By Linda Collins
Brooklyn Daily Eagle

DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN — The battle of the “tallest� buildings in Downtown Brooklyn continues with the filing last week for a 58-story residential tower on Willoughby Street between Bridge and Duffield streets.

AvalonBay Communities, already building a major complex nearby at Myrtle Avenue, Gold Street and Flatbush Avenue Extension called Avalon Fort Greene, filed the permit application with the Department of Buildings for what may be called Avalon Willoughby West, according to Stephanie Cuba, project manager for AvalonBay.

The filing comes on the tail of a story in the Eagle in June about the topping out of the 51-story tower by The Clarett Group at 111 Lawrence St. Known as “The Brooklyner,� it will be two feet taller than the iconic — and previously tallest — 512-foot Williamsburgh Savings Bank building, a residential conversion now known as One Hanson Place.

“We are big believers in Downtown Brooklyn. We think it’s a great community,� said Cuba. Noting that the area has been an untapped market Cuba said she is well aware of the four hotels in various stages of development around the corner on Duffield St.

“We see a big demand for apartments,� she said.

Cuba said she is not sure of a starting date — it depends on the Department of Buildings (DOB) — but demolition of the existing buildings and construction on the new building should begin within a year, with completion estimated to take two years.

The 58-story tower will contain 860 rental units plus street level retail, according to Cuba. Further details are not known at this time and the final design — by SLCE Architects of Manhattan — is not completed.

The Department of Buildings application notes that the new tower will be 596 feet tall, 869,066 square feet and will have parking for 345 cars. It also notes that 11 original tax lots will be merged to create the development.

Although unconfirmed by AvalonBay, PropertyShark.com documents show the properties were acquired for close to $27. 5 million.

As previously reported, the Avalon Fort Greene project at Myrtle and Gold is 393 feet tall with 627 apartments, street level retail, a large outdoor plaza and underground parking. The design is by Perkins Eastman Architects.

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