The New York City never sleeps, also always shifting, always evolving and always offering something new just like the 9 Dekalb Avenue.
With its iсоniс lаndmаrks, tоwers, skysсrарers аnd glоbаl аррeаl Mаnhаttаn hаs been the defining bоrоugh оf New Yоrk Сity fоr оver 120 yeаrs.
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| [9 Dekalb Avenue. ©B1M] |
Founded as an independent city in the 17th century, Brooklyn has long been recognized as a New York twin. But the only means of transportation between New York and Brooklyn by boat, the daily communication between them was limited.
When the Brooklyn Bridge opened in 1883, it was met with increasing calls to connect the two cities around the city with the aim of keeping New York City as the largest and most important city in the United States against the rapidly growing Chicago.
In 1898 the cities of New York - then encompassing the area known as the Bronx - and Brooklyn, as well as west Queens County and State Island merged to form the five cities we know today as New York City.
The completion of the Williamsburg Bridge and Manhattan Bridge subway system also improved communications between Brooklyn and Manhattan, providing Midtown and Downtown access to more staff and allowing Manhattan to become the commercial center of the city. Brooklyn retains its downtown location and with most of the commercial investment coming into Manhattan, the area has remained a community center with low-level commercial centers for nearly a century.
But as the cost of living in Manhattan continued to rise, Brooklyn became the most sought after destination for those who could afford one that Manhattan could no longer afford: space.
Although it was gradually strengthened from the 1960s, it was not until 2004 - when the city of Brooklyn was rebuilt to allow for more stable housing - that the area was truly transformed. With the influx of citizens and advanced development, the city of Brooklyn quickly became a 24/7 place where people could sit, work and play while close to Manhattan.
The tide of change was flowing in the surrounding communities and in Brooklyn Heights, Dumbo and Williamsburg all had their own changes. Offering a low tax and completely different from the commercial calls in Manhattan, Brooklyn has begun to attract entrepreneurs and startups, becoming a new technology space.
In 2013, Dumbo was home to 25% of all technology companies in New York. With more than $ 9 billion in private investment in Brooklyn it has become one of the most desirable and much-needed places in the city. With such rapid progress, it was not long before plans were made to build a new tower that would take Brooklyn to the highest point in the world.
At 335 meters, 9 Dekalb Avenue will stand more than 110 feet [110 m] above the tallest building in Brooklyn and dominate the city from the surrounding area. It can be compared to the vision of Burj Khalifa Dubai in Dubai, UAE.
Designed by SHoP Architects, 9th Dekalb Avenue marks the third major partnership between JDS Development Group, a strong and state-of-the-art company behind America's Copper Building and Super Slender 111 West 57th Street - known as '111W57' - Billionaires Row.
Unlike the world's most collapsed building, due to its small footprint that could offer luxury, high-end residents, 9 Dekalb Avenue will include a commercial and office space and a commercial gym next to 575 apartments, 20% of which will be able to cost rent.
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| [9 Dekalb Avenue under-construction. ©B1M] |
Incorporating the historic Dime Savings Bank into its podium, 9 Dekalb Avenue's unusual shape nods to the bank's hexagonal floor plate. It's stepped back profile is reminiscent of the style made famous by many of the city's skyscrapers in the 1930s and the building will be clad in bronze, stainless steel and stone.
Making use of its large triangular site, the tower is set back from Albee Square allowing the Dime Savings Bank to retain its prominence on the streetscape and creating a rooftop terrace for residents.
The construction of 9 Dekalb Avenue first began in mid-2018 and the tower was just beginning to rise above ground when the pandemic first sent the world into lockdown in March 2020.
With many predicting an economic meltdown, some feared 9 Dekalb Avenue might become a victim of the recession. Despite the uncertainty, construction continued and at the end of 2020 the building has risen beyond its halfway mark.
Floor-by-floor, 9 Dekalb Avenue is now making its historic entrance into New York City's skyline - and the first supertall building outside of Manhattan is likely to ignite similar projects in Brooklyn particularly as the cost of living forces many to look beyond the Island.
Disclaimer : This article first appeared on B1M.