It took a few trips before the Landmarks Preservation Commission, but 545 Vanderbilt Avenue has reached key milestones. Not only did a recent site visit show that construction appears to be winding down, but a registration site has been made available in anticipation of a leasing launch for The Axel, as the 29-story building is now known.
The Axel is petite by supertall standards, but the tallest building in its Clinton Hill neighborhood. Its design by Morris Adjmi Architects features an angled tower on top of a four-story podium. Early renderings showed a staggered-pattern facade reminiscent of The Artisan in Essex Crossing and a daring cantilever. The angle appears much less dramatic in real life, but nevertheless makes a striking streetscape statement.
In this article:
The Axel with the McDonald's at 840 Atlantic Avenue in the foreground (CityRealty)
Facade detail
At the foot of the Vanderbilt Avenue open street and Atlantic Avenue
The stretch of Vanderbilt Avenue has seen a great deal of development
View south down Clinton Avenue
Most importantly, the torque of the tower was designed to make the most of views of the belfry at the Church of St. Luke and St. Matthew, a New York City Landmark designed by John Welch and dating back to 1891. In exchange for development rights for their new tower, the developers of The Axel agreed to embark on a full-scale restoration of the church's Romanesque Revival facade. This includes extensive cleaning and replacement of features where required, like the metal cross atop the belfry.
Residents in mid- and upper-floor apartments will enjoy outstanding views
Axel's apartments will range from studio to three-bedroom layouts but specific Information on the apartment interiors is not yet available. Larger floor plates on upper levels will capitalize on panoramic views of the Brooklyn and Manhattan skylines. The Axel will welcome pets and offer over 30,000 square feet of amenities like a fitness room, bike storage, a game lounge, and an outdoor terrace with a pool and lounge area.
Currently, an affordable housing lottery is underway for 80 rental units in the buildings; individuals and households earning $48,206-$215,150 have until July 7, 2022 to apply for apartments starting at $1,320/month; full details and the application may be found here. Market-rate prices for the studios through three-bedrooms are expected to range from $2,000/month to over $5,000/month.
Lottery criteria (Housing Connect: https://housingconnect.nyc.gov/PublicWeb/details/2783)
When The Axel was still on the drawing board, its close proximity to Fort Greene Park, Grand Army Plaza, 5th Avenue dining, Brooklyn Academy of Music, and the Atlantic Avenue-Barclays Center transportation hub were imagined to be key lures in attracting residents to its address at the cusp of Clinton Hill, Prospect Heights, and Fort Greene. While those attractions continue to appeal, the area has only gotten more interesting and attracted further attention since then.
Vanderbilt Open Streets with The Axel in the background, June 2022 (CityRealty)
For example, in one of a very few good things to come out of the coronavirus pandemic, Vanderbilt Avenue Open Streets is now in its third year. The program is run by the Prospect Heights Neighborhood Development Council in partnership with the New York City Department of Transportation, and visitors can enjoy live concerts, sports demonstrations, social events, and outdoor dining at the many restaurants lining Vanderbilt Avenue. The Axel sits at the beginning of the Vanderbilt Open Street at Atlantic Avenue, thus allowing residents to treat it as their backyard.
Furthermore, this stretch of Brooklyn is becoming more appealing to developers and city officials as well as potential residents. According to Politico, a swatch of Atlantic Avenue between Prospect Heights and Crown Heights could be one of the first to be rezoned under Mayor Adams' tenure. It is currently lined with industrial buildings, wholesalers, auto shops, and storage facilities; while City Councilmember Crystal Hudson points out that her community wants to preserve and encourage manufacturing use, they would welcome new housing to make it a live-work area.
Rendering of 840 Atlantic Avenue (Vanderbilt Avenue Holdings)
Rendering of 1034-1042 Atlantic Avenue (ARCHIMAERA)
As we wait to see how this rezoning plays out, other projects are underway. The Axel is up the street from 840 Atlantic Avenue; this is now a McDonald's restaurant with a drive-through, but developer Vanderbilt Atlantic Holdings seeks to build an 18-story building with two floors of community and commercial space as well as 316 housing units, 30 percent of which would be affordable. There was some community pushback to the size of the building, but the City Council approved the project last fall and permits were filed in January 2022.
Two blocks over, a pair of residential buildings has been proposed for 1034-1042 Atlantic Avenue, on the cusp of Prospect Heights and Crown Heights. The project calls for a 12,000-square-foot youth center, retail space, 20 underground parking spaces, and 210 apartments on top (the number of affordable units to be keyed to affordability level). Renderings depict large murals on the sides of the buildings, and amenities are expected to include a rooftop garden and on-site parking. Permits were filed earlier this spring with Archimaera as the designer of record.
Local Rentals
555 Waverly Avenue
Developed by Madison Realty Capital | Design by HTO Architects
8 stories | 190 units
1 availability for $4,100/month
Developed by Madison Realty Capital | Design by HTO Architects
8 stories | 190 units
1 availability for $4,100/month
555 Waverly Avenue (Vertical Real Estate LLC)
555 Waverly Avenue is a rental building on the border of Prospect Heights and Clinton Hill. All units feature stylish interiors by Cl-oth Interiors, oversized windows, hardwood floors, zoned climate control, kitchens with stainless steel appliances, serene baths with rainfall shower heads, and in-unit washer/dryers. Amenities include a double-height lobby, concierge service, a fitness center, a lounge with library and garden access, and a landscaped roof deck with grilling and dining areas.
475 Clermont Avenue
Developed by RXR Realty | Design by Aufgang Architects
12 stories | 363 units
10 availabilities from $3,533 - $7,259
Developed by RXR Realty | Design by Aufgang Architects
12 stories | 363 units
10 availabilities from $3,533 - $7,259
475 Clermont Avenue (RXR Realty)
475 Clermont Avenue was designed with the area's industrial history in mind, but the apartments and amenities had today's renters in mind. All interiors feature expansive views, high ceilings, hardwood floors, kitchens with navy lacquer-finished cabinetry and high-end stainless steel appliances, baths with stone tiled floors and walk-in showers, and in-unit washer/dryers. The building's staff includes 24-hour concierge and a live-in resident manager, and amenities include a fitness center, a business center with separate meeting room, a children's playroom, a lounge and game room, a courtyard with play and workout areas, and a roof deck with grilling stations, bocce and ping pong areas, and an outdoor movie screen.
Brooklyn Crossing, 18 Sixth Avenue
Developed by Brodsky Organization | Design by Perkins Eastman
51 stories | 858 units
15 availabilities from $3,430 - $7,200
Developed by Brodsky Organization | Design by Perkins Eastman
51 stories | 858 units
15 availabilities from $3,430 - $7,200
Brooklyn Crossing (Brodsky Organization)
At 551 feet high, Brooklyn Crossing is the tallest building in the Pacific Park master plan and among the tallest in Brooklyn. The apartments look out on spectacular views through soundproof floor-to-ceiling windows, and interiors feature kitchens with state-of-the-art appliances, baths with luxurious finishes, and in-unit washer/dryers. Amenities include a fitness center,
a coworking space, a screening room, a children's playroom, a Library Lounge with terrace access, and a rooftop terrace with an outdoor swimming pool and 360-degree views from the Manhattan skyline to Rockaway Beach.
Plank Road, 662 Pacific Street
Developed by Brodsky Organization | Design by Marvel Architects
26 stories | 313 units
1 availability for $3,600
Developed by Brodsky Organization | Design by Marvel Architects
26 stories | 313 units
1 availability for $3,600
A stone's throw from Brooklyn Crossing (see above), Plank Road features a new 800-seat middle school and 313 apartments on top, the better to make the most of open city views. All apartments feature floor-to-ceiling windows, airy living space, ivory oak hardwood flooring, kitchens with ample counter space and premium appliances, baths with recessed lighting and marble tile walls, and in-unit washer/dryers. Amenities include an attended lobby, concierge service, a mail room, a bike room, a fitness center, a children's playroom, a lounge, and a landscaped 18th-floor terrace with grilling stations, green space, and an outdoor pool.
840 Fulton Street
Developed by Daten Group | Design by Kutnicki Bernstein Architects
7 stories | 38 units
No current availabilities
Developed by Daten Group | Design by Kutnicki Bernstein Architects
7 stories | 38 units
No current availabilities
840 Fulton Street (Daten Group)
As opposed to the large-scale new development that has taken shape in the area, 840 Fulton Street is a boutique building at the nexus of Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, and Prospect Heights. Select units have private outdoor space, and all apartments feature oversized windows, kitchens with quartz countertops and stainless steel appliances, porcelain tiled baths with heated floors, and in-unit washer/dryers. Amenities include a package room, private storage, bike storage, a fitness center, a lounge with ping-pong table, and a furnished roof deck.
540 Waverly Avenue
Developed by Daten Group | Design by Kutnicki Bernstein Architects
9 stories | 135 units
No current availabilities
Developed by Daten Group | Design by Kutnicki Bernstein Architects
9 stories | 135 units
No current availabilities
In Clinton Hill, 540 Waverly Avenue stretches along Atlantic Avenue from Waverly to Clinton Avenues. A portion of the apartments have been designated affordable, and amenities include a gym, outdoor recreation space on the second story and the roof, and on-site parking for 52 cars.
Local Condos
550 Vanderbilt Avenue
Developed by Forest City Ratner and Greenland USA | Design by COOKFOX
17 stories | 278 units
15 availabilities from $735K - $4.995M
Developed by Forest City Ratner and Greenland USA | Design by COOKFOX
17 stories | 278 units
15 availabilities from $735K - $4.995M
550 Vanderbilt Avenue was an early entrant in the Pacific Park master plan, and is distinguished by its biophilic design and lush landscaping in the entryway, courtyard, and outdoor terraces. Amenities include a library by McNally Jackson, a fitness center by The Wright Fit, a lounge with a catering kitchen, a children's playroom, and a pet grooming station.
532 Clinton Avenue
Developed by Yuval Golan | Design by Afshari PC
7 stories | 14 units
1 availability for $2.15M
Developed by Yuval Golan | Design by Afshari PC
7 stories | 14 units
1 availability for $2.15M
When this Clinton Hill lot was sold, it came with approved Department of Buildings plans for a 7-story building. The 14 units comprise 10 three-bedrooms, two two-bedrooms, and two one-bedrooms, and all of them feature floor-to-ceiling windows, 8" white oak flooring, kitchens with white oak cabinetry and Bosch appliances, honed marble primary baths, and in-unit washer/dryers. The majority of apartments have private outdoor space.
Waverly Brooklyn, 500 Waverly Avenue
Developed by Orange Management | Design by Gerner, Kronick & Valcarcel
7 stories | 48 units
2 availabilities from $947K - $2.195M
Developed by Orange Management | Design by Gerner, Kronick & Valcarcel
7 stories | 48 units
2 availabilities from $947K - $2.195M
Waverly Brooklyn is a Bauhaus-inspired condominium at the nexus of Clinton Hill, Prospect Heights, and Fort Greene. All units feature abundant natural light through floor-to-ceiling windows, high ceilings, gourmet kitchens with top-of-the-line appliances, luxurious baths, and in-unit washer/dryers. Parking is available for sale or rent in the building, and amenities include a part-time doorman, a gym, a courtyard, and a rooftop terrace.
508 Waverly Avenue
Developed by 508 Waverly LLC | Design by DJ Associates Architect
6 stories | 6 units
No current availabilities
Developed by 508 Waverly LLC | Design by DJ Associates Architect
6 stories | 6 units
No current availabilities
508 Waverly Avenue is a boutique condominium located in proximity to Pratt Institute and an incredible variety of restaurants, cafes, and bars. All six full-floor units are reached via keyed elevator and feature high ceilings, exposed concrete walls, kitchens with custom cabinetry and LG appliances, luxe primary baths, and generous closet space. The majority of the apartments come with private outdoor space.
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