08/04/16 4:30pm
west-elm-empire-stores-dumbo-brooklyn-ext-rend

Rendering by S9 Architecture

Dumbo-based home furnishings company West Elm will be the first tenant to open in the massive and neighborhood-changing 146-year-old coffee warehouse-turned-retail hub Empire Stores.

The grand opening of its new flagship is set for August 18 at 8 a.m., the retailer revealed in an email Wednesday. West Elm is leasing a third of the historic building and will also have its offices there. (more…)

11/13/15 9:57am

60 Water Street Jed Walentas

Last week we reported on WNYC’s coverage of the income disparity between Dumbo and Farragut Houses residents. This week WNYC is back in the nabe, taking a look at the middle school that will be housed in 60 Water Street. Their segment includes interviews with Two Trees’ Jed Walantas — the developer of 60 Water — and the Dumbo BID’s Executive Director Alexandria Sica.

Jed Walentas:

“Every building that gets built of any scale should have some kind of public facility on the second floor.”

“It would require the [Mayor Bill de Blasio] administration bending the zoning code, but they amend the zoning code all the time,” he said. “Fifteen years ago in this city we had a notion that affordable housing and zoning had nothing to do with each other; today they’re inextricably intertwined.”

(more…)

11/27/13 12:40pm
247 Water Street hotel, image courtesy AB Architekten

247 Water Street hotel, image courtesy AB Architekten

Architecture firm AB Architekten has designed two buildings next to eachother on Water Street in Dumbo/Vinegar Hill. Brownstoner posts a proposed 8 story hotel development at 247 Water Street with 46,000 square feet with a restaruant and lounge, and gym. This plan was disapproved by the NYC Department of Buildings.

Next door on the corner of Bridge and Water Street is another development already started that will be a 27 unit, 8 story building with 36,000 square feet, which includes a parking garage below grade that will accommodate 60 cars and ground floor retail space, according to AB Architekten. The plans were approved by the NYC Department of Buildings on November 1, 2013, but the filing states that there will be 7 parking spaces, not 60 per the AB Architekten website. Anticipated completion for this residential building is Spring 2015.

Entrance perspective

51 Bridge Street, image courtesy AB Architekten

What do you think of the designs? More photos after the jump.

Around the web:
{New 7-Story Building Rising On Bridge Street In Vinegar Hill, Curbed}
{New Residential Building going up on Bridge Street in DUMBO, DUMBO Parents}
{Hotel Proposed for Dumbo’s 247 Water Street, Brownstoner}
{The Lofts, a Landlord and a Battle to Remember, NY Times}
(more…)

11/25/13 5:56pm
Artist's rendering of 200 Water Street courtesy of Aufgang + Subotovsky

Artist’s rendering of 200 Water Street courtesy of Aufgang + Subotovsky

200 Water Street (November 2013)

200 Water Street (November 2013)

On November 19, 2013, the LPC approved the alteration of the facades and rooftop construction at 200 Water Street (14-7905, Block 41, lot 13, aka 196-204 Water Street and 185 Front Street). Brooklyn Eagle reports. The 200 Water Street building is a former factory building designed by Sydney Goldstone built in 1950 and used by the steel-wool pad makers Brillo Manufacturing Co.

Developer Shelly Listokin, who is also involved in the redevelopment of 20 Henry Street in Brooklyn Heights, bought 200 Water Street and neighboring lots 173 and 177 Front Street in March 2012 for $30.6 million from the Jehovah’s Witnesses. The plan is to create 15 apartments at 200 Water Street, designed by Aufgang + Subotovsky. Brooklyn Eagle says that for 177 Front Street, “Listokin has filed plans with the city Buildings Department to construct a 105-unit, 12-floor apartment house with commercial space on the first floor.” (More photos after the jump)

Artist's rendering courtesy of Aufgang + Subotovsky

Artist’s rendering of 177 Front Street courtesy of Aufgang + Subotovsky

Around the web:
{Landmarks Preservation Commission approves 200 Water St. plans, Brooklyn Daily Eagle}
{Landmarks Approves Addition to Landmarked Factory Building in Dumbo, Brownstoner}
{Condo Makeover Approved For Dumbo Watchtower Building, Curbed}
{Landmarks Approves Addition to Landmarked Factory Building in Dumbo, Brownstoner}
(more…)