It’s official: MTV’s “The Real World” reality show is coming to the Bell Tel lofts building on Willoughby Street in Downtown.
As The Brooklyn Paper reported two weeks ago, MTV was considering the newly renovated, former telephone company headquarters for the 21st season of its long-running reality show.
Today, the network announced that it had finally inked the deal on Friday, May 30.
“‘The Real World is confirmed,” said the building’s spokeswoman, Alyssa Miller.. “Bell Tel was selected for [its] landmark quality, awesome views … very high ceiling heights [and] gentrifying neighborhood,”
The show will begin taping later this summer, pending completion of renovations of the duplex penthouse apartment. Contestants on the show will not mingle too much with existing tenants — they’ll access their retro-fitted aerie by means of a separate elevator in the Art Deco stunner.
MTV did not return a call on Monday, but in prior interviews, the show’s Executive Producer Jim Johnston said he was keen on the building because he wanted the show to “be close to Manhattan.”
He also added, “Brooklyn has appeared to me as this vibrant, diverse place. It’s just got a cache right now. It’s exciting.”
