The Brooklyn Eagle has a lot of details today about one developer’s plans for the Public Place site in Gowanus, the 20-acre parcel of land between Smith Street and the canal that used to contain a gas manufacturing plan. The paper got a hold of AvalonBay’s proposal for the site and suggests the firm’s plans are a crowd favorite among community groups (“its presentation submission is said to include many endorsements from community leaders and groups”). Basically, AvalonBay’s bid looks like it’s trying to be all things to all people: The firm is stressing affordable housing and says it’ll build 425 affordable rental units and 326 affordable homeownership units; as per the rendering above, the company is looking to only build one tall, 12-story building (other proposals may feature more than one tall building, which some community activists aren’t thrilled about). Aside from housing, AvalonBay’s plan calls for a 14,000-square-foot supermarket, artists’ workshops, retail spaces, an art gallery, a restaurant, an environmental center and a walkway along the canal. On paper, a lot of these ideas certainly sound great, and it’ll be interesting to see whether the city finds the company’s approach more attractive than those from other big firms, like the Related Cos. and Two Trees. The winning bid for the site is expected to be chosen early next year.
Plan for Developing Brooklyn’s Vacant `Public Place’ Unveiled [Brooklyn Eagle]
Five Developers Bid for Public Place Site [Brownstoner]
Rendering from the Brooklyn Eagle.