StreetLevel: Gowanus Warehouse Rocks On
More than a year ago, a real estate investor bought the old Daily News garage on 3rd Avenue and Degraw Street and said he was looking to lease the space to a supermarket or drugstore. As it turns out, the 18,000-square-foot building will become a rock-climbing gym called Brooklyn Boulders. One of the partners in…
More than a year ago, a real estate investor bought the old Daily News garage on 3rd Avenue and Degraw Street and said he was looking to lease the space to a supermarket or drugstore. As it turns out, the 18,000-square-foot building will become a rock-climbing gym called Brooklyn Boulders. One of the partners in the venture says it’s slated to partially open the first week in July and be fully operational by the end of August. The space—which has 30-foot ceilings—is being completely overhauled and will have a lot of different climbing options, including a top-rope climbing area and a replica of a Brooklyn Bridge tower to hoist onto. In addition to running classes, the folks behind the business plan to manufacture climbing walls in the facility. Click through for another pic.
Brooklyn Boulders [Official Site] GMAP
Brooklyn Boulders [Facebook]
Drugstore or Supermarket for 3rd Avenue [Brownstoner]
To those that think this project may fail..
I come from Sheffield, England, where on hand is some of the best outdoor climbing in the entire country (the Peak District) not an exceptionally affluent part of the country. We have several climbing gyms, some that cater just for bouldering but mostly high walls. They survive with great ease, the climbing community is incredibly supportive and understands the hard work that goes into these projects and will support it. I believe the climbing attitude here, and everywhere to be the same.
This place sounds like a dream come true for climbers in the NY area. I for one will be making regular visits and having a jolly good time.
This is going to be sick.
yea the powerplay sports isnt a gym. its for kids. they will also have bday parties. kids teams etc. (for concerned and sexy pslope moms)anyways climbing is definitely a niche thing however more than enough people from bk love to do it. and this will be the only credible gym in bk. and frankly its going to be at least 2nd best gym after chelsea piers – sports center – ($2000 yearly membership) its going to be better than all of the other ones. anyways im joining. its great.
Hmm… maybe I’ll have my 32nd birthday there! I’m psyched!
Powerplay is a KIDS facility, with walls peaking around 14 ft tall. Also, the hours of operation are tricky, you have to sign up for 13 week classes, etc.
http://www.powerplaykids.com/rock-climbing/
So, Powerplay is not really a climbing gym, more of a kids sports facility with a climbing wall.
30 ft ceilings, and an indoor replica of the Brooklyn Bridge is more like a climbing gym.
“What idiot came up with this business plan?”
An idiot that knows there are hundreds of folks in Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan who’ve been dreaming of a place like this. New Paltz is home to the Gunks, one of the finest, oldest climbing areas in North America. As such, it has fostered a rather large and healthy climbing community in the region, including NYC. Most climbers I know in Brooklyn drive to New Rochelle at least once a week in order to train on their indoor wall; Brooklyn Boulders will have plenty of business to keep it afloat, especially if they offer parties/events (as most climbing gyms do).
Wake up dummies; smoke and fire usually coincide.
> “looks like this is the place you’ve seen Snarky”
Yep, that’s the one, Chicken.
Yeah, I can;t definitely see the need for a second rock climbing place in Gowanus.
What idiot came up with this business plan?
If this place offers birthday parties for kids, it could have no problem making ends meet.
This place will not survive with just rock climbing they should make it a GOOD Health Club also, we need one in the area.
We’re residents of this neighborhood, and will be making much use of this place. My kids love to climb, and it’s also right next to the free pool at the double d.
It’s not quite a Korean Grocery, but it’s what the neighborhood needed even though it didn’t know it needed it.