The old Fulton Mall is no more

I know this link is dated but if you have been to the mall recently, you will notice that all the bus shelters have been removed and that ugly blue steel entrance has been chopped down. It's nice to see steps in the right direction.

City Point gets a well need push from Mayor Bloomberg

The Bloomberg administration has picked the City Point project--to redevelop Albee Square Mall--to receive $20 million in tax-exempt bonds financed by the federal stimulus program

More Hotels yet to arrive in Downtown BK (Bklyn Daily Eagle)

Finally, the eye sores are coming down on Duffield (Duffield Street Underground)

Avalon Buying Bridge Street Properties

Image credit (Brownstoner.com)

$40 Million for Downtown Lots

United Land unloading Bridge street property to Avalon Bay

DoBro Average Household income is on the way up

DoBro's Average Household Income to Double? (brownstoner)

2 Hotels in the Oro II. Both will be Hiltons

Two Hiltons Confirmed For Oro II (Brooklyn Daily Eagle)

Another Skyscraper growing on Flatbush. The Toren

(courtesy Brownstoner)


The Toren

SOM-designed Toren About to Hit the Market (Brownstoner.com)

Belltel Lofts in the New York Times

Belltel Lofts to have a new neighbor. That is 760,000 Sq. Ft. of new neighbors

(image courtesy of Brownstoner.com)

Downtown Brooklyn gets yet another Hotel. A Hampton Inn

(image by Brooklyn Daily Eagle)


Downtown Brooklyn Scores Another Hotel: A Hampton Inn (Brooklyn Daily Eagle)

"DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN — The former Pepper & Potter auto dealership on Flatbush Avenue Extension in Downtown Brooklyn will soon be replaced by a Hampton Inn hotel.

The 4,700-square-foot site, at the corner of Tillary Street, sold on March 13 to Magna Hospitality Group for $10.8 million, according to Paula Ingram, a principal with Ingram & Hebron Realty (I&H)."

Bring on the Glass

United American Land seems to be moving forward. Within the last month, they have acquired the air rights to the property borderd by Willoughby, Bridge, Duffield and the Fulton Mall. This is directly accros the street from Belltel. The only building that will remain is 505 Fulton due to its landmark status (that's the Conway).There are some interesting renderings on their website. No arguements here. I'm lovin the glass.


ULA United American Land LLC

A Letter from Joe Chan

Joe Chan, president of the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership, responds to the Brooklyn Daily Eagle's article entitled "Much of Downtown Brooklyn Is Going Out of Business" (January 23, 2008). Here is an excerpt:
"This new development will create over 3 million square feet of space for businesses of all sizes, including locally based businesses as well as national retailers. It will reshape our skyline, create new jobs and add to businesses’ bottom line. And most importantly, the revival of Downtown Brooklyn is diversified and will withstand economic cycles for decades." (Joe Chan)

Letter to the Editor:
Downtown Brooklyn Gaining, Not Losing (Brooklyn Daily Eagle)

The first of many residents are moving into there new hood

(photo courstesy NY Sun)(view of Aloft hotel to the right and the soon to be Willoughby Square park on the left, as seen from upper floors of Belltel Lofts)
First Residents Arrive for Downtown Brooklyn 'Renaissance'
Rise in Residential Real Estate Transforms Commercial Area (NY Sun)

Downtown Brooklyn is possibly six distinct neighborhoods?

Neighborhood Names Needed For Downtown Residential Growth
(Brooklyn Daily Eagle)

City Point (replacing Albee Sq. Mall) has got a new website

(City Point)

This webite gives you the most beautiful view of what Downtown Brooklyn will look like in the not so distant future. I love the rendition of Willoughby Sq Park. What do you think?

City Point NYC

News from the rumor mill. Gracious Home in Downtown Brooklyn. Maybe.

"For decades, the area of Downtown Brooklyn between Willoughby and State streets has been a bustling center of low-end stores and fast-food restaurants. Now an influx of residents is anticipated at a handful of new luxury condo projects: BellTel Lofts at 365 Bridge Street, the conversion of the Williamsburgh Savings Bank building at One Hanson Place, the Oro Condos at 306 Gold Street, and a hotel/condominium project by the same developer set to rise next door. This begs the question: Where will these upscale residents eat and shop in the area?

Higher-end retail is expected to follow the residential development eventually -- and admittedly, there are already signs of change. More affordable condo projects in the area, on Livingston and Schermerhorn streets, are expected to bring an initial wave of retail in their ground-floor spaces. Meanwhile, the home furnishings chain Gracious Home and an Apple computer store are said to be considering the ground-floor space at the Williamsburgh Savings Bank tower. But buyers in the neighborhood's luxury developments are warned that if they want to see a complete turnaround, they need to be patient." (The Real Deal)

Condo towers poised to change Downtown Brooklyn retail
(The Real Deal)

Joe Chan's Vision of Downtown Brooklyn

"It is tempting, of course, to call this something like the “Brooklyn Plan,” but it isn’t a plan in the literal sense. No one person or group of people sat down and sketched out an entire scenario. What has been looked at in the past several weeks is a combination of individual developments." (Brooklyn Daily Eagle)

News Analysis: Radical New Look Ahead for Brooklyn (Brooklyn Daily Eagle)