Brooklyn Tower, New York’s first supertall tower outside Manhattan

After five years of construction, JDS Development Group has almost completed New York’s first supertall tower (since it exceedes the 984 feet) outside Manhattan. The tallest tower nearby is the Brooklyn Point condo, almost 350 feet shorter – so to speak: a Statue of Liberty).

The tower designed by SHoP Architects, at 9 DeKalb Avenue, will have 150 condos – ranging from about $875,000 for studios to $8 million for four-bedroom apartments. Instead, the penthouses have yet to be priced. The condo units for sales will have 11-foot ceilings, European white oak flooring, and interior design by Gachot Studios.

There will also be about 400 rental apartments, of which 30% will be reserved for “middle-income” renters, in exchange for tax breaks from the city. The income-restricted units – all but 19 of which will be studios or one-bedrooms – will be pegged to renters making 130% of the area median income.

In some parts of Brooklyn, tight inventory and growing demand have pushed prices above prepandemic levels; but this is a market more wary of supertall towers, which critics are considered “piggy banks for the ultrawealthy”. Futermore, complaints of serious construction defects last year at 432 Park Avenue may have fueled more doubts about their future. Still, Mark Stern, the developer, is betting on project’s high quality design and altitudes, unique in the area.