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October 21, 2009

All About the Clocktower

The New York Times got their hands on the images way back in August but there's finally an official website up to market the unique four-floor residence atop One Main Street in Dumbo known as the ClockTower. You see, when you're asking $25 million, it's worth building a standalone website. Pretty spectacular.

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Somehow, less impressive than I'd imagined, but still pretty special.

Posted by: East New York at October 21, 2009 10:13 AM

25 million dollars for THAT? it looks like a regular old studio loft with tiny windows and poor air circulation. color me UNIMPRESSED!

*rob*

Posted by: Butterfly at October 21, 2009 10:16 AM

What's up w/ the little windows? The see-thru clocks are cool but for buku bucks it looks pretty dark...

Posted by: Joe from Brooklyn at October 21, 2009 10:19 AM

Where's the price widget?

Posted by: HmmWhichNeighborhood at October 21, 2009 10:19 AM

Yeah, very unimpressive. The only thing special about it is the clock faces.

Posted by: Polemicist at October 21, 2009 10:23 AM

I agree - it is certainly unique and maybe the pictures dont properly represent the apartment - but if I'm spending 25M, I certainly wouldnt want to be reminded everyday that my apartment really wasnt designed for human habitation. Those windows and ceilings are atrocious.

Posted by: fsrg at October 21, 2009 10:24 AM

Unfortunately, my iPhone can't handle Flashplayer, so no peek for me.
I guess good marketing doesn't really matter when you can get so much free PR, but still should be a reminder to less lofty FSBO.

Posted by: Maly at October 21, 2009 10:29 AM

It's a studio apartment in a area in which condo prices are crashing fast and have a ways to go. 500K max.

Posted by: shillstoner at October 20, 2009 1:30 PM

Posted by: dirty_hipster at October 21, 2009 10:29 AM

Sorry - trying to be green and recycle stupid comments.

Posted by: dirty_hipster at October 21, 2009 10:30 AM

I like it but I have one pragmatic question - how (can you) control sun light through those clock faces? Can you put shades, curtains and or wall to block the sunlight? Are you allowed?

Posted by: crimsonson at October 21, 2009 10:33 AM

Who repairs the clock if it breaks? Can you imagine heating & cooling costs? Crikey!

Posted by: Arkady at October 21, 2009 10:34 AM

where's the helipad?

Posted by: more4less at October 21, 2009 10:34 AM

dark? I don't think so. Although I have never been invited up for a party when I view this from Manhattan Bridge there seem to be plenty of windows and views must be incredible.
A few weeks ago there must have been a party or perhaps a brokers viewing and could see bunch of people going up the stairs, to the top viewing space, etc. It says 2300 sq ft so not much more than $1000 a sq ft. Quite unique. I'm sure fun place to live.

Posted by: Petebklyn at October 21, 2009 10:35 AM

Petebklyn,

Check your math, that $10,000 a square foot. Not even close to worth it.

Posted by: homey at October 21, 2009 10:38 AM

Its 6800 sq/ft. If they get $1,500 sq/ft-$2,000 due to the uniqueness of the space that would be $10m-$14m, which sounds about right.

That said, for $10m+, I would at least want parking in the building. I guess if I could afford that I would have a driver, so no big deal.

Posted by: Brokedeveloper at October 21, 2009 10:44 AM

I think it's an amazing space. Not my style, but I'd love to work on it for an extremely wealthy client, just so I could see those incredible views. That's what you are paying for, not the space itself.

Posted by: Montrose Morris at October 21, 2009 10:46 AM

$8.5m.

Posted by: DitmasSnark at October 21, 2009 10:47 AM

did I ever claim to be good at math?

Posted by: Petebklyn at October 21, 2009 10:53 AM

Seriously... I'd say $10 million. (As if I even have any concept of what that number means!!!)

In all seriousness, I think that roof deck would be scary. I'm not generally scared of heights, but yikes! Standing on the tip top of an 18 story building!!

Posted by: tybur6 at October 21, 2009 10:53 AM

True, you're paying for the view, but beyond that the usable space isn't that great--smallish bedrooms, windows that appear small and out of scale, no maid's room (something a $25MM buyer might want).

I'd be impressed if they got half this price....

Posted by: tinarina at October 21, 2009 10:59 AM

it's a walk-up!?!?

*rob*

Posted by: Butterfly at October 21, 2009 11:02 AM

the views are spectacular, but the apartment overall is a bit blah. kind of seems like it was designed by the in-house architects at two trees (for example, the lights over the kitchen counter recall those in all of their other conversions -- pretty generic (and IMHO ugly) especially for such an apartment). the elevator/stairs also seem pretty inelegant, and the bathroom seems a bit claustrophobic.

obviously a very special place, but nowhere near a $25M apartment.

Posted by: aishling at October 21, 2009 11:08 AM

Well, the market will determine the value. As Montrose said, views are the key. Until you stand in those views, as i have done a couple times when space empty years ago, you can't know how special those views of the two bridges, the river, lower manhattan, dumbo, brooklyn and beyond really are.

Fixtures are irrelevant. Buyers at this level change them.

Posted by: chrishavens at October 21, 2009 11:23 AM

I'm sure the views are stunning, but nobody is going to pay anything even remotely close to the $3676.47 psf asking price.

Rename this place The Cracktower.

Posted by: DitmasSnark at October 21, 2009 11:31 AM

views schmews. a 15 million dollar premium to look at brooklyn and manhattan? im pretty sure that would get old FAST. for 15 million dollars i could hire dancing strippers to strip all over the apartment for years and years and years.

*rob*

Posted by: Butterfly at October 21, 2009 11:35 AM

they are not being strategic, they should ask 24,999,999.99

Posted by: Minard Lafever at October 21, 2009 12:16 PM

it's a walk-up!?!?

*rob*

As per usual, poor comprehension and reading skills. It has its own private elevator.

Posted by: BSD at October 21, 2009 12:28 PM

Wowzer! Makes my studio look, well small and cheap.

I'd have to agree with some of the above statements that the windows are small, considering they replaced the roof and probably could have and should have used larger windows in the bedrooms.

Those views are worth a pretty penny!

Posted by: Tara in the Slope at October 21, 2009 12:36 PM

I love the space- think its gorgeous. But the price is way too much (of course at this point in my life $250.00 is too much) :)

Posted by: bxgrl at October 21, 2009 12:44 PM

I've been in the space and can tell you that the pictures definitely don't do it justice. The windows do not feel small at all. I think the issue here is perspective - the ceiling heights are very tall, which makes it look like it has small windows. In real life they feel very generous, let in alot of light and frame some pretty amazing views. Obviously $25 million is alot of money, and I don't know that I could honestly say that any house or apartment was "worth" $25 million. But all of you who are claiming some desgin fault with this place are just not understanding. It's an extremely special place.

Posted by: bkre at October 21, 2009 12:49 PM

No idea how the pricing on something like this works, so no comment there. But the vent over the stove is just freaking stupid. They should have put the stove on the wall, and the sink on the island. That vent just breaks up the space and looks stupid.

I also think this would show much better if it were staged. Without furniture, it's really hard to get a sense of the scale of this place.

Posted by: bkrules at October 21, 2009 1:01 PM

You're paying a premium for the in-your-face "tempus fugit" factor. Living in a clock ought to get you to live your life to the max.

Posted by: FlatbushMan23 at October 21, 2009 1:46 PM

For $25 mil, it is not enough house. Completely impractical.

Posted by: infinitejester at October 21, 2009 2:05 PM

My opinion is no one spends $25 million on an apt layout like this for their "Real House". The Clocktower is a billionaire's pied-a-terre, where they lay their hat when in NYC, or where there kids crash when they're enrolled at NYU.

So for those of us w/ literally an extra $25 million dollars laying around, this place is perfect.

My concern would be not who fixes the clocks if they're broken - but do you actually hear the works throughout the apt? They're basically 4 massive machines that are ticking/whirring away 24hrs a day. Do you hear them when you're sleeping on yor pile of treasure at 3am?

Posted by: crazypants at October 21, 2009 2:13 PM

"I like it but I have one pragmatic question - how (can you) control sun light through those clock faces? Can you put shades, curtains and or wall to block the sunlight?"

Funny, I was thinking the same thing. All that light would drive me nuts. But, I'm not really the 25 mil apt kinda guy.

Posted by: broadwayron at October 21, 2009 2:21 PM

crazypants - billionaires dont live in Brooklyn, much less have a pied-a-terre here.

As for the worth - I am sure the views are spectacular but views do get old (i.e. you kinda forget about them after a little bit) and more importantly, you can get that (or comparably impressive) view for alot less - hell for $2000 a ft you could probably buy everyone out on the floors below this apartment.

Posted by: fsrg at October 21, 2009 2:21 PM

According to the election guide we all got recently, there are 55 billionaires.

Posted by: infinitejester at October 21, 2009 2:30 PM

(billionaires dont live in Brooklyn, much less have a pied-a-terre here.)

They'd probably buy in Manhattan. For $25M, you can get a gorgeous spacious apt. on Central Park (with views) or an entire townhouse in a prime location.
I guess you really have to love the view (of the city) to spend this kind of money.

Posted by: Tara in the Slope at October 21, 2009 2:41 PM

in the seventeenth century people in the Netherlands paid the equivalent of a millions dollars for a single parrot tulip bulb.

Posted by: Minard Lafever at October 21, 2009 2:43 PM

An we know how well that ended, ML.

Posted by: DitmasSnark at October 21, 2009 2:48 PM

When I was in there, the clocks were active, it was pretty quiet, and you could not hear any ticking or any other noise coming from the machinery. The clocks are on the floor with the kitcen, living and dining room, so I'm not sure that putting shades on the clock is a big deal. All the bedrooms are on the upper floors. Plus, there's a bathub in what i assume is the master bath that has it's own window framing the statue of liberty. Pretty sweet.

Posted by: bkre at October 21, 2009 3:23 PM

I saw this place years ago for curiosity when it was on the market. I would say it was in 1999-2000. Just added stairs, instead of a ladder. It looks almost exactly the same..they were asking approx. $4 million then.

Posted by: cillmylandlord_again at October 21, 2009 4:04 PM

Oh and there was no kitchen and bathroom in '99 either. It was a raw space with a ladder to the upper level. But it still looks the same to me from $4 million to $25 million years.

Posted by: cillmylandlord_again at October 21, 2009 4:10 PM

fsrq - Its neither here or there, but if I were to become a billionaire, I would definitely buy in Brooklyn.

Either Old Fulton Ferry for the views of the bridges and Manhattan or some double mansion in one of the brownstone nabes - or likely both. I'd use Clock Tower as office/party space and do most of my living in the old house. Ahh, a man can dream can't he?

Manhattan's visiting, not living in.

Posted by: crazypants at October 21, 2009 4:36 PM

fsrq - Its neither here or there, but if I were to become a billionaire, I would definitely buy in Brooklyn.

Manhattan's for visiting, not living in.

Posted by: crazypants at October 21, 2009 4:36 PM

oops, sorry about the double post/edit.

Posted by: crazypants at October 21, 2009 4:37 PM

Basically, the only people who could afford this place that would have ANY reason to want such an apartment in Brooklyn would be Prokhorov (the potential Nets owner) or LeBron (were he to sign with the Nets).

Posted by: FtGreeneCorey at October 21, 2009 6:51 PM

« Gatehouses Land in Brooklyn Bridge Park Housing Starts 'Sputter' in September »

October 21, 2009

All About the Clocktower

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