Long the sole preserve of Manhattan developers, Brooklyn is now the setting for its own race to the sky. Two developers are planning to break ground next year on residential buildings that will loom nearly 100 ft over any of their predecessors.
At the beginning of next year, Stahl Real Estate will begin laying the foundations of a 590-foot tower at 388 Bridge Street that will be the boroughs tallest. But its reign could be short lived if Avalon Bay Communities succeeds in realizing plans for a 596-foot residential tower just down the street. The new buildings continue a trend away from Brownstone dotted Brooklyn, which has seen steady growth in demand for luxury residential towers over the last half a decade.
It remains to be seen if Brooklyn can support the current development boom, as it's poised to add hundreds of rental units in the next couple of years downtown and on the waterfront. The boom is thanks in part to the Bloomberg administration's rezoning of Downtown Brooklyn and the Williamsburg and Greenpoint waterfronts in 2004 and 2005 to allow for more high-rise development.
Critics have questioned if the glass towers being erected along the Brooklyn waterfront are too bland to reflect the borough's fashionable identity. "We have big buildings popping up and they could be anywhere. They don't really inspire a profile that's interesting," said Timothy Johnson, an architect and chairman of the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat.
FULL STORY: Developers Launch Battle Of Brooklyn
Brooklyn's Tallest Proposed Building Has Date With Landmarks Preservation Commission
Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of the 1,066-foot building is what distinguishes it from other high rises of its size across the East River—it will be residential.
A Tower the Height of the Empire State Building…in Brooklyn
The wave of skyscraper construction in New York is about to jump the East River.
Southern Brooklyn Experiencing a Bonafide Skyscraper Boom
A lot of noise has been made of the potential skyscraper boom in Manhattan. Very quietly, however, Brooklyn has also become a target for a series of skyward development plans.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.
Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.
Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.
MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.
Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie