Common Baltic, 595 Baltic Street: Review and Ratings

Review of 595 Baltic Street by Carter Horsley

This 9-story rental apartment building at 596 Baltic Street between Third and Fourth avenues in the Boerum Hill section of Brooklyn was completed in 2017 by Adam America Real Estate and Common Living.  It has 70 units, about half of which are co-living apartments so that the building can contain a total of about 140 residents.

It was designed by Isaac & Stern Architects and is known as Common Baltic. 

It is next door to a smaller building at 577 Baltic Street, also erected by Adam America and designed by the same architects.

An on-site community manager hosts weekly get-togethers and there are “house leaders” on each floor to encourage interaction and programming, according to a February 23, 2017 article by E. Fitzgerald in the market insight section at CityRealty.com.

Bottom Line

A rather bold, cheery and modern building composition with a small, nautical-looking look-out promontory at the building’s mid-block “prow” hovering over “chopped,” low-rise components.

Description

The building is distinguished by its small, two-story high, cantilevered, “look-out” promontory at the building’s mid-block prow overlooking its “chopped,” low-rise components.

Much of the frontage along Baltic Avenue is four levels of continuous balconies that are interrupted by a three-story-high, white stone surround between the third and fifth stories.  All of this frontage has a setback 7^th floor.

The rest of the frontage has a light-orange façade with wrap-around corner balconies on the third through the seventh floors that are in front of a gray, five-story, recessed end section that has no balconies.

The building has discrete air-conditioners and most of the avenue ground-floor frontage has sconces and continues the light-orange façade treatment except beneath the end balconies where the building has a small cantilever and the rear gray section is elevated one story, continuing the discrete geometric juggling of the project.

Amenities

The building has doorman service, a fitness center, lounges, and an attractive roof deck with nice skyline vistas.  Pets are allowed.

It also has weekly cleaning, household goods restocking and furnishings services.

Apartments

Every apartment has a washer and dryer and there are some duplex units.

Apartment 6J is a two-bedroom unit with 822 square feet with an open kitchen with a breakfast bar and a balcony.

Apartment 7G is a two-bedroom unit with 702 square feet with an open kitchen with a breakfast bar and a very long terrace.

Apartment 4K is a one-bedroom unit with 659 square feet with an open kitchen with a breakfast bar and a balcony that wraps around the living room and bedroom.

Apartment 5I is a one-bedroom unit with 588 square feet and an open kitchen with a breakfast bar and a balcony.

Apartment 7F is a one-bedroom unit with an open kitchen and a long terrace.

Apartment 5F is a studio unit with 458 square feet with a wrap-around balcony and an open kitchen.