Brooklyn

Completely transformed from a four-family home by AD100 architectural designer Elizabeth Roberts, this 19th-century Cobble Hill Italianate townhouse at 469 Henry Street is a breathtaking showcase of considered renovation design. The 22-foot-wide, 56-foot-deep home, asking $11,000,000, was given a new three-story extension, adding up to 5,000 square feet of living space on four floors. Among its many highlights are a living wall of ivy, a double-height glass wall that opens onto a 2,000-square-foot landscaped garden, and a step-down sunken family room.
Tour this stunning Brooklyn townhouse

Distinctive Homes

Brooklyn’s tallest tower launches lottery for 120 middle-income apartments, from $2,630/month

Image courtesy of Evan Joseph

March 29, 2023

Brooklyn’s tallest tower launches lottery for 120 middle-income apartments, from $2,630/month

Here's a chance to live in Brooklyn's tallest tower for (slightly) less. The 93-story Brooklyn Tower launched a housing lottery this week for 120 middle-income apartments. New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income, or between $90,172 annually for a single person and $215,150 for a household of seven, can apply for the units, priced between $2,630/month for studios and $3,872/month for three bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

108 apartments for low-income seniors available in Brownsville

Rendering courtesy of the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development

March 28, 2023

108 apartments for low-income seniors available in Brownsville

A housing lottery opened this week for 108 apartments at a new senior housing development in Brooklyn. Located at 381-401 Chester Street in Brownsville, Simba Simbi Seniors is an eight-story apartment building offering senior residents comfortable homes and a wide variety of amenities. Applicants must have at least one household member who is 62 years of age or older, qualifies for Section 8 benefits, and earns no more than $60,050 annually. Eligible New Yorkers will pay 30 percent of their income for the available studio and one-bedroom apartments.
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Affordable Housing

This $3M full-floor Red Hook condo has a Mediterranean vibe, two terraces, and parking

Photo credit: Allyson Lubow

March 24, 2023

This $3M full-floor Red Hook condo has a Mediterranean vibe, two terraces, and parking

This 1,800-square-foot full-floor Brooklyn condo at 96 King Street, asking $2,950,000, offers three bedrooms and two-and-a-half baths. Organic architectural details like arched doorways and unique textures, shapes, and colors combine to give the newly-minted home a sunny, modern Mediterranean feel. Two terraces provide outdoor space for enjoying summer evenings in this lively and eclectic neighborhood; the three-unit building offers private parking for the car you'll need for life in Red Hook.
Get a closer look

Williamsburg rental with rooftop and zen garden opens lottery for 43 units, from $2,924/month

Renderings courtesy of the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development

March 20, 2023

Williamsburg rental with rooftop and zen garden opens lottery for 43 units, from $2,924/month

Applications are now being accepted for 43 middle-income apartments in the heart of Williamsburg. Located at 130 Hope Street, the seven-story luxury building contains 143 apartments, boutique retail space, and outdoor amenities like a rooftop and zen garden. New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income, or between $100,252 annually for a single person and $215,150 annually for a household of seven, can apply for the apartments, priced from $2,924/month studios to $4,296/month three bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

Live large indoors or out at this $1.8M Boerum Hill condo with a two-level deck and bedroom balcony

All photos by Russ Ross for The Corcoran Group

March 20, 2023

Live large indoors or out at this $1.8M Boerum Hill condo with a two-level deck and bedroom balcony

If you crave outdoor space with your city living, this two-bedroom Boerum Hill condo at 52 Third Avenue is a triple threat. Asking $1,795,000, this top-floor apartment has three separate decked terraces ready to become a multi-level garden paradise–or party space–complete with skyline views. You don't have to sacrifice indoor living, either, with 1,000 square feet of interior space.
Take the indoor/outdoor tour

Lined with mahogany, onyx and Tiffany glass, this $1.95M studio isn’t your typical Billionaires’ Row pad

Photos courtesy of BK HOME PHOTOS

March 17, 2023

Lined with mahogany, onyx and Tiffany glass, this $1.95M studio isn’t your typical Billionaires’ Row pad

This 1,000-square-foot studio possesses a unique floor plan highlighted by 8-foot corner windows and Carnegie Hall views. The 19th-century co-op building at 205 West 57th Street, known as the Osborne, is located on Billionaires' Row, and the historic building has seen its share of famous residents, including the unit just across the hall. Once owned by Leonard Bernstein, that apartment was purchased by actress Jessica Chastain in 2015. But the apartment's Gilded Age luxury sets it apart from its somewhat generic condo neighbors. Asking $1,950,000, this remarkable studio boasts details like mahogany-clad walls and ceilings, original Tiffany window transoms, a mezzanine library, jade onyx fixtures, and an electric Murphy bed.
Get a closer look here

Distinctive Homes

East Village icon Veselka opening a second location in Williamsburg

Photo courtesy of Eden, Janine and Jim on Flickr

March 16, 2023

East Village icon Veselka opening a second location in Williamsburg

Veselka, a staple of the East Village for nearly seven decades, is headed to Brooklyn. As first reported by the New York Post, the 69-year-old Ukrainian diner known for authentic dishes like pierogi and borscht will open a new 5,000-square-foot location in Williamsburg. While the lease isn't finalized yet, Jason Birchard, co-owner of Veselka, expects to announce the location of the new eatery soon. Once the new restaurant opens, owners will temporarily close the Second Avenue location for renovations.
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Food & Dining

City breaks ground on $1.6B project to protect Gowanus Canal from pollution

Image via WikiCommons

March 15, 2023

City breaks ground on $1.6B project to protect Gowanus Canal from pollution

New York City on Wednesday broke ground on one of two new underground storage tanks that will prevent pollution of Brooklyn's Gowanus Canal. The $1.6 billion project will prevent up to 12 million gallons of sewer overflow from entering the canal during rainstorms and flooding events. The first tank, bounded by Nevins Street, Butler street, and Degraw Street, will hold up to eight million gallons of sewage waste and include 3.6 acres of public open space on the waterfront.
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Uncategorized

From the basement gym to the planted roof deck, this $5M Park Slope townhouse is a modern marvel

All photos courtesy of Udi Almog of H5

March 15, 2023

From the basement gym to the planted roof deck, this $5M Park Slope townhouse is a modern marvel

Unlike many new-construction single-family homes in the city, this four-story-plus-basement-and-roof-deck townhouse, asking $4,995,000, combines luxury with great design and considered convenience. The 20-foot-wide home at 566 Carroll Street reads modern from the outside, clad in ipe wood; within are 3,732 square feet of Brooklyn townhouse goodness on four floors, including a back patio and roof deck, chic custom kitchen, five bedrooms, a basement gym and plenty of entertaining space.
More this way

Distinctive Homes

A Central Park Tower penthouse asks $175M to live in the world’s tallest residential tower

Photo courtesy of Extell

March 10, 2023

A Central Park Tower penthouse asks $175M to live in the world’s tallest residential tower

Trophy pad alert: A 12,557-square-foot penthouse in Central Park Tower at 217 West 57th Street just hit the market, asking for a skyscraping $175,000,000. The duplex Billionaires' Row condo spans the 107th and 108th floor of what is to date the Western Hemisphere's tallest residential tower. It's a tower filled with superlatives–including the world's highest residence, a $250 million triplex just a few floors above. If this two-story sky mansion gets its asking price, it could be New York City's second-biggest residential sale ever.
Behold this Central Park Tower penthouse in the sky

Distinctive Homes

City pilot will add more pedestrian space to Prospect Park’s roadway

Photo by Prabu Vasan for Prospect Park Alliance

March 8, 2023

City pilot will add more pedestrian space to Prospect Park’s roadway

Prospect Park's main roadway is getting a revamp. The Prospect Park Alliance and the Department of Transportation on Tuesday released the results of a year-long study of Prospect Park Drive, a busy loop within the park for pedestrians, joggers, and cyclists. Conducted by leading traffic consultancy Sam Schwartz, the NYC Parks Department, and DOT, the study analyzed crash data, roadway grade, pedestrian count, and other metrics to determine ways to improve the roadway. As a result of the study, the city is piloting adding a second lane on the outside of the drive, which would limit the need for crossings and prevent collisions.
Find out more

The Museum of Failure exhibit is coming to Brooklyn

Images courtesy of SEE Attractions/Museum of Failure

March 8, 2023

The Museum of Failure exhibit is coming to Brooklyn

A new exhibit in Sunset Park gives an opportunity to learn about some of the biggest failures of the biggest companies. Located in Industry City, the Museum of Failure offers New Yorkers a close look at more than 130 "epic fails" by giant global corporations, including Coca-Cola, Google, and Nokia, with the intention of teaching visitors the importance of learning from your mistakes. Presented by SEE Attractions, the exhibit will be open from March 17 until May 14.
See more here

Events & Things To Do

New public artwork turns a Downtown Brooklyn plaza into a playful, colorful oasis

All photos courtesy of Cameron Blaylock for Downtown Brooklyn Partnership

March 3, 2023

New public artwork turns a Downtown Brooklyn plaza into a playful, colorful oasis

A new interactive public art installation in Downtown Brooklyn transforms a plaza into a colorful oasis with shimmering lights. The Downtown Brooklyn Partnership and Van Alen Institute on Wednesday unveiled "COMMON GROUND," a site-specific sculpture created by artist Cheryl Wing-Zi Wong with lighting design by Arup featuring colorful seating, sound-responsive lighting, and floor motifs that provide a vibrant space for people to gather. The installation will be on view from March 1 to May 1 at The Plaza at 300 Ashland.
Get the details

Events & Things To Do

If you love pattern and color, this $1.5M Williamsburg condo is for you

Photo courtesy of The Corcoran Group

March 2, 2023

If you love pattern and color, this $1.5M Williamsburg condo is for you

If you love closet space–you may want to look elsewhere. This two-bedroom, two-bath unit at 221 Devoe Street in Williamsburg has plenty of appeal. Asking $1,495,000, the modern north Brooklyn condo was featured in House Beautiful; the 1,108-square-foot penthouse has an impressive landscaped 300-square-foot terrace, a wealth of art-inspired interior design–and a notable dearth of closets.
Get a closer look

Proposal to restore Prospect Park’s Vale faces criticism from LGBTQ+ advocates

Rendering of the proposed northeast pavilion. All renderings courtesy of the Prospect Park Alliance

March 1, 2023

Proposal to restore Prospect Park’s Vale faces criticism from LGBTQ+ advocates

The city's Parks Department and the Prospect Park Alliance this week unveiled plans for the restoration of the Vale of Cashmere. The proposal, presented during a Landmarks Preservation Commission hearing on Tuesday, includes a new pollinator garden, natural exploration play areas, a planted arbor, and a wooden pavilion with a green roof and bathrooms. Several LPC commissioners, preservationists, and LGBTQ+ advocates opposed the proposal for the Upper Vale, with most taking issue with the plan's erasure of the site as a significant meeting spot for the city's queer community as well as the disregard for the original vision of the Vale.
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This $2M Ditmas Park two-family home is historic and updated, with four-car parking and a yard

Photo Credit: Allyson Lubow

March 1, 2023

This $2M Ditmas Park two-family home is historic and updated, with four-car parking and a yard

This two-family house at 986 Ocean Avenue in Ditmas Park is updated and ready for living and rental income as a triplex with an upper duplex unit, all while retaining its early-20th-century charm. Asking $1,999,000, the 4,305-square-foot home is in the heart of Victorian Flatbush, surrounded by the neighborhood's lovely architecture as well as its restaurants, bars, cafes, and shops. With plenty of covetable yard space, the home has the added bonus of space for four cars, with two driveway parking spots and a two-car garage.
Get a closer look

Distinctive Homes

17-story Clinton Hill rental opens lottery for middle-income units, from $2,700/month

Rendering courtesy of the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development

February 28, 2023

17-story Clinton Hill rental opens lottery for middle-income units, from $2,700/month

A residential building rising next to a landmarked Gothic Revival church in Brooklyn is currently accepting applications for 42 middle-income apartments. Designed by DXA Studio and located across the street from Clinton Hill, the Parish House is a 17-story rental with 138 one- and two-bedroom apartments. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the apartments, priced between $2,700/month and $3,400/month.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

New express ferry service takes commuters from Bay Ridge to Wall Street in 20 minutes

Photo by Shinya Suzuki on Flickr

February 28, 2023

New express ferry service takes commuters from Bay Ridge to Wall Street in 20 minutes

A new pilot program launching next month will speed up trips for South Brooklyn residents commuting to Manhattan. Starting March 8, the NYC Ferry's South Brooklyn route will take weekday riders from Bay Ridge to Wall Street in roughly 20 minutes as part of a "Faster Connections" pilot. The new express service operates between 6:15 a.m. and 10:15 a.m. on weekdays.
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Rupert Murdoch buys $30M Central Park South co-op

The Hampshire House is known for its steeply-pitched copper roof with two tall chimneys; Photo via Wikimedia Commons

February 28, 2023

Rupert Murdoch buys $30M Central Park South co-op

Media giant Rupert Murdoch is in contract to purchase a full-floor co-op on Billionaires' Row. As first reported by the Wall Street Journal, the News Corp founder bought a 6,500-square-foot apartment on the 27th floor of the Hampshire House that was last listed for $30,000,000; the final sales price has not been made public. The seven-bedroom, five-bathroom residence was the longtime home of late hedge-fund magnate Julian H. Robertson Jr. and famed philanthropist Alice Tully.
Details here

Preserved Neo-Grec townhouse in Park Slope is a glimpse into the Gilded Age for $3.5M

Photos courtesy of Compass

February 24, 2023

Preserved Neo-Grec townhouse in Park Slope is a glimpse into the Gilded Age for $3.5M

A well-preserved Park Slope brownstone built 150 years ago hit the market this week. Located within the neighborhood's historic district, 34 7th Avenue is considered one of Park Slope's first Neo-Grec townhouses. Much of the home's historic charm has been maintained, seen in original carved walnut woodwork, parquet flooring, pocket doors, and seven stunning fireplace mantles. Asking $3,470,000, the home is currently configured as a four-family building, but could easily become the magnificent single-family home it was intended to be when built.
See it here

Distinctive Homes

Plans unveiled for David Adjaye’s Restoration Plaza revamp in Bed-Stuy

Renderings courtesy of Adjaye Associates

February 17, 2023

Plans unveiled for David Adjaye’s Restoration Plaza revamp in Bed-Stuy

Plans to transform Brooklyn's Restoration Plaza into a global cultural and economic hub were unveiled this week. Non-profit Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation on Thursday released renderings and new details of its plan to reimagine its headquarters with an 840,000-square-foot mixed-use campus designed by renowned architect Sir David Adjaye. The plan expands and modernizes existing space, adds office and retail space, and creates new public open space in the heart of Bed-Stuy. According to the developer team, the Innovation Campus is a direct response to the country's racial wealth gap, particularly the economic barriers Black New Yorkers face in Brooklyn.
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$6M Park Slope triplex condo feels like a modern townhouse, private garden and parking included

Photo credit: Travis Mark courtesy of Douglas Elliman

February 13, 2023

$6M Park Slope triplex condo feels like a modern townhouse, private garden and parking included

In the heart of charming Park Slope, a townhouse-sized condominium with parking and a private garden is now available. Located within the boutique building The Vermeil at 133 Sterling Place, the triplex measures 3,610 square feet and contains five bedrooms and four baths. Asking $5,995,000, the home has been customized for modern Brooklyn living, with sleek built-ins and storage throughout, as well as a private rear garden designed for the ultimate city soiree.
Take a better look

Distinctive Homes

The Brooklyn Tower’s striking neo-Deco crown is complete

Photo by Evan Joseph

February 10, 2023

The Brooklyn Tower’s striking neo-Deco crown is complete

The top of the tallest tower in Brooklyn is now complete, cementing its status as New York City's newest landmark. The Brooklyn Tower rises 93 stories from a marble base with a facade of repeating vertical columns and alternating panels of colored metals that fade from bronze to black as it moves upward to the neo-Deco crown. The spired pinnacle reaches 1,066 feet, making the Brooklyn Tower the tallest building in the borough.
See it here

Architecture And Design

This $10M historic wood-frame in Brooklyn Heights is one of the neighborhood’s oldest homes

Photo courtesy of Douglas Elliman

February 9, 2023

This $10M historic wood-frame in Brooklyn Heights is one of the neighborhood’s oldest homes

Listed for a Heights-priced $9,950,000, this compact wood-frame home at 69 Orange Street makes up in history and location what it may lack in size. Charming inside and out, the 1829 townhouse on a covetable, picturesque "fruit street" is on the market for the first time in nearly a century. Though the home could use some TLC from what we can see, there are plenty of period details, and it has been equipped with a central A/C and a washer and dryer.
Brooklyn history, this way

Distinctive Homes

Brooklyn Heights rental with rooftop terrace launches housing lottery, from $1,528/month

Photo Credit: 200 Montague Street, Courtesy of MNS Real Estate

February 7, 2023

Brooklyn Heights rental with rooftop terrace launches housing lottery, from $1,528/month