When it opened in 1882, the Domino Sugar refinery on the Williamsburg, Brooklyn, waterfront at 314 Kent Avenue was the worlds largest sugar refinery. Refining ceased at the site in 2004, and, within a few years, plans were afoot for redeveloping the 11-acre site between South 2nd and South 5th streets and Kent Avenue and the East River, into one of the biggest residential complexes in recent New York City history.

After original developers CPC Resources and Isaac Katan abandoned their 2,200-apartment plans in 2012 due to financial trouble, Two Trees Management stepped in. The developer opted for apartments as well. After wrangling with the city over the number of affordable-housing units to include (Two Trees bumped the share to 700, 260 more than what the earlier developers offered), the de Blasio administration signed off on their plans in March 2014.

Two Trees $1.5 billion plans as of spring 2014 call for 2,300 apartments total, with office space geared toward technology companies and retail space as well. The purchase included 314 Kent Avenue, 320 Kent Avenue and 325 Kent Avenue. Under an agreement with the city, the developer can build to 55 stories, making the Domino Sugar redo one of the tallest on the Brooklyn waterfront.