Imagine enjoying all the cultural bells and whistles of the Borscht Belt – without driving all the way to the Catskills. The mountain vibe rings loud and clear at the new Watermark at Brooklyn Heights, a high-end senior-living destination set to open this summer.
The 275-unit luxury residence is set to offer a range of entertainment options that will keep residents busy, and outsiders jealous. To that end, Aaron Feinstein, an acclaimed film and theater director and arts educator has come on board at The Watermark, located at 21 Clark St. in the heart of the Brooklyn Heights historic district.
“My passion is the development of programs specifically tailored to provide all audiences, regardless of their abilities, with access to arts and culture, and I look forward to creating stimulating content for the members of The Watermark at Brooklyn Heights,” Feinstein said recently.
“Our in-house programming combined with the world-class cultural options available in the New York City area will create extraordinary experiences for our members,” he added.
Feinstein was most recently co-artistic director of the All-in-All Theater Company at the New York City Department of Education, where he created vision and curriculum, led teaching artists and associates, and managed accessibility-related issues for the school system in the first all-inclusive theater company open to New York City public school students. He advised on the creation of The Brooklyn Children’s Museum Sensory Room for children with disabilities and was a keynote speaker at the 2019 Arts in Special Education conference in Irvine, Calif.
Feinstein will lead The Watermark’s People, Arts & Culture program, set to offer top-notch inclusive programming using the skills of the many thought-leaders, performers, and influencers in and around the city. This concentration of major-league talent hasn’t been experienced in one place since the 2013 closure of Kutsher’s Country Club, the last of the Catskills’ grand resorts, and will connect to the international knowledge, events, programs, and flavors that make New York center-stage of the world.
Expect on-site live music events and theatrical performances open to members and their families, supplemented by intimate arts and music classes adapted to meet the needs of every resident. A full schedule of stimulating outings will include visits to museums, Broadway and local theater performances, cultural events, and natural settings throughout the area.
In addition to the exciting programming, one of the greatest attractions of The Watermark is the building itself.
The grand structure was built in 1928 as the Leverich Towers Hotel, which hosted many celebrities, including the Brooklyn Dodgers. In 1975, it was purchased by Watchtower, which converted it to housing for the Jehovah’s Witnesses volunteer force. The Witnesses restored the intricate architectural features that defined the building’s place in the historical district. The current renovation preserves much of the building’s original structure and history while adding a stylish interior. At 16 stories, with a breathtaking rooftop terrace, garden, and Skyline club room, The Watermark at Brooklyn Heights will offer sweeping views of New York Harbor, the Manhattan skyline, the Brooklyn Bridge, and the Statue of Liberty.
And who knows? Maybe there’ll be a spot of Dirty Dancing. Senior living never had it so good.
