Brooklyn Luxury Rental Caters to Pent-Up Demand in Neighborhood

Brooklyn, N.Y.–It appears that the New York multifamily market is on its way back to its initial glory. A new luxury rental project in Williamsburg, 184 Kent, which only opened in February, has already signed 100 leases. The building, located between North Third and North Fourth streets at the edge of the East River in Brooklyn, features 340 lofts in studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom configurations.

Robert Scaglion, senior managing director of residential marketing at Rose Associates, Inc., the exclusive leasing agent for 184 Kent, tells MHN, “It’s a unique product, in a historic building and there is pent-up demand for this kind of full-service rental building in the neighborhood.” The rents are $48 to $50 per square foot.

Designed by master architect Cass Gilbert and built in 1915, 184 Kent Avenue originally served as headquarters for Austin, Nichols & Company, the maker of Wild Turkey bourbon and other brands. JMH Development recently completed a comprehensive two-year renovation of the seven-story building, creating luxury lofts and exceptional common areas within the historic structure that is listed as a “nationally significant building.”

Each residence at 184 Kent is equipped with natural stone countertops, custom cabinetry and GE stainless steel appliances. Bathrooms have stone-tiled walls and floors, and soaking tubs. All apartments feature 12-foot ceilings and teak floors throughout. There is a washer and dryer in each home, and many apartments have private outdoor terraces.

Scaglion says, “Williamsburg is a hot destination. People from Manhattan’s Lower East Side, SoHo, and the Upper East Side come to Williamsburg to socialize, and for the restaurants and bars here. These are people who want a doorman and amenities in a rental building and 184 Kent is the first to deliver on that demand. We’re also seeing many creative types from Brooklyn who have been waiting for a building like 184 Kent.” So far, about 50 percent of tenants are from Manhattan and about 50 percent are from Brooklyn.

The property, which has a 24-hour doorman and a valet-attended parking garage, has a striking lobby with double-height ceilings. A 20,000-square-foot interior courtyard will provide a rare landscaped sanctuary to 184 Kent’s residents and guests. In addition, there is a large rooftop sundeck with sweeping vistas of the East River, Williamsburg and the Manhattan skyline.  184 Kent’s two-level amenity area offers tenants a library with garden views, a state-of the-art fitness center overlooking the river and the city, a tenant lounge area, and a children’s playroom.

Virtually all of 184 Kent Avenue’s original features have been meticulously preserved, including Cass Gilbert’s distinctive coved cornice, the original concrete freight canopies, and the exposed beams and columns.