New renderings have been revealed for Williamsburg Wharf, a 3.75-acre mixed-use development at 464-484 Kent Avenue on the South Williamsburg waterfront in Brooklyn. Developed by Naftali Group and Access Industries, the multi-phase master plan will yield approximately 1 million square feet of residential, commercial, and retail space, along with a public esplanade stretching nearly 525 feet along the East River. Williamsburg Wharf will feature five 22-story residential towers housing nearly 850 condominium and rental units designed by Brandon Haw Architecture, COOKFOX Architects, Rockwell Group, Ward + Gray, Studio Munge, and Hill West Architects. SERHANT New Development is handling sales and marketing for the first residential tower, with sales slated to launch later this year. The site is bound by South 10th Street to the north, Division Avenue to the south, Kent Avenue to the east, and Wallabout Channel to the west.
The main rendering looks north up the East River at two of the residential towers in the first phase of Williamsburg Wharf. Each features a multi-story podium that will house a collection of amenities. The façades consist of light- and dark-colored envelopes with tight grids of floor-to-ceiling windows, podium setbacks, and rectangular mechanical bulkheads clad in gray paneling above the roof parapets. Several more upper setbacks are shown topped with private terraces for select units.
The second rendering shows an entrance from Kent Avenue with a motor courtyard framed with wood paneling emblazoned with the Williamsburg Wharf logo. Ground-floor retail space flanks both sides, and the Lower Manhattan skyline can be seen in the background.
Rendering courtesy of Hayes Davidson.
The third rendering depicts a section of the public waterfront esplanade in the late afternoon with garden beds, fountains, benches, walkways, newly planted trees and lawns, and views of the Midtown, Manhattan skyline behind the Williamsburg Bridge. Scape Landscape Architecture and Future Green Studio will serve as the landscape architects.
Rendering courtesy of Hayes Davidson.
“Williamsburg Wharf represents an extraordinary vision for the last developable site along Williamsburg’s East River shoreline,” said Miki Naftali, chairman and CEO of Naftali Group. “We are excited to introduce a new neighborhood and truly urban resort-style destination to future residents in this highly desirable neighborhood. This master-planned development, designed by some of the finest architects and designers in the world, demonstrates our continued confidence in the strength of New York City and our promise to always deliver the highest quality residences to the market.”
Some of the residential amenities announced are a cinema, coworking stations, dining rooms with a chef’s kitchen, an indoor/outdoor fitness center, and an outdoor swimming pool that will double as a private ice skating rink in the wintertime. Other amenities will include an open lawn, a dog run, an extension of the Williamsburg waterfront pedestrian and cyclist routes, interconnected landscaping throughout, and a pedestrian boulevard featuring a sculptural public art piece yet to be revealed.
Naftali Group acquired the development site in 2020 that was once home to a lumber yard owned by Abraham Rosenberg. The $385 million financing package consisted of a $310 million senior mortgage loan provided by Bank OZK and $75 million in mezzanine financing provided by Barings. Naftali then purchased the second parcel in 2020 for another $105 million.
The South Williamsburg Ferry Terminal is a close walk from the site, as are the J, M, and Z trains at the elevated Marcy Avenue subway station to the east. The Williamsburg Bridge, with easy access to Manhattan, is also nearby.
The first phase of Williamsburg Wharf is expected to be finished at the end of 2025. Construction is expected to cost $600 million.
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This large-scale project is unlikely, to be related to the political party campaigning for it. Very confident on the world’s best architects meet at this event: Thanks to Michael Young.
Correct. This has nothing to do with the Wharf Party.
I always read NY Yimby but rarely comment. This project is worth a comment. My opinion:?Williamsburg Wharf looks spectacular and the rendering deserves an A+. I just hope it gets completed as the renderings are showing.