Considering DUMBO
I’m considering moving to DUMBO but have a few questions on buildings. I’m looking at 70 Washington, 1 Main (Clocktower) and 4 Water. I’m concerned about noise – how bad is it really? Are these buildings pretty well insulated? I’m used to it in San Fran, and I recognize this is NYC but I don’t…
I’m considering moving to DUMBO but have a few questions on buildings. I’m looking at 70 Washington, 1 Main (Clocktower) and 4 Water. I’m concerned about noise – how bad is it really? Are these buildings pretty well insulated? I’m used to it in San Fran, and I recognize this is NYC but I don’t want to be living in a super noisy environment. I like the whole DUMBO vibe, the close access to both Manhattan and Brooklyn. Just want something in a fun neighborhood that still has a bit of a gritty feel to it. Thoughts/suggestions? Any other good buildings to check out in that area?
My brother lives at 70 Washington with his fam on the Brookyn Bridge side. They have no problem with air quality but when they moved in they were driven insane by the pre-dawn roaring trucks on the BQE. They ended up installing super double pane quiet windows and they are much happier now.
The views are magnificent, the building seems to be great and they like the neighborhood.
dumbo? gritty? Heh. If you think brunch is the grittiest meal of the day, or the M-series is the grittiest BMW, or Thos. Pink has the grittiest shirting out there, then perhaps. Otherwise, dumbo is 100% triple-aught, baby.
While noise might be an issue, I’d be more wary of the pervasive black crud that seems to be airborne from major roadways. When I lived on smith/9th, we had constant disgusting soot from the BQE, and I’m certain it knocked down my lung capacity.
HVAC note on Clocktower…went in for complaints of smell over lapping from one resident to another and garbage smell in the lobby.what i found was the cooling was supplied from an air handler above the laundry room in each space supplied from a large chiller in the basement 45F water in the summer..typical unit for that style application.the overlapping of smells was a lack of the walls being sheetrocked up to the ceilings from one resident to another.so you had a guy relaxing with 420 and the next guy cooking as steak and the vegitarian getting the smells in her place the air handlers are open from the tiles in the ceiling and the filter section so the entire floor is the return for everybodies unit and the smells.the lobby smell was attributed to the cooling/heating air supply was from a unit in the penthouse but the intake for the fresh air to it was next to the exhaust of the garbage disposal room
dumbo = wants to live in tribeca but can’t afford it.
dumbo = industrial chic…….not gritty.
“Anyway, it does seem a little sleepy at night”
Like I said a bedroom community.
Sorry, I should clarify. I meant the street level spaces in regard to the LPC designation. Although, interestingly enough we had to run interior plans on a 2nd floor office through LPC that was visible from the street in the Union Sq. district.
If you find the noise level to be ok, I wouldn’t let the LPC designation affect your decision (I am referencing the comment above). They generally don’t concern themselves with interior renovations in historic districts – converting a manufacturing building into residential units is a zoning issue. Anyway, it does seem a little sleepy at night – parts of Carroll Gardens or Gowanus might have more of that grit you are looking for.
DUMBO isn’t gritty.
Dumbo is hobbled by the LPC designation which will prevent the conversion of the many empty factory buildings to more practical sized spaces that normally comes with a pioneering neighborhood. Don’t expect a pluthoria of new restaurants due to the inability to get ventilation to the roofs of these buildings. Dumbo is really just a bedroom community for middle level managers trying to start a family.