New York Construction Report staff writer
A significant new project in Brownsville, Brooklyn, is transforming the old Fox’s U-Bet Chocolate Syrup factory into the Greenpoint Manufacturing and Design Center’s (GMDC) Brownsville Industrial Center. This $118 million mixed-use development combines affordable housing with light manufacturing space.
The project development team includes The Bridge, Mega Development and Greenpoint Manufacturing and Design Center. The building was designed by THINK! Architecture and Design.
The development includes:
- Bridge Rockaway: A residential building featuring 174 units of affordable housing, including set-asides for formerly homeless seniors, veterans, and individuals needing supportive services. The residential area consists of two towers, a six-story and a seven-story structure, connected by a garden. Units will be affordable for residents earning between 30% and 70% of the Area Median Income, with on-site services available.
- GMDC Brownsville Industrial Center: This center includes 39,000 sq. ft. of affordable space for light manufacturing businesses, such as custom woodworkers, metalworkers, and other trades. Facilities will include a loading dock and modern amenities to support various industries.
The project has secured a range of funding, including grants, tax credits, and rental subsidies, to ensure it meets the community’s needs.
This initiative not only addresses the urgent need for affordable housing but also strengthens the local manufacturing sector, fostering a thriving neighborhood for everyone involved.
Bridge Rockaway, the residential development at 203 Newport Street, consists of two residential towers – a six-story structure and a seven-story structure – separated by an 11,000-sq. ft. garden. Units will be affordable to residents earning between 30 percent and 70 percent of the Area Median Income.
Bridge, which operates supportive housing and behavioral health services for New Yorkers living with behavioral health concerns, will own and operate Bridge Rockaway and provide on-site services.
The GMDC Brownsville Industrial Center at 805 Rockaway Avenue includes 10 units, ranging in size from 1,250 sq. ft. to 6,000 sq. ft., for light manufacturing businesses that might include custom woodworkers, cabinet makers and artisanal tradespeople, such as set builders and display makers; home goods manufacturers; metal workers and finishers; and garment makers; among others.
GMDC’s space features a loading dock with hydraulic lift and a state-of-the-art finishing room for industrial tenants. In addition to these and other services and amenities, GMDC has invested more than $11.5 million abatement measures to ensure the safe coexistence of residential and industrial tenants. The space is owned and operated by GMDC, a nonprofit industrial developer and property manager with a portfolio of more than 685,000 sq. ft. of industrial space across New York City.
