Big box furniture retailer is coming to Red Hook, Bklyn

Real Estate Weekly, August 27, 2003 by Elaine Misonzhnik

One of the city's last industrial neighborhoods might soon be "gentrified"--next week, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey will begin reviewing proposals for the redevelopment of Piers 9 through 11 in the Red Hook section of Brooklyn. The timing of the review process will coincide with public hearings on IKEA Furniture's plan to build a 350,000 SF store in the area.

Throughout the recent "redevelopment" decade, Red Hook has remained a working class neighborhood, complete with loading docks and industrial warehouses and lacking a direct connection to Manhattan. That is likely to change if IKEA takes over--the company is already drawing up plans to improve traffic, establish regular ferry service, and provide shuttle bus connections from the nearby subway stations.

"We are very excited because this will be our first store within the five boroughs," said a spokesman for IKEA. "We are doing studies right now to find out how we can improve the transportation infrastructure in the area. We still have to go through several government bodies to get the plan approved, but we are out there meeting with the people in the community."

The new store, in combination with the mixed-use development, could bring significant economic benefits to Red Hook--IKEA estimates that it will create approximately 600 permanent jobs,--but community leaders are afraid the neighborhood will become the next--IKEA estimates that it will create approximately 600 permanent jobs,--but community leaders are afraid the neighborhood will become the next Willamsburg.

"We would like to see continued maritime and industrial use of the area," said Betty Stoltz, of the South Brooklyn Development Corporation. "We support the IKEA proposal because they are usually friendly to blue-collar business. But with a mixed-use development, you would have a problem. We have large distribution facilities here, we house 600 school buses, lf you bring luxury housing here, there would be a conflict."

Congressman Jerrold Nadler, whose district includes Red Hook, opposes mixed-use development as well, citing disturbance to residents as reason.

"Such a mixing would ultimately result in the loss of manufacturing jobs that are vital to the local economy," said his spokeswoman.

However, the parties directly involved in the redevelopment process insist it is too early to object to anything.

The Port Authority confirmed that it is considering an alternative use for the Red Hook Marine Terminal, but said it is keeping an open mind.

"We have put out a request for proposals, but we made no decisions about what we'd like to see there," said Steve Coleman, a spokesman for the agency.

Members of Community Board # 6, which will hold hearings later this year on the IKEA project, say they need more information before committing themselves.

"We have no position because there is nothing to take a position on yet," said Jerry Armer, chairperson.

If the IKEA project is approved, it will contain a 350,000 SF store at the intersection of Van Brunt and Columbia Streets, a 5.5-acre waterfront esplanade, and a new ferry terminal. The company hopes to start construction by the summer of 2004, with a projected opening date in the summer of 2005.