L
uxury rental buildings in New York City are now offering off-property experiences as a way for residents to socialize and connect with each other. These excursions, field trips, and resident events invite tenants to participate in activities such as wine tasting, apple picking, sailing, and restaurant hopping, all while meeting their neighbors.
The Brodsky Organization, which has over 50 residential buildings in New York, is one developer that offers these perks. They partnered with Sourced Adventures last fall for a day-long trip to Pennings Orchard in upstate Warwick, where residents could pick apples and pumpkins. The excursion sold out quickly, and since then, Brodsky has offered two more trips: a tour of the North Fork's wineries and another visit to Pennings Orchard.
Joe Porritt, Brodsky's director of leasing and marketing, says that these excursions aim to create a sense of community among residents. "The point of these trips is to create a community for our residents that you don't get as much of a sense of with in-building amenities," he said. Residents like Fannie Santana, who lives in Brooklyn Crossing, have signed up for these events to connect with their neighbors and feel a sense of belonging.
Other developers, such as Gotham Organization and RXR, are also offering similar experiences. Gotham's One Park Point offers sailing trips around Manhattan, while Maven in the South Bronx hosts culinary-focused treks through the neighborhood. These off-property excursions have become a cornerstone for these developers, with many selling out quickly.
The high cost of rentals in New York City may be driving this trend, as residents look for ways to make their living situation more enjoyable and worth the expense. Deepti Mittal of Douglas Elliman attributes the surge in field trips to the rising median asking rent in NYC, which hit $3,419 in September.
Developers are trying to stay competitive by offering these benefits, rather than lowering prices. As one resident noted, "Excursions are a feel-good perk to living in a building." These off-property experiences may become a new standard for luxury rental buildings in New York City.
