A new skyline is rising in Brooklyn, one that's creating a new community — with a new name. Borough reporter Jeanine Ramirez has the story.
First, the condo tower known as 550 Vanderbilt topped out at 17 stories; then Friday, an apartment building on Carlton Avenue reached its peak height of 18 stories.
A new neighborhood is emerging around the Barclays Center, and it has a new name: Pacific Park.
"We realized that we need to pivot away from Atlantic Yards and create a branding for a new neighborhood," Susi Yu of Forest City Ratner Co. said.
The development initially was called Atlantic Yards after the Long Island Rail Road yard beneath Atlantic Avenue, but after some 30 lawsuits attempting to stop the project, the developers think the original name has too much history.
Pacific Park refers to Pacific Street, which is being de-mapped and turned into a public park. It's a marketing strategy to attract buyers for condos that run from $845,000 for a one bedroom to nearly $7 million for a penthouse.
In contrast, the 298 rental units at the Carlton building will be 100 percent affordable, supported by the city's affordable housing program.
"For a family of four now, it would range from $24,000 in terms of income on the lowest band up to $124,000 for a family of four for a two bedroom unit," Yu said.
The new neighborhood, which towers over the Row Houses in Prospect Heights, spreads over 22 acres. It will have a middle school, a health clinic and 14 residential buildings, including the world's tallest modular building, stacked 32 stories high.
Scheduled to open this fall, it'll be the first of the buildings to welcome tenants. 50 percent of the rentals will be below market rate.
Priority will be given to local residents by a lottery, which starts next month.
"It's Community Board 2, 3, 6 and 8 in Brooklyn who will have a special first offer," said Yu.
The entire neighborhood is expected to be completed in ten years.