Brooklyn Philharmonic Plans Finally on Track

Last night Noah Kaufman, a representative for the city’s Department of Design and Construction, updated Community Board Six’s Landmarks Committee on plans to convert the firehouse at 299 Degraw Street to the Brooklyn Philharmonic headquarters. The agency will hold a walk through of the site with contractors on February 5th and construction bidding for the project will open on February 20th. Kaufman predicted that if all goes well, construction should start in early July. He also provided details about the layout of the 4,250-square-foot space: the main floor will hold a multi-purpose room (appropriate for smaller chamber events or children’s performances, but not large enough to fit the full orchestra) and rehearsal rooms in back. Upstairs there will be rehearsal rooms and offices. Both of the interior floors must be taken out and replaced and the garage door will be renovated. Otherwise, the exterior of the 19th Century firehouse will remain. The city announced the philharmonic would move into this building way back in 2009, and construction was expected to begin that year. There was no word on why it has taken so long, but it’s certainly good news that this project is back on track.
Plans Revealed for Philharmonic’s Degraw Street Firehouse [Brownstoner] GMAP
Photo via PropertyShark