Brooklyn Bridge Park The final piece of Brooklyn Bridge Park opened to the public yesterday, as the Emily Warren Roebling Plaza was dedicated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by Mayor Bill de Blasio, the descendants of Emily Roebling, and Brooklyn Bridge Park President Eric Landau. The plaza is named after the trailblazing female engineer who managed the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge after her husband, the bridge's lead engineer Washington Roebling, developed caisson disease (also known as the bends) and became bedridden. The two-acre plaza seamlessly connects the park's northern DUMBO portion with the southern piers that stretch towards Atlantic Avenue.Emily Warren Roebling Plaza The plaza opening marks the full completion of the 85-acre park as originally designed. The park and its newly-inaugurated plaza were designed by the acclaimed landscape architect Michael Van Valkenburgh. Over its 13 years of construction, one mile of formerly industrial Brooklyn waterfront has been incrementally transformed into one of the beloved parks in New York City.

Usurping the historic Purchase Building with an open and clean common area the Emily Warren Roebling Plaza is conceived as a “civic space” for seasonal markets and festivals. Buffered by trees, lawns, and benches, the plaza's concrete pavers echo the pattern and engineering of the span above. The space also grants visitors full access around the bridge's Brooklyn Tower and reduces congestion on nearby streets.

(Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy)

Since the park's first phase was completed in 2010, the lawns of Brooklyn Bridge Park have been an attractive setting for sunbathing, outdoor fitness classes, and film screenings. Moreso, the nature walks and estuaries, basketball courts, volleyball nets, public kayaking, bocce court, soccer fields, handball court, and biking and running paths have long been mainstays enjoyed by the public.

Other family-friendly options include a number of playgrounds, the Environmental Educational Center, and Jane's Carousel. Restaurants and cafes like Fornino, Pilot, The Osprey, Neighbors Cafe, Ebb & Flow Bakery, Estuary, Luke's Lobster, Oddfellows Ice Cream, Ample Hills Creamery, and the culinary offerings of Empire Stores (which include Time Out Market) allow visitors to grab a bite while staying in the park.Brooklyn Bridge Park site plan with residential and commercial development sites in orange (BBPC)Robert A. Levine, Chairman and CEO of RAL Companies, and the developer of the park's last residential building, Quay Tower, remembers the fraught negotiations to get the park built and funded. He and his team have had front-row seats of the waterfront's evolution from a former cargo shipping and storage complex to the verdant oasis it is today.

At its inception, Mr. Levine recalls that the design of the park was imagined to be similar to Hudson River Park in Manhattan, but in this case, its maintenance costs and upkeep had to be financially self-sustaining. Set in motion by Governor Pataki and the Bloomberg administration in 2002, the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy was formed who comprises an alliance of more than 60 civic, community, and environmental groups to hash out a master plan for the then 70-acre site.

“The opposition to residential housing in the park was baseless. Once the buildings were built some local residents actually acknowledged it was a great idea. — Robert A. Levine

The self-sustaining model proved to be the plan's most controversial aspect and reserved approximately ten percent of the site for residential and commercial development. "The opposition to residential housing in the park was baseless," explains Mr. Levine. "Once the buildings were built some local residents actually acknowledged it was a great idea. So what if the guy with a hot tub has his views blocked?"

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Brooklyn Bridge Park Real Estate

There may have been a time when Brooklyn was considered a consolation prize to Manhattan, but an increasing desire for a more laid-back lifestyle and more space for one's money has caused an increasing number of apartment-hunters to make Brooklyn their first choice in recent years. That is especially evident along the East River waterfront in the vicinity of Brooklyn Bridge Park — where the combination of green space, dazzling views, and bargain prices in relation to Manhattan are proving irresistible.

Quay Tower (SERHANT)As Quay Tower was the final building to rise along Brooklyn Bridge Park, Mr. Levine says he wanted it to be special. To that end, his firm started by hiring ODA Architecture to design the building, which features a tiered grid of three layers to set it apart on the Brooklyn Bridge Park waterfront.

Not only do residents experience spectacular views by virtue of the building's address, but they also experience incredible privacy at a time when that has become a premium. Mr. Levine points out that Quay Tower only has five units per floor at most, and that units on the higher floors were conceived as private homes with private elevator entries and rear entries with mudrooms.

Accessory terrace off common lounge areaLobbyChildren's play roomAmenities at Quay Tower include 24-hour concierge service, a 2,500-square-foot fitness center, a 1,500-square-foot half-floor children's playroom, a music room with baby grand piano, a north-facing Sunset Lounge, and a south-facing Sky Cabana on the roof. From the chairs in the children's playroom to the hair dryers in the pet spa, no detail was overlooked.

Earlier this year, Quay Tower #23AB entered contract with an asking price of $10.65 million, making it the priciest condo sold in Brooklyn this year. In April 2020, a 7,433-square-foot penthouse in the building closed for $20.3 million, and remains the most expensive apartment ever sold in the borough.

Typical open kitchen at Quay TowerTypical primary bathFrom the listing:Welcome to Quay Tower, an incomparable residential development that redefines waterfront living in Brooklyn Heights. With stunning front-row views of the Manhattan skyline, New York Harbor and Downtown Brooklyn, Quay Tower creates an astonishing opportunity to experience a luxury lifestyle in one of the city's most exclusive neighborhoods. With 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms spread across 1,214 sq. ft., this amazing residence enjoys private high-speed elevator access into the grand entry foyer, generously sized entertaining space, a chef-inspired kitchen, a mudroom with custom Italian cabinetry, an audiovisual closet with cork board, a full-size vented Whirlpool washer/dryer, pre-wiring for motorized shades, multi-zone heating and cooling, and UV-insulated floor-to-ceiling windows with eastern exposure. See floor plan and full details here.From the Listing: Boasting breathtaking views of the Manhattan Bridge, Empire State Building, East River, Brooklyn Bridge Park, and Manhattan skyline, every room in this immaculate 2-bedroom, 2-bath, approximately 1,491-square-foot home boasts natural light through nearly floor-to-ceiling windows. With hardwood flooring throughout, this home's open floorplan seamlessly integrates the kitchen, living, and dining areas. See floor plan and full details here.From the Listing: If you're looking for luxury, elegance, and the best that money can buy, look no further than Pierhouse. You have arrived.A stunning, townhome-style condominium in Brooklyn Bridge Park's Pierhouse offers the epitome of sophisticated city living. Built in 2015, Pierhouse features 108 impeccably appointed residences set in a beautifully landscaped waterfront park sprawling over 85 acres of lush open space. This sustainable, one-bedroom, 1,525 sq. ft. duplex boasts film-worthy views on both floors captured through floor-to-ceiling windows of New York's iconic landmarks, including Lower Manhattan, the Statue of Liberty and the Brooklyn Bridge. See floor plan and full details here.From the Listing: Welcome to OBB #304 "La creme de la creme", a stunning corner 1,562-square-foot apartment with 12' ceilings and an amazing 598 sf fully built out Terrace. This terrace was designed by Amber Freda Landscape Design. The unit has an individual storage cage on the same floor.

#304 is a gorgeous split two-bedroom, two-bath home with soaring ceilings and an enormous landscaped terrace. There is access to the terrace from both the living room and bedroom. The light is dramatic; there are oversized windows throughout this one-of-a-kind apartment.

See floor plan and full details here.From the Listing: Now Offering 1 Month of Early Occupancy + No Fee! Eligibility for this apartment is based on household annual income before taxes, family size, and other criteria. Located on Brooklyn Bridge Park! Escape the hustle and bustle of the crowded Manhattan streets and enjoy the fresh air and greenery of the Brooklyn Heights waterfront. Take the ferry from your doorstep to Manhattan in just 14 minutes. The ideal location of The Landing allows a healthy lifestyle balanced with the luxury and convenience of a full-service building. Now featuring a brand new extended business center in our rooftop lounge fitted for all your work from home needs! See floor plan and full details here.

New & Notable Near Brooklyn Bridge Park

Image via Brooklyn Public LibraryOn October 12, a ribbon-cutting ceremony took place for the Adams Street Library, the first new branch of the Brooklyn Public Library to be built in nearly 40 years and the first ever to open in DUMBO. The 6,565-square-foot space features a raised children’s room, a teen area, a co-working area, two meeting rooms, and spectacular skyline and river views. Programming will include bilingual Drag Queen Story Hour, virtual knitting and crocheting groups, and musical performances.

“For many years this was an area with very few residents...DUMBO and Vinegar Hill have grown like crazy, they are continuing to grow, and we need to provide access to libraries for all the children in this area” - Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon on the Adams Street Library

The new library was partially funded by the sale of the Brooklyn Heights library to Hudson Companies, which built the flatiron-shaped One Clinton on the site. The idea of razing a library to make way for a luxury condominium caused some controversy, but Brooklyn Public Library CEO Linda Johnson described this as the library using its assets to take care of its assets. (P.S. One Clinton will have a new, high-tech library on the first three floors; opening is estimated for early 2022.)

Brooklyn Bridge bike lane

Image via NYC Department of TransportationAfter years of waiting and increasingly crowded conditions, a protected two-way bike lane opened on the Brooklyn Bridge in September 2021. This replaces the innermost car lane on the Manhattan-bound side of the bridge, and marks the first reconfiguration of the bridge since trolley tracks were removed in 1950. The move is consistent with recent steps to make New York less reliant on cars and more pedestrian-friendly.

Activists cheer the new bike lane, but would also welcome a second bike lane on the Brooklyn-bound side. From a pedestrian perspective, a recent walk across the bridge proved to be a more peaceful experience than previous visits.

“There’s no better sign that the cycling boom is here to stay than permanently redesigning the most iconic bridge in America” - Mayor Bill de Blasio

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