Brooklyn

All renderings courtesy of James Corner Field Operations and BIG- Bjarke Ingels Group

March 18, 2021

Plan for massive towers and public beach in Williamsburg moves ahead with new looks

The proposal to construct two mixed-use skyscrapers and a public beach on the North Brooklyn waterfront is moving forward, although with an updated design, timeline, and name. As first reported by Brooklyn Paper, Two Trees Management is preparing to start the city's uniform land use review procedure (ULURP) in the coming weeks for its project "River Ring," which includes two huge towers designed by Bjarke Ingels with more than 1,000 units of housing, a YMCA, and an environmentally-conscious park with a cove and beach.
Details this way

“Arrivals + Departures” by YARA + DAVINA. Photo © Sam Polcer

March 17, 2021

‘Arrivals + Departures’ is a new public memorial in Brooklyn that honors birth, life, and death

By Dana Schulz

Outside the main entrance to the Brooklyn Academy of Music, there's a new public art installation that "offers a meditation on birth, life, and death through the simple, yet powerful act of naming." Created by UK-based social practice artists YARA+DAVINA, the memorial called "Arrivals + Departures" takes the shape of a traditional train station arrivals and departures board, listing the names of those who have been born (“arrived”) or passed (“departed”).
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Events & Things To Do

Brooklyn Municipal Building renamed after Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Mayor Bill de Blasio and First Lady Chirlane McCray deliver remarks at the renaming ceremony of the Brooklyn Municipal Building in honor of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. March 15, 2021. Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

March 16, 2021

Brooklyn Municipal Building renamed after Ruth Bader Ginsburg

By Devin Gannon

The Brooklyn Municipal Building on Monday was officially renamed after late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The idea to honor the Brooklyn native was introduced three years ago by Borough President Eric Adams, who launched a campaign in 2018 calling on Mayor Bill de Blasio to sign off on the name change. Following Ginsburg's death in September, the mayor agreed to rename the building located at 210 Joralemon Street.
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Policy

March 15, 2021

New York City buys Downtown Brooklyn’s abolitionist rowhouse for $3.2M

By Devin Gannon

New York City has officially purchased the property at 227 Duffield Street, a 19th-century rowhouse in Downtown Brooklyn recently designated as a landmark for its ties to the abolitionist movement. The Landmarks Preservation Commission last month granted landmark status to the home, occupied by known abolitionists Harriet and Thomas Truesdell from 1851 to 1863, after years of advocacy and a threat by a developer to raze it and build a mixed-use building in its place. First Lady Chirlane McCray, who has been a vocal advocate for the preservation of the site, announced the purchase during Mayor Bill de Blasio's briefing on Monday and said the deal ensures the property will be "protected and celebrated for a very long time."
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Architecture And Design

Ruth Bader Ginsburg statue unveiled in Downtown Brooklyn

Rendering courtesy of Gillie and Marc

March 12, 2021

Ruth Bader Ginsburg statue unveiled in Downtown Brooklyn

By Devin Gannon

A statue of late United States Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was unveiled in Downtown Brooklyn on Friday. Created by artists Gillie and Marc Schattner, the six-foot bronze statue is located inside the Flatbush Avenue entrance of the mixed-use development City Point. Visitors can "Stand with Ruth" and take photos with the statue, but a timed reservation is required to maintain social distancing, according to City Point.
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Events & Things To Do

March 8, 2021

Domino Park unveils interactive art display that lights up when stepped on

By Devin Gannon

Months after Domino Park painted circles on the lawn to keep park-goers socially distanced, a different type of ring has appeared at the waterfront Williamsburg green space. The park last week unveiled Reflect, an interactive sculpture designed by artist Jen Lewin made up of three concentric rings that react to the steps of visitors. Each jump, skip, and dance on the circular platforms triggers a new flash of light, with many people able to engage with the display at once.
See it here

Events & Things To Do

Lottery opens for affordable units at new Passive House project in Ocean Hill, from $457/month

Photo of the Harry T. Nance Apartments, Courtesy of NYC Department of Housing Preservation & Development

March 5, 2021

Lottery opens for affordable units at new Passive House project in Ocean Hill, from $457/month

By Devin Gannon

Applications are currently being accepted for 55 affordable apartments at a new sustainable development in Brooklyn's Ocean Hill neighborhood. The Harry T. Nance Apartments, located at 1860 Eastern Parkway, stands 10 stories and includes a new home for the True Holy Church. New Yorkers earning 30, 40, 50, and 60 percent of the area median income can apply for the units, ranging from studios to three-bedrooms priced between $457/month and $1,485/month.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

Historic Brooklyn Heights house from the movie ‘Moonstruck’ hits the market for $12.8M

All photos by Evan Joseph courtesy of The Corcoran Group

March 3, 2021

Historic Brooklyn Heights house from the movie ‘Moonstruck’ hits the market for $12.8M

By Dana Schulz

As Brownstoner first spotted, the Brooklyn Heights townhouse that was used for the exterior shots of the Castorini family's home in the classic 1987 film Moonstruck has just come on the market. The interiors were not used in the movie, but boy are they big screen-worthy. There are early 19th-century details like hand-carved moldings, inlaid wooden floors, and marble fireplace mantles, as well as new old-looking features like beamed ceilings, luxe wallpapers, and vintage decor. Located at 19 Cranberry Street, the home is asking $12,850,000, and even has a private parking spot.
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March 1, 2021

$759K Greenpoint one-bedroom has a rooftop retreat with skyline views

By Dana Schulz

In addition to the magical roof deck, this Greenpoint condo has a duplex layout with a bonus room, as well as a second outdoor space on the lower level. Located at 198 Monitor Street, it also boasts incredible views of the Manhattan skyline. And it's asking just $759,000.
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Distinctive Homes

Dine with the ‘stars’ at Brooklyn’s famed Peter Luger steakhouse

All photos courtesy of Peter Luger

February 26, 2021

Dine with the ‘stars’ at Brooklyn’s famed Peter Luger steakhouse

By Devin Gannon

As New York City restaurants expand their indoor dining capacity to 35 percent on Friday, beloved Brooklyn steakhouse Peter Luger hopes to make the experience a unique one. Celebrity wax figures will fill the empty seats of its Williamsburg dining room, as part of a partnership with Madame Tussauds New York.
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Food & Dining

Affordable units and height slashed at proposed Brooklyn Botanic Garden-bordering towers

Rendering: NYC Department of City Planning

February 24, 2021

Affordable units and height slashed at proposed Brooklyn Botanic Garden-bordering towers

By Devin Gannon

The developers behind a controversial proposal to build a pair of high-rise towers in Crown Heights next to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden have put forth a revised plan that would slash the building height and the number of affordable units offered. As first reported by The City, Continuum Company and Lincoln Equities launched a new project website that describes a 17-story residential building at 960 Franklin Avenue as an alternative to the 34-story project currently under review by the city.
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Listing images courtesy of The Corcoran Group

February 24, 2021

$3M Brooklyn Heights triplex is a modern oasis with original barrel-vaulted ceilings

By Dana Schulz

Brooklyn Heights' Eagle Warehouse & Storage Company building at 28 Old Futon Street was built in 1892 as the Brooklyn Eagle's headquarters. In 1980, it was converted to 85 residential co-ops, many of which retain the building's original architectural details. And this triplex unit, currently on the market for $3 million, certainly fits that bill. In almost every room, there are gorgeous brick barrel-vaulted ceilings, along with brick walls and cast-iron columns. But what makes the three-bedroom home truly unique is the modern renovation that works so beautifully with its history.
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Distinctive Homes

FEMA community-based vaccination sites open in Brooklyn and Queens this week

Photo by Jules Antonio on Wikimedia

February 22, 2021

FEMA community-based vaccination sites open in Brooklyn and Queens this week

By Devin Gannon

Two coronavirus vaccination sites run by the state with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will open in Queens and Brooklyn on Wednesday, with appointments set aside for residents of specific ZIP codes. Appointment slots opened over the weekend for vaccinations at Medgar Evers College in Crown Heights and York College in Jamaica, starting this Wednesday. According to Gov. Andrew Cuomo, there are many appointments still up for grabs.
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Policy

Apply for 89 mixed-income apartments in Bed-Stuy, from just $524/month

Photo via CityRealty

February 18, 2021

Apply for 89 mixed-income apartments in Bed-Stuy, from just $524/month

By Dana Schulz

A mixed-income affordable housing lottery has opened for 89 units at 645 Gates Avenue in Bed-Stuy. The apartments, which range from $524/month studios to $2,638/month three-bedrooms, are available to those earning 40, 50, 100, and 130 percent of the area median income. The building, known as The Astra, offers an outdoor terrace, roof deck, bike storage, a laundry room, rec room, and community center. It's in the heart of the neighborhood and a short walk to the G train at the Bedford-Nostrand station.
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Affordable Housing

$2.3M duplex in a Brooklyn Heights brownstone has two outdoor spaces and three fireplaces

All photos courtesy of The Corcoran Group

February 18, 2021

$2.3M duplex in a Brooklyn Heights brownstone has two outdoor spaces and three fireplaces

By Devin Gannon

A bright duplex in Brooklyn Heights that boasts two private outdoor spaces is now on the market for $2,325,000. The property at 174 Hicks Street sits within a brownstone in the neighborhood's historic district and about two blocks from the scenic Brooklyn Heights Promenade. The two-bedroom, two-bath home measures roughly 1,500 square feet, with flexible mezzanine space and three wood-burning fireplaces.
Take the tour

Distinctive Homes

Coney Island amusements can finally reopen in April

Photo by sebastien cordat on Unsplash

February 17, 2021

Coney Island amusements can finally reopen in April

By Devin Gannon

Looking ahead to warmer months, Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Wednesday said outdoor amusement parks, indoor family entertainment centers, and overnight summer camps in New York will be allowed to reopen. If the state's coronavirus positivity rate continues to trend downward, indoor entertainment centers can reopen starting March 26 at 25 percent capacity, outdoor amusement parks and rides on April 9 at 33 percent capacity, and eventually, overnight summer camps in June.
More here

Policy

$2.7M Williamsburg penthouse has four outdoor spaces and a rooftop sauna

Photo credit: Melanie Greene

February 16, 2021

$2.7M Williamsburg penthouse has four outdoor spaces and a rooftop sauna

By Dana Schulz

While the interiors at this three-bedroom South Williamsburg condo are eye-catching on their own, it's the four outdoor spaces that really set the home apart. Located at The Smith Grey at 138 Broadway, the three-level apartment has two terraces, a balcony, and a huge roof terrace complete with an outdoor sauna. It's currently on the market asking $2,695,000.
Take the tour here

Distinctive Homes

Lottery opens for 94 mixed-income units at new Bed-Stuy rental, from $667/month

Rendering courtesy of BFC Partners

February 9, 2021

Lottery opens for 94 mixed-income units at new Bed-Stuy rental, from $667/month

By Devin Gannon

A housing lottery launched this week for 94 mixed-income apartments at a new rental in Bedford-Stuyvesant. Located at 1620 Fulton Street, the Garnet rises 11 stories and contains 103 total units. Building perks include a landscaped terrace, fitness center, children's playroom, storage room, and on-site laundry. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 50, 100, and 150 percent of the area median income can apply for the apartments, ranging from $667/month studios to $2,741/month two-bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

On Valentine’s Day, take a virtual tour of the city’s largest sewage plant

Photo via NYC Water/Flickr

February 2, 2021

On Valentine’s Day, take a virtual tour of the city’s largest sewage plant

By Dana Schulz

What's more romantic that that?? It may seem odd, but every year, when the NYC Department of Environmental Protection and Open House New York host a Valentine's Day tour of the Newtown Creek Wastewater Resource Recovery Facility and its famous Digester Eggs, it sells out almost immediately. But thanks to our new virtual world, more New Yorkers will get a chance to experience this quirky event this year, and it also allows us to see parts of the facility that the public wouldn’t normally have access to.
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Events & Things To Do

February 2, 2021

19th-century abolitionist home in Downtown Brooklyn is now a city landmark

By Devin Gannon

The Landmarks Preservation Commission on Tuesday voted to designate a Brooklyn property that was home to known abolitionists, likely saving it from demolition. Harriet and Thomas Truesdell, members of the anti-slavery movement before the Civil War, lived at the Greek-Revival row house at 227 Duffield Street from 1851 to 1863. The commission recommended 227 Duffield for designation because it represents a rare surviving home to known abolitionists and marks Brooklyn's pre-Civil War abolitionist movement. The push for landmarking the site was accelerated in 2019 when a developer filed permits to raze the three-story structure and replace it with a much taller mixed-use building.
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Listing photos courtesy of Brown Harris Stevens

February 2, 2021

The huge backyard at this $2.65M Crown Heights townhouse is a family oasis

By Dana Schulz

If you've been quarantined with kids for the past year, be prepared to drool over the backyard at this Crown Heights townhouse. Located at 1101 Park Place and listed for $2,650,000, the two-family home has a garden-floor apartment and a three-bedroom duplex on the upper two floors. The latter has a deck off the kitchen and a massive (it stretches through to the other block!) backyard with both a stone patio and a grassy space large enough for a swing set and trampoline.
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Distinctive Homes

Listing photos courtesy of The Corcoran Group

February 1, 2021

Two apartments become one at this cozy Cobble Hill co-op, asking $1.75M

By Dana Schulz

Because this Cobble Hill co-op was originally two separate apartments, its combined layout is quite unique. The building at 242 Baltic Street has an interior lightwell, which creates two narrow hallways off the living space--one that's configured as a galley kitchen, the other as a den. Overall, the three-bedroom home is pretty and bright, with lots of cozy areas to curl up in. It's asking $1,750,000.
Look around

Distinctive Homes

Bike lanes to replace car lanes on the Brooklyn and Queensboro bridges

Photo courtesy of alihasadd25 on Pixabay

January 29, 2021

Bike lanes to replace car lanes on the Brooklyn and Queensboro bridges

By Devin Gannon

New York City plans to ban cars from part of two major East River bridges and reserve them for cyclists. Mayor Bill de Blasio on Thursday unveiled a proposal to transform the innermost lane of the Brooklyn Bridge into a two-way protected bike lane and convert the north outer roadway of the Queensboro Bridge into a two-way bike-only lane. The "Bridges for the People" plan was announced as part of the mayor's final State of the City address, "A Recovery for All of Us."
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Transit

Two-story Williamsburg condo has a glass wall and grassy balcony for $1.2M

Listing photos courtesy of The Corcoran Group

January 27, 2021

Two-story Williamsburg condo has a glass wall and grassy balcony for $1.2M

By Dana Schulz

The six-unit condo building at 237 Devoe Street in Williamsburg was recently completed, and perhaps the most unique unit is this duplex that sits behind the entire double-story wall of glass. The other interesting feature is the balcony, which has a cool grassy extension. Asking $1,225,000, the 1,020-square-foot one-bedroom has 20-foot ceilings, modern finishes, and tons of storage space.
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Distinctive Homes

Plans for abolitionist memorial in Downtown Brooklyn park delayed again

Renderings by Hargreaves Jones, courtesy of NYCEDC

January 26, 2021

Plans for abolitionist memorial in Downtown Brooklyn park delayed again

By Devin Gannon

After being in the works for nearly two decades, plans to build a public park in Downtown Brooklyn with a memorial to the neighborhood's abolitionist history are delayed once again. The Public Design Commission last week tabled a conceptual proposal from artist Kameelah Janan Rasheed after preservationists and community members during an intense public hearing criticized both the design for missing details and the city's lack of transparency.
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Events & Things To Do

Brick and beams abound at this $1.75M Brooklyn Heights three-bedroom

Listing images courtesy of The Corcoran Group

January 22, 2021

Brick and beams abound at this $1.75M Brooklyn Heights three-bedroom

By Dana Schulz

It's not rare to find townhouses or apartments in Brooklyn with old-world details like exposed brick and ceiling beams, but we can't remember the last time we found such a home that's quite this cozy. Located at 80 Poplar Street in Brooklyn Heights, the duplex has three fireplaces--one wood-burning, one gas, and one decorative--two bathrooms, and a private terrace. It's asking $1,750,000.
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Distinctive Homes

January 13, 2021

Brooklyn Heights townhouse sells for $25.5M, breaks borough record

By Dana Schulz

As was first reported by The Real Deal, billionaire Vince Viola has sold his Brooklyn Heights mansion at 8 Montague terrace for a record-setting $25.5 million, according to city property records. The sale beats out the $20.3 million penthouse in Brooklyn Heights’ Quay Tower, which sold virtually back in April. Viola, an Army veteran who founded Virtu Financial and owns the NHL Florida Panthers, bought the home with his wife Teresa in 2007 for $8 million. At the time it was a multi-family dwelling, but they converted it to a single-family home. The new buyer is not identified, and it appears to be an off-market deal.
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