Two Trees Management’s transformation of the Domino Sugar Factory site has been eagerly watched by architecture aficionados and Brooklyn historians alike, and the project hit a key milestone. One South First, the second mixed-use building to rise and the tallest in Williamsburg, has topped out construction at 42 stories and 435 feet high. The façade by Cookfox is reminiscent of a stack of sugar crystals and on the way up as well, putting it on track to meet its goal of opening this fall.
Upon completion, One South First will host 150,000 square feet of office space and 15,000 square feet of retail, where local favorites Roberta’s, Other Half Brewery, and Two Hands Café have signed on. There will also be 330 apartments, 66 of which will be affordable, on top. Residential amenities are said to include a fitness center, business center, children's playroom, and several communal terraces. Further details about the apartments are not yet available, but CityRealty listings show that the median rent in Williamsburg is $2,809/month for studios, $3,420/month for one-bedrooms, and $4,300/month for two-bedrooms.
One South First is rising on the northern end of the Domino Sugar Factory site. Its site on the corner of Kent Avenue and Grand Street puts it just behind Domino Park, the six-acre public park that opened last summer. Down the street, 325 Kent Avenue is fully leased and has attracted such retailers Mekelburg’s food shop, Sky Ting Yoga, Modern Chemist, Dandy Wine & Spirits, and Michelin-starred chef Missy Robbins’ restaurant Misi.