South Williamsburg’s Ambitious Waterfront Plan
You’d think a recession and housing crash this deep would wipe the chutzpah off most developers’ faces, especially in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, a nabe which first enjoyed the biggest real estate buzz and now shoulders the most “stalled projects” of any in New York City. Yet chutzpah is the only way to describe a proposed $1.5 billion dollar, 2,200 unit, 11-acre, residential complex centered around an old Domino Sugar factory in Williamsburg’s south side. Of course, the developer, Michael Lappin didn’t forget to bear gifts as the public review begins. First he throws in a very generous 30% affordable housing mix. That would mean 660 units set aside for low to moderate income residents.
Comparable development projects along the Riviera de Williamsburg have previously offered 20% affordable housing, along with a few bells and whistles like a public esplanade. Then again, the New Domino Sugar project is even more ambitious than Schaefer Landing, Northside Piers and the Edge put together. The tallest of the buildings would be as tall as 40 stories and according to Brooklyn11211, the biggest news is the addition of 100,000 square feet of proposed office space along the Grand Ave end. We predict this might in fact be the most controversial element. Is South Williamsburg a future destination for morning reverse commuters to head to work? Which industries do they have in mind to lure? Does this portend a train stop a little closer to the water than the JMZ’s Marcy Ave? Oh well, there’s still time to negotiate everything since completion wouldn’t happen until sometime around 2021 — yes, 9 years after the apocalypse. By the way, if you’re not familiar with the area, the Domino Sugar factory sits on a beautiful waterfront view that hasn’t been open to the public in 150 years, (save for one special Sunday last October).
While there’s general concern about the mammoth nature of the project, we, as residents of Williamsburg’s South Side, can’t help but long for sustainable development to take advantage of the many wonderful waterfront views and a particularly convenient location at the foot of the Williamsburg Bridge. We’re also digging that whole Tate Modern look. Here’s hoping the community activists lobby for invigorating, publicly accessible community space we can all enjoy, both outdoors on the waterfront and inside the complex itself. We wouldn’t mind a movie theater either.
