Alloy and Monadnock build 42-unit apartment property in DUMBO

Brooklyn, NY Alloy Development with partner Monadnock acquired the last waterfront site in DUMBO through a public RFP process in late 2013. The site is situated entirely within Brooklyn Bridge Park and features bridge and river views. The now under construction building at 1 John St. consist of 42 apartments, with a gym, bike storage, storage units and a common roof deck. Additionally, the ground floor houses the residential lobby, a retail space and an annex to the Brooklyn Children’s Museum all which open up to the surrounding park.

The design of the building is a simple mass, consistent with the warehouses of DUMBO while the materiality is reminiscent of the masonry and glass day lit factories of DUMBO’s past. Unlike most development sites, a careful analysis of the view corridors yields an unusual outcome: The views at the bottom are better. Additionally, the upper portions of the building suffer from severe solar gain. Masonry protects the interiors from harsh solar exposures at the upper floors, while on the lower floors bigger windows afford broader views to the water and park. The gradient results in apartments at the lower floors feeling more exposed and open to the river and park outside while the upper-floor windows frame views of the skyline. The seamless triple pane glass projects out from the face of the brick façade and are operable. The handmade Peterson brick cladding follows the window gradient with a greater density of longer bricks at the base and less as it moves up the building.    

Alloy crafted the design of the interiors so that every unit capitalizes on the views offered by the site.  The 2-4 bedroom apartments were designed with layouts ranging from 1,500 – 3,700 s/f to serve the local demand for large family units. Six out of the 42 units are penthouse units that vary in size and shape, some include protected interior courtyards that have internal stairs that lead up to private terraces above.  All apartments have their kitchen, living and dining room spaces facing water, park and skyline views. Custom designed RIFRA Italian kitchens are comprised of double islands with ample storage as well as a wall of built-in cabinetry. All bathrooms have stone mosaic floors with double showers and select units feature freestanding

tubs and a cedar wood wall.  All apartments feature 6” wide bleached oak floors as well as laundry rooms equipped with a full size washer and gas vented dryer.   

Construction started in fall 2014 and is completing this summer.  Sales started in the fall of 2014, gaining some of the highest price/sf numbers in the borough. 1 John St. is 90% sold with four apartments left. Anticipated completion for the building is expected sometime this summer.