Williamsburgh Savings Bank (now One Hanson Place): History

One Hanson Place is a landmarked loft conversion whose gilded clocktower rises 34 floors over the nexus of Fort Greene, Prospect Heights, Park Slope and Boerum Hill. The building and its vast banking hall, designed by the architects to “be regarded as a cathedral dedicated to the furtherance of thrift and prosperity,” were landmarked in 1977. Thirty years later, the building was converted to 175 condominiums ranging in size from studios to full-floor penthouses.

Designed and built in 1927 by the architectural firm of Halsey, McCormack and Helmer as the the Williamsburgh Savings Bank Building, One Hanson Place is known for its four-faced, red-lit clock and gorgeous lobby’s precious blue mosaic-tiled arched ceiling. The 6-story former bank space adjacent to the building, (now leased by Skylight One Hanson as an event space) is ornately detailed in the byzantine-romanesque style. The Brooklyn Flea Market is located in this space on winter weekends, and doctors' offices are located on the 7th floor. All commercial spaces have their own entrances.
Most of the apartments have 10’6” ceilings, some have 11’ ceilings and a few have 14’, while all apartments have new, oversized, double-paned windows. Where the building “wedding cakes,” there are public and private terraces. (Above the 23rd floor, it is necessary to switch elevators -- there are 6 in all, one being for freight/move-ins.)

The units include custom kitchens with Sub Zero and Viking appliances, lava stone counters, Kalista faucets and custom lacquer cabinetry. All apartments have washer/dryer hookups, multi-zoned central air and heat and Brazilian Chestnut plank flooring. The bathrooms are limestone and marble, with hand-laid mosaic tile floors. Building amenities include a Resident Manager, 13 full-time staff members, 24-hour doorman and concierge service, four furnished common terraces with panoramic views, a huge childrens playroom, two bike storage rooms, a fitness room, laundry room, game room and a residents-only sky lounge.

The building was converted in 2007 with most people moving in by 2008 and 2009. The 15 year J-51 tax abatement started in 2010. One Hanson features direct access to the Atlantic Terminal with eight local and express subway lines and the LIRR. Two additional subway lines are three blocks away.