Bridge Street

The building conversion project at 37 Bridge Street looks nearly complete. The development by Baruch Singer created condo units as well as three townhouses in a pair of adjacent red-brick factories, one of which was once owned by the Kirkman soap company. The building has been rebranded as Kirkman Lofts according to new banners just placed on the building. The original plans were for 45 one- to three-bedroom units, but according to the Kirkman website (kirkmanlofts.com), there are studio to four bedroom units. Pricing hasn’t been set at this time. Some listings have been popping up on Streeteasy. The building was a former soap factory and include huge 20 foot diameter steel tanks (pic) that were preserved and incorporated into the building design.

The building was originally built in 1882 and according to the Dumbo Landmark Designation report, Alexander S. Kirkman owned several buildings on the block and ran the Kirkman & Son business from Dumbo. “The firm was founded by English immigrant John Kirkman, but it was his son Alexander who opened the Brooklyn factory and was responsible for the firm’s growth into a major manufacturer of borax soap, octagon soap (soap shaped like an octagon so that it could easily be held), soap powder, softener, floating soap, and cleanser”.

“The simple brick facade, articulated by segmental and rounded openings and projecting lintels and sills, marks 36-40 Bridge Street as an example of the American Round Arch style. This, together with its slow-burning mill construction, makes it representative of American factory architecture of this period and contributes to the architectural and historical character of the DUMBO Historic District. Built in 1882, during a major period of development when manufacturers were making DUMBO into one of the city’s most important industrial neighborhoods, the structure contributes to the district through its architecture, structure, its role in the area’s development as an industrial neighborhood.”

Three years ago, this is what the building looked like:

• 37 Bridge #THC, 3beds 2,803sqft, $1,600,000 ($570/sqft), $1,979cc
• 37 Bridge #2B, 3beds 1,399sqft, $935,000 ($668/sqft), $883cc
• 37 Bridge #5C, 1beds, 1.5bath, 1,116sqft, $675,000 ($604/sqft), $709cc
• 37 Bridge #3D, 0beds, 1bath, 886sqft, $585,000 ($660/sqft), $567cc

{Lightning Strikes 37 Bridge in Dumbo, 24Mar2011}
{37 Bridge St Gets Quiet, 17Dec2009}
{37 Bridge Street Update, 14Aug2009}
{Soundproofing Windows in Dumbo, 03Dec2007}