Brooklyn Heights

Development Team Acquires 11-Story Watchtower Complex at 25-30 Columbia in Brooklyn Heights, Plans Creative Office Conversion

6:00 am on August 5, 2016 By Reid Wilson

Over the spring, a team of developers entered into contract to acquire, from the Jehovah’s Witnesses, the 11-story, 739,000-square-foot commercial complex known as the Watchtower, at 25-30 Columbia Heights, in Brooklyn Heights. The team – now a joint venture between the Kushner Companies, CIM Group, and LIVWRK – have closed on the purchase for roughly $340 million, Commercial Observer reported. The new owners plan to convert the complex into creative office space, likely similar to how some of the same developers transformed the five-building complex now dubbed DUMBO Heights. The redevelopment is expected to begin within a year. In addition to the acquisition of 25-30 Columbia Heights, the same partnership is remains in contract to buy the vacant, block-encompassing development site at 85 Jay Street, in DUMBO.

Rendering of proposed restaurant at 14 Old Fulton Street

Landmarks Okays Gas Station-to-Restaurant Conversion at 14 Old Fulton Street

7:30 am on June 9, 2016 By Evan Bindelglass

A small lot in Brooklyn’s Fulton Ferry Historic District is on its way to a change of use. On Tuesday, the Landmarks Preservation Commission approved changes that will allow the former gas station at 14 Old Fulton Street to become a restaurant.

14-Story, 279-Key Esplendor Bossert Brooklyn Hotel Will Open in October at 98 Montague Street, Brooklyn Heights

1:00 pm on June 8, 2016 By Reid Wilson

Back in 2012, Clipper Equity and the Chetrit Group acquired, from the Jehovah’s Witnesses for $81 million, the 14-story Bossert Hotel building at 98 Montague Street, in Brooklyn Heights. It has since been undergoing a conversion back to the structure’s original use as a hotel, and now it has been revealed that the the building will open on October 1, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported. Re-dubbed Esplendor Bossert Brooklyn, it will be operated by Fën Hotels. The latest building permits indicate there will be 279 hotel rooms. It will feature a 1,997-square-foot restaurant on the first floor, a 2,995-square-foot lobby café, and a 2,300-square-foot restaurant on the 14th floor. The rooftop terrace will measure 1,922 square feet and will be utilized by the restaurant. New York-based Gwathmey Siegel Kaufman + Associates Architects (GSKA) is behind the design of the renovation. The building sits within the Brooklyn Heights Historic District.

Updated Two-Tower, 266-Unit Mixed-Income Residential Project Approved for Pier 6, Brooklyn Heights

6:30 am on June 8, 2016 By Reid Wilson

Last month, news broke that the city, with selected developers RAL Development and Oliver Realty Group and architect ODA New York, would be moving forward with a two-building residential project at Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Pier 6, in southern Brooklyn Heights, without the support of the Empire State Development Corporation (ESD). Yesterday, the Brooklyn Bridge Park Corporation voted to approve the updated project, Curbed NY reports. The latest plans call for a 28-story, 126-unit market-rate condominium tower and a 12-story, 140-unit mixed-income rental building, where 100 of the rental apartments will rent at below-market rates, according to the Wall Street Journal. One of the buildings will feature a public restroom, but there’s no mention of any commercial components. Construction is expected to begin in the first half of 2017. As part of the deal, the city will receive a one-time payment of $115 million followed by $2.7 million per year.

City Moving Forward Without State on Two-Tower, 304-Unit Mixed-Income Residential Project at Pier 6, Brooklyn Heights

10:00 am on May 19, 2016 By Reid Wilson

In March, the Empire State Development Corporation (ESD) withheld approval for the two-tower, mixed-income residential project at Pier 6 in Brooklyn Bridge Park, located in southern Brooklyn Heights. The city selected RAL Development and Oliver Realty Group, with ODA New York as the architect, to develop a 29-story, 192-unit condominium building and a 14-story, 147-unit mixed-use rental building with 117 below-market-rate apartments, a preschool, a 930-square-foot retail component, and 1,500-square-foot community facility. Now, the ESD is withdrawing from the project, entirely over concerns regarding ties between the developers and the administration of Mayor Bill de Blasio, Politico New York reports.

Office Conversion Filed for 27-Story, 45,000-Square-Foot Student Dorm at 67 Livingston Street, Brooklyn Heights

6:00 am on May 5, 2016 By Reid Wilson

Financial District-based Glory Capital has filed applications to convert the 27-story, 92-unit dormitory at 67 Livingston Street, in Brooklyn Heights, into an office building. The 45,143-square-foot, 22-foot-wide building will host office space on the ground through 25th floors. The conversion will include amenities, specifically a fitness center on the second floor and a sky lounge on the 26th floor. The property’s square-footage will remain unchanged. The 182-student dormitory is current being used by the Art Institute of New York City, and their lease expires later this year. H. Thomas O’Hara’s Midtown South-based HTO Architect is the architect of record.

Five-Story, 20-Unit Apartment Building at 50 Orange Street Getting Single-Family Conversion, Brooklyn Heights

10:00 am on April 15, 2016 By Reid Wilson

In January, Benchmark Real Estate Group acquired the five-story, 20-unit residential building at 50 Orange Street, in Brooklyn Heights, for $13.5 million. The developer has since tasked Lee Stahl’s design/build firm Renovated Home to draw up plans to convert the home into a single-family mansion, according to the Wall Street Journal. The 14,500-square-foot townhouse would include four bedrooms, a gym, an 800-bottle wine cellar, a library, and a rooftop terrace, although ultimately the buyer will be able to design the final layout. Construction is expected to last into 2017, although the property is already on the market for $22 million. A number of tenants are still currently residing in the building. Any exterior alteration must be approved by the Landmarks Preservation Commission, as the property is located within the Brooklyn Heights Historic District.

Development Team to Buy Jehovah’s Witnesses’ 11-Story Headquarters at 25-30 Columbia Heights, Vacant Site at 85 Jay Street

6:00 am on April 14, 2016 By Reid Wilson

RFR Holding, LIVWRK, and Kushner Companies are preparing to enter into contract to purchase the 11-story, 733,000-square-foot office complex at 25-30 Columbia Heights, in Brooklyn Heights, in addition to the vacant full-block, 135,000-square-foot development site at 85 Jay Street, in DUMBO, from the Jehovah’s Witnesses. The team of developers are paying $700 million for the properties, according to the New York Post. 25-30 Columbia Heights, which is commonly called the “Watchtower,” is the organization’s current headquarters. It could possibly be turned into a commercial hub, similar to how the same developers converted the former Jehovah’s Witnesses properties at 81 Prospect Street into offices back in 2014. As for 85 Jay Street, the site has been long approved for roughly 1.1 million square feet of development. That’s as many as 700 to 1,000 residential units, which could boost the neighborhood’s population by a third, Brownstoner reported a few months ago.

Rendering of the Brooklyn Heights Jewish Academy at 81 Atlantic Avenue

Landmarks Okays Brooklyn Heights Jewish Academy at 81 Atlantic Avenue

7:30 am on April 8, 2016 By Evan Bindelglass

The Brooklyn Heights Jewish Academy, a Lubavitch dream for decades, is finally becoming a reality. On Tuesday, the Landmarks Preservation Commission gave its blessing to the plan for the school’s structure – located at 81…

brooklyn bridge park pier 6 night rendering

State Puts Approval On Hold For 29-, 14-Story Pier 6 Residential Towers, Brooklyn Heights

6:30 am on March 1, 2016 By Reid Wilson

In June of 2015, YIMBY revealed renderings of the winning proposal that would bring two mixed-use towers to Pier 6 in Brooklyn Bridge Park, located in southern Brooklyn Heights. The project consists of a 29-story, 192-unit market-rate condominium building with 3,870 square feet of retail and a shorter, 14-story counterpart with 117 affordable and 30 market-rate rental apartments, a preschool, 930 square feet of retail, and a 1,500 square-foot community facility. Curbed NY now reports the project is on hold following relentless community opposition. The Empire State Development Corporation is not approving the project until the city can come to an agreement with the community on it. The city selected RAL Development and Oliver Realty to develop the two vacant sites, with ODA New York as the design architect. Construction was scheduled to begin this spring.

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