20 Henry Street Brooklyn Heights

I've only seen the building from the outside, and its a good shell - similar to DUMBO buildings, good bones for a developer to work with - but can't say anything else about the building itself.

As for location, its technically on the "wrong" end of Brooklyn Heights.... the cheaper "fruit" section.

The promenade has ended by that point, you're far from Montague shopping and Borough Hall trains (and even further from Atlantic/Cobble Hill/Smith Street and much of what folks are aiming to be near). Its also basically right up against Fulton/Brooklyn Bridge, which is actually not a great thing, because thats a huge dead zone. You're crossing a MAJOR street and some exit ramps to get to the next neigborhood (DUMBO). And you're pretty close to the big BQE wall that cuts things off. And the Jehova factory, which is like a walled off castle. So no real "neighborhood" for the first few blocks.

This was traditionall a cheaper spot, but its done decently well as overall Brooklyn demand has grown. The streets are getting cleaner and nicer. But Henry Street at that end has a lot of empty storefronts, and a lot less life than the "prime" area. There are some very cute buildings around there, but it is cut off. In a bad market, this area could see a setback... particularly a "luxury" building in a second rate location.

I'm sure the developer will sell as "best of both worlds" with DUMBO and BH, but its sort of neither.... its a little distance from BH, and definitely blocked off from DUMBO.

Oh, forgot you asked about noise.

I think you're far enough from the BQE and bridge that it shouldn't matter too much (no trains on the Brooklyn Bridge). The street itself is VERY quiet, almost dead. Its not really a pass-through driving area (that would be Cadman, which is VERY busy). But you are blocked off from that.

So, I think you're NEAR some volume, but the building itself should be ok. Obviously, take a listen, but things could be a lot worse just a block over.

Thanks nyc10022 - any condos in BH you would recommend (1 bedroom under $800,000)?

I don't actually know the condo market so well, but are you looking to be in a building or a brownstone/townhouse?

Overall, lots of the latter inventory, definitely some buildings, most on the small side, really just comes down to availability. I don't think there are any "standout" buildings, because standout usually means townhouse on promenade... Its not like a LIC where you can name all the buildings, BH, its a much less "consolidated" market.

sorry, just thinking some more...

A LOT of the buildings I'm thinking of are also co-op.

20 Henry is one condos exception to that, but there are few "name" buildings like that common to areas like LIC or Williamsburg. I know that there is another up henry closer to montague. A conversion of a VERY nice building. Might be 66 Henry, its under construction now. Thats all I can think of for LIC-Williamsburg type condo buildings. Its a different type of neighborhood, and its not like there are a lot of empty plots to put up a new tower.

I am very interested in this bldg but I've been hearing some chatter from reliable sources about a possible issue with the J-51 tax abatement. Can anyone shed some light on this? They seem to be selling but I am wondering if this is something that will affect those in contract.

A lot of the units left are in the Poplar building - which is a new modern construction. Was it a good idea to design floor to ceiling windows in a location like this?