This article is part of a series by Brooklyn broker Gabriele Sewtz of Compass, a specialist in the Brooklyn family market.

Brooklyn Luxury: The Edge
Rooftop terrace at The Edge in Williamsburg, a property that offers extraordinary views and amenities.

It wasn’t so long ago that Manhattan was considered the only New York City borough where it was possible to live like kings and queens. Back then, Brooklyn was still considered the cheap option, a place where pioneers from Manhattan could find historic buildings in disrepair and trade luxury for space.

Things have changed. In 2014, nearly 100 Brooklyn townhouses sold for over $3 million, not only in traditionally pricey neighborhoods like Brooklyn Heights, Park Slope, and Cobble Hill but also in Williamsburg, Prospect Heights, and Crown Heights. Meanwhile, high rises, mega-projects, and other luxury developments are changing the face of the Brooklyn waterfront and Downtown Brooklyn, competing with each other to offer the best views and the most deluxe amenities.

People from all over the world are moving to Brooklyn in pursuit of a luxury lifestyle. But does Brooklyn’s version of luxury look different from Manhattan’s, or London’s? Let’s take a look at some of the trends happening in Brooklyn today.

Brooklyn Luxury: 85 Adams

The rise (literally) of the Brooklyn penthouse

When the Williamsburgh Savings Bank Tower was completed in 1929, it was the tallest building in Brooklyn, a distinction it was to hold for more than 80 years. Then, in 2010, the new downtown skyscraper Brooklyner opened. At 51 stories, it was now the tallest. Six years later, there are now four buildings taller than the Brooklyner.

This development boom — centered in but by no means confined to Williamsburg, Downtown Brooklyn, Dumbo, and Brooklyn Heights — is not only creating a radical change in the Brooklyn skyline but also in the luxury real estate market. Penthouses in these new developments have been setting records as the most expensive condos and rentals in the borough, allowing their occupants to enjoy a level of opulence once unheard of outside of Manhattan.

A penthouse apartment at One John Street in Dumbo, sold for a record-breaking $8.8 million. A penthouse at the Boerum in Boerum Hill went for $4.05 million. A 2,000-square-foot penthouse at 72 Poplar Street in Brooklyn Heights was asking for a rent of $18,500 a month. These prices are remarkable for Brooklyn, but are still relative bargains compared to their Manhattan counterparts.

 

Brooklyn Luxury

The Townhouses and Brooklyn’s “Gold Coasts”

Of course, many people would prefer to trade a stratospheric view for more space, and Brooklyn’s stock of historic townhouses offers another opportunity to live in luxury. Calling upon an army of architects, designers, and restorers, homeowners and developers have transformed townhouses across Brooklyn into urban mansions.

Certain areas are especially in demand. Prospect Park West in Park Slope was Brooklyn’s original Gold Coast. In the 1880s and 1890s, this stretch opposite the brand-new Prospect Park became one of the most desirable neighborhoods in Brooklyn. Many of the mansions built for wealthy Brooklynites then are preserved within the Park Slope Historic District, and they continue to fetch some of the highest selling prices in the borough, whether as one-family mansions or divided into co-ops. In 2013, actress Chloe Sevigny moved into a $2.05 million, three-bedroom co-op at 9 Prospect Park West.

The streets near the Promenade in Brooklyn Heights — such as the “Millionaire’s Row” of Columbia Heights — now attract wealthy financiers willing to pay eight figures to enjoy the views of the New York Harbor. Here you can find some of the most expensive townhouses in Brooklyn.

Cobble Hill and Boerum Hill are also attracting a level of development not seen since its historic townhouses were first built in the 19th century. Pacific Street, in particular, has been called Brooklyn’s new “gold coast,” its townhouses fitted with hip new interiors and packed with amenities like professional kitchens, game rooms, and screening rooms. Singer Norah Jones recently purchased a carriage house on the street for $6.25 million, whose interior you can see featured in the film Eat, Pray, Love.

 

Brooklyn Luxury: 220 Water

Amenities: More than a Gym and Bike Storage

As Brooklyn housing prices continue to rise, developers have been finding new ways to attract — and more importantly, keep — new residents. Any new or newly renovated building is likely to include such amenities as gyms, bike storage, and common spaces that make it easier to brand the property as “luxury.”

Among the higher-end properties, this trend has resulted in an amenities race of sorts. Many of Brooklyn’s new luxury developments are offering tenants such perks as children’s playrooms, game rooms, meditation rooms, and deluxe terraces with outdoor kitchens. Downtown Brooklyn’s AVA DoBro features a heated dog run and pet spa.

It’s not just spaces, either. Some luxury properties are offering residents a calendar full of social and cultural events. At 66 Rockwell in Downtown Brooklyn, residents can enjoy everything from book clubs and poker tournaments to classes in dance and post-partum stretching.

In effect, luxury apartment buildings are becoming more like luxury resorts. Instrata Lifestyle Residences — whose properties include locations in Brooklyn Heights and Park Slope as well as in Manhattan, D.C., Dallas, and L.A. — tout their “five-star” concierge service as one of their selling points. For the modern luxury building, personalized service is the ultimate amenity.

 

Brooklyn Luxury - Flickinger Tableware
Handmade tableware by Flickinger Glassworks

The “Upscaling” of Brooklyn: Fashion, Design, and Cuisine

This influx of high-end real estate properties has led to an increased demand for luxury goods. In Williamsburg — once a neighborhood where starving artists rubbed shoulders with working class neighbors — you can now find upscale boutiques, Michelin Star-winning restaurants, and even a $100 gold-and-champagne-covered donut.

The new wealth has also created a market for luxury items hand-crafted by talented artisans. A notable example is Charles Flickinger, a Brooklyn artist who creates high-end tableware from his shop in Red Hook. Flickinger Glassworks‘ 7,000-square-foot warehouse employs a team of local artists, designers, and apprentices, marketing its custom-made plates to individuals and businesses. Then there’s Dumbo’s Mark Jupiter who does the same for custom, hand-crafted furniture.

As Brooklyn becomes more of an upscale destination, even the world of international fashion has taken notice. French fashion house Chanel, one of the toniest of brands, even set its 2016 spring/summer campaign in Brooklyn, complete with photographs of elaborately done-up models dragging their Chanel luggage through the streets of Brooklyn.

There was a time when brands like Chanel wouldn’t be caught dead in a backwater borough like Brooklyn. Times have changed. Today Brooklyn itself is one of the most prestigious brands there is, and everyone wants a piece of it.

 

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