A new / returned development opened it’s doors this weekend, Be@Schermerhorn located on 189 Schermerhorn. Curious since our broker had suggested we look at this development (before we locked in at the Toren). We didn’t come in with the most open mind, who can forget its past as an arrested development miraculously saved by its lenders? But it was back and at ~25% discounted from its original ask it deserved a look. Overall I would say it’s quite pleasing. The surrounding neighborhood seems to be better. There’s the gourmet-ish Brooklyn Fare market across the street (though one will soon open at the Toren), One Hanson and its Brooklyn Flea down the block, and within close proximity to the Smith St / Cobble Hill scene. There is no Flatbush / Myrtle / Metrotech “scene” that can hope to compare. The building has all the basic amenities for a new development – gym, 24/hr doorman, roof deck, media room / lounge, and a nice manicured courtyard. I wasn’t impressed with their “bike storage on rotation” scheme, or that you’d have to pay upwards of $30k for a roof top cabana. Really?! Isn’t that more than most cars? And how often would i even use the cabana? I can just see myself getting that winter tan.
The stars of the show, the units were unimaginative. In fact it’s a hard to see how they could’ve been priced at 25% higher given the market even a few months ago. Many units don’t have a view, and the ones that do overlook an uninteresting part of Brooklyn. I will say, that the more pricey units did show case some very nice terraces which kind of makes up for the no view situation. But nothing will make up for the bathrooms. Utilitarian would be a kind. It’s stark white, with nothing to recommend it except a future you just know is going to look dirty and old. The kitchens were uniform across the board, again nothing interesting but there was a very nice Oro-like island that could double as a dining table. And with the exception of some units most of the layouts did optimize space — meaning they felt spacious even though their square foot listing was ~800-900 and change.
We went to get lunch at the nearby Cobble Hll afterwards and I asked Josh how he would rank Be@Schermerhorn to some of the places we’d seen in the area. With no hesitation he said: Toren, Oro, Be@schermerhorn, and Belltel. “Really?” I asked “Better than the Belltel?” an unwavering “Yup” was the reply. I pressed, “How about the units on the upper floors of the Belltel, they also had terraces and good light?” He stuck to his guns. Me, the jury is still out. The value is compelling for Be@Schermerhorn. And the Open House was packed. I think in its second life it could very well sell.
The Queen Bee. She rules over the Flatbush Riviera. All of Downtown Brooklyn and Fort Greene is her domain. 
Hee — I went too to scope it out, to see what else was in the neighborhood, and I gotta admit all I could think was “oh thank god — I like the historic details and non-white color scheme at Bellel *vastly* better.” But I also like that there’s varied options in the area; I can see a dedicated modernist digging the all-white minimal vibe at Be@.
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