The Repurposing of the Armory at Bedford and UNION

whynot_31

I was not able to attend last night, but have heard the same.

...basically the community based initiative plan would not break even, and require government subsidizes forever.

I learned about this meeting as a result of being on the CHCC mailing list (a bunch of local block associations on the south side of EP).   You can get on it by emailing Richard Hurley:  [email protected]

A few years ago, I decided the armory was one of the Big 16 local developments I would track closely, so (don't worry) you'll get to know everything I learn about it, as I learn it.

...whether you want it or not

crownheightster

Does anyone know what elements an "economic development" type plan usually includes? Is it like manufacturing space, retail space?

DDC

That wasn't made clear, @crownheightster. But I will add that according to Mosley, there will also be a housing component. The project will be a collaboration between two developers, one that has a "history with taking input from the community." The other developer (apparently a recognizable name) is currently working on a building in Downtown Brooklyn.

whynot_31

As discussed above, several of the proposals involved demolishing and then building residential on the parking facility in the back of the armory.  

Said development would be a mix of market rate and "affordable" units.   

Needless to say, the more affordable units this residential building has, the less it would be able to subsidize the activities that will occur in the drill hall.

   

Issacson

Just saw this on Facebook. Looks like the Satmars are all set for tonight.

whynot_31

This video certainly makes it look like they had a successful event

Earlymodern

@whynot_31 Thanks for posting one of the plans. Do you have access to any of the others?

whynot_31

Not readily.    

In addition, the original 8 proposals were submitted quite sometime ago.    Afterwards, they were then vetted, and given a chance to be adapted if EDC felt they could be made feasible.    

To my knowledge, none the bidders have been notified that they have been officially eliminated, but some haven't been involved in a lot of conversations with EDC, and others have been.

...leading me to suspect that those that have not been involved in a lot of conversations have been de facto eliminated already.     

I'm now hearing that the politicians met with the CHCC because the EDC will announce the developer before the holidays, and enter the ULURP process in Jan 2016.   As discussed on prior pages, the developer will need to have credentials as strong as those brought to the Kingsbridge Armory.    

In my view, merely having the endorsement of local politicians is not going to be enough.   

In my view, the proposal I shared has nice ideas, but lacks the credentials and capital that I believe other proposals possess.     

Here is the crux of one of the proposals submitted to the EDC for consideration:

 https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2zZl43jSHpgUkRxLV91VnlWNDg/view

Note, a total 8 proposals were submitted by different entities, and (as discussed above) the EDC has yet to announce its decision.

mac1

basically a rave for Hasidic men..

crownheightster

The suspense is killing me.

Issacson

Now that we know that the armory will be converted to condos, what do you guys think the gas station owners will do?

crownheightster

I'm thinking of all possible economic development themed components of this, and one thing that strikes is that film/tv shoots could probably be included in that general sense. Maybe we'll get a Silvercup Studio! I'm just brainstorming/speculating...

whynot_31

The property was transferred from NYS to EDC (NYC gov) with the condition that it can't sell any part of the property, the most it can do is issue a 99 year lease.

As a result, condos are unlikely.

For the parking facility, the decision is believed to be between a hotel or mixed income rentals.  

I predict we will get a mixed income rental building, with some units being significantly below market. 

....and a recreation/event center that will have to financially hold its own.      

I also predict the defunct gas station across the street will be rezoned residential, so we still have a few years of looking at it in its present state. 

whynot_31

Info is now being disclosed:

Quote:
Part of the 138,000-square-foot former military facility — built in 1903 and acquired by the city in 2013 — will be sold to a private developer to be converted into 12 private townhouses built inside former horse stables located on President Street along the building’s south side, the sources said.

Space on the armory’s east side currently used as a parking garage will be replaced by a new building to include market-rate and affordable rental units, those with knowledge of the plan said; 50 percent of the planned units will be market-rate, 30 percent will be set aside for middle-income residents and 20 percent for low-income residents."

http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20151214/crown-heights/townhouses-apartments-sports-center-planned-for-crown-heights-armory

whynot_31

The townhouse aspect surprises me; I was under the impression that no part of the facility would become owner occupied, because NYC could not sell the site.

Seperate tax lot?

mac1

Indoor swimming pool, basketball courts, and soccer field will be pretty great..  I hope they make it nice.

crownheightster

I am really excited about this. I think the mix of housing and recreation is really going to work and be attractive for the community...both old-timers and newcomers. 

But, I've never heard of CAMBA running recreational facilities. That gives me a little pause.

whynot_31

I am interested in the timeline and financing.    

If the city leases the parking facility to the developer, I am confident the mixed rate housing will be built on a break even basis.

If CAMBA is awarded the drill hall, it going to need a lot of capital to pull off creating a fancy facility.  I don't known how much capital those town homes will create, and doubt that CAMBA will be able to raise funds by selling the future earnings from the recreational fees.  

...but I suspect that CAMBA would be willing to sign a contract that stated it would convert the recreation hall into a shelter in the event the city needs it for same.   Shelters and social services are CAMBA's main business.

http://www.camba.org/about

franklinandeastern

I am very excited about this becoming a recreational facility, hopefully a nice one used by the community. It's very confusing to me why the fall back would be to turn this into a shelter with what I imagine to be nice town homes adjacent and a new building of mixed rate housing right behind it. Seems like those town homes would be a hard sell in that situation and the new mixed rate building would get hard to fill. 

mac1

Am I correct in assuming that the same developer will convert the rec center, sell the town homes, and rent the housing units?  It seems unlikely that a developer would sign on to convert the drill hall into a rec center while trying to sell a bunch of high end town homes next door and rent out scores of market rate units, if there was a possibility that the drill would then be converted into a homeless shelter.

whynot_31

I believe there will be seperate developers/providers of each service. It seems only CAMBA has been named as a provider so far. I look forward to learning what architects/developer(s) will create the town homes and the midrise.

EDC has yet to announce such things, and I expect mainstream media (sorry DNA.info) to provide complete coverage once the press release and conferences happen.

ap

I'd be so thrilled to have a community pool nearby. Let's hope they get moving on this!

mac1

This article makes it sounds like it's the same developer for all three uses: http://www.brownstoner.com/blog/2015/12/crown-heights-armory-residential-swimming-pool/ 

whynot_31

It does, but they don't list any "new" sources.

There are a few nonprofit housing providers that are testing the waters of developing mixed income housing.

Getting the market rate tenants to get along with lower income ones (and vise versa) is a serious skill if you do not use a Poor Door.

I don't think CAMBA has existing projects of that variety, much less the rec center experience.

mac1

my impression is that CAMBA is not the builder/ developer so much as the organization that will run the rec center once it is built.  I expect there is a builder/ developer for the entire project that has yet to be named..

crownheightster

When will the EDC do their press release? Usually once something like this is leaked, the organization tries to capitalize on the media. 

whynot_31

My source informed me that we would get a formal announcement, complete with press conference with politicians, before Dec 25th.   

The armory steps seem like a logical location. 

crownheightster

From our friends at the EDC --

December 16, 2015

Contact:
Anthony Hogrebe/Ian Fried, NYCEDC (212) 312-3523; [email protected]

*Updated attendees*
For Planning Purposes Only

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17: NYCEDC to Announce 500,000 Square Foot Mixed-Use Development at Bedford Union Armory in Crown Heights

On Thursday, December 17, New York City Economic Development Corporation will announce an approximately 500,000 square foot mixed-use development at the Bedford Union Armory in Crown Heights, Brooklyn.

Attendees Include:

• NYCEDC President Maria Torres-Springer
• Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams
• Council Member Laurie Cumbo
• New York State Assembly Member Walter T. Mosley
• New York Knicks Forward Carmelo Anthony
• Additional elected officials and community leaders

When:
Tomorrow, December 17, 9 a.m.

Where:
Bedford Union Armory, 1579 Bedford Avenue, between Union and President Streets, Brooklyn, NY, 11225

For more information, please contact the NYCEDC Press Office at (212) 312-3523 or [email protected].

mcpoet

Melo's gonna be there?  As a lifelong Syracuse fan who will forever be grateful for the role he played in bringing home their first national championship in 2013, that's pretty cool.  

• New York Knicks Forward Carmelo Anthony

mac1

Is Melo gonna live in one of the town houses?