NYT Profiles Brooklyn Heights’ Real Estate Evolution

By on October 20, 2012 8:52 pm in Brooklyn Heights, Profiles, Real Estate

The New York Times offers an 1,100-word profile in its Real Estate section about potential evolution in Brooklyn Heights, as a number of new projects change the face of its brownstone persona. The story by Constance Rosenblum opens: “That enclave of impeccably restored brownstones lining narrow, leafy streets has long been immune to the buzzy changes washing over communities beyond its borders. But thanks to a more buoyant economy, changes are nibbling at the neighborhood’s edges that will bring luxury accommodations through the pipeline.”

The piece discusses the impact of five projects: the Bossert Hotel’s conversion back to a hotel, 20 Henry Street’s 38 luxury condos, 30 Henry Street’s five floor-through condos, 72 Poplar Street’s 14 family-size condos and 70 Henry Street’s five-story rental conversion.

Robert Perris, district manager of Community Board 2, notes, “Brooklyn Heights is very much a community in which people belong to the same institutions, like the Casino and the Brooklyn Heights Association. These new projects don’t necessarily destroy that. In a way, they simply expand the size of the pie.” (Photos: NYT)

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  • Brixtony

    I’ve been here for 22 years and certainly don’t belong to any of these “Institutions”. I work in the area too. What a presumption!

  • WillowSt.Neighbor

    Very few of my neighbors belong to either one of the two institutions mentioned.

  • Wiley E.

    The blue-bloods will be fine with the expanding wealth in the community. It is the artists and working (tax-paying) people who will suffer as real estate prices continue to increase.

  • Robert Perris

    When asked if the new developments marked the end of neighborhood institutions like the casino and the Brooklyn Heights Association, I responded as quoted. I don’t state or imply, at least not intentionally, that all residents do. However, for those who do, those institutions contribute significantly to how they understand and participate in the community.

  • Belein

    Since when are “impeccably restored brownstones” not luxury accommodations? NYC is drowning in proposals for luxury housing, many of which lead to compromises to neighborhood character.

  • TMS

    Where will all of the children go to school? PS8 certainly can’t accommodate them.

  • Wiley E.

    The real estate developers and their clients get tax breaks. So no new schools, no expanded library services, no expanded fire or police production. The sidewalks aren’t getting any wider. The burden of development falls on the existing tax payers. The community is getting screwed with “new” development. Win win for the rich guys. If the developers want to build, they should pay all their taxes now!

  • TMS

    Builders should also be required to build new schools or pay a special school tax for the burden they will put on the existing school (note school is singular) in the area. Who lets them get away with this? It’s mindboggling no one is thinking ahead.

  • Cranberry Beret

    Worthy sentiments above, but not really applicable for the small scale development in the heights mentioned in the article. The real problem is the hundreds of units being added in dumbo. Seems like every day, a new warehouse conversion is announced, any one of which is bigger than the four Henry and poplar buildings combined. Followed by a close second for the new units on furman street (“in” or “out” of the park depending on your bent.)