Oceana Has Only a Few Condominium Units Left

By Linda Collins (linda@brooklyneagle.net)
The Brooklyn Daily Eagle

853 of 865 Condos Remain Unsold - All With Beach, Ocean Views

BRIGHTON BEACH — Despite the overall state of the condo market, units at the 15-building Oceana Condominium on the beachfront in Brighton Beach are selling.

In fact, seven have sold this spring and summer and only a handful remain unsold, according to Jason Muss, a principal with Muss Development, the developer.

"A total of 853 of the project's 865 units have already been sold," he said.

The recent sales include three units that each sold for prices in excess of $1.3 million. Remaining units are in the complex's newest building at 55 Oceana Drive East, with an additional two at 135 Oceana Drive East.

"Oceana continues to prove that it is a unique oceanfront property with unparalleled quality and amenities," said Muss. "And as the project has matured, the quality of construction has proven to be tremendous, helping apartment values appreciate in a way that is virtually unheard of in today's market."

Added Toby Klein, senior vice president of sales and marketing, "The tremendous degree of interest in Oceana reflects its status as one of the most sought after residences in New York City. That only a few units remain is a testament to the quality and value of Oceana."

Both assert that much of the development's success is attributable to its array of recreational facilities, including Club Oceana with its large outdoor pool, children's pool, sundeck areas, landscaped grounds, fully equipped and staffed health club and a 6,500-square-foot event space and spa with an indoor pool.

The community features a variety of residences, from two-bedroom units to penthouses with large terraces. The available units range in price from $590,000 for a two-bedroom to $1.3 million for one of the larger three-bedroom apartments, according to Klein. Buyers benefit from 15-year tax abatements.

Muss also noted that maintenance charges are extraordinarily low and operations have become so efficient at Oceana that some of the condo associations have refunded a portion of monthly common charges to owners.

The 15 buildings have attracted a lot of young families as well as couples and singles, according to sales director Alex Ustilovsky on a tour last year of the new building and facilities.

"The greatest achievement here is that so many young couples came and their children were born here and they wanted to stay and raise them here, which we didn't expect in the beginning," said Ustilovsky.

An estimated 90 percent of the residents are onsite homeowners, according to Ustilovsky. Residents have come from as far away as California, Tennessee and Florida and even further, but Ustilovsky estimates that at least 75 percent are "Brooklyn folks."

The remaining 10 percent are those who have purchased apartments as a second home, and many of those are from Manhattan and elsewhere. Klein noted that many are Moscovites who "use this as a summer pad."

"It's perfect for them. It's like a resort, it has all the amenities. And when they leave to go home, it's secure," she said.

Only the full-time homeowners, however, have a voice in the management of their building. Another attractive feature of the complex is that there are 1,200 parking spaces, most of them underground.

The complex is bounded by the beach and ocean, Brighton Beach Avenue, and by the community of Manhattan Beach.

Project architects are Sandy & Babcock International of San Francisco (most well known as design architects for Miami's Fisher Island and Avenal in Maryland); and Manhattan-based Schuman, Lichtenstein, Claman and Efron.

For more information, please call the sales center at (718) 332-0002 or visit www.OceanaUSA.com.