Brooklyn House of Detention: A Jail With Retail
In a move sure to warm the hearts of those who have already put down a deposit at The Smith, the Correction Department announced plans to convert 24,000 square feet of space at the Brooklyn House of Detention in retail shops. The shift will be part of a $240 million makeover of the jail that…
In a move sure to warm the hearts of those who have already put down a deposit at The Smith, the Correction Department announced plans to convert 24,000 square feet of space at the Brooklyn House of Detention in retail shops. The shift will be part of a $240 million makeover of the jail that will likely add more inmate capacity as well. Various public officials floated ideas for a tenant roster: an upscale food market, a children’s clothing store, law offices. Mr. Brooklyn himself, Marty Markowitz, topped them all with his suggestion: A boutique hotel. “If it’s designed in such a way that the guests feel totally comfortable,” he said yesterday, “why not?”
HOD a Jail wth Retails [NY Times]
Wake up folks! Prime real estate here. Tear it down (hmm,not sure if it reached landmark status yet, lol). If it goes residential – will they be “con-dos”?
I recommend a clean, fair-priced grocery store.
Name: “Bread & Water”
Mr, B – it’s MarTy Markowitz (unless Mary is what he is called in the jailhouse) 😉
I think the city could make enough money by selling this building to build a jail on a city owned lot somewhere else.
Rodeo Drive , look out!!
oops — I ment to write :EAST of Smith!
Well IF they really do this it will finally fill in “the gap” that Sandy Balboza and others rightfully complain about… this will bring more foot traffic to Atlantic West of Smith — good for merchants and the ‘nabe in general.
It sure would be great if a substantial developer made a real offer for this building. Once real money was on the table, the city might have to think about the opportunity cost of keeping an underused facility in this location. As long as the value is theoretical, there is nothing lost in keeping this there and continuing to invest in it.
As far as I’m concerned, if retail is OK across the street, then why not in the same building? How about Trader Joes?
The best part of the article came from good ol’ Judy Stanton who said basically, “ok, ground-floor retail. fine, but why did you waste our time talking about mixed-use ideas”