Coney Island's newest housing is shiny and sleek. Two 21-story oceanfront towers along the boardwalk on the west end of the neighborhood. With white furnishings and lush landscaping, the development has a Miami vibe, without the palm trees.

"Well, this is the Ocean Drive of Brooklyn right on Surf Avenue, where many Brooklynites have been. The boardwalk is beautiful,” said Red Apple Group CEO John Catsimatidis.

What You Need To Know

  • Two 21-story housing towers called Ocean Drive opened in Coney Island

  • The rental complex was built by billionaire and Red Apple Group CEO John Catsimatidis

  • Loaded with amenities, the building will also feature a new outpost of Nathan’s Famous hot dogs

Grocery store magnate and former mayoral candidate John Catsimatidis built the twin buildings, which he named in another South Beach touch Ocean Drive 1 and 2. The first tower was completed early this year just as the pandemic hit. 

Catsimatidis told NY1 that leasing was slowed by the pandemic, but has picked up steam in the last two months.

In addition to the beachfront location, amenities include a 30,000 square foot terrace, a 50 foot indoor pool and a resident lounge. Back in 2012, this area was destroyed by Hurricane Sandy. The design team said the towers were built with that in mind, including windows that can withstand winds of 150 miles an hour.

"At the base of the building we have flood barriers,” said Ocean Drive Development Manager Maria Rosenfeld. “Our granite goes up five feet. We raised the first floor levels in the event of any storm."

There are a half dozen public housing complexes in the neighborhood, including one right across Surf Avenue. 

This is the first upscale housing built here in decades, making the complex a bet on Coney Island's future.

Catsimatidis said rents at Ocean Drive average around $2,000 a month for a one bedroom and about $3,800 for a two bedroom.

"We have a beautiful trolley that takes you anywhere you want to go just about on Surf Avenue or to the subway,” said Catsimatidis.

Ocean Drive offers public amenities with a boardwalk extension featuring seating areas and outdoor gym equipment. 

A concession stand will also feature a new Nathan's outpost. And the Surf Avenue retail will be home to D'agastino, one of the supermarket chains in the Catsimatidis portfolio.

But these days, Catsimatidis is into real estate. This is his fifth recent development in Brooklyn. He told us that a possible Ocean Drive 3 and 4 may soon be on the way.