A Brooklyn beacon for over a century, known for its gilded dome and four-sided clock
As one of the most iconic buildings in Brooklyn, One Hanson Place has seen many iterations over the years since it was built in 1927. Formerly The Williamsburgh Savings Bank Tower and the tallest building in the borough, today the 41-story, 500-plus-foot-tall Byzantine-Romanesque Revival structure is home to 179 luxury residences and 40,000 square feet of commercial space. Since it was officially landmarked in 1977 (additional interior spaces achieved landmark status in 1996), the historic tower, originally designed by the architectural firm Halsey, McCormack and Helmer, retains its emblematic four-sided clock, asymmetrical facade and gilded dome. Inside the original banking hall on the first floor, the grand, limestone archways and 63-foot-vaulted ceilings remain, as well as the beautiful mosaic tiles and old teller booths. Many New Yorkers may remember these interiors from when the famed space served as the site of the popular Brooklyn Flea, or when it was an event and filming space known as Skylight One Hanson. Most recently, the main hall was purchased by Madison Realty Capital. However, according to the Real Deal and other sources the firm is currently facing foreclosure on its purchase with a $28 million auction set in late May 2024.
Whichever high-end retailer moves in next, one thing is certain: the million-dollar residences are here to stay. “It’s a really elegant landmark that people think of when they talk about geography in Brooklyn if they don’t know it that well. They’ll say, ‘Near the clock tower,’ because it’s at the nexus of all these different neighborhoods,” says Nick Hovsepian, a real estate agent and lead of the Cornell Marshall Hovsepian Team with Corcoran.
Deluxe pre-war studios to full-floor penthouses for sale
Converted to condominiums in 2007, units feature 10-plus-foot, beamed ceilings and chestnut strip flooring. Kitchens are outfitted with lacquer cabinetry and high-end appliances from SubZero and Viking, as well as Basaltina lava stone countertops. Since its conversion, which was led by H. Thomas O’Hara (HTA), many owners have since upgraded the interiors to include custom closets with radiant heated flooring and soaking tubs in the bathrooms. And with two-bedroom units averaging around 1,400 square feet, it’s all about pre-war space. “The upper floors are very cool residential spaces with really high, beamed ceilings — sometimes 16 feet high depending on where it is in the building,” says Hovsepian, who has sold around seven residences in the condominium. “The layouts are so much grander than what you’ll find in the newer buildings coming up around it.” Some units also have terraces that overlook Downtown Brooklyn and offer panoramic views of NYC. “The windows are double hung, which is very rare in a large building like that. So, you can really open them and get air in, as opposed to new buildings with a 4-inch limit. The layouts are all open concept, which is obviously more modern than the original architectural style, so it’s a nice meeting of old and new.”
Prices generally range between $600,000 and $3.5 million
Studios can list for as low as $600,000, while one-bedroom listings typically start at $1.1 million. Two-bedrooms range between $1.5 million and $1.9 million, three-bedrooms from $2.15 million to $3.2 million, and four-bedrooms range between $2.95 million to $3.5 million. One Hanson Place also has eight penthouses, all of which were off market as of spring 2024.
A gorgeous, landmarked lobby from a bygone era with a Skytop Lounge
Residents enter into a landmarked lobby with bright blue, barrel-vaulted ceilings speckled with delicate gold stars. “The residential lobby has this kind of magical Art Deco vibe,” Hovsepian says. “It’s more subdued [than the old bank lobby], but still has that beautiful stonework, and nice gold detail. But it’s a bit understated, particularly when you walk into the units with these sprawling living spaces.” There is a full-time door attendant, as well as an on-site concierge, and residents can access a business center with a large conference desk and a fitness center with a separate terrace. For the little ones, there’s a children’s playroom, and up on the 21st floor, the Skytop Lounge offers panoramic views of Midtown Manhattan, Downtown Brooklyn and the Statue of Liberty. There are also three public terraces, two of which are located on the 24th and 26th floors, which can be accessed by a separate service elevator.
History and design of One Hanson Place
One Hanson’s facade is probably the most recognizable in all of Fort Greene and the Downtown Brooklyn area. A staple in the neighborhood for nearly a century, the asymmetrical, limestone setbacks and ornamental detailing define the tower, as well as its gilded dome and regal, marble-clad first floor. Given its landmarked status, only some interior modifications have been allowed in the original vault and banking hall area, including the removal of some teller windows. But the real benefit of living there is found in the units: “I think it’s really about the space,” adds Hovsepian. “When it was new, there weren’t all these giant buildings around like there are now. Most newer buildings in the area are building [units] as small as they can to maximize their dollar per square foot. Here you have much more gracious proportions.”
Close to Atlantic Terminal, Barclays Center and Fort Greene Park
Situated right near Atlantic Terminal, Brooklyn’s largest transportation hub, residents can access nearly every MTA train, including the 1, 2 and 3 lines, N, R and Q lines, 4, 5 and 6 lines and the LIRR. Barclays Center is also right down the street, along with the Brooklyn Academy of Music, the Apple store, Fort Greene Park and Whole Foods. Residents also have access to the plethora of shops at Atlantic Terminal Mall, including Target, Sephora and Uniqlo, as well as Best Buy and other big-box stores. Also, within walking distance from the building, residents can shop at boutiques along Park Slope’s Fifth Avenue or pop into any one of the trendy bars and restaurants along the avenue.
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Current List Price
Sold Price
Area Factors
Moderate Crime
Crime Score®
5/ 10
Biker's Paradise
Bike Score®
93/ 100
Walker's Paradise
Walk Score®
100/ 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
North Pacific Playground
6 min walk
Picnic Area
Trails
Playground
South Oxford Park
8 min walk
Tennis
Playground
Dean Playground
8 min walk
Basketball
Playground
Multi-Purpose Field
Edmonds Playground
10 min walk
Basketball
Playground
Gateway Triangle
11 min walk
Fort Greene Park
12 min walk
Tennis
Trails
Events
Park Slope Playground
13 min walk
Basketball
Trails
Playground
Underwood Park
14 min walk
Playground
Lafayette Playground
14 min walk
Basketball
Playground
Waterpark
Schools
Source:
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