A new creative community is emerging in Brooklyn in an area that was once home to the Jehovah's Witnesses, and as NY1's Jeanine Ramirez reports, the newest tenant is a shared workspace focused on entrepreneurial collaboration.
A makeshift staircase is being used while this former Watchtower building at the foot of the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges is being renovated, redesigned and re-used as a tech hub.
Inside 81 Prospect Street, many of the finishing touches are done and hundreds of entrepreneurs are already using the space. The tower is occupied by WeWork — a company that offers shared office rentals in a cool collaborative environment.
"We look for buildings that we think are awesome so that's sort of the first criteria," said WeWork Co-Founder Miguel McKelvey. "We know people are working really hard and so if you're in a building with a great view or with great daylight you know you're going to be happier."
Those who sign up for the month-to-month flexible leases also have access to common areas like the kitchen and conference rooms. There's an in-house barista. And beer for daily happy hours.
"There are lots of different things to get you out of your office," McKelvey said. "It should be an environment that supports that open thought process and dialogue."
This is the first Brooklyn location for WeWork. And it's a homecoming of sorts for co-founder Miguel McKelvey who came up with the business model while working in DUMBO seven years ago. He and his partner launched the first space in SoHo and have since expanded to more than two dozen sites across the country and the world.
But the focus turned back to DUMBO when developers bought the Watchtower buildings in 2013 with the hopes of creating a tech complex and community called DUMBO Heights. WeWork moved in this past August.
And just this week, the company opened an overpass to connect to another building where it'll use additional four floors. There are phone booths for those who need to make a private call. A snack bar that works with an app. Areas for brainstorming. And other amenities.
"Free coffee, free beer, free printing, everything is kind of set up for you," said Kyle Westaway, co-founder of Hearts & Spades.
"It's very useful for a small team to be able to have a space which to work out of," said Rachel Wong, co-founder of Cater Cow.
WeWork says the Brooklyn space is about 75% occupied.
Although this site is still under construction, WeWork just announced plans for a second location in Brooklyn over in Williamsburg.