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DUMBO's Construction Boom Brings Hundreds of Apartments to Waterfront

By Janet Upadhye | April 22, 2014 6:32am
 DNAinfo New York rounded up the buildings currently being developed in the waterfront neighborhood of DUMBO.
DUMBO Development
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DUMBO — There's a wave of building on the Brooklyn waterfront.

A slew of construction projects are underway in DUMBO — including developments being built to accommodate an influx of people looking to make a home in Brooklyn's neighborhood on the river.

Among the developments are Dock Street DUMBO's 300 new housing units, Pierhouse's 159 new apartments and Empire Stores' 75,000 square feet of retail space. In total, the neighborhood's booming development will produce approximately 750 new rental units and at least 10 new retail spaces over the next couple of years.

Many attribute DUMBO's increasing popularity to waterfront views, a world-class public park, a growing art and tech scene and its proximity to Manhattan, but MNS Real Estate CEO Andrew Barrocas believes the appeal is due to the people who live there.

"It is all about the community there," he said. "Residents have done an amazing job at curating spaces and building a community that loves where they live and stay.

Developers are keeping busy renovating old warehouses, factories and garages in an attempt to keep up with the growing demand for housing and shopping.

DNAinfo New York rounded up 10 of the neighborhood's most notable new commercial and residential developments.

Empire Stores

The historic Empire Stores building — former coffee and dry-goods warehouse located in Brooklyn Bridge Park — will eventually be home to a bustling "Brooklyn marketplace" with restaurants, cafes, retail space, a museum and commercial office space. Plans also include an event space and public greenspace on the roof, according to architect Jay Valgora.

Construction of the building is set to be done in 2015.

47-51 Bridge St.

Greystone is developing an eight-story building with 27 units and a ground floor retail space, according to a Department of Buildings permit. The building will also have shutters to reduce heat gain and energy consumption, an unattended, fully automated parking garage with 60 spots, a gym, private storage units, and a common roof terrace, according to the architects at AB Architekten.

Construction is expected to be completed in the fall of 2015, according to the general contractor.

51 Jay St.

Silverstone Property Group is planning to convert a warehouse into high-end condos. The company acquired the building in 2013 and plans to convert it into between 85 and 90 large residential units spread over six floors, according to The Real Deal.

It is unclear when construction will be complete.

60 Water St., aka Dock Street DUMBO

Dock Street is a 17-story, mixed-use development project currently under construction in the area bounded by Water, Dock and Front streets. It will be home to 300 mixed-income rental apartments and a 300-seat public middle school. The property will also contain parking for visitors to Brooklyn Bridge Park and retail space, according to the developer Two Trees. 

Apartments should be ready for occupancy in the first quarter of 2015. The school will be open in 2016.

200 Water St., aka 185 Front St.

The 200 Water St. building will soon be home to 15 new apartments designed by Aufgang + Subotovsky. The former factory building was used by Brillo Manufacturing Co. in the 1950s and later became the world headquarters for the Jehovah's Witnesses.

“We are excited to be a part of the continued transformation of DUMBO through the adaptive reuse of this historic property," said a spokesman for developer Shelly Listokin in a statement. "Our goal will be to create new luxury condominium residences within the context and full recognition of this emerging neighborhood."

A timeline has not been set for completion.

177 Front St.

This property, also a former building for the Jehovah's Witnesses, will soon be home to luxury condos, according to developers Megalith Capital Management. The 12-story building will have 105 rental units and house commercial space on the first floor, according to The Real Deal.

A timeline has not been set for completion.

Pierhouse

Located near Pier 1 in the Brooklyn Bridge Park, Pierhouse condos will have 159 one- to five-bedroom units with prices ranging from $1.2 million to more than $4 million. The project also includes restaurants, event spaces, retail, a fitness center, and a parking garage with a 200-room hotel complex next door, according to developers Toll Brothers.

The hotel and residences are expected to open in the fall of 2015.

1 John St.

One John St. is a 47-unit apartment building located on the 1.5-acre site once owned by Con Edison. The building — designed by Alloy Development and Monadnock Development — will also house retail stores and will be surrounded by new parkland including pedestrian bridges, pathways and a expansive lawn. The ground floor will also be home to an annex of the Brooklyn Children's Museum.

Construction is set to start this year and should be complete in 2016.

185 Plymouth St.

The 10 lofts — Developed by Alloy LLC — at this new development are already sold out before the building is even finished. It will feature a 24-hour virtual doorman, exercise room, bike storage room and lofts with more than 13-foot ceilings, exposed brick walls and outdoor space.

Units sold for an average of $3.95 million, according to StreetEasy.

It is unclear when construction will be complete on the lofts.

DUMBO Townhouses

Located at 55 Pearl St. and 169, 171, 173, and 175 Water St. this group of approximately 3,000-square-foot townhouses are hidden behind a unified facade of concrete and glass. The four-story units, complete with fireplaces, chef's kitchen, floor-to-ceiling windows, and patios with an outdoor fireplace and barbecue, all have sold before construction ends for upwards of $4 million each.

The townhouses — Developed by Alloy LLC — replaced a one-story garage built in the 1950s, according to The New York Times.

The project is expected to be complete by winter 2015.