Crains New York - February 18, 2013 - (Page 27)

IN THE BOROUGHS BROOKLYN Continued from Page 3 property, is making it more of what it was in its heyday during World War II—an economic engine for the neighborhood. But BNYDC is also taking the unprecedented step of making the yard a cultural, educational and even tourist resource. The capstone of that effort is what is officially called the Brooklyn Navy Yard Center at BLDG 92—a $25 million visitors’ hub and museum OPENING that opened in 2011. Meanwhile, to soften PEAK the yard’s exteremployment in nal image, the World War II badly deteriorated, castle-like turreted gates on U.S. SELLS YARD Sands Street to NYC, which have recently turns it into an undergone a industrial park three-year restoration. “Strengthening ties to the community is part of our mission,” said Andrew Kimball, president of the BNYDC. These days, visitors can go to IN THE YARD 1801 70K 1966 BLDG 92 for bus and bike tours of the yard, or stroll the first-floor galleries. There, photos and artifacts highlight the 165 years that the U.S. Navy called the complex home, as well as the yard’s current role in the community. In collaboration with the Brooklyn Historical Society, the Navy Yard is also inviting local schools into BLDG 92 for nautical-themed lessons, and is offering an entire menu of after-school programs and children’s workshops on everything from shipbuilding to arts and crafts. The museum is open to local artists as well. Four of them recently exhibited their work to commemorate Rosie the Riveter and the changing role of women during World War II, from housewives to heads of households. The Navy Yard is today home to 275 companies, among them IceStone, one of the yard’s 30 green manufacturers; whiskey maker Kings County Distillery, one of its newest; and Steiner Studios, the facility’s largest tenant, with more than 300,000 square feet and a reputation as one of the premier filmmaking facilities on the East Coast. Occupancy is at 100%, which is philip murtha Navy Yard opens door TOURIST MAGNET: A $25 million visitors’ hub offers tours, history lessons and nautical art. why 1.5 million square feet will be added over the next two years in an expansion expected to add 2,000 jobs to the existing 6,000. Some 3,000 of those existing jobs are held by Brooklyn residents. Benefits for business “The Navy Yard has really become an employment anchor for the neighborhood and has helped sustain business,” said Michael Blaise Backer, executive director of the Myrtle Avenue Business Improvement District, which includes portions of Fort Greene and Clinton Hill. Businesses are reaping the benefits. Joe Falco, owner of Il Porto, a restaurant on Washington Avenue, has added 15 employees to keep up with demand, driven largely by his neighbor across Flushing Avenue. “We came in anticipation of the changes the neighborhood would undergo, and we haven’t been disappointed,” said Mr. Falco. Organic supermarket Fresh Fanatic, which opened across the street from Il Porto three years ago, is another sign of the changing area. So is the Brooklyn Roasting Co., a Dumbo coffeehouse that is planning to open a storefront on the same block within the year. New retail is also on the horizon. The Blumenfeld Development Group is expected to break ground later this year for a $60 million shopping center inside the yard. Meanwhile, Steiner Studios is planning to turn the Yards’ longabandoned Naval Hospital into a state-of-the-art media campus and public park. Aspiring filmmakers will have access to the facility once the Brooklyn College graduate film program and partner Carnegie Mellon move into the new site. Steiner is putting up $350 million for the infrastructure needed to bring the project to fruition. Mr. Kimball is hopeful that the new 50-acre media and entertainment project will make the Navy Yard a new tourist draw for Brooklyn, as well as lure more retailers to the area. “We see a lot of growth here that will spill over and benefit the surrounding community,” he said. Ⅲ FROM AROUND THE CITY BROOKLYN Anxiety mounts over area’s green dreams A group of Flatbush residents are raising funds to turn a quarter-acre stretch of concrete just beyond the southeast entrance to Prospect Park on Parkside Avenue into a wellmanicured plaza with trees, gravel paths, tables and chairs. Last month, the Department of Transportation,which owns the land, said it would build a low-cost plaza provided that the group can fund its annual maintenance—estimated at $25,000. “It is a source of anxiety for me, that we are just too poor to get this plaza,” said Rudolph Delson, a member of the group trying to raise the cash. He noted that the area lacks a business improvement district group that has funded such projects in other neighborhoods. “I think the DOT is interested to see if we can make it work because no one has quite made it work in these circumstances before,”he said. —anika anand February 18, 2013 | Crain’s New York Business | 27 http://www.crainsnewyork.com/2013TopEntrepreneurs http://www.crainsnewyork.com/2013TopEntrepreneurs

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Crains New York - February 18, 2013

DIGITAL NY
IN THE BOROUGHS
IN THE MARKETS
the insider
BUSINESS PEOPLE
OPINION
GREG DAVID
SMALL BUSINESS
REPORT: REAL ESTATE
THE LIST
CLASSIFIEDS
FOR THE RECORD
NEW YORK, NEW YORK
SOURCE SNACK
OUT AND ABOUT
SNAPS

Crains New York - February 18, 2013