Condo conversion near Barclays Center with loft-like layouts
If these walls could talk, the Newswalk would have decades of stories to share, having been the longtime printing plant for The Daily News. Built in 1929, developers bought the nine-story building in 1999, as this section of Prospect Heights started changing. The one-time plant became condos in 2002, with The New York Times covering the conversion that same year. “The building marks the expansion of the stock of luxury housing in a neighborhood known for industrial plants and two- and three-family brownstones,” the article explained. It added insight from developer Shaya Boymelgreen, who told The Times, “I always like to go to the edge in choosing neighborhoods and then expand.” As for 525 Dean St. he said, “I'm not going to Fifth or Madison avenues. I relate more to the people coming here and I want to create a happy building for young tenants.” He had another motive as well: “What we want to do here is to connect Park Slope and Fort Greene.”
Melissa Leifer, a Keller Williams agent who has been selling Newswalk for 20 years, can confirm that it’s a nexus point, especially as Prospect Heights and surrounding neighborhoods have come into their own. The condo is attractive for another reason too. “It’s like having a Tribeca loft, except in Brooklyn,” she says, referring to the fact that it’s one of the only loft buildings in that area.
A mix of layouts include lofts, lofted spaces and townhomes
The early-aughts conversion by Elena Kalman Architects and Bricolage Designs maintained some aspects of the 1929 factory. High ceilings, large, open layouts and exposed ductwork are among the defining features of the 173 luxury units. Since many are loft-life spaces, the term studio is relative. The smallest starts around 525 square feet, but most studios are larger with the potential to add lofted bedrooms thanks to ceilings as high as 15 feet. Leifer shares how smaller units tend to have more turnover when occupants outgrow them, but “because of high ceilings you can add that extra loft; you can be really creative.” As such, there are layouts with lofted bedrooms or kitchens on another level. Other layouts also have separate bedrooms with doors, which isn’t found in true lofts.
Apartments tend to be in good condition with high-end finishes, and it’s not uncommon to find gut-renovated residences that have added Gaggenau ovens, electric fireplaces or heated bathroom floors. Central air is standard, as are large windows for letting in lots of natural light. Some even have terraces or views of Downtown Brooklyn and Midtown Manhattan.
The largest units include a 1,672-square-foot, two-bedroom townhome with a 1,200-square-foot terrace and 3,000-square-foot three-bedroom residences. The last studio and one-bedroom each sold for about $1 million in 2023. In 2024, a two-bedroom townhome listed for $2.3 million and a three-bedroom listed for $2.6 million. “People don’t leave very often; there haven’t been that many sales considering a building that size, and those units sell very quickly,” says Leifer. Meanwhile, an equal number of apartments are rentals.
Amenities include a massive roof deck with a playground and a door attendant
The multilevel roof deck is the standout feature in this amenity-laden condo, an 18,000-square-foot space with a clear view of Barclays Center that’s part courtyard, part lounge area with grills and part playground. The latter is a rare feature to find on roof decks. Also rare is that this is a doorman building; Leifer notes there aren’t many in this area. The condo and landscaped entrance are gated for extra security.
Landscaping company Terrain tackled the roof deck and redesigned the entrance to be more functional and attractive, resulting in a park-like setting in the middle of the block that’s removed from the brownstone-lined street. The deconstructivism facade, which some media outlets compared to the bus from the 1970s TV sitcom “The Partridge Family,” is also a departure from the rest of the area’s buildings.
Down below, the gym is packed with cardio and strength-training equipment, plus a full-size punching bag. A large, well-maintained laundry room is convenient since not all units have washers/dryers. Bike storage is available, along with a Zipcar location. There is on-site valet parking in the back of the building, but Leifer mentions that few residents own cars.
Overall, “your monthlies are really low for what you get,” Leifer says, referring to the common charges paid by building residents.
Central Prospect Heights location near culture, parks, shopping and dining
It’s fair to say that much of the immediate neighborhood grew around the condo, especially after Barclays Center, an indoor arena for major concerts and sporting events, opened in 2013. Residents were initially concerned about increased noise and traffic from the venue, but if anything, the condo’s proximity to Barclays is now among its main draws. Atlantic Center Mall arrived in 2004 as part of the Atlantic Terminal hub for the Long Island Rail Road, itself a renovated station. Chelsea Piers, a popular regional fitness complex, is a block over on Dean Street, offering everything from gymnastics and swim classes to camps and birthday parties. Next door to Chelsea Piers is Pacific Park (previously called Atlantic Yards), a new 22-acre mixed-use development that added public amenities like a playground, dog run and green space. Vanderbilt Avenue is just past the park and lined with restaurants and bars, including Pasta Night for authentic Italian and Weather Up for cocktails in a cozy speakeasy. Additional businesses line nearby Atlantic and Flatbush avenues, both of which are heavily trafficked corridors.
The condo is also close to area stalwarts like the Brooklyn Academy of Music, a go-to for movies and a wide variety of performances, talks and more and Grand Army Plaza, a neighborhood gathering spot and site for events like the weekly, year-round farmer’s market. The imposing Central Library, considered the main Brooklyn branch, is right there, along with Prospect Park, whose 526 acres were designed by Frederick Law Olmsted after he finished Central Park.
Close to Atlantic Terminal hub for subways and Long Island Rail Road
Atlantic Avenue-Barclays Center is a few blocks away and is a hub for the B and D, N and R and Q lines. It also connects with Atlantic Terminal for the Long Island Rail Road, which is convenient for reaching JFK International Airport (residents can catch a train to Jamaica station and then connect to the AirTrain to the terminal). Newswalk is even closer to the 2 and 3 lines at Flatbush Avenue and Bergen Street. As mentioned, the building offers a garage as well, a necessity for those who feel compelled to drive since street parking is practically non-existent.
Proximity to Barclays Center may prove problematic for some
Even though Newswalk is desired for its central location, it’s important to know that the close proximity to Barclays Center can pose issues, whether increased crowds for popular events or potential noise from concerts.
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Quantarium
Current List Price
Sold Price
Area Factors
Low Crime
Crime Score®
3/ 10
Biker's Paradise
Bike Score®
90/ 100
Walker's Paradise
Walk Score®
94/ 100
Rider's Paradise
Transit Score®
100/ 100
Sources: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com, Walk Score
Sources: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com, Walk Score
WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com, Powered by CAP Index provides objective, accurate, and consistent data to help measure, compare, and mitigate crime risks. Walk Score® measures the walkability of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Environmental risk data is provided by First Street Foundation® and is designed to approximate risk and not intended to include all possible scenarios.
Parks in this Area
Dean Playground
1 min walk
Basketball
Playground
Multi-Purpose Field
South Oxford Park
6 min walk
Tennis
Playground
Gateway Triangle
9 min walk
Lowry Triangle
9 min walk
Trails
Park Slope Playground
10 min walk
Basketball
Trails
Playground
North Pacific Playground
11 min walk
Picnic Area
Trails
Playground
Edmonds Playground
12 min walk
Basketball
Playground
Underwood Park
3 min drive
Playground
Lafayette Playground
3 min drive
Basketball
Playground
Waterpark
Schools
Source:
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