MNS, the Brooklyn real estate firm published their November 2012 Brooklyn Rental Market Report today. A lack of inventory continued to plague Brooklyn’s rental market this month, with an increasingly limited number of studios available borough-wide. According to the report, rental rates increased a total of 1.16% across all unit types; however, even with low inventory studio rates since October, decreased by 0.83%.

Some highlights include the following:

• Barclays Boosts Boerum Hill: Proximity to the new Barclay’s Center may be a boon for the Boerum Hill rental market. Rents in this neighborhood have been on the rise in recent months, and November brought a 0.3% increase in rates.
• Rental Prospects: If you’re considering Prospect Lefferts Gardens, this nabe posted some very interesting rental numbers this month. Studio rents on average were the most affordable of any Brooklyn neighborhood ($999 per month), but one-bedroom rates skyrocketed up 15.4% ($216) since October.
• Drop in Dumbo: Brooklyn’s most expensive neighborhood saw studio rates plummet this month—surprising, given the low inventory in the area. Dumbo studio pricing dropped $700 between October and November. Coupled with declines in Prospect Lefferts Gardens and Bedford Stuyvesant, studio rates across these three neighborhoods decreased a combined average of 16.5%.

According to the report, Dumbo still has the most expensive average rents for one and two bedrooms, but Williamsburg took the most expensive neighborhood for studio apartments:

In Dumbo, studios were $2,650 (vs $3,350 in October 2012), one bedrooms $4,141 (vs $3,925 October 2012), and two bedrooms $4,980 (vs $4,929 October 2012). Compare that to Novemeber 2012 mean Brooklyn rental prices for studios ($1,916/mo), one bedroom ($2,522), and two bedrooms ($3,220).

Here are the Dumbo price trends over 13 months for studios, one bedrooms, and two bedrooms:

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The Brooklyn Rental Market ReportTM is based on a cross-section of data from available listings and priced under $10,000, with ultra-luxury property omitted to obtain a true monthly rental average. Our data is aggregated from the MNS proprietary database and sampled from a specific mid-month point to record current rental rates offered by landlords during that particular month. It is then combined with information from the REBNY Real Estate Listings Source (RLS), OnLine Residential (OLR.com) and R.O.L.E.X. (Real Plus).

The Brooklyn Rental Market Report ™ is published by MNS. The full Brooklyn Rental Market Report ™ by neighborhood (PDF(1.7MB)).

Previously:
{October 2012 Brooklyn Rental Market Report}
{September 2012 Brooklyn Rental Market Report}
{June 2012 Brooklyn Rental Market Report}
{May 2012 Brooklyn Rental Market Report}
{April 2012 Brooklyn Rental Market Report}

Almondine Bakery, one of New York City’s BEST French bakeries, and our favorite place for croissants and pastries, was hit hard by Hurricane Sandy, and is still closed. All baking production was done in the basement kitchen, which was flooded to the ceiling. Sandy wiped out chef/owner Hervé Poussot’s entire kitchen — ovens, refrigerators, freezers, and specialized equipment — his livelihood at the 85 Water Street location.

A group of friends and neighbors who want to help him reopen are working as the Friends of Almondine have set up a fundraising campaign on his behalf (All funds raised go directly to Hervé, to be used initially for immediate needs and then to help with major rebuilding expenditures). Within the first 20 days, more than $17,000 was raised, but much more is needed for the bakery to reopen. If you’ve ever visited Almondine and tried their awesome pastries, please consider helping out.

This Saturday and Sunday, December 15-16, 2012, 10am-6pm, there will be a pop-up fundraiser at Almondine in support of the rebuilding efforts. Chefs around NYC are rallying by donating the finest cakes, pastries, and chocolates for sale at this event. Pastry chefs from Payard, Le Bernardin, Épicerie Boulud, Valrhona, Bouchon Bakery, Dominique Ansel, Ceci-Cela, and more are participating.

Almondine Bakery (almondinebakery.com)
85 Water Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201

gofundme.com/save-almondine
Friends of Almondine Facebook page
@AlmondineNYC

Previously:
{NYC’s Best Baguette}
{NYC’s Best Macaroon}
{Herve Poussot of Almondine Bakery}
{NYC’s Best Bakery}
{Almondine’s Pies}
{Almondine’s Room Service}
{Dumbo Then and Now: 85 Water Street}

The following two condos are the latest to the Dumbo Brooklyn market:

• 11/29/2012: 70 Washington Street #8C (Halstead), $1,197,500 ($974/sf), $409/mo cc, $44/mo tax (J-51 Abatement expires in 2018), 1,229sf, 2 bed, 2 bath
• 11/26/2012: 70 Washington Street #6U (Tarlin Realty), $1,185,000 ($984/sf), $389/mo cc, $64/mo tax, 1204sf, 2 bed, 2 bath

(70 Washington Street, #8C)

Unit 8C in 70 Washington has been owned by one owner since the building’s conversion in 2006. We’re told by realtors (not the brokers offering this unit) that the 8th floor+ of this east view in Dumbo is ‘protected’, so the morning light will always be bright and the “sunset light is reflected by the glass of 100 Jay Street”. Ok, that’s good.

(70 Washington Street, #6U)

Unit 6U was previously listed by owner in August for $1,175,000. There’s another unit with the same floorplan on the 10th floor on the market for $1,075,000 since October.

See all ‘new to market’ posts

(Photo by Ben Cobb)

The following are selected links from this past week on blogs and websites with discussion about Dumbo (and its neighboring areas):

• Police Seek Alleged DUMBO iPhone Robber, 06Dec2012, DNAinfo
• DUMBO’s Grimaldi’s Owner Sues Over New Pizzeria Next Door, 06Dec2012, BHB
• Culinary Beefs on the Menu for DUMBO’s Food Fight, 07Dec2012, DNAinfo
• NYU-Poly New-Business Incubator in Brooklyn’s DUMBO Graduates First Startup, TENDIGI, 07Dec2012, PR
• Brooklyn Heights Residents Upset About Filming, 06Dec2012, Gothamist
• RAMBO: Everyone Wants A Piece Of Godawful Neighborhood Name, 09Dec2012, Gothamist
• Close-up on the Squibb Park Bridge, 05Dec2012, Brownstoner
• Rental of the Day: 245 Front Street #3, $2400/mo, 05Dec2012, Brownstoner

We previously mentioned that The Playroom at EGG is opening their doors for kids and family programming for Dumbo. They have a grand opening on Sunday, December 9, 2012 from 10am – 6pm. The grand opening presents live music, child’s theatre, raffles, and entertainment for the family.

The Playroom at EGG DUMBO
egg by susan lazar (www.egg-baby.com)
72 Jay Street, Brooklyn NY 11201
tel: 917-658-4939
alisha@egg-baby.com

What? What?! The area in Brooklyn around Flatbush Avenue Extension in downtown Brooklyn is known as “RAMBO” (Right After the Manhattan Bridge Overpass) has showed up on Google Maps, according to NY Post. Google has set the boundaries to be between Nassau Street and Tillary Street and Flatbush Ave Extension and Gold Street. But don’t look for it anytime soon on the MTA maps, as when Dumbo was included in 2010, says a DOT staff who asked not to be named.

While we’re on Google Maps, the correct location for the F subway station (York St) has still not been fixed. The map shows that the station is on the corner of Jay and Sands Street. The correct location is on the corner of Jay and York Street. We’ve submitted this error for many months.

Do you know how Dumbo got its name?

Related:
{Google Map Adds Dumbo POIs}
{Walk Around Dumbo Using Google Maps Street View}
{The New MTA Subway Map And Yes, Dumbo Is On It}

Filming in Dumbo Brooklyn on Friday, December 7, 2012 along Front Street is Winter’s Tale. They filmed previously in Dumbo on November 9, the 15th and December 4.

Winter’s Tale is “a fantasy story set in 19th Century and present-day Manhattan and revolves around a thief, a dying girl, and a flying white horse” and stars Matt Bomer, Will Smith, Russell Crowe, Colin Farrell, and Jennifer Connelly.

Also, something was filming in Dumbo today (Thu, December 6, 2012) on Adams Street, but no project name was given.

All filming posts are tagged here: DumboNYC.com/tag/filming

We walked by the new NOS Boutique location at 81 Front Street today to see that the doors have opened. The new 3,200 square foot space has been redesigned for the men’s and women’s clothing, shoes, and accessory items, and they are putting on the final touches.

The space previously occupied by NOS Women has been cleared and is being prepped for the Pinkberry location.

Nos Boutique (nosboutique.com)
81 Front Street, Brooklyn NY 11201

Previously:
{Nos Boutique Leases 81 Front Street, 22Aug2012}

Filming in Dumbo Brooklyn on Tuesday, December 4, 2012 is Winter’s Tale. They filmed November 9 and on the 15th.

Winter’s Tale is “a fantasy story set in 19th Century and present-day Manhattan and revolves around a thief, a dying girl, and a flying white horse” and stars Matt Bomer, Will Smith, Russell Crowe, Colin Farrell, and Jennifer Connelly.

All filming posts are tagged here: DumboNYC.com/tag/filming

(Photo by Jane Kratochvil)

The following are selected links from this past week on blogs and websites with discussion about Dumbo (and its neighboring areas):

• Rough Hewn Home – Affordable Vintage Style Industrial Furniture, 01Dec2012, PR
• 1 Main St Penthouse Priced at $18M, 15Nov2012, NYDN
• Secrets of NYC Art Galleries: Dumbo , 29Nov2012, gary bolyer
• Watchtower Sells 34 Orange Street, BK Heights Property, 30Nov2012, Brownstoner
• Retail in Dumbo Opens After Sandy, 21Nov2012, DUMBO BID
• 7th Holiday Tree Lighting in Dumbo, 28Nov2012, DUMBO BID
• 220 Water St Rentals 100% Rented, 15Nov2012, Curbed