By Devin Gannon, Thu, February 13, 2020 Lexington Avenue, between 105th and 106th Streets, Manhattan, 1913. Photograph by Pierre P. Pullis, Lundin Collection, Courtesy of the New York Transit Museum
A new photo exhibit at the New York Transit Museum provides a unique look at the construction of the city’s subway system, as well as its enduring impact. Opening Thursday, Streetscapes & Subways: Photographs by Pierre P. and Granville W. Pullis shows what it was like before and after the subway system was constructed, as well as the architectural and cultural changes occurring simultaneously above ground.
See the photos here
By Devin Gannon, Thu, December 19, 2019 A plan to improve the streets and public space of Downtown Brooklyn was unveiled on Thursday, as officials look to accommodate the area’s booming population. Created in collaboration with the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership, Bjarke Ingels Group, and WXY architecture + urban design, the “Public Realm Action Plan” calls for fewer cars, more bike lanes, a bus-only lane, and more parks and plazas. As first reported by CityLab, the proposal takes ideas from already-implemented street redesigns, like the new 14th Street busway. See the plan
By Alexandra Alexa, Tue, October 22, 2019 Renderings courtesy of FXCollaborative
The Brooklyn Music School has just announced plans for a new 20,000 square-foot facility as part of a 167,000 square-foot mixed-use development in the heart of the Brooklyn Cultural District. In addition to expanding the school’s existing facilities to meet growing demand, the FXCollaborative-designed project will also create 120 new residential units with 36 of those reserved for moderate-income households earning 70 to 100 percent of the area median income.
Details here
By Dana Schulz, Tue, October 8, 2019 Rendering by DBOX
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
By Dana Schulz, Thu, October 3, 2019 Rendering of 22 Chapel Street courtesy of CetraRuddy
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
By Alexandra Alexa, Fri, September 27, 2019 Renderings by Hargreaves Jones, courtesy of NYCEDC
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
By Alexandra Alexa, Thu, September 26, 2019 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
By Alexandra Alexa, Thu, September 12, 2019 Rendering courtesy of Extell
Earlier this Spring construction of Brooklyn’s tallest residential tower, Brooklyn Point, topped out at 720 feet. Now, the 68-story skyscraper has reached another construction milestone and is fully enclosed. A new video released by Extell compresses two years of work on the facade into mere seconds, as the Kohn Pedersen Fox-designed building nears completion.
Watch the video
By Dana Schulz, Thu, September 5, 2019 All renderings via Extell; Photo of Kevin Dinwiddie via Eric Drost on Wiki Commons
Not only will Brooklyn Nets point guard Spencer Dinwiddie have some of the most insane views in New York City, but he’ll be just a 15-minute walk from the team’s court at the Barclay’s Center. The New York Post reports that Dinwiddie is in contract to buy the penthouse unit at Brooklyn Point, the 720-foot-tall tower that is the borough’s current tallest residential building and boasts the highest rooftop infinity pool in the western hemisphere. The 68th-floor apartment was last asking $3.9 million.
Have a look inside
By Devin Gannon, Wed, August 28, 2019 Rendering by Hargreaves Jones, courtesy of NYCEDC
The city unveiled on Monday an updated design for its Willoughby Square Park project, which has been 15 years in the making. The city’s Economic Development Corporation and Hargreaves Jones Landscape Architecture presented revised plans to Brooklyn’s Community Board, which include lawn space, promenade, and seating near City Point’s Dekalb Market, as Bklyner reported.
See the design
