YIMBY's 595 Dean promotion admits that two towers have just one entrance, but images provided by developer compress the distance between the buildings

Photo by Michael Young/YIMBY

Outdoor Amenities To Open In Time For Summer At 595 Dean Street In Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, YIMBY told us 6/30/23, helpfully acknowledging, "This post links to a YIMBY partner."

That may or may not make it officially advertorial, helping developer TFC cornerstone rent the 798 units, but who could tell, given YIMBY's general rah-rah coverage. 

Consider, for example, the strategic use of photographs and images. The extablishing shot, at left, shows the two-tower complex from a tree-lined street north of Atlantic Avenue, looking south.

That thus omits the inconvenient view of the railyard parcel directly north of that block--a parcel that may take a decade to cover--involving disruptive construction--with a platform, new towers, and the central portion of the overall project's open space. 

TF Cornerstone/YIMBY

That said, the image supplied of the Central Plaza, at right, does convey a portion of the railyard in the distance. (Scroll down for a photo I took that shows far more of the railyard scale.)

Even with strategic positioning, the image does show the fencing that currently keeps the publicly accessible open space--not quite a "park," despite the Pacific Park appellation--from public use.

In fact, while the "outdoor amenities" associated with the two buildings--terraces wtih places to work, grill, sun, and even swim--are highlighted in this article/advertorial, it's not clear when the open space will be finished.

Two buildings, one entrance

TF Cornerstone/YIMBY

It's worth noting that the image at left of the front entrance, as supplied by TF Cornerstone, compresses distance between the two towers, leaving the suggestion that the West Tower is not all that far from the East Tower.

They're not, as shown in the photo up top as well as the one below right that I took.

Why is that important?

Photo/Norman Oder

Because, as I've written, this two-tower complex has just one entrance, at the West Tower, since key sections of the East Tower's ground floor have been ceded, for commercial reasons, to Chelsea Piers for their fitness center.

An underground gallery

For the first time, the developer has had to publicly acknowledge that curious compromise. To quote YIMBY: 

The main entrance for residents and visitors of 595 Dean Street is through the West tower. Just beyond the west tower lobby is a gently sloped gallery that leads to the east tower lobby, an expansive co-working lounge, multiple private conference rooms, an arcade-style game room, and a screening room. Also in the east lobby is an exclusive entrance for residents to access Chelsea Piers Fitness. Not only do residents have their own entrance into Chelsea Piers; all leaseholders are eligible for a 50% discount off the usual Chelsea Piers Fitness membership rate.

TFC Cornerstone/YIMBY

Well, maybe it's nice to have an entrance to Chelsea Piers and to pay $100/month. (That's according to one person who toured the building. She also noted that amenities cost $50/month, not including the pool, which is--not sure I trust this-- $500 a month.)

But there's no (good) place for residents to enter the East Tower if they're arriving from the east, such as from the busy retail strip of Vanderbilt Avenue.

That inevitably will be annoying, and may lead to some hacks. 

Or maybe it's backhanded promotion for Chelsea Piers, because if you go inside their canopied front entrance on Dean Street--what should've been the East Tower's main entrance--maybe it's easier to get to your apartment.

That gallery is shown at left, in another one of those  images that compresses the distance between the two buildings.

And while the East Tower lobby, shown below left, looks quite spiffy, it's... underground. 

Photo: Norman Oder

Adding parking + retail

From YIMBY:

595 Dean Street is also bringing an additional 469 vehicle parking spots to the existing garage just next door, as well as 3,412 square feet of ground-floor retail space to be leased by Simo Pizza and Ni Hao, a Chinese eatery.

Well, it remains unclear how exactly the parking garage, with a sole entrance along Dean Street below the 535 Carlton tower, will work with 469 spaces added to the existing 303 spaces, given that the previous iteration has already experienced crowding, which cascades traffic jams.

Photo by Michael Young/YIMBY

As to the retail tenants, as I reported in April, the East Tower retail space is destined for a pizzeria named SIMÒ, which is already established in the Meatpacking District and near NYU, while neighbors have been alerted to a liquor license application from Ni Hao ("hello" in Chinese), which seems to be related to Pinch Chinese, a restaurant on Prince Street in Manhattan.

Compliant designers

The article also contains quotes from the architect and landscape architect, who've done professional work--but also must toe the party line.

From the architect:

“595 Dean will be incredible. The building prioritizes the pedestrian and the street experience and has a big park just outside your front door. The interiors draw inspiration from the park through a gallery filled with natural light, plants and amenities under a wood trellis ceiling. We were happy to work on this one with our friends at TFC, and are proud of what we’ve created together,” said Frank Fusaro AIA, partner at Handel Architects.

Photo of railyard/Norman Oder

Okay, but how does he feel about denying residents of the 419-unit East Tower a front door? How enjoyable will the "park" be when there's construction nearby to build the platform, associated towers, and promised open space.

As shown in the photo at right, that's a big railyard to cover.

From the landscape architect:

“This project far exceeds public amenity offerings in typical contemporary multi-family housing and goes above and beyond by providing a large public park,” said Signe Nielsen, founding principal, MNLA. “The park is easily accessible from the street and leads visitors to a variety of spaces with facilities for all ages all within a lushly planted and performative landscape that contributes to biodiversity and stormwater management. We are proud to have been part of this project and commend TFC for their commitment to a quality public realm.”

Actually, the open space was required as part of the state override of zoning to enable Atlantic Yards/Pacific Park. It will barely serve the 13,000-plus expected residents. And the key component won't be completed untll/unless the railyard is decked.

The "affordable housing"

YIMBY doesn't even use the term "affordable housing," because, well, the income-linked housing isn't that affordable:

For those looking to save on rent expenses and still enjoy the benefits of living in a luxury development, the deadline to apply for the Pacific Park Apartments housing lottery was recently extended to July 31. For those who apply with qualifying household incomes rents are $2,290 for studios, $2,690 for one-bedrooms and $3,360 for two-bedrooms. All two-bedroom units include in-unit washers and dryers. The only way to apply for the lottery is by creating a profile and applying through NYC Housing Connect.