Plan on 'Target' for 225th St. store

Real Estate Weekly, Sept 4, 2002 by Parke Chapman

The DOB has approved the zoning for big box retailer Target to construct a 74,000 SF store on West 225th street in Manhattan. The DOB gave Target a "variety store" designation rather than "department store" designation. Were Target deemed the latter, it would not have been able to build in an area zoned for manufacturing.

Crain's New York Business reported last week that this was, in the words of a DOB official, a "major hurdle" for Target. Still, the DOB must sign off on the site and building plans.

Crain's reported that there can only be 10,000 SF of retail in an area zoned for manufacturing. Yet the building's "cellar"--over half of which must be below ground--isn't counted towards that maximum.

The average Target store is roughly 126,000 SF This location would also include over 670 parking spaces. Target now has two stores in Queens and one in Brooklyn.

As reported in Crain's a Target spokesman said that the firm "would neither confirm nor announce anything at all until all of the paperwork is signed."

"Target's multi-level store in Queens is apparently doing very well, and they are pleased with it," said Robin Abrams, executive vice president of Lansco's retail services group.

Abrams believes that a Target in upper Manhattan will do quite well since many of the outer boroughs are "under-stored."

"It's also very difficult for Big Box users to locate their stores in Manhattan, so this location seems like a good idea," she said.