and found no one. “I was like, it’s my purpose!” she told 6sqft during a recent tour of her Bed-Stuy studio. Iris, who grew up on a farm outside of Seattle, started posting photos and videos of her vibrant animal and nature-centric artwork on Facebook and instantly received feedback from what she calls a "virtual crit group." She began selling her paintings online and because her Taiwan apartment was just $100 per month, was able to immediately work full time as a finger painter. Iris, credited with starting the Instinctualist movement, calls her career trajectory a “magical path.” “I’ve always wanted what I have and I’ve always felt what I have is more than I expected I could have.” Now, a decade later, Iris has her first big solo exhibition in New York City, a Ritual in Pairing, at Filo Sofi Art’s pop up space at the High Line Nine, which closes June 6. Ahead, see inside Iris's sun-drenched corner loft in Brooklyn and learn about her 20-piece solo show, her fierce love of animals, and why she finds it flattering when children like her paintings.
Meet Iris and tour her studio

Rendering by Darc Studio.

May 28, 2019

For a girls’ school in Crown Heights, ODA upends the traditional school building

In designing a Crown Heights girls' school seeking an addition to their current campus, design and architecture firm ODA New York challenged the traditional American school building model, taking the future of urban density into account. The resulting design introduces a sixth facade, giving the structure a new set of faces to apply materials and create openings.
More views of the cool new-school design

Architecture And Design

A previous rendering; via EDC

May 24, 2019

City revives Downtown Brooklyn’s Willoughby Square Park project

Downtown Brooklyn is finally getting a park that was promised to the neighborhood more than 15 years ago. The city's Economic Development Corporation announced on Friday it will take over construction of the green space at Willoughby Square. In January, the city abandoned the plan to add a new park on top of a high-tech parking facility because of the developer's inability to secure financing. But, as first reported by Crain's, the EDC said the agency's capital division will take on the work itself, without a private developer or the underground automated parking lot originally proposed. The city estimates the park will open sometime in 2022.
Find out more

Architecture And Design

Williamsburg’s tallest tower tops out at Domino Sugar Factory development

Photo by Max Touhey

May 21, 2019

Williamsburg’s tallest tower tops out at Domino Sugar Factory development

Williamsburg officially has a new tallest tower. One South First, formerly 260 Kent Avenue, topped out this week at the Domino Sugar Factory redevelopment along the waterfront. Designed by COOKFOX Architects, the 435-foot-tall tower features two interlocking buildings with white precast concrete facades inspired by the molecular pattern and forms of sugar crystals, a reference to the former factory site.
Domino details here

The best things to do this Memorial Day weekend in NYC

Image: United States Marine Corps Official Page via photopin cc

May 21, 2019

The best things to do this Memorial Day weekend in NYC