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.

1 minute read

January 21, 2015, 6:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


"Southern Brooklyn is undergoing a veritable building boom. In addition to the small infill projects planned in Brighton Beach and Borough Park – two of the last remaining neighborhoods in the city where single-family homes can be redeveloped en masse – we saw a pair of permit filings late last year for bonafide skyscrapers in Sheepshead Bay and Bath Beach," reports Stephen Smith.

But wait, there is another skyscraper on the way: "Now, comes a filing for an even taller building: an application was submitted today to construct a massive 40-story, 430-foot-tall tower in Coney Island, at 532 Neptune Avenue (also known as 2851 West 6th Street). The project would bring a small mall’s worth of new retail space to the neighborhood, topped by 544 new apartments. If built, it would be by far the tallest tower south of downtown Brooklyn."

The article includes a lot more details, in typical New York YIMBY style, about the development. The main attraction of the potential development, according to Smith, are the 544 new housing units—added to what is already one of the city's most affordable neighborhoods.

Friday, January 16, 2015 in New York YIMBY

Sweeping view of Portland, Oregon with Mt. Hood in background against sunset sky.

Oregon Passes Exemption to Urban Growth Boundary

Cities have a one-time chance to acquire new land for development in a bid to increase housing supply and affordability.

March 12, 2024 - Housing Wire

Aerial view of green roofs with plants in Sydney, Australia.

Where Urban Design Is Headed in 2024

A forecast of likely trends in urban design and architecture.

March 10, 2024 - Daily Journal of Commerce

Cobblestone street with streetcar line, row of vintage streetlights on left, and colorful restaurant and shop awnings on right on River Street in Savannah, Georgia.

Savannah: A City of Planning Contrasts

From a human-scales, plaza-anchored grid to suburban sprawl, the oldest planned city in the United States has seen wildly different development patterns.

March 12, 2024 - Strong Towns

Aerial View of Chuckanut Drive and the Blanchard Bridge in the Skagit Valley.

Washington Tribes Receive Resilience Funding

The 28 grants support projects including relocation efforts as coastal communities face the growing impacts of climate change.

March 18 - The Seattle Times

Historic buildings in downtown Los Angeles with large "Pan American Lofts" sign on side of building.

Adaptive Reuse Bills Introduced in California Assembly

The legislation would expand eligibility for economic incentives and let cities loosen regulations to allow for more building conversions.

March 18 - Beverly Press

View from above of swan-shaped paddleboats with lights on around artesian fountain in Echo Park Lake with downtown Los Angeles skylien in background at twilight.

LA's Top Parks, Ranked

TimeOut just released its list of the top 26 parks in the L.A. area, which is home to some of the best green spaces around.

March 18 - TimeOut

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

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.