The residents soon bring new life to the halls of 19th century Catholic University in Brooklyn.
The building now known as Hartby is located at 788 Willoughby Avenue in Bedford Styvesant, and has launched its lease unit this week. In 54 unique floor plans, many of the apartment units nod to the building’s past.
In 1869, the foundation stones were laid to become the University of St. John of the Baptist and later the University of St. John. The architect was Patrick C. Keely, who designed hundreds of churches in the United States and Europe.
The plan required the first floor to be used as a study hall with separate desks for students. The second floor was to accommodate a dormitory and a response room. On July 26, 1869, according to the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, the upper floors will have a large furnished auditorium and more reception rooms.
The university’s name changed several times before it became St. John’s University, New York in 1954. Classes then began in 1955 at Queens’ current campus. The original building has deteriorated over the years.
Principal and CEO Matthew Linde Of the developer Property Resources Corporation, “When it rains, it’s going to rain just as much inside the building as it was raining outside the building.”
Property Resources Corporation co-developed Heartbee with Avenue Realty Capital, and collaborated with construction company Woods Bagot and interior design company Alchemy Studio. MNS Real Estate NYC handles leases. The building is named Porte Manteau, two streets, Hart Street and Willoughby Avenue.
“When we first came in, it was really scary and depressed,” Linde said. “And now it’s really fun to walk around and see what it ends up.”
Two of the four original buildings were demolished as the building began converting to rentals. The gymnasium is currently part of the courtyard in the heart of the building. The seven-story apartment will replace Willoughby Avenue Wing.
Hartby’s residential units are projected to start at $4,600, from studios to two bedrooms starting at $3,150. Amenities include a tenant lounge with parking, a gym and private event rooms. Of the 205 units, 62 are designated as affordable at 130% of the region’s median revenue and are defined annually by the U.S. Agency for Housing and Urban Development.
Before development began, St. John of the Roman Catholic Church, Saint John, requested that his new neighbor be architecturally matched the church. According to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn, the property is in long-term ground rentals from the church to developers. Breezewy was built to connect Heartbee with the church.
Part of the original building on Hart Street stretched into the interior courtyard, thriving in some apartments from the old exterior, with a little more space. Currently, the arched brick walls are part of the bedroom in one of the first floor apartments. The 2-bedroom rental on the third floor has round windows that were found in the chapel. The studio apartment features winding stairs leading to the original cupola, a dome-like structure protruding from the roof.
“Not only is the exterior of this building historical, it also gave us the opportunity to incorporate a historic façade inside the unit.”
The interviews below have been lightly edited for length and clarity.
Linde built Heartbee
Why did this project stand out?
You look at the city and see some of these limestone buildings. It never makes sense to build it that way, unless you build a truly high-end condominium building, for 1% of 1% justifying a really high-end cost justification for a very high cost. There is no opportunity to take a 150-year-old structure with such a rich history and beautiful architectural design and make it work for modern life.
James Hickerson, Headmaster of Woods Baggot
How did you approach the repair?
The developer, Property Resources Corporation, wanted to maintain the building. It’s a collaboration of mind in that sense. That was the push like theirs. We don’t want to come here and blow up anything already there. We want to be more surgical. We want to maintain the characteristics of the building and surrounding neighborhoods. And we want to be such a good admin. ”
Stephanie Schroeder, Principal of Alchemy Studio
What did you think about the design?
In these buildings, I think mostly about it, like the stories we tell. What does the facade say? Is it a modern thing or a slightly industrial neighborhood? For our buildings, we are from the past, something we must respect and shape it with new, contemporary designs?
Kirsten Noyes contributed to the research.
