Brooklyn, now often referred to as the “new” Manhattan, has seen an exponential increase in residential development in many of its neighborhoods recently. Yet, many buildings are targeted at urban millennials and affluent empty-nesters. But developer Domain’s goal has long been to acquire, rehabilitate, and develop a broader income mix of units for residents, as well as focus on nonresidential niches.
Domain’s Eleven33, in Brooklyn’s Greenpoint neighborhood, accomplished multiple goals with its striking LEED Silver, 210-unit, mixed-income design. The formerly contaminated brownfield site, which once housed a Brooklyn Rapid Transit Railroad Car Barn, required remediation before new development could proceed. The developer thought the cost and time worthwhile, with an adjacent site designated to become the 2.5-acre Box Street Park overlooking the East River and part of the borough’s Greenpoint-Williamsburg Open Space Master Plan.
When completed, the seven-story Eleven33 became the first major mixed-income, as well as mixed-use, development in the area, and did so with noteworthy results:
- Green features. Beside achieving LEED Silver certification, the building met Energy Star and Enterprise Green Community Standards, through low-VOC paints, energy-efficient appliances, low-flow fixtures, and green building materials for interior components from carpeting to countertops.
- Outdoor space. In a city where buildings cut off light and views and gobble up space, the architects at Studio 9 devoted 20,000 square feet to the development’s outdoor areas with a large courtyard and rooftop living areas, and landscaping designed by Future Green Studio.
- Artistry. Brothers Evan and Oliver Haslegrave, who own the design firm hOmE, known for its hip restaurant decor, were in charge of furnishings and artwork, selecting from local resources.
- Live–work space. Because the developer knew that many residents would work from home, it included a mix of amenities to benefit them, such as a business center, conference room, video conferencing, computer stations, and places to kick back, such as a cyber café and fitness center.
- Easy getaway. Domain understood the value of being able to escape the neighborhood once in a while, providing access to car- and bike-sharing programs. The NYC Water Taxi Stop is also close by.
The property received more than 60,000 applications when the lottery began in 2014, the most in New York City at the time.
