388 Bridge St

388 Bridge

At 53 stories, 388 Bridge Street briefly held the title of Brooklyn’s tallest building upon completion in 2014, until SLCE Architects beat its own record with the 58-story Avo DoBro. No matter, because the former still offers impressive skyline and waterfront vistas from many of its 371 units. Beyond its height, the glass-and-metal building isn’t particularly distinguishable from the plethora of high rises now crowding Downtown Brooklyn, except for at night when the tip of the structure changes colors. (In 2013, Brooklyn Magazine called 388 Bridge “perhaps the ugliest of the new skyscrapers.”) The main distinction, however, is within, where 144 of the 371 residences are condos that start on the 32nd floor; the lower units are rentals. And, even with all the competition, the location is also notable. “You have an area which is very rare in 21st-century New York City, where you have the ability to build high-density tall buildings and you have transit,” Stahl Organization vice president Roger Fortune told the Observer in 2016. What the condo’s 144 units may lack in character they compensate for with nine-foot ceilings and walls of casement windows; the higher floors provide unobstructed views of the East River, Statue of Liberty, Manhattan skyline or southern Brooklyn. High-end finishes and contemporary amenities add interest to conventional, white-walled layouts, like open kitchens with white quartz counters, wheeled islands and walnut cabinets with integrated refrigerators, microwaves and dishwashers. Primary bathrooms are en suite with deep white quartz sinks and deep soaking tubs, separate showers and black Metro Anthracite tile. All apartments come equipped with Bosch washers and dryers, wide oak plank floors and zoned heat and air. Most condos are two bedrooms, followed by one- and three-bedroom units and a smaller contingent of studios and four bedrooms. Studios start at 530 square feet; a recent sale closed at $725,000. The building’s most expensive option, a four-bedroom penthouse encompassing 2,300 square feet, sold for $5 million. The full-service 388 Bridge attracts the amenity-loving crowd, especially the 46th-floor lounge with its pool table, contemporary fireplace and immersive views, and the 54th-floor rooftop space, an enviable vantage point from which to enjoy fireworks from multiple directions. The fifth floor houses a landscaped 5,000-square-foot terrace; besides providing the ability to grill, there’s even a small playground along with plenty of seating. This is a busy floor thanks to a spacious, well-maintained gym, where walls of windows add motivation to work out; a well-curated children’s playroom, also featuring high ceilings and windows; and a lounge that can double as party space due to its catering kitchen. Additional amenities are tucked away in the basement, including bike storage, a pet spa, laundry room and storage units for an extra cost. Ground floor businesses include J’s Cleaners for valet service and a parking garage. Surrounded by Brooklyn Heights, Fort Greene and Boerum Hill, Downtown Brooklyn quickly evolved after 388 Bridge went up, transforming from a commercial to residential neighborhood populated with amenity-laden condos and businesses catering to newcomers. City Point is among the newer arrivals, a massive complex along Fulton Street containing Trader Joe’s, the trendy Dekalb Market food hall, Alamo Drafthouse movie theater and Target. Add in the likes of Sephora, Lululemon, locally made Brooklyn goods, McNally Jackson bookstore, a toy store, pickleball courts and a brewery, and Downtown Brooklyn has once again become a destination for those beyond its boundaries. Before that, Fulton Street lured shoppers for decades, and the revitalized corridor is just up the block from 388 Bridge, where newer additions (mostly chains) have joined stalwarts like Macy’s. That said, Fulton Street hasn’t changed much in the past decade, and other blasts from the past remain too, like the original location of Junior’s, a diner institution best known for its cheesecake. But other nearby spots represent a mix of the old and new; case in point is Gage and Tollner. The original restaurant opened in 1879 and persisted until 2004. New owners revived the name and location in 2021, attracting another generation to its high-end, old-world aesthetic. Most lines pass through, or near, Downtown Brooklyn, putting 12 trains less than a 10-minute walk from 388 Bridge. The closest are just a block away, with the express 2, 3 Hoyt station on Fulton Street and Jay Street - MetroTech R stop on Willoughby. The station’s A, C, F trains are just a bit further. Flatbush Avenue provides the B, Q, R at the Dekalb Avenue stop and the 4, 5 at the Nevins Street stop. Drivers and cyclists can quickly access the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges into Manhattan; the latter can grab a Citi Bike at Lawrence and Willoughby streets.