Wall Street Journal Reports Building Boom Is A’Coming To Brooklyn

The Wall Street Journal today reports that “Brooklyn Is Set For A Building Boom” in an article that claims residential developers are running out of zoned space in Manhattan, so setting their sights—and sites—on the borough.

A report by Nancy Packes, a consultant to city developers, says, “Brooklyn has in the early planning stages as many as 14,000 new residential units, compared with Manhattan, where just 5,000 new units are in the planning phase.”

The article focuses on downtown Brooklyn and the Williamsburg waterfront, but mentions 30 Henry Street, “a low-rise project in Brooklyn Heights with full-floor units designed to emulate townhouses.”

The Packes study also insinuates that because a high percentage of Brooklyn residents are “tech or creative workers” (34%), they are more likely to “gravitate toward simple, tasteful new construction at lower price points and away from modern towers loaded with amenities.”

Citi Habitats broker Anthony Dellecave noted in the story, “That charming brownstone feel is what people like about Brooklyn. From a developer’s perspective, I’d stay away from the modern luxury high-rise and focus on old-world charm and prewar character.”

Adds Packes, “The idea of luxury may finally be finished, at least to these emerging neighborhoods.”

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  • DrewB

    My favorite line in this pst…

    Adds Packes, “The idea of luxury may finally be finished, at least to these emerging neighborhoods.”

    Maybe these stupid developers have finally learned you cn develop neighborhood without destroying it. I have no problem with new development as long as stays in scale with the neighborhood.

  • JC

    I worked in RE. What is considered luxury? 90 degree walls so sharp you can lose skin if you accidentally rub against them while turning a courner? A marble sink?

    There is no such thing as “LUXURY” in older “modern” structures. All it means is that you have or may have a Doorman.

    Having a “pre-war” look and feel IS luxury. Rounded courners, moldings, a fireplace.

  • Jorale-man

    I never understood why doormen are such a draw for some people. I’ve lived in both doormen and non-doormen buildings and prefer the latter. You don’t have someone who knows your business all the time and there’s no awkward, forced conversation every time you come and go.

    Maybe they’re helpful if you’re elderly or live in a borderline neighborhood but otherwise I question whether they’re worth the extra cost.

  • stuart

    What happened to the land bridge connecting Manhattan to Governor’s Island? No need to develop second rate sites in obscure 718 zones. Build more of the Emerald City and the will come!

  • Curmudgeon

    Hmmm. The WSJ article says that people want that Brownstone look and feel, yet the Brooklyn Heights Association on the 30 Henry St. plans wants something contemporary and distinctive. As quoted in the blog “BHA member and architect Jonathan Marvel is quoted as saying, ‘We implore you to inspire, to delight, to raise the bar on originality.’”

    Seems someone is out of touch. Contemporary is fine in its place, but perhaps just not here.

  • stuart

    The people with the money are by and large young, not the old fogeys who had good jobs once during the Nixon Administration.
    Younger people want all kinds of modern things unimaginable to old curmudgeons. Brownstone Brooklyn is undergoing a huge change, younger and very affluent people are moving here because they want to, not because they can’t afford the Village or the Upper East Side. It’s a new ballgame folks.

  • Curmudgeon

    @Stuart – Did you actually read the WSJ article or are you just blowing hot air as per usual? And must you always find it necessary to hurl a personal insult in many of your posts.

    Seems that you really want to live somewhere else more modern and you know, maybe less charming than Brownstone Brooklyn. As a previous BHB blogger stated, perhaps you should try living in a more modern area like Las Vegas. You certainly don’t seem to belong here. I think you will fit in there more readily. Your constant references to affluence and money are a bit stale and very telling.

  • Bette

    They never seem to mention Brooklyn Heights…

  • Willow St. Neighbor

    Stuart,
    How old are you? Twelve?

  • ChrisEllen

    Imagine you are older, or have some even minor disability… A doorman can be VERY helpful….