Walk out of the DeKalb Avenue subway station and look up. Seriously, just look up. You can’t miss it. It’s this massive, brooding, blackened steel spire that looks like something straight out of a Batman comic or maybe Lord of the Rings. People literally call it the "Tower of Sauron."
This is the Brooklyn Tower, and at 1,066 feet, it is officially the tallest building in brooklyn ny.
It’s not just a little bit taller than everything else. It’s nearly 350 feet taller than its closest rival, Brooklyn Point. For a long time, the Williamsburgh Savings Bank Tower held the crown at 512 feet. That lasted for about 80 years. Then, suddenly, the floodgates opened. Now, we have a building that is twice as high as the old "Tallest in Brooklyn" and towers over the entire borough like a dark, neo-Deco needle.
But honestly? Being the tallest isn't even the most interesting thing about it.
The Design Drama at 9 DeKalb Avenue
Most skyscrapers these days are just big glass boxes. Boring. Predictable. The Brooklyn Tower, designed by SHoP Architects, went a completely different way. They didn't just build a new tower; they basically "swallowed" a landmark.
The base of the building is actually the old Dime Savings Bank, which was built back in 1906. It’s this gorgeous, hexagonal, white marble temple of a building. Instead of tearing it down, the architects used its hexagonal shape as the blueprint for the entire 93-story tower.
The tower is covered in:
- Blackened stainless steel
- Bronze
- Copper
- White marble (to match the bank)
The colors actually shift as you look at it. From certain angles, the bronze ribbons make it glow. From others, the black steel makes it look incredibly intimidating. It’s meant to be a "crescendo" for the Brooklyn skyline.
Living at 1,000 Feet (If You Have the Cash)
You've probably wondered who actually lives up there. Well, the building is a mix of about 150 condos and 400 rentals. And yeah, it’s expensive. Rentals started at prices that would make a Manhattanite blink, and the condos? They go all the way up to the $20 million range for the penthouses.
The amenities are kinda ridiculous. We’re talking about 120,000 square feet of "stuff" to do.
- There is a "Dome Pool" on the roof of the old bank. You can literally swim circles around the historic Guastavino dome.
- On the 66th floor, there’s an open-air "sky deck."
- That deck includes the world’s highest dog run. Imagine being a Frenchie doing your business 600 feet in the air while looking at the Statue of Liberty.
- There’s also a basketball court and a playground up there.
Living that high up changes things. Residents have mentioned that the city noise basically disappears once you get past the 50th floor. It’s just you and the wind.
The "Billion-Dollar Disaster" Rumors
Here is what nobody talks about when they're looking at the shiny photos: the money.
Building the tallest building in brooklyn ny wasn't exactly a smooth ride. The developer, Michael Stern of JDS Development, took a massive gamble. He borrowed nearly $700 million to make this happen. But then, the real estate market got weird. Interest rates spiked. Sales were slow.
By mid-2024, reports came out that only a tiny fraction of the condos had actually sold. The project went into foreclosure, and Silverstein Capital Partners (the folks behind the World Trade Center rebuild) eventually took over control of the tower.
Is it a "disaster"? Some people say so. Others say it’s just the growing pains of a borough that’s trying to compete with Manhattan. Either way, the building isn't going anywhere. It’s a permanent part of the skyline now.
Why This Matters for the Rest of Brooklyn
For decades, Brooklyn was the "low-rise" borough. You had brownstones, old factories, and maybe a few 10-story apartments. The Brooklyn Tower changed the "vibe" of Downtown Brooklyn forever.
It’s the first "supertall" (a building over 300 meters) outside of Manhattan. That’s a big deal. It signals that Brooklyn isn't just a suburb or a "cool neighborhood" anymore—it’s a global city in its own right.
Current Top 5 Tallest Buildings in Brooklyn (2026 Rankings)
- The Brooklyn Tower: 1,066 feet.
- Brooklyn Point: 720 feet (The one with the highest infinity pool in the Western Hemisphere).
- The Everly: 610 feet (A newcomer that recently topped out).
- 11 Hoyt: 618 feet (The one that looks like it has "waves" on the side).
- The Hub: 602 feet.
Notice the gap? The Brooklyn Tower is in a league of its own.
Is It an Eyesore or an Icon?
If you ask ten Brooklynites what they think of the tower, you'll get ten different answers.
"It looks like a villain lives there," one guy told me while waiting for the B38 bus.
"It's the most beautiful thing we've built in 50 years," said a local architect.
It’s polarizing. It’s dark. It’s jagged. It doesn't try to be "friendly." But honestly, isn't that sort of the Brooklyn spirit? It’s got an attitude. It’s not trying to blend in with the beige brick buildings around it.
Practical Next Steps for Visitors and Residents
If you want to experience the tallest building in brooklyn ny without spending $5,000 a month on rent, you can still get close. The retail space in the base (the old bank) is becoming a major shopping and dining destination.
- Visit the Base: Walk around the Flatbush Avenue Extension and Fleet Street. The contrast between the 1906 white marble and the 2020s black steel is worth a photo.
- Check the Views: If you’re at the Barclays Center or even over in lower Manhattan, look East. The tower acts as a North Star for Downtown Brooklyn.
- Watch the Market: If you're looking to move, keep an eye on the rental concessions. Because the building changed hands and had a rocky start, there are often "deals" to be found compared to similar luxury towers in Manhattan.
The Brooklyn Tower is more than just a height record. It’s a symbol of how much the borough has changed since the days of gas stations and tire shops along Flatbush. Whether you love the "Sauron" vibes or hate them, you have to admit: Brooklyn has finally reached the clouds.
To see the building for yourself, take the B, Q, or R train to DeKalb Avenue or the 2, 3, 4, 5 to Nevins Street. Walk toward the massive dark spire; you literally cannot miss it.