This section highlights the stories and faces -- old and new -- that make Downtown Brooklyn a great urban center and vibrant community. Drawing from interviews with members of the community, as well as featuring articles from our newsletters, these stories reflect the exciting change and rich history of Downtown Brooklyn.
Rooftop of BellTel Lofts.
Kids playing at a BellTel Lofts apartment.
Residents at One Hanson Place.
MOVING INTO DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN
With a number of new residential developments completed over the past year, Downtown Brooklyn has become a highly desirable residential neighborhood. Buildings such as BellTel Lofts, One Hanson Place, 110 Livingston, Oro Condos, and Forté range from historic and architectural gems to highrises that afford spectacular views and luxury amenities that are unparalleled in Brooklyn.
Why are buyers eager to be the first to call Downtown Brooklyn home? Alina Gonzalez, 37, a marketing executive at L'Oréal Paris in Midtown, recently moved to BellTel Lofts after living in Carroll Gardens for ten years. She was attracted by the amount of space that she could get for her money and the area's bright future, with $9 billion of private development underway. "The Downtown Brooklyn area is becoming more desirable for professionals with children, with parks and cultural amenities within walking distance," said Ms. Gonzalez, who lives with her husband, a freelance photographer, and her two children, ages 3 and 18 months. "A friend who also lives in the building recommended BellTel to me. We see a lot of development coming to the area and view this as a smart investment too."
Howard Tarlo, 32, a technology specialist at an investment bank, lives with his wife at One Hanson Place, a full service building that was formerly the Williamsburgh Savings Bank. Mr. Tarlo, who grew up in Park Slope and later lived in Manhattan, decided to move back to Brooklyn because of its energy, culture, and sense of community. The building's stunning architecture and the area's transportation options were also pluses. "It actually takes me less time to commute to Midtown than when I lived in Manhattan," he said. Downtown Brooklyn is just one or two stops from Manhattan on 14 subway lines vailable within a few blocks.
There are many reasons to move to Downtown Brooklyn, including its convenience, value, unparalleled views, and historic character. To learn more about residential developments in the area, click on the links below.
[This story was featured in our Spring 2008 newsletter.]
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