Two sites on Staten Island’s North Shore are currently used as parking lots for ferry terminal and baseball stadium. On August 11, 2011, the City’s Economic Development Corporation issued a request for expressions of interest for the disposition and redevelopment of two waterfront parcels totaling more than fourteen acres near the St. George Ferry Terminals in St. George, Staten Island. A 7.4-acre parcel (the North Site) abuts the Richmond County Bank Ballpark to the north, and a 6.7-acre parcel (the South Site) borders the ballpark to the south. The two parcels are zoned M1-1 and were formerly part of a rail yard. The parcels are used as parking lots for the ferry terminal and ballpark.

St. George is a densely populated neighborhood and serves as Staten Island’s administrative center and transit hub. In 2008, the City approved the creation of the St. George Special District to encourage reinvestment in the area and establish a pedestrian-oriented civic center. 5 CityLand 153 (Nov. 15, 2008). Current and planned investments include the City’s $175 million rehabilitation of the ferry terminal’s ramps, and the MTA’s potential reactivation of the former North Shore rail line right of way.  (read more…)

RFP issued for hotel and residential complex adjacent to Pier 1 in Brooklyn Bridge Park. The Brooklyn Bridge Park Corporation (BBPC) is seeking developers interested in building a hotel and residential complex on two parcels adjacent to Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Pier 1, between the Brooklyn Heights Promenade and the Brooklyn Bridge. BBPC would dispose of the property through a long-term ground lease. The project site consists of two lots (Parcel A and Parcel B) fronting Furman Street and across from Squibb Park. Parcel A is roughly 65,000 sq.ft. with 550 feet of frontage along Furman Street. To the south of Parcel A, Parcel B is approximately 35,220 sq.ft., with 294 feet of frontage along Furman Street.

The parcels are divided by an 8,760 sq.ft. lot across from Squibb Park. The site was occupied by the nowdemolished National Cold Storage Warehouse buildings.  (read more…)

City seeks developer for East River site which will house Sanitation garage and institutional facility. The Economic Development Corporation issued a request for proposals for the redevelopment of a Department of Sanitation-owned lot at 525 East 73rd Street in Manhattan. The roughly 68,000 sq.ft. site occupies the eastern half of a block bounded by East 74th and East 73rd Streets, and FDR Drive and York Avenue. Sanitation in 2008 demolished an existing garage on the site in order to build a 410,000 sq.ft., 150-vehicle facility serving Manhattan Community Districts 6 and 8. The City, however, has indefinitely delayed construction of the facility due to a lack of capital funds. Since 2008, Sanitation has been using three temporary garages in Chelsea, Harlem, and Inwood.

(read more…)

Opportunity to develop food-related or wholesale industrial use on 9.75- acre site near Fulton Fish Market. On June 2, 2011, the Economic Development Corporation issued an open request for proposals for the redevelopment of a City-owned site in Hunts Point, Bronx. The unimproved 9.75-acre parcel fronts Halleck Street and Food Center Drive, and is within the Hunts Point Distribution Center which includes the Hunts Point Produce Market, the Hunts Point Meat Market, and the New Fulton Fish Market. EDC is seeking a developer to redevelop the site into a food-related and/or wholesale industrial use pursuant to a long-term ground lease. The site is zoned M3-1, which permits heavy manufacturing uses.

According to EDC, food-related uses may include wholesale and retail components, so long as the retail use is ancillary to the wholesale use. Because the parcel is located within a designated market area under the State Agriculture and Markets Law, proposed “market-consistent” uses including the buying, selling, processing, manufacturing, and warehousing of food, flowers, or ornamental plants, would not require review under the City’s land use review process. (read more…)

Aerial View of Willets Point with Convention Center to the North. Image: Courtesy of EDC.

Willets Point 126th Street Across from CitiField. Image: Courtesy of EDC.

City targeting 12.75-acre site adjacent to Citi Field for first phase of construction. On May 9, 2011, The City’s Economic Development Corporation issued a request for proposals seeking a developer for Phase 1 of the Willets Point District redevelopment plan in Queens. The triangle-shaped Willets Point District comprises 61.4 acres generally bounded by Northern Boulevard, the Van Wyck Expressway, and 126th Street. The contentious redevelopment plan was approved by the City Council in November 2008. 5 CityLand 167 (Dec. 2008).

The Phase 1 site is a 12.75-acre parcel along 126th Street and Roosevelt Avenue across from Citi Field. The approved program for Phase 1 construction would permit up to 400 units of mixed-income housing, 680,000 sq.ft. of retail space, and 387 hotel rooms. The developer must create at least 2.08 acres of publicly accessible open space. There will be 7.5 acres of unbuilt area buffering the Phase 1 site. (read more…)