While mass timber construction is relatively common in Europe, fire codes and long-standing building practices have kept it from taking hold in New York. Only a small handful of boutique rentals have been constructed with cross-laminated timber (CLT); and while the Department of Buildings declined to allow a new condominium at 670 Union Street, to take shape in the same way, Mesh Architectures principal Eric Liftin proposed glulam as a substitute and ultimately prevailed. More recently, sales have launched at the building dubbed Timber House in honor of its construction.
Current availabilities in the 14-unit building start at $595K for studios, $2.325 million for two-bedrooms, and $3.2 million for three-bedrooms. Its average price of $1,530 per square foot comes in below the Park Slope condo average of $1,672 per square foot (per CityRealty data), and residents can expect to save money on energy bills: Features include triple-glazed windows, solar panels, multi-zone heat pump heating and cooling, and an energy-recovery air filtration system. It is also worth noting that the building's wood construction requires less embodied energy than traditional steel and concrete, and that the construction process produced less waste.
Timber House (Douglas Elliman)
The price paid for a Park Slope condo has skyrocketed since the onset of the pandemic and since closings began at One Prospect Park West.
Interiors at Timber House have been likened to modern-day treehouses. Nearly half the units have private outdoor space, and all interiors feature:
- Wood beamed ceilings over 11 feet high
- Over 8-inch wide engineered pine floors
- European kitchens with bespoke cabinetry, porcelain countertops, upscale appliances, and custom hexagonal tile floors
- Primary suites with walk-in closets and Carrara marble baths
- Latch smart locks
- Nest Protect smoke/carbon monoxide detectors
- In-unit washer/dryer
Every unit comes with private storage space, and building amenities include package storage in the lobby and a furnished roof deck with views of the Brooklyn and Manhattan skylines. Between the bike room, on-site parking with electric vehicle charging stations, the Union Street R train at the end of the block, and the Grand Army Plaza 2/3 trains nearby, there is no shortage of ways to get around.
Timber House is a stone's throw from the eclectic dining options of 5th Avenue. Those who'd prefer to cook at home can enjoy easy access to the Park Slope Food Co-op and the Gowanus Whole Foods. Other local attractions include Prospect Park, the Royal Palms Shuffleboard Club, Kick Axe, and Brooklyn Bouldering Project.
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