Brooklyn Bridge Park Issues a Request to Develop Empire Stores

Empire Stores from Manhattan Bridge

Brooklyn Bridge Park (BBP) today released a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the adaptive reuse of the historic Empire Stores Warehouses, located in the Empire Fulton Ferry section of the Park. The RFP seeks qualified developers for the long-term lease, rehabilitation and operation of commercial and retail development in the historic structures. Revenue generated by the development of the site will help fund the maintenance and operations of the of the Park. The space will not be turned into condos, according to the proposal.

The Empire Stores are a complex of seven contiguous four- and five-story historic warehouses with an approximately 75,000 sq. ft. footprint and containing approximately 327,000 gross sq. ft. Constructed shortly after the Civil War, the Empire Stores played an integral part in the prosperous shipping activities that once dominated the Fulton Ferry portion of the Brooklyn waterfront.

The warehouses have been vacant for over 50 years and have slowly deteriorated. Since December 2007, the Empire Store buildings in the Brooklyn Bridge Park have been boarded up due to structural issues with deteriorating brick window frames.

According to the press release:

“The re-development of the Empire Stores is part of a larger effort to transform underutilized buildings and piers on 1.3 miles of Brooklyn’s East River Waterfront into an iconic park. The 85-acre Brooklyn Bridge Park project is the most significant park development in Brooklyn in over a century. The park has already proven to be a huge hit, attracting almost 90,000 visitors during an average weekend including 20,000 a month to Jane’s Carousel, located adjacent to the Empire Stores site…

The RFP requires respondents to submit conceptual plans that demonstrate thoughtful adaptive reuse of the structures, responsiveness to the site design guidelines and a level of design that is on par with the investment made on the part of the public sector.”

This site offers a highly visible opportunity to transform a historic waterfront complex into an active retail/commercial location. Developer Shaya Boymelgreen lost his deal to develop the Empire Stores after he let it sit for three years (2002 – 2006) while moving forward with luxury condo projects in other parts of Brooklyn.

Proposals are due on December 10, 2012.

{Empire Stores on Endangered List, 05Dec2008}
{Sidewalk Bridging Being Installed at Empire Stores Warehouse, 08Jan2008}
{Empire-Fulton Ferry State Park Temporarily Closed, 21Dec2007}

20 Comment

  • Please be like Chelsea Market! Please be like Chelsea Market! Please be like Chelsea Market!

  • Please be like Chelsea Market! Please be like Chelsea Market! Please be like Chelsea Market!

  • They divide a large part of thearea and have a permanent Smorgasburg location. I feel as though DUMBO is dead during the winter time. It would be nice to have something indoors.

  • They divide a large part of thearea and have a permanent Smorgasburg location. I feel as though DUMBO is dead during the winter time. It would be nice to have something indoors.

  • The article says the developer can add up to two floors to the existing structure. This is bad some news for some mid floor view apartments at 1 main and 30 Main.

  • The article says the developer can add up to two floors to the existing structure. This is bad some news for some mid floor view apartments at 1 main and 30 Main.

  • Cool. More construction…

  • Cool. More construction…

  • Totally agree with Peter. Dumbo dies a little in the winter. Something like a Chelsea Market would be an amazing addition to the neighborhood. But for Think about how amazing a beer garden on the roof could be. There would be no rivaling that view. Take note developers 🙂

  • Totally agree with Peter. Dumbo dies a little in the winter. Something like a Chelsea Market would be an amazing addition to the neighborhood. But for Think about how amazing a beer garden on the roof could be. There would be no rivaling that view. Take note developers 🙂

  • Dumbo will be like SS Seaport in a few years. Not a great place to live any more… Time to look for the next quiet cool spot.

  • Dumbo will be like SS Seaport in a few years. Not a great place to live any more… Time to look for the next quiet cool spot.

  • A mixed use complex centered around something like a museum (e.g. New Museum on the Bowery), together with commercial art galleries, restaurants/various eating establishments and small number of ‘quality’ retail – bookstore would be good that stocks worldwide newspapers/magazines. Make it a destination. Leaning more toward art and culture rather than too much retail. Roof-top bar/restaurant is a great idea. An art-house, independent cinema somewhere in there would be great too. OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

  • A mixed use complex centered around something like a museum (e.g. New Museum on the Bowery), together with commercial art galleries, restaurants/various eating establishments and small number of ‘quality’ retail – bookstore would be good that stocks worldwide newspapers/magazines. Make it a destination. Leaning more toward art and culture rather than too much retail. Roof-top bar/restaurant is a great idea. An art-house, independent cinema somewhere in there would be great too. OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

  • A key issue is that it has to generate enough money to pay the park. All past proposals of the past 20 years have failed to do so.

    Is there enough population density to support a Chelsea market (which would be a destination for those living outside of DUMBO) given Fairways, Trader Joes, Fresh Direct and some of the smaller specialty delis like Foragers in DUMBO.

    Can this area take more traffic?

    Is there room for more office space?

  • A key issue is that it has to generate enough money to pay the park. All past proposals of the past 20 years have failed to do so.

    Is there enough population density to support a Chelsea market (which would be a destination for those living outside of DUMBO) given Fairways, Trader Joes, Fresh Direct and some of the smaller specialty delis like Foragers in DUMBO.

    Can this area take more traffic?

    Is there room for more office space?

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