At BellTel Lofts: 31% of Buyers Are Families or Soon-to-be Families
By Linda Collins
Brooklyn Daily Eagle
DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN — While denizens of Willoughby Street and MetroTech in Downtown Brooklyn may not be ready for it, the appearance of couples pushing strollers in the early morning and evening hours and the presence of dogs and their dogwalkers will soon be a happening.
“Over 31 percent of the buyers at BellTel Lofts are, or are soon-to-be, families,” said Whitney Gollinger, director of marketing for the Prudential Douglas Elliman Development Marketing Group.
BellTel Lofts, of course, is the 27-story landmarked former Verizon building at the corner of Willoughby and Bridge streets, just off the Metrotech Center that is undergoing a conversion to condominiums.
Originally the Long Island Headquarters for the New York Telephone Company (hence the name, BellTel Lofts), and with the familiar address of 101 Willoughby, the 27-story building will now have the address of 365 Bridge St.
“These are all larger units, many are three-bedroom, and they’re loft-style which allows for family living,” said Gollinger.
The buyers for the 250 residential units are split between those coming from Brooklyn and those coming from Manhattan, according to Gollinger.
“It’s almost directly down the middle, with a smattering from Queens,” she said. “And most work in Manhattan, too.”
What is the attraction?
Gollinger believes that people want to live in Downtown Brooklyn with all the changes, all the new development.
But she also lists several other attractions. “It’s a lot to do with value, you’re getting larger spaces for the money,” she said, adding that the loft-style units attract people looking for open spaces and high ceilings.
“It’s also a landmarked Art Deco -style building versus new construction. And it’s the quality of the original construction. This is a solid structure, and sounds don’t carry,” she said.
Kept relatively quiet until now, 34 of the units have outdoor terraces, ranging in size from 100 square feet to 500 square feet.
“That’s a very special feature, a special amenity,” she said, adding that when they are ready to promote those units, they will be called The Terrace Collection.”
The units with terraces, as with all the (250) units, are a mix of studios and one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments. And these range in size from 550 to 1,800 square feet, with prices ranging from $500,000 to $1.5 million.
Gollinger estimates that closings will begin in the fall.
“Basically, we’re hoping to have 50 closings completed by the end of the year,” said Gollinger. So those strollers and dogwalkers should be visible on the street by Christmas.
As previously reported in this newspaper, the office tower, designed by Ralph Walker and built in 1929-30, was designated an individual landmark by the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) in October 2004. Commissioners called it “a great architectural masterpiece in New York City.”
Also reported: the conversion is being done by owner/developer David Bistricer of Berkshire Equity LLC, with design by Beyer Blinder Belle Architects. The LPC gave its approval for the alteration of the window openings and the creation of new storefront openings and a garage entrance at street level.
Planned building amenities include a fully-equipped fitness center, high-tech screening room, a yoga and exercise room, a multi-purpose room and a lounge.
The design of the model units was done by Manhattan-based architect Andre Kikoski, who, prior to starting his own firm, trained on large-scale projects in the offices of I.M. Pei, Richard Meier and Peter Eisenman, according to his web site.
© Brooklyn Daily Eagle 2007
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