The Ashland

The Ashland is newest Gotham’s residential tower, located in the emerging Brooklyn Cultural District, at the intersection of bustling Downtown Brooklyn and bucolic Fort Green.  It is uniquely situated to take best advantage of the neighborhood’s many cultural institutions, Fort Greene Park, central transportation options offering access to all of Manhattan and beyond in just minutes, and iconic brownstones, boutiques and diverse dining just blocks away.

A 586-unit, 53-floor tower, The Ashland is the product of successful city-state partnerships, prudent regulatory management, smart construction, and intelligent design. A 50-30-20 mix of market, middle/moderate and low income residences are scattered throughout the building in Studios, 1-, 2- and 3 Bedroom apartments, continuing Gotham’s commitment to Affordable Housing, while optimizing use of tax credits, abatements and public-private partnerships.  20% of residences qualify as tax credit units, including inclusionary housing.  Financing is a mix of 4% tax credits, bonds and debt credit, capped by a first mortgage.  Land was secured from the City amid the neighborhood rezoning process and a call for Affordable Housing.

The project showcases Gotham’s strengths in navigating complex public-private partnerships and regulatory environments, and involved securing a number of administrative actions and approvals, including: (i) City Environmental Quality Review (“CEQR”), (ii) Mayoral override of zoning regulations, (iii) New York City Transit Authority (“TA”) approval of work, (iv) an Inclusionary Housing approval, (v) an HPD BLDS approval on the affordable units, and (vi) Department of Buildings (“DOB”) approval.

Gotham’s vertically integrated team developed, built, marketed and manages this 525,000 square foot structure, as well as the retail and commercial space at its base, through the seamless connection between its Gotham Development, Gotham Properties and Gotham Hospitality divisions.   An 8,200 square foot floor is dedicated to cultural office space, while 12,000 Square Feet of retail at ground level will become Gotham Market at The Ashland, Gotham’s second foray into a delivering a trendsetting food hall as the ultimate resident amenity.  Residential units start on the 4^th floor, 60 feet above ground level.

The building design reinterprets elements of Brownstone Brooklyn, the historic BAM Opera House and the Williamsburg Savings Bank tower, creating a dialogue between the new tower and the historic fabric of Brooklyn, with the base of the building designed to reflect the rhythm and materiality of Brownstone Brooklyn. The façade along Fulton rises only 40 feet, approximately the height of a typical brownstone.

Designed specifically to honor the neighborhoods it straddles, The Ashland presents a different façade depending on the approach – a refined glass tower reflects across Flatbush Ave Extension to Downtown Brooklyn’s busy urban shopping and office environment, a carefully chosen brick color-matched to Fort Greene’s unique shade of brownstones faces down Fulton into low-rise traditional Fort Greene, the face towards the iconic BAM building and the Williamsburg Savings Bank, centerpieces of the neighborhood, is equally reflective of materiality and color.

Thought and care continue to the interior, where The Ashland is unmatched in its intelligent approach to design, conscious appreciation of location, and top of the line finish package.  From a soaring light filled lobby accented by a glass-roofed entrance hall, to the iconic Brooklyn-based rosette imagery that pops up subtly in elevators and glass partitions throughout the building, to the colors and selections of the top of tiling, backsplashes, hallway wallpaper, custom doorknockers, wide oak panel flooring and floor to ceiling windows, the building offers its residents a refined environment mixing beauty and utility.  Gotham’s commitment to art in the living environment is evident throughout the building with featured pieces from Brooklyn-based and New York artists in the lobby and public amenity spaces throughout the building, and partnerships with local studios like UrbanGlass carried through into a unique custom commissioned chandelier for the Market.

Well-planned resident amenities include two full floors of public space, carefully designed to mesh utility and beauty, featuring a wrap-around amenities terrace on the 3^rd floor with indoor-outdoor fluidity and connection through lounges, barbeque areas, a demo kitchen, workspaces, gym with fitness studio and outdoor fitness terrace, film screening area, outdoor bar, and serene landscaped pathways with hidden nooks and benches, as well as Sunrise and Sunset Terraces, a screening lounge, and a game room on the 53^rd floor, offering unparalleled 360 degree views of Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Statue of Liberty, New Jersey and the water.