Brooklyn

Revelers will once again gather in Williamsburg this week for a festival full of food, dancing, and live music. The Our Lady of Mount Carmel and San Paolino di Nola Feast is based on a tradition that got its start in Italy over 1,000 years ago, with its centerpiece a four-ton 72-foot tower. As part of the neighborhood’s nearly two-week feast, the tall, ornately decorated structure, known as the “Giglio,” is carried through the streets by over 100 men. The Giglio Feast, which runs through July 16, has been held in Williamsburg every July since 1903, nearly two decades before the better-known Feast of San Gennaro was celebrated in Manhattan's Little Italy. Ahead, learn about the roots of the unique festival, how it’s evolved over the last century, and what to expect this year.
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Amy Schumer buys Brooklyn Heights townhouse from ‘Moonstruck,’ last listed for $11M

All photos by Evan Joseph courtesy of The Corcoran Group

July 6, 2022

Amy Schumer buys Brooklyn Heights townhouse from ‘Moonstruck,’ last listed for $11M

Amy Schumer is in contract to buy the Brooklyn Heights townhouse featured in the 1987 movie Moonstruck. As first reported by the New York Post, the actress-comedian has toured multiple homes in the historic neighborhood and put an offer on the corner property at 19 Cranberry Street, which was most recently listed for $11,000,000 after first hitting the market last summer for $12,850,000.
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On Brooklyn’s largest private rooftop, you can pick your own apples

All images courtesy of Evan Joseph, unless otherwise noted

July 6, 2022

On Brooklyn’s largest private rooftop, you can pick your own apples

Forget the annual fall trip upstate to go apple picking. At One Prospect Park West, a new condominium in Park Slope, residents have access to a pick-your-own apple orchard on the rooftop. Designed by ODA, the rooftop measures nearly 7,500 square feet, boasts panoramic views, and is considered the largest private roof terrace of any condo development in the borough. New images were released this week of the rooftop, which represents the first landscape-only project from ODA.
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Architecture And Design

For $3.3M, this turn-key Clinton Hill townhouse is light-filled and lovely, with historic charm intact

Photos courtesy of Compass.

July 5, 2022

For $3.3M, this turn-key Clinton Hill townhouse is light-filled and lovely, with historic charm intact

Among the brick homes and brownstones of Clinton Hill, this federal-style two-family townhouse at 240 Lafayette Avenue is currently configured as a single-family home. Asking $3,300,000, the four-story house has maintained its historic character, with five marble mantels, ornate ceiling medallions, exposed brick, tall ceilings, and full-height townhouse windows. Within the traditional layout are modern upgrades–like central heat and A/C–that make it a lovely and livable home–with the option of creating a rental apartment or suite.
Take the townhouse tour

Distinctive Homes

This $1.7M Prospect Heights co-op has city views, a terrace and penthouse potential

Photo credit: Russ Ross for The Corcoran Group

July 1, 2022

This $1.7M Prospect Heights co-op has city views, a terrace and penthouse potential

This top-floor co-op's current floor plan can be re-imagined almost as easily as its interiors, giving the two-bedroom home an additional bedroom; the dazzling city views, all-day sunlight and perfect sunsets expected of penthouse living are already here. Asking $1,695,000, the Prospect Heights co-op at 34 Plaza Street East –overlooking Grand Army Plaza and Prospect Park–also has a private terrace for beholding those panoramic views.
Take the top-floor tour

Distinctive Homes

55 middle-income units available at CetraRuddy’s new Downtown Brooklyn tower, from $2,307/month

Rendering courtesy of CetraRuddy

June 30, 2022

55 middle-income units available at CetraRuddy’s new Downtown Brooklyn tower, from $2,307/month

A housing lottery opened this week for 55 middle-income units at a new residential development in Downtown Brooklyn. Located at 22 Chapel Street, the 20-story tower offers its residents a prime location at the intersection of Brooklyn Heights, Dumbo, Fort Greene Park, Boerum Hill, Barclays Center, and the heart of Downtown Brooklyn. New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income, or between $79,098 for two people and $215,150 for a household of seven, are eligible to apply for the apartments, which range from $2,307/month studios to $3,431/month three bedrooms.
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Affordable Housing

Photo credit: Caroline Culler via Wikimedia cc

June 28, 2022

The ultimate guide to Dumbo, a neighborhood that led the way to Brooklyn’s 21st century

Brooklyn's 25-block Dumbo neighborhood gets its name from where it can be found: Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass, which explains not only the neighborhood’s location, but its cultural and residential evolution. The waterfront district’s iconic East River and Manhattan views and its stunning bridge-framed architectural vistas have defined it long before its current acronym and status as a coveted residential choice. Unlike many other Brooklyn neighborhoods, the area it occupies is quite small, but its architecture, infrastructure, and economic status are formidable.
Your guide to Dumbo, this way

Events & Things To Do

Photo courtesy of The Corcoran Group

June 27, 2022

For $8.6M, this historic six-family Brooklyn Heights townhouse is huge–as a home and an opportunity

The 25-foot-wide six-family townhouse at 118 Remsen Street in Brooklyn Heights has the classic good looks that define the neighborhood's covetable brownstones, complete with restored original interior details dating from 1900. Asking $8,599,000, the 10,200-square-foot property represents an opportunity for both living and earning–or creating a new space altogether. The house currently offers an owner's triplex and five separate market-rate one-bedroom apartments. Options include creating a single-family mansion or condominiums, or skipping the renovation effort and enjoying the home as-is, with income-producing units and a spacious residence.
Take a look inside

Distinctive Homes

Lottery opens for 25 middle-income units on the Bushwick-Bed-Stuy border, from $2,499/month

Image courtesy of the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development

June 22, 2022

Lottery opens for 25 middle-income units on the Bushwick-Bed-Stuy border, from $2,499/month

A housing lottery opened this week for 25 middle-income units at a new development in Brooklyn. Located on the border of Bed-Stuy and Bushwick, 912 Broadway is an eight-story mixed-use building with 81 total apartments. New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income, or between $85,680 for a single person and $187,330 for a household of five, are eligible to apply for the apartments, which include $2,499/month one-bedrooms and $2,999/month two-bedrooms.
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Affordable Housing

This $1.65M Bed-Stuy brownstone is both renovation-ready and adorable as-is

Photo credit: Allyson Lubow Photography for The Corcoran Group

June 21, 2022

This $1.65M Bed-Stuy brownstone is both renovation-ready and adorable as-is

The listing calls this 1887 Bed-Stuy brownstone "Barbie's Bohemian Bed-Stuy Dreamhouse," and we can see why. Asking for $1,650,000, this three-story, single-family home on a tree-lined residential street has plenty of original details and lots of livable charm–including a pink fairytale kitchen and a tree-shaded backyard. With three bedrooms and space to create more, the Brooklyn townhouse offers plenty of opportunities to create your own dream house, or enjoy it as-is.
Take the tour

Distinctive Homes

For $1.99M, this charming Windsor Terrace home has three bedrooms, a multi-level garden, and a garage

Photos by Oleg Davidoff of Allyson Lubow Photography

June 16, 2022

For $1.99M, this charming Windsor Terrace home has three bedrooms, a multi-level garden, and a garage

This compact single-family home at 636 17th Street in Windsor Terrace just a few blocks from Prospect Park may only have 1,600 square feet of interior space, but it offers so much more than an "equivalent" condo of similar size. With a fresh and stylish renovation, the two-story home, now asking $1,995,000, has three bedrooms, two living spaces, 1,100 square feet of landscaped outdoor space, and that rare urban bonus: a driveway and a garage.
See it here

Distinctive Homes

600-foot-tall luxury rental breaks ground in Downtown Brooklyn and beats 421-a deadline

The construction site in June 2022 © Ondel Hylton

June 15, 2022

600-foot-tall luxury rental breaks ground in Downtown Brooklyn and beats 421-a deadline

Construction has officially begun on yet another new residential skyscraper in Downtown Brooklyn. Located at 589 Fulton Street, The Brook is a 600-foot-tall luxury rental with 591 apartments and 30,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor amenities. Developed by Witkoff and Apollo and designed by Beyer Blinder Belle, the building broke ground just days before the 421-a tax abatement program expired, allowing developers to still cash in on the 35-year tax break.
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From outdoor kitchen to rooftop garden, this $3.7M Bed-Stuy townhouse could be your summer retreat

Photo credit: Allyson Lubow for The Corcoran Group

June 13, 2022

From outdoor kitchen to rooftop garden, this $3.7M Bed-Stuy townhouse could be your summer retreat

This two-family Bed-Stuy townhouse at 333 Gates Avenue is comprised of nearly 5,000 square feet of interior living space in the form of a 2,800-square-foot triplex above a garden-level apartment with a fully finished basement. But "Backyard Envy" might be the key attribute of this covetable brownstone. The team from the hit Bravo series by the same name designed the home's back patio with a full kitchen and gas fireplace–part of 1,400 square feet of fabulously finished outdoor space including a roof garden and a 175-square-foot deck off the kitchen. All of it can be yours for $3,700,000.
Outdoor living in Brooklyn, this way

Distinctive Homes

The Coney Island Mermaid Parade turns 40, returns to the boardwalk this year

Photo credit: © Norman Blake

June 10, 2022

The Coney Island Mermaid Parade turns 40, returns to the boardwalk this year

Even a pandemic can't sink the zany spirit of the Coney Island Mermaid Parade. The event, now in its 40th year, is the nation's biggest art parade and the largest annual event in Coney Island. After a two-year hiatus, the parade will return "fin-person" this year to welcome summer, co-presented by Coney Island USA and Coney Island Brewery, on Saturday, June 18, rain or shine.
Details here

Events & Things To Do

New Brooklyn Heights library opens at base of One Clinton luxury condo

Image credit: Gregg Richards courtesy of BPL

June 9, 2022

New Brooklyn Heights library opens at base of One Clinton luxury condo

The Brooklyn Public Library on Wednesday opened a new branch at 286 Cadman Plaza West in Brooklyn Heights–the second-largest library in the system (Central Library is the largest). The 26,000-square-foot space will include a children's area, a teen library, a multipurpose room with a capacity of 225, public meeting rooms, and lots of spaces to enjoy a book or some quiet thoughts. Located within the base of a new luxury residential tower, the library is the result of an unusual redevelopment plan that also included $40 million in repairs throughout the library system and 100 new affordable apartments elsewhere in Brooklyn.
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The former Brooklyn Heights home of American Express founder Henry Wells asks $6.6M

Photo courtesy of Brown Harris Stevens

June 7, 2022

The former Brooklyn Heights home of American Express founder Henry Wells asks $6.6M

This Greek Revival townhouse at 158 Clinton Street in historic Brooklyn Heights, once home to American Express and Wells Fargo founder Henry Wells, is now on the market for $6,595,000. Built in 1847, the 25.5-foot-by-42-foot home presents a facade of red brick with brownstone sills and lintels, with five bedrooms, a parlor-floor deck and backyard, and a separate garden apartment.
Take the tour

Distinctive Homes

Enjoy unlimited food and rich history at Brooklyn’s landmarked Lott House

Photo courtesy of Friends of the Lott House, Alyssa Loorya

June 2, 2022

Enjoy unlimited food and rich history at Brooklyn’s landmarked Lott House

Come enjoy unlimited dining from food trucks at the longest continually owned and occupied single-family home in New York City. Located in Marine Park, Brooklyn, the historic Hendrick I. Lott House is a rare surviving Dutch-American farmhouse situated on a parcel of land first purchased in 1719. The non-profit organization that preserves the grounds, Friends of the Lott House, this month will host "Taste the Neighborhood," a special ticketed event that includes unlimited food from local food trucks and encourages exploration of the historic site. The event will be held on June 12 from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. at 1940 East 36th Street.
Details here

New exhibit at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden features dozens of birdhouses made by artists and architects

Photo © Brooklyn Botanic Garden

May 23, 2022

New exhibit at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden features dozens of birdhouses made by artists and architects

An outdoor exhibition featuring dozens of artist-made birdhouses will open at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden next month. Debuting on June 11, "For the Birds" highlights the connection between birds, plants, and the importance of protecting plant ecosystems. The installation coincides with the release of "For the Birds: The Birdsong Project," a multi-album collection of original songs and readings inspired by birds compiled by music supervisor Randall Poster.
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May 18, 2022

Architect Bjarke Ingels buys Brooklyn Heights penthouse for $2.16M

One of the world's most famous architects has closed on a Brooklyn penthouse he's eyed for years. Denmark-born architect Bjarke Ingels has purchased a penthouse in the St. George Tower in Brooklyn Heights for $2,163,525, as reported by the New York Post and confirmed by property records. The apartment, located on the 29th and 30th floors at 111 Hicks Street, has been on the market since 2010 when it was listed for $2,490,000.
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New public art exhibit in Brooklyn Bridge Park explores ‘hybrid identities’ created by diaspora

Kiyan Williams, “Ruins of Empire,” 2022. Courtesy of the artist. Photo: Nicholas Knight, Courtesy of Public Art Fund, NY Kiyan Williams, “Ruins of Empire” was commissioned by Public Art Fund and presented as part of Black Atlantic at Brooklyn Bridge Park, New York City, May 17–November 27, 2022

May 17, 2022

New public art exhibit in Brooklyn Bridge Park explores ‘hybrid identities’ created by diaspora

Spread across three piers at Brooklyn Bridge Park, Black Atlantic is a new outdoor art exhibition inspired by the diaspora across the Atlantic Ocean and which proposes "an open, multifaceted, and heterogeneous idea" of Black identity in the United States today. Co-curated by artist Hugh Hayden and Public Art Fund Adjunct Curator Daniel S. Palmer, Black Atlantic features work from Hayden, and artists Leilah Babirye, Dozie Kanu, Tau Lewis, and Kiyan Williams. The exhibition is on view through November 27.
More this way

Events & Things To Do

From original details to new renovation, this $4.1M Clinton Hill home checks all the brownstone boxes

Photo credit: Eitan Gamliely for Sotheby’s International Realty

May 13, 2022

From original details to new renovation, this $4.1M Clinton Hill home checks all the brownstone boxes

For anyone coveting Brooklyn brownstone living, this four-story townhouse at 107 Greene Avenue would certainly fit the description. The 3,360 square-foot home, asking $4,100,000, has retained its historic details as a backdrop for modern living. With four bedrooms and an enviable backyard, the legal two-family dwelling is currently configured as a single-family home, so there's potential for adding a second apartment for income or guests.
Take the tour

Distinctive Homes

This $3.4M Lefferts Manor townhouse offers a designer’s renovation and a garden apartment

Photo courtesy of The Corcoran Group

May 11, 2022

This $3.4M Lefferts Manor townhouse offers a designer’s renovation and a garden apartment

Located within the Lefferts Manor Historic District in Brooklyn's Prospect-Lefferts Gardens neighborhood, 67 Midwood Street is a well-preserved 1910 Romanesque Revival home that comes with plenty of options. Asking $3,399,000, this six-bedroom residence just a block from Prospect Park has retained architectural details like arched windows with leaded glass transoms. An interior designer thoroughly renovated the historic townhouse; in addition to looking good, the home offers a garden-level one-bedroom apartment with a basement playroom for extra income or expanded living quarters.
Take the townhouse tour

Distinctive Homes

A new Caribbean market and food hall will celebrate its grand opening in Flatbush this weekend

Photos courtesy of BRP Companies

May 10, 2022

A new Caribbean market and food hall will celebrate its grand opening in Flatbush this weekend

A beloved Caribbean market in Brooklyn is hosting a grand opening event this weekend, celebrating the return to its original home. The Flatbush Central Caribbean Marketplace, formerly known as Flatbush Caton Market, will host a weekend-long party with shopping, live music, food tastings, dance performances, panel discussions, art classes, and more, starting on Friday, May 13 through Saturday, May 14. The marketplace sits on the ground floor of Caton Flats, a new 14-story mixed-use development on 800 Flatbush Avenue that replaced the former market.
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Events & Things To Do

The inside of this $3.6M Park Slope duplex condo is as stunning as its historic facade

Photo credit: Hayley Ellen Day with DDreps

May 10, 2022

The inside of this $3.6M Park Slope duplex condo is as stunning as its historic facade

Asking $3,600,000, this unique duplex condominium at 606a Third Street steps from Prospect Park's grand entrance comprises the top unit in a two-unit Park Slope townhouse. But it's not just any Park Slope townhouse: This unusual home has an Arts-and-Crafts style facade that stands out among the neighborhood's brick and brownstone. The home's interiors have been designed to architectural perfection with enchanting use of colors, materials, and space, thoughtfully curated by the owner, photographer Leslie Simitch. Original details have been preserved and bespoke additions have enhanced the home's historic bones. The two-story home feels like an entire house (for far less than the cost of an actual Park Slope townhouse) with three fireplaces, three bedrooms, and three outdoor spaces.
Get a closer look

Arts-and-Crafts style and Mid-Century Modern meet seamlessly in this unusual $9M Park Slope home

Photos courtesy of The Corcoran Group

May 6, 2022

Arts-and-Crafts style and Mid-Century Modern meet seamlessly in this unusual $9M Park Slope home

Amid the grand Victorian brownstones and elegant front gardens leading up to Prospect Park, the 1909 brick facade of this unique townhouse at 612 Third Street fits right in. But there's much more to this $8,995,000 Park Slope townhouse. Its rear facade and interior architecture reflect an authentic Mid-Century Modern design history from a later era, with both aesthetics mixing beautifully throughout the 4,000-square-foot home. With decks, terraces, and patio spaces offering the promise of outdoor living, the five-story residence is a wonder from all angles and in all seasons, from its finished basement playroom to a glass-wrapped fifth-floor penthouse study.
See more of this unusual modern-historic townhouse

Distinctive Homes

Lottery opens for 80 units at Morris Adjmi’s new Clinton Hill tower, from $1,320/month

Renderings courtesy of the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development

May 5, 2022

Lottery opens for 80 units at Morris Adjmi’s new Clinton Hill tower, from $1,320/month