November 28, 2005, NY Daily News — A jail located smack in downtown Brooklyn is set to house inmates once again – but now housing and retail may be included on the Atlantic Ave. site. Despite protest from groups who want the Brooklyn House of Detention closed forever, the city can reopen the 11-story facility at any time. The jail – shuttered two years ago because of the declining population behind bars – will likely reopen in 2007 when an East River jail barge is closed for repairs. Faced with the prospect of an 815-bed jail reopening near hundreds of new luxury condo apartments and two trendy shopping and restaurant streets, residents and Borough President Marty Markowitz suggested the facility be integrated into a larger mixed-use development. “The idea was raised by the community if it was possible for some mixed-use design on an existing part of the facility we don’t need or on space that could be built on,” Antenen said. “We didn’t close the door on it.” Markowitz asked Pratt Institute architecture students to come up with possible designs for the jail/housing/shopping complex by next month.
Mixed Use Proposal for Jail [NY Daily News]