ShopRite Wins Navy Yard RFP
Nine months after issuing an RFP, the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corp. announced the development team selected to build three new buildings at the southwest corner of the Navy Yard where Admiral’s Row currently stands in a state of shameful neglect. The headline-grabbing news is that ShopRite will be the operator of the 55,000-square-foot supermarket….
Nine months after issuing an RFP, the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corp. announced the development team selected to build three new buildings at the southwest corner of the Navy Yard where Admiral’s Row currently stands in a state of shameful neglect. The headline-grabbing news is that ShopRite will be the operator of the 55,000-square-foot supermarket. (The lack of fresh food options in the area has been the card played by everyone in favor of tearing down the historic buildings for some time now. “This area is like a food desert,” said Council Member Letitia James, a fact somewhat mitigated by last week’s news that an 11,000-square-foot market would be coming soon to Toren. To be fair, though, the Toren market is likely to be geared towards the more affluent residents of the new buildings in Downtown Brooklyn rather than the public housing residents. ShopRite, on the other hand, has an extensive circular at its one existing store on McDonald Avenue.) ShopRite’s development partner, PA Developers, will also build 125,000 square feet of industrial space on top of the supermarket and erect a two new buildings on either side of the Timber Shed; the Timber Shed plus two adjacent building will provide a total of 30,000 new square feet of retail. (Click on the rendering above to see a bigger pull-away of the entire Admiral’s Row makeover.) The project won’t break ground until late next year, since the city still needs time to take possession of Admiral’s Row and the project will also have to go through the ULURP process. That’s Building B, the one officer’s residence to be saved, right next to the market; in all likelihood it will become the headquarters for a non-profit.
Brooklyn Navy Yard To Open New ShopRite Supermarket [NY Post]
ShopRite to Open on Admiral’s Row [Crain’s]
ShopRite Coming to Navy Yard [Curbed]
Navy Yard Kicks Off Supermarket RFP Process [Brownstoner]
It’s Curtains for Most of Admiral’s Row [Brownstoner]
Stonergut – you are are not only a paranoid delusional conspiracy theory, but you’re facts are wrong as well.
The tow pound lot did NOT reduce the capacity of their facility in their recent redesign. The layout was changed, and the amount of land they used was shrunk, but the current layout is more efficient and therefore gives them the same capacity while still using more land. Also the old lot had no drainage, so when it snowed or rained a good chunk of the old lot was not usable. The new lot has drainage so it’s entirely usable.
Also the supermarket parking lot is not going on any of the land that was saved by the new tow pound layout. The supermarket parking lot is going on the site that is currently occupied by the old parade grounds, which is currently an overgrown field and can be seen quite clearly from google earth.
As others mentioned, the reason for the parking lot is that zoning requires it, and the size of the supermaket means that it will likely draw from beyond just the local neighborhood in walking distance.
I wonder why those homes were not rehabed years ago, such a shame to see them go, but the state they are in now, razing is the only thing left.
The renderings look good. I like the trees in the parking lot, that will make it look better.
I am for parking lots as it is nice to have ease of parking for once.
Just wanted to note that the Tow pound is giving up spaces for a new industrial building to be located just to the North of the Navy Street gate, not to the supermarket development.
I think an opportunity was wasted to do both – preserve more of the Row, and build a necessary supermarket. While I may wish otherwise, I understand that not all of the houses could be saved, but I think they could have saved more than one. Plans were put forth that incorporated the supermarket into the Row area, but from the beginning, anything other than what the Yard wanted from the get-go, which was the destruction of the Row, was completely scorned or ignored. Preservation takes a hit here.
I am glad that the design of the building fronting Flushing Ave is not horribly strip mallish. To look for a silver lining, I’m also glad one house, and the timber shed is being saved, which is better than nothing. I hope it’s the larger house that was still pretty intact, with the ballroom, and much of the detail. That was pretty amazing.
Shop Rite on McDonald Avenue is heavily patronized by the Orthodox Jewish community in Borough Park and Midwood, so why wouldn’t they want to serve the Satmars in Southside?
“No problem with a supermarket, but why all the parking if all the customers live within walking distance in one of the densest urban centers in the country?”
As you mentioned, it’s in the shadow of the BQE and close to the bridges. I would imagine that in addition to locals, the planners are also looking to draw from outside the area, particularly with the size of this store.
“.. but why all the parking if all the customers live within walking distance in one of the densest urban centers in the country?”
Simple. Somebody’s getting paid off. The City Tow Pound has substantially reduced the number of spots it has in the neighboring location. The supermarket development has posession of the surrendered spots. I predict the city will lease back the spots for tow pound storage. Presto! It’s an economic engine. The question is who benefits?
OK, Mr. B. I see your point. I was referring to the area around the Navy Yard. Yes, Toren is close to the Whitman and Ingersoll Houses.
I thought that was a green roof, but on closer inspection its a nicely forested parking lot! No problem with a supermarket, but why all the parking if all the customers live within walking distance in one of the densest urban centers in the country? Robert Moses would be proud having this in the shadow of the BQE!