Converted 19th-century St. John’s College building in Bed-Stuy opens lottery, from $2,495/month

August 13, 2024

All renderings courtesy of Woods Bagot

A 19th-century Romanesque Revival building in Bed-Stuy originally home to St. John’s College is now a luxury rental building. The Hartby, located on the corner of Willoughby and Lewis Avenues, is an adaptive reuse conversion of the former school, designed in the 1870s by Patrick Keely, a prolific architect for the Catholic Church. Developed by Property Resources Corporation and designed by Woods Bagot, the Hartby opened a housing lottery for 62 rent-stabilized apartments this week. New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the residences, priced from $2,495/month for studios, $2,795/month for one-bedroom units, and $3,939/month for two-bedroom units.

Designed by Irish-born architect Patrick Keely, who designed hundreds of churches and buildings for the Catholic Church, St. John’s College was established in 1870 by the Diocese of Brooklyn. The school expanded across Lewis Avenue and later added a law school in Downtown Brooklyn, and officially became a university. The college stayed in Bed-Stuy until moving to Queens in the 1950s.

As part of the conversion, Woods Bagot preserved critical historic architecture of the Romanesque Revival brick building, like high arched windows and soaring ceilings, reinterpreted for modern living.

The apartments, with interiors by Alchemy Studio, mix original charm with contemporary design to create unique homes. Residences feature flat front white cabinetry, solid stone countertops, and stainless steel appliances.

Amenities at the Hartby include a state-of-the-art fitness center, a private party room, a business center and library, indoor and outdoor lounges, an activated roof deck with barbecue stations, a pet spa, and a landscaped interior courtyard.

Residents will be welcomed into the building through a double-height lobby with a part-time doorman, and have access to covered on-site parking, bike storage, package lockers, a shared laundry room, and electric vehicle charging stations.

Leasing for the market-rate apartments is slated for later this summer, with move-ins expected this fall.

“After several years of planning and construction, we are proud to launch the lottery for the rent-stabilized component of The Hartby,” Matthew Linde, principal and CEO of PRC, said. “Now more than ever, we are committed to providing accessible housing for all, and are thrilled to bring The Hartby’s affordable luxury residences to Brooklyn’s vibrant Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood.”

Linde continued: “The Hartby’s unique collection of apartments will provide residents with the rare opportunity to live in a newly restored historical building, complete with contemporary interiors that has not compromised any of the original charm and old-world character that Bedford-Stuyvesant is known for.”

The Hartby is conveniently located near the J, M, and Z subway lines and the B15, B46, B47, and B54 buses.

Qualifying New Yorkers can apply for the apartments until October 14, 2024. Complete details on how to apply are available here. Questions regarding this offer must be referred to NYC’s Housing Connect department by dialing 311.

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