A New Brooklyn Rising at 388 Bridge Street

By Daniel J. Bollinger

Brooklyn is going through major changes these days and 388 Bridge Street is leading the way. This luxury building defines the improvements that are helping Brooklyn become an important center in the world. Located in the heart of Downtown Brooklyn, 388 Bridge Street is a stone’s throw away from the Brooklyn Tabernacle, Long Island University Brooklyn, Fort Greene Park, and Brooklyn Law School, to name just a few of the famed institutions in the immediate area. The building is positioned between Flatbush Avenue and Fulton Street, two streets bursting with the culture and shopping that makes Brooklyn a great place to live. Myrtle and DeKalb Avenues, which stretch from Flatbush Avenue all the way into the heart of Bedford Stuyvesant, are also nearby.

In the past, restaurants on Myrtle and DeKalb Avenues have not been known to make the pages of New York Times food section. However, this is a new Brooklyn. One could write volumes on the dining available in this, with stellar restaurants like Castro’s, Five Spot, Kum Kau, Sapolo, Madiba, Mike’s Coffee Shop and Wray’s Caribbean & Seafood Cuisine. But for now, at least, let’s focus on this new luxe residence.

This building represents a new era of high-rise living. Once Brooklyn’s tallest tower, 388 Bridge Street was recently eclipsed an entire six feet by AVA DoBro. However, there’s no need to split hairs because one of the things that define the brilliance of 388 Bridge Street is the view. The architects got the design right. This 144-unit building features 40 extraordinary 2- to 4-bedroom penthouses, available from the 45th to 53rd floor. The unique floor plans offer both simplex and duplex condos with twelve outdoor terraces affording stunning views. Most distinctive are the penthouses designed with bedrooms on each opposite end. Bedrooms feature terraces while a common space is central to each unit. Upon entering into the open common area is the kitchen—featuring either an island or rolling cart depending on the model; dining and living room adjoin.

The duplexes were designed traditionally with living quarters on the second floor and common areas on the first. The common area is designed very similar to the simplex, where the kitchen is set adjacent to the dining room, making one large room. The living room in some of the duplexes is set slightly off, but party revelers in the living room won’t miss out on what is going on in the kitchen at all. There’s another beautiful terrace, this time off the dining room with even more spectacular views to take in. All units have high ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows throughout allowing for ample natural sunlight throughout.

Bathrooms are equally impressive. Either a shower room or a front-tiled tub is included in each bath; all showers are equipped with a rain-shower. Another design feature that amazes is the bathtub recess that is slightly longer than the tub itself and is installed with shelves, perfect for toiletries and other essentials. An upscale feature you won’t see in many residences.

The views from 388 Bridge Street are picture-book perfect. The iconic Williamsburgh Savings Bank Tower, built in 1929, is approximately 100 feet shorter than 388 Bridge Street. However, it’s been only in the past seven years that residential buildings like the Brooklyner, AVA DoBro, and 388 Bridge Street have been erected, giving condo residents a chance to view the amazing skyline of Brooklyn and beyond. You can see the Statue of Liberty and look over at the Manhattan skyline. To the south, you can see the ferris wheel at Coney Island and even catch a glimpse of the Atlantic Ocean on a clear day. And then there are the bridges: Brooklyn Bridge and the Verrazano-Narrows in their glory. But don’t dismay if you don’t have a terrace. One of the beauties of 388 Bridge Street is the 54th-floor rooftop. Another impressive amenity is the just under 5,000-square foot outdoor terrace with a BBQ grilling deck.

Here is the future of Brooklyn. 388 Bridge Street has introduced us to a new era of high-rise living in the most popular borough in the world. These penthouses are for those who love culture, shopping, and all the nightlife that New York City offers. In addition to the many restaurants and bars, you’re near all subway stations and Barclays Center. 388 Bridge Street’s got it right—from the location and design to the amenities. Welcome to the new Brooklyn rising.