550 Vanderbilt Ave

550 Vanderbilt

Like other parts of New York City, Brooklyn has undergone a major transformation in recent decades. Neighborhoods formerly written off as dangerous and undesirable have become bastions of affluent urban life, and dizzyingly tall and boisterous towers have popped up in its once-sketchy downtown. For some developers, however, the move to improve and densify the borough has been less about reimplementing the same one-size-fits-all strategy and more about adopting a considered and contextual approach. Case in point: 550 Vanderbilt. A jewel in the crown of the Frank Gehry-imagined 22-acre Pacific Park development, the 278-unit condominium was designed in an architectural style reflective of its surroundings. “It has more character than a standard all-glass building,” says Terry Martinolle, a realtor with the Eklund Gomes team at Douglas Elliman, who specializes in the property. “There’s a good balance of facade and square turn and tilt windows that are very high quality.” Developed by Greenland Forest City Ratner Partners and conceived by leading architecture firm COOKFOX, the 17-story 550 Vanderbilt development has a sizeable presence in the Prospect Heights neighborhood. And yet it was designed to blend into this setting while pulling in nature at every chance. The scale of its window bays, the proportioning of its formwork and the use of fired bricks throughout its facade are all subtle nods to the prewar brownstones that prevail on nearby streets. As stated on the practice’s website: “Natural materials of wood and stone create an inviting, tactile experience to transition residents from the street to their homes.” Periodic setbacks help to visually mitigate the condo’s sheer size. A 60-foot street wall is punctuated by a series of terraces, reflecting the height of adjoining buildings. A glass curtain wall entrance and day-lit elevator vestibules frame glimpses of the well-manicured green space that begins in the building's rear and fills in the landscape between the other Pacific Park structures. Most units maintain some connection to greenery. According to Martinolle, the standard interior outfit is high-end but also classic, with Calacatta marble and Miele suite refrigerators and cooktops. “The level of appliance upgrades based on the unit size,” he says. “Residents living in studios don’t necessarily need the most powerful in-unit washer/dryers.” A mature palette of whites, grays and mid-tone woods carry through custom millwork bathroom vanities and sustainably sourced, FSC-certified wood kitchen cabinetry. All units are connected to high-efficiency energy recovery ventilators and fresh air filters. A stormwater retention system also adds to 550 Vanderbilt’s LEED Silver status. While 450 square foot studios sell for $750,000, one bedrooms range from $900,000 to $1.5 million. Two bedrooms fetch $1.5 million to $2.6 million depending on size and position in the condo. Three bedrooms hover around the $3.7 million mark while two, four-bedroom penthouses with 3,000 square feet of space and large private terraces have sold for upwards of $6.7 million. “In such large condominiums, it's common for investors to buy up a bulk of units as rentals, and so when these residences come back on the market, they still retain the original finishes and reflect the initial design,” Martinolle explains. Some resale units, however, reflect interventions made by previous owners. There are also integrated townhome-style maisonettes. Residents live in these more private attached multi-level homes but can still access all the shared amenities. “Since its completion in 2018, the building has been well maintained, which isn’t always the case when developers hand over the reins to management companies. At 550 Vanderbilt, everything still looks pristine.” There’s a library stocked by the beloved New York micro bookstore chain McNally Jackson, which is joined by a large resident’s lounge overlooking a courtyard and the larger Pacific Park green space. There’s also a children’s playroom, a pet grooming spa and a sizeable basement-level gym replete with a Pilates studio. The 8th-floor roof incorporates a community garden with 30 plots that residents apply for each year and that are allocated based on a lottery system. The lobby is helmed by white-gloved door attendants 24 hours a day. “Even if it's not on the top of the building, this rooftop terrace has great views over central Brooklyn,” says Martinolle. “It has up-to-date barbecue stations and large dining tables.” Situated at the northern end of Vanderbilt Avenue, Prospect Height’s main commercial artery, 550 Vanderbilt hosts a street-level Van Leeuwen Ice Cream parlor and the Ciao Gloria coffee shop. Moving south toward Grand Army Plaza and its weekly Saturday green market, the street features a seemingly endless array of distinct eateries, bars, barber shops, nail salons, an independent butcher and a Foodtown grocery store. A short stroll or bike ride away, Prospect Park abounds with large picnic fields, playgrounds, woodland paths, ice skating rinks and even a zoo. If that’s not enough, 550 Vanderbilt residents are also close to eclectic Fort Greene, a neighborhood chockfull of bespoke restaurants, shops and historic sites. Nearby Atlantic Terminal isn’t just a transportation hub with multiple Subway links and Long Island Railroad service but all a mall with big box stores like Target. Technically part of the same Pacific Park Development, Barclays Center is home to the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets and also operates as a major concert venue.