Galapagos: Goodbye Billyburg, Hello Dumbo
Galapagos, which helped put Williamsburg on the map as one of the cultural hubs of the city when it opened over a decade ago, announced that it will be moving to 10,000-square-foot former horse stable at 16 Main Street in Dumbo next year. The rent on the North Six Space that Galapagos has been in…
Galapagos, which helped put Williamsburg on the map as one of the cultural hubs of the city when it opened over a decade ago, announced that it will be moving to 10,000-square-foot former horse stable at 16 Main Street in Dumbo next year. The rent on the North Six Space that Galapagos has been in since 1995 jumped to $10,000 a month in 2005 and was poised to go up another 30 percent next month. After considering a move as far away as Berlin, founder Robert Elmes found a receptive audience in Two Trees Management which owns the space–along with a healthy portion of the neighborhood. As they have with so many other arts organizations and other ground-floor enterprises that add to the quality of life in the neighborhood, Two Trees put an offer on the table that was too good to refuse: Galapagos could double its space while cutting its rent in half. Adding a cultural aspect to the neighborhood is a really important thing, said Jed Walentas, a partner in Two Trees. Because we own such a big piece of the neighborhood, we can afford to take a long-term, big-picture view. Smart move, for sure. Interestingly, the building will end up being the first “green” performance space in New York City that conforms to the standards of the United States Green Building Council.
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To really promote ‘culture’, what Dumbo needs is a public library branch. In other neighborhoods the library has all kinds of amazing free programs, free movies and of course free books. With the businesses getting free space or discounted rent or whatever, you’d think something like the library could move in, right?
Walentas is unloved but hugely succesful. The old timers in the area have tried to stop everything he has done including the playground in the park. What a bunch of old cantankerous losers. Especially the Fulton Ferry Association crowd. All the consti[ated stodginess of Brooklyn Heights but without the money. Complete idiots in my book. Meanwhile Walentas implemented his master plan for the area remarkably, incredibly well. He had a vision and he did not let the dwarfs and mental midgets stop him. He has earned his millions, or billions.
my hat’s off to him.
I really hope galapagos recreates their wading pool!
I like 2 Trees. There was an article a while ago about how he doesn’t rent retail space to chain stores. He has a view of what kind of neighborhood he wants to create and has the discipline to stick to it. In the long run, he will probably make more money. Doesn’t he also live in Dumbo?
Would that Ratner took the same long view and lived in his projects. He creates the same homogonous housing and retail that you can find any medium-sized or larger city.
Speaking of Berlin, Dumbo reminds me a lot of it. Lot’s of shops, cafes, bars, and high end retailers (there’s a BOSS store on practically every corner). A few years ago, there weren’t many people around to support it and I wondered how these retailers were making rent. Now many of these avant garde area’s in Berlin are thriving with new residents and tourists seeking the cool art scene and shopping. Of course, RE prices have climbed significantly. Everyday I’m hearing something new about Dumbo. I think Galapagos is making a good move and more power to them for jumping onto that subsidy. It’s a shame that brooklyn has come to $10,000 rent. As much as I love Berlin, I’m glad that Galapagos has decided to stay in the BK. Just keep the BOSS stores out!
anon 10:57
true, the “paid for by taxpayers” is an issue, but you can’t deny there is a certain resentment against people who are getting some kind of break – no matter what the circumstances.
i really like DUMBO, but there is just something awkward about the large empty (no customers usually) retail shops. perhaps they should have created a number of smaller 500-1500 sq foot spaces and let it develop in a more organic manner.
even with the free/cheap rent, i wonder if it’s worth if for these shops to stick around.
since it’s unlikely anyone is actually paying market rate there, i suppose there really wouldn’t be a small struggling business upset about the two trees subsidies (who are most likely their landloard as well).
I am not a big fan of David W, especially because he expects you to support him politically when he gives you a rent on the . Just ask St. Ann’s and other 2 Trees tenants.
“seeing how strongly people feel about the RC/RS issues,”
There’s a difference – gov’t rent control/subsidy is paid for by taxpayers. What Two Trees is doing is paid for by Two Trees. Well, it’s paid for by being built into the prices of the condos sold in Dumbo, really.
they provide special benefits to the community (which is largely owned by one company)?