Today at The London & stone

Why I Chose DUMBO

I didn’t move to DUMBO because of the skyline. I moved here because it has a soul.

Every day starts differently. Some mornings it’s coffee at Dawn’s Til Dusk, other days it’s wandering through Front General Store, where every object has a story. That’s what I love most about this neighborhood—you never stop discovering it.

The architecture is what keeps pulling me back. Historic loft buildings like Eagle Warehouse, 70 Washington Street and 168 Plymouth remind you that this was once one of New York’s busiest industrial districts. Timber beams, factory windows and brick façades weren’t built for luxury—they were built to work. Today they’re some of the city’s most sought-after homes, while buildings like 98 Front by ODA Architecture prove contemporary design can sit comfortably alongside history.

That creative energy isn’t an accident. A recent New York Times feature highlighted that DUMBO is now home to more than 160 architecture and design firms, making it one of the most concentrated creative communities in the city. It’s no surprise that NYCxDESIGN has officially recognized DUMBO as New York City’s newest Design District, cementing its place at the center of New York’s design conversation.

The artists who transformed DUMBO’s warehouses in the late 1970s may have moved on, but the creative spirit never did. Today, photographers, filmmakers, designers and fashion brands still choose DUMBO as a place to create. That legacy was reflected when Jay-Z chose 92 Plymouth Street for an exclusive pop-up, reinforcing DUMBO’s reputation as one of New York’s creative capitals.

Summer is my favorite season here. This year, the World Cup filled the neighborhood with energy beneath the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges. By day, the waterfront is alive with cafés, parks and visitors. By night, I’ll often end up at Cecconi’s or Harriet’s Rooftop watching the sun set over Lower Manhattan.

Then the tourists leave, the streets become quiet again, and those of us lucky enough to call DUMBO home are reminded that this is far more than somewhere to visit—it’s one of New York City’s most remarkable neighborhoods.

People come here for the view.

I stay because of everything else.

Peter Kirwan - Founder The London & Stone

Photograph Images 168 Plymouth | Dawn’s Til Dusk