Catching up on news from vacation – looks like the Salvation Army has found an offer they can’t refuse for the construction site (and long-rumored home of a future Apple Store) at the corner of Bedford and North 7th. Probably good news, as judging by the pace of construction, SA should not be in the construction management business.
Salvation Army to Sell Apple Store Site
Mike Lee’s Portfolio on the Market
The late Mike Lee’s portfolio – which includes the former Tops on the Waterfront buildings as well as the current Rosarito Fish Shack – is on the market. The portfolio includes vacant lots on North 6th between Kent and Wythe and a number of nice older buildings.
Williamsburg Site Closes for Record Sum in 2014
Two mixed-use buildings (formerly occupied by Spike Hill) will be replaced by multi-floor mega retail. Bad news for residents and local business alike.
UPDATE: I originally misread this as just two buildings (the Spike Hill buildings). The sale also includes the Dunkin’ Donuts building as well as three small buildings on the next block south (original home of Earwax way back when). So even more bad news for local retail on Bedford Avenue.
New Towers for Williamsburg
I know, shocking, right?
This is actually a good overview of the current state of the Williamsburg waterfront, which is looking pretty towery. The last piece of Northside Piers started leasing this week (in case you missed the huge sign on top of the building). Developer Douglaston has also broken ground on the last of its Edge towers next door. This will complete the 2005 rezoning aspect of the Williamsburg waterfront. Domino is nearly demolished (the last of the bin structure went this week). ODA has filed plans for the first towers at Kedem Winery, which for once promises some real architecture for South Williasmburg (though the site is constrained by its zoning envelope, so the overall massing is unlikely to change).
One new (to me) piece of information from the article – Con Ed says that its North 3rd Street site will go on the market early next year. That site is zoned manufacturing, so expect a big affordable housing play there. But the site is also a great opportunity for open space, and any development should come with an extension of the waterfront esplanade to Grand Street. Further south, something seems ready to happen on the DCAS site just south of the Williamsburg Bridge. Again, a great opportunity for sorely needed open space for the Southside.
Also not shocking, development of Bushwick Inlet Park continues to lag a good ten to fifteen years behind the development curve. The city is near to signing a deal on the Motive site, a largely inaccessible plot that wraps the inlet itself. But nothing seems to be in the offing for the CitiStorage site (which may or may not be in play itself). So the likelihood of of the city living up to its promise for a real park at Bushwick Inlet – the supposed jewel in the crown of the 2005 rezoning – is pretty remote.