Developers are hoping to draw locals searching for cultural amenities and easy public transit access to southern blocks of Williamsburg.

One such carrot at the end of the stick is an eye-catching structure planted on 325 Kent Ave., which opened July 5 right on time for new residents to enjoy a litany of nearby concerts, outdoor bars and markets like Smorgasburg. The property stands near stations servicing the B, M, J and L trains.

The building is eye-catching due to its square shape with a donut-esque hole carved out of its middle. Although it appears as a square from a front-facing view on Kent Avenue, views from the south, east or north reveal a sloping, stratified structure with inner courtyards and terraces jutting out along its borders. The 16-story property is nestled on the site of the old Domino Sugar refinery.

With the redevelopment of the Domino site, Two Trees is creating a spectacular, 11-acre mixed-use waterfront community just north of the Williamsburg Bridge. Working closely with SHoP Architects and Beyer Blinder Belle, Two Trees is transforming the landmarked refinery building into a custom-designed, 380K SF office campus that preserves the historic brick façade that has long been a Brooklyn waterfront icon.

In total, Two Trees is building 2,800 rental apartments across four residential buildings, 700 of which will be affordable to low-income residents. Two Trees is already making significant progress on the affordable housing promises with the opening of 325 Kent, the first residential property on the site, which will include 105 affordable units. 325 Kent will also have direct access to Domino Park, a six-acre park designed by James Corner Field Operations, the designers of the High Line.

The 522-unit, full-service doorman building in South Williamsburg contains an array of layouts ranging from studios to two-bedroom apartments. The property is outfitted with a zinc and copper exterior, whose oxidization over the coming decades will glaze the square donut with a vintage sheen.

325 Kent arrives with a plethora of high-end residential amenities, including an expansive resident lounge, a 24/7 health and fitness station, a private party room and a 7K SF roof deck complete with barbecue grilling stations and a panoramic view of Downtown Brooklyn and Manhattan. Tenants enjoy 24-hour valet and concierge services around the building, as well as restaurants, bars and a craft beer-and-food store by Clinton Hill-based Mekelburg’s on the ground floor.

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