A new waterfront esplanade recently opened at Society Brooklyn, a completed mixed-use residential complex consisting of two 21-story rental buildings at 500 Degraw Street and 504 Sackett Street in Gowanus, Brooklyn. Designed by SLCE Architects and developed by Property Markets Group, the 225-foot-tall structures span 594,000 square feet and will yield 517 residential units, as well as 57,000 square feet of commercial space, and 21,000 square feet dedicated to the “Gowanus Mix,” a space for local makers, artisans, and creatives. Twenty-five percent of the apartments are reserved for affordable housing that are being overseen by Affordable for New York under the Mandatory Inclusionary Housing Program. The property is bounded by DeGraw Street to the north, Sackett Street to the south, the Gowanus Canal to the east, and Bond Street to the west.
The green space was designed by SCAPE with the main entrance located along Union Street. A staircase leads visitors down to the landscaped waterfront filled with native species of plants, wooden tables and seating, plaques that tell the early history of the Gowanus’ original environmental state, a children’s play area, and multiple pathways running up and down the length of the property.
Landscaping at Society Brooklyn. Photo by Michael Young.
Landscaping at Society Brooklyn. Photo by Michael Young.
Landscaping at Society Brooklyn. Photo by Michael Young.
Landscaping at Society Brooklyn. Photo by Michael Young.
Landscaping at Society Brooklyn. Photo by Michael Young.
Outdoor seating and landscaping at Society Brooklyn. Photo by Michael Young.
Outdoor seating and landscaping at Society Brooklyn. Photo by Michael Young.
Outdoor seating and landscaping at Society Brooklyn. Photo by Michael Young.
Outdoor seating and landscaping at Society Brooklyn. Photo by Michael Young.
Ecological information plaques at Society Brooklyn. Photo by Michael Young.
Here we see a tall steel post with mounted screens indicting the low and high tide, as well as the time of day they occur.
The tide indicator at Society Brooklyn. Photo by Michael Young.
The tide indicator at Society Brooklyn. Photo by Michael Young.
The tide indicator at Society Brooklyn. Photo by Michael Young.
An ADA-accessible ramp leads visitors directly to the edge of the railing along the Gowanus Canal, and is lined with rigid concrete blocks that form retaining walls for the landscape, and double as extra seating space.
Landscaping at Society Brooklyn. Photo by Michael Young.
Landscaping at Society Brooklyn. Photo by Michael Young.
Landscaping at Society Brooklyn. Photo by Michael Young.
Landscaping at Society Brooklyn. Photo by Michael Young.
Landscaping at Society Brooklyn. Photo by Michael Young.
Landscaping at Society Brooklyn. Photo by Michael Young.
The pleated texture of the concrete blocks also complements the design of the new lamp posts spread across the site.
Lamp post design at Society Brooklyn. Photo by Michael Young.
At the northern end is the children’s play area with the floor lined with a very soft padded surface to minimize injuries. In the middle are oyster sculptures that can be climbed on, while additional outdoor tables are found underneath a row of trees. The park comes to an end at what would be Douglass Street on the other side of the sidewalk fencing.
The children’s play area at Society Brooklyn. Photo by Michael Young.
The children’s play area at Society Brooklyn. Photo by Michael Young.
The children’s play area at Society Brooklyn. Photo by Michael Young.
Interior work on the ground-floor commercial space, and construction on the outdoor plaza wedged between the two towers is wrapping up and almost finished. YIMBY predicts crews will likely complete these areas by early summer. Retail tenants will include a daycare operator, a grocery store, a local food and beverage operators. Cushman & Wakefield is leasing the commercial leasing efforts.
Society Brooklyn at Degraw and Society Brooklyn at Sackett. Photo by Michael Young.
Society Brooklyn at Degraw is the northernmost tower that spans 371,000 square feet and yields 344 rental units in studio- to two-bedroom layouts as well as 32,000 square feet of commercial space. Meanwhile, Society Brooklyn at Sackett is the opposite residential counterpart to the south that covers 234,000 square feet with 173 rental units and approximately 20,000 square feet of commercial space.
Residential amenities include a lobby restaurant and bar, fitness centers, lounges, a party room, co-working hubs, children’s playrooms, an herb and garden deck, and outdoor swimming pools and sun decks atop the multistory podium. The development will also come with 13 local artist studios in a roughly 4,000-square-foot complex managed by Arts Gowanus.
Property Markets Group acquired both plots of land for $9 million in 2021 and will complete construction with the help of $18.5 million in construction financing from Maxim Capital Group.
The nearest subway is the local R train at the Union Street station to the east along 4th Avenue.
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Nice looking complex, though I can’t imagine living next to the mighty Gowanus. Even shopping there (Whole Foods) gives me pause. Though you’ve gotta love the various development’s promo images that show kayakers on the canal.
Not bad! Those views of the downtown Brooklyn skyline from the park also look really nice
Very well done, but the fact that each one of these projects will have its own designs for their portions of the esplanade is going to drive me insane.
Haha individually controlled space over a coordinated master plan. American urban planning and design in a nutshell 😅
Esplanade is perfectly serviceable! Happy Friday 🙂
The “wild” looking plantings is an interesting contrast with the over-designed park furnishings.
Just say no to jutting balconies! I cast thee back to hay-ell, devil balconies!!
Getting those sites for $9 million seems like a steal in hindsight.
This is wonderful. Wife grew up on Sackett right near the first building. In the 1950’s thru early 2000’s this new building complex and esplanade was a parking lot and oil delivery business overlooking the “Canal”. I am sure property values, especially in the connected multistory 1 to 3 family homes on these side streets are skyrocketing in cost. Long ago was Bond Street a street to be avoided. New York, especially in this part of Brooklyn continues to grow!!!!
Gowanus forever… ❤️🔥
Looks great 👍
As a current resident of the area, these new buildings are bringing much needed foot traffic and activity. Already seeing people meander the streets noticing the near completed towers. Once the retail arrives, optimistic the Bond St corridor will be really nice.
Where’s the diving board?
Esplanade was split between Johny sacs plumbing company Uncle juniors pope fitters and Fernandez paving which is ralphies. Heheh
Esplanade was split between Johny sacs plumbing company Uncle juniors pipe fitters and Fernandez paving which is ralphies. Heheh