Brooklyn’s most expensive condo is hitting the market. Listed for $19.5 million, the unit is located in Olympia Dumbo, which not coincidentally is also the most expensive in building in Brooklyn by square footage. “This penthouse redefines what it means to live in Brooklyn,” says John Gomes of the Eklund | Gomes Team at Douglas Elliman, one of the unit’s listing agents.
Known as Penthouse B, the five-bedroom unit spans 4,928 square feet—including a private 552-square-foot terrace—and encompasses the entire 32nd floor of the Hill West Architects–designed building. “The elevator opens directly onto your private floor and into a beautifully designed atrium, serving as a prelude to a home that balances grandeur with intimacy,” explains Jessica Peters of The Jessica Peters Team at Douglas Elliman, another listing agent. With 360-degree views of the Big Apple, each room has a unique vantage point, though Peters credits the living room as the most striking. “The city skyline’s reflection in the river by day transforms into softly shimmering lights by night. The penthouse evokes the ultimate feeling of being on top of the world,” she adds.
Like the rest of the building, AD100 and AD PRO Directory firm Workstead was responsible for the unit’s interiors. The primary bedroom includes two walk-in closest and an en suite bathroom with a dual shower, soaking tub, and custom white maple double vanity. Three of the additional bedrooms also include en suite bathrooms with mosaic flooring, custom vanities, and undermount tubs.
However, the residence’s most unique offering may be the kitchen, says Karen Heyman of the Heyman Team at Sotheby’s International Realty, another listing agent. “Far too often, penthouses feature open kitchen plans that disrupt the flow of a gathering,” she explains. “This penthouse at Olympia Dumbo takes a different approach, tucking the kitchen away while still preserving an open, airy feel and stunning views.” In addition to its considered location, the cook space is complete with a custom Fior di Bosco island, raked maple cabinetry, and Gaggenau appliances.
Dumbo, which gets its name from the acronym of “down under the Manhattan Bridge overpass,” is located between the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridge, just south of Downtown Manhattan across the East River. Originally a manufacturing hub, the neighborhood burgeoned as a residential area in the ’70s when large lofts and cheap rents lured artists and other creative types to the area, according to the Dumbo Improvement District.
In the late ’90s, the Dumbo of today—now one of the most expensive neighborhoods in NYC—began to take shape. Its transformation into a “destination neighborhood” was largely the result of developer David Walentas’s campaign to rezone the area, then offer reduced rents to businesses willing to move across the river.
Olympia Dumbo is located on the highest crest in the neighborhood and includes 76 luxury residences. Like other tenants, the future owner of Penthouse B will have access to the building’s amenity package which includes a two-lane bowling alley, spin studio, boxing room, playroom, fitness center, indoor and outdoor pool, and a full-size tennis court, among other offerings.
Currently Brooklyn’s most expensive condo for sale, Penthouse B falls just short of being the most expensive condo ever sold in the borough. That record is currently held by a penthouse in Quay Tower, a luxury development in the nearby Brooklyn Bridge Park, which sold for $20.3 million in 2020.
According to Heyman, the ideal buyer for Penthouse B is someone who values both privacy and prestige. “Whether it’s a top-tier professional, a lifelong Brooklynite, or a global traveler, Penthouse B is ideal for those seeking an extraordinary living experience in one of the most dynamic neighborhoods in New York City.”
