Cheap to Chic

The J train casts a shadow and covers the discount stores, apartment buildings and pedestrians walking down Broadway. In between of graffiti covered walls and empty lots turned into jungles stands a 5 month old Hotel & Hostel, sprouting the question: What is this doing here?

The B Hotel & Hostel uses South Williamsburg easy access to the city as a way to attract potential guests. It made its grand opening in July. The B Hotel & Hostel, is one of many new trendy businesses in Williamsburg that attract a demographic outside of its residents. “Tourists come from overseas,” said receptionist, “because we are next to the city.” Guests staying at The B, rent the bed that they sleep in since rooms are shared with other guests. Is the trendy north crossing  over to the simple south ?

Trendy businesses is not the only thing coming from the north. Although the south side of Williamsburg didn’t gentrify at the same rate as the north, slowly but surely changes are occurring. In the year 2002 and 2003 new condominiums started developing in South Williamsburg.

New housing being developed on the waterfront of South Williamsburg.

Although it is agreed that the condos are beautiful, longtime residents are worried of the effect they will have to affordable housing. “I honestly think that the new condominiums could be a good idea for the economy,” said long time Williamsburg

resident Iris Rodriguez, “but on the other hand it could be a great threat for the low income families since they are not able to buy one and in the future low income housing may disappear.” Residents fear that in the future many old buildings in South Williamsburg will be transformed into new and expensive housing.

“Some building was there and it was taken down to build a new, more expensive place which lower class can’t afford,” said Jorge Ovalle, a 29 year old Williamsburg resident since he was ten. “One thing I noticed is that there was this big church, don’t know why it was sold, but it was torn down and they built condos on that same location.”

The Domino Sugar refinery opened in the 1880’s and closed down in 2004. Now plans are being made by Two Trees Management to turn this factory  into over 2000 apartments. This same company helped transform DUMBO, to its current state of offices and expensive apartments.This project is

estimated to cost $1.5 billion.The purpose of these new apartments is to generate money while the profits of the office space that will also be developed are low. The idea of making offices and apartments is so residents can live and work in the neighborhood. Although the city has granted permission for this construction, the public still has its reservations.

“What small businesses will be able to afford the rents once the luxury towers get filled,” asks an online commenter on Curbed’s article Two Trees’ SHoP-Designed Domino Development, REVEALED! “Tenants will want big box stores, not the goods and services of locals.”

Will these new apartments, with a waterfront as a backyard, be as affordable as the buildings the longtime residents of South Williamsburg are used to? Two Trees will recieve the support of neighborhood representative, Councilman Stephen Levin, if they provide affordable housing.

According to MNS Real Estate, the average rent in North Williamsburg is $3499 and in South Williamsburg $1900. Making the south part of Williamsburg $1600 cheaper to live on average. As the south gets more apartment buildings that resemble the ones up north the $1600 rent difference is sure to decrease.

New luxury building that will be available in the beginning of next year/

Like the B Hotel & Hostel, other new developments are taking advantage of South Williamsburg’s easy access to public transportation. The Garnett is a new luxury building on South 4th that will be available on January 1, 2014. The price of a studio apartment with one bath is $1,975 a month.  The price of a  one bedroom apartment will start at $2,350, making this housing development above the average rent price in South Williamsburg.

According to the Quarterly Survey of Brooklyn Residential Sales from the Douglas Elliman report, the average sales price increased by 23%. This report also shows that the rent is rising in not only Williamsburg but in neighborhoods all around Brooklyn. Reports show that cheaper rent can be found in some parts of Manhattan.

If affordable housing is eliminated from South Williamsburg, low income residents will have to move to another neighborhood that they can afford to live in.