Bloomberg announces the selection of Midtown Equities to redevelop the Empire Stores and St. Ann’s Warehouse at Brooklyn Bridge Park
Mayor Bloomberg announced today that the Brooklyn Bridge Park Board of Directors has selected Midtown Equities, in partnership with Rockwood Capital and HK Organization, to redevelop Empire Stores, vacant warehouse buildings in DUMBO. The adaptive reuse plans call for commercial uses including restaurant, event, retail and office space. This development selection marks another major milestone for the park’s long-term financial model with an additional source of revenue to be directed to the park’s maintenance and operations. In addition, the board also approved a long-term lease with St. Ann’s Warehouse to develop a theater in the historic Tobacco Warehouse. The development will include performance space, administrative offices, multi-use community space that will be permitted by Brooklyn Bridge Park and outdoor public space that will be managed and maintained by Brooklyn Bridge Park. The announcement also highlights the completion of a federal process that will allow for the addition of new parkland at Main Street in Dumbo.
“All across the waterfront, we are reclaiming and renewing areas that have long been abandoned or neglected, and Empire Stores and the Tobacco Warehouse are the latest examples of that work,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “These redevelopment plans will bring even more new life and excitement to the DUMBO waterfront at Brooklyn Bridge Park, giving residents and visitors more places to work, shop, dine, and experience the arts.”