'The Real World' Opting for Downtown Brooklyn?
Those rumormongers over at the Times are perpetuating the (unconfirmed) gossip that the cast of “Real World: Brooklyn” will live in Downtown’s Belltel Lofts. The article has some excellent man-on-the-street quotes from people who live, work, or play near the building. It’s less safe, I feel, says 19-year-old Bruce Wallace. They could get mugged out…
Those rumormongers over at the Times are perpetuating the (unconfirmed) gossip that the cast of “Real World: Brooklyn” will live in Downtown’s Belltel Lofts. The article has some excellent man-on-the-street quotes from people who live, work, or play near the building. It’s less safe, I feel, says 19-year-old Bruce Wallace. They could get mugged out here. Wallace notes that the cast’s entertainment options in the area might be limited to stuff like catching a movie or going to Junior’s. (We think this is pretty short-sighted: After all, the Real Worlders would only be about eight blocks from the newish IHOP, and perhaps they’ll get to shop at the new H&M.) An employee of nearby Petland Discounts, meanwhile, has this to say: “Compared to other places they were living, I think this would be a downgrade. A few bars, a few stores, that’s about it. Clubs, they have to go to Manhattan. It’s kind of rough out here. They’ve just got to keep their eyes open and ears open. And a man who works at a religious goods store in the area thinks They’d be jeopardizing their safety. Too many side streets. At least one person sees only good from MTV setting up shop at BellTel: Ronn Torossian, a spokesman for the Bridge Street condo. We think this building will continue to gentrify Brooklyn, and certainly having MTV there will only accelerate that,” says Torossian. “We expect that it will increase property values. StreetEasy shows 17 active listings in the former telephone company building ranging from $517,000 to $1,899,000.
MTV’s Unscripted Show May Get a Dose of Gritty Brooklyn Reality [NY Times]
Photo by streetshooter
Everything is all good at DoBro…if you are arguing that stroller moms who are from the UWS are ruining the neighborhood, then obviously you are showing how much the neighborhood has changed and how inaccurate the article is.
i love downtown brooklyn, but if you think that mtv would but real world in belltel then you’re irrational.
9:14am One of the main reasons for Belltel being an option for the Real World is that the penthouse unit is a duplex taking up floors 26 & 27 & has a private elevator. It is about 2,800 square feet with a private terrace, 3 large legal bedroom (can easily fit multiple beds in each room), 2 full bathrooms, 2 half bathrooms (sink, toilet). Has excellent views either of the city or of Brooklyn. They can make as much noise as they want up there. Nobody else is living up there. The ceilings are high – around 14 feet. The living room is huge. Plenty of room for camera crew and house guests. And, did I mention they can make as much noise as they want up there – no one will hear them… well maybe if they make a lot of noise on the terrace. There aren’t that many places in Brooklyn that can offer those things.
Contrary to what a lot of the residents think, 95% of the residents won’t know they are there, except for the unemployed moms who don’t want to be caught on TV looking like a 45 year old with a 2 year old baby.
Ignore the haters. We welcome them (Downtown Brooklyn that is).
& no, I don’t live there. I have a friend that lives there. And, yes, the reason I know about the unit is because I saw the floorplan from my friends offering plan for his unit which has floorplans for all the units in the building.
9:14am One of the main reasons for Belltel being an option for the Real World is that the penthouse unit is a duplex taking up floors 26 & 27 & has a private elevator. It is about 2,800 square feet with a private terrace, 3 large legal bedroom (can easily fit multiple beds in each room), 2 full bathrooms, 2 half bathrooms (sink, toilet). Has excellent views either of the city or of Brooklyn. They can make as much noise as they want up there. Nobody else is living up there. The ceilings are high – around 14 feet. The living room is huge. Plenty of room for camera crew and house guests. And, did I mention they can make as much noise as they want up there – no one will hear them… well maybe if they make a lot of noise on the terrace. There aren’t that many places in Brooklyn that can offer those things.
Contrary to what a lot of the residents think, 95% of the residents won’t know they are there, except for the unemployed moms who don’t want to be caught on TV looking like a 45 year old with a 2 year old baby.
Ignore the haters. We welcome them (Downtown Brooklyn that is).
9:14 – how much time do you spend in the immediate vicinity of belltel? the notion that mtv would put real world brooklyn there is rediculous.
8:31pm The premise of the show is about a season 1 real world cast member all grown up and now running for a Brooklyn public office. I don’t remember which post he is going for but the need to be close to Borough Hall is a factor.
So, actually, being in Downtown Brooklyn does make sense.
my neighbor in park slope is also in “talks” with mtv for this.
i think they are “talking” to a lot of people in a lot of neighborhoods.
i’m sure we’ll all be surprised and piss ourselves when they tell us where it really is…
maybe if mtv is planning for a real world season 10 years from now. this immediate area is currently almost predominantly a constrution zone or vacated shops awaiting the wrecking ball. it would make no sense for mtv to put this group of shmos at belltel.