NEW YORK | 625 Fulton St | 500 FT | 35 FLOORS

[Hypothalamus]

Another Brooklyn Highrise on the way?


The Brooklyn Paper:

Take a number: Demolition of Downtown DMV building could mean more luxury apartments (http://www.brooklynpaper.com/stories/37/1/dtg-10-metrotech-coming-down-2013-12-20-bk_37_1.html)
BY JAIME LUTZ

Apartments could be coming to Downtown’s office complex — technically, anyway.

The seven-story building at 10 MetroTech Center — which is actually located on Fulton Street, a 10-minute walk from its namesake office tower compound — is undergoing a $8.2-million demolition and the path is clear for its owner, mega-developer Forest City Ratner, to build a residential tower or hotel in its place.

B&R Electronics
“We are currently demolishing the building and will then evaluate our options,” said company spokesman Michael Rapfogel, when asked about the future of the space.

The building previously housed a double-whammy of bureaucratic dread in the form of offices for the Internal Revenue Service and the Department of Motor Vehicles. The tear-down started on Nov. 29 and workers have cleared out much of the building’s interior. The structure’s skeleton still stands at 625 Fulton St. near Flatbush Avenue and contractors are now ripping out plumbing and partitions, according to Department of Buildings records.

Under the lot’s current zoning, it could become an office tower, an apartment high-rise with ground-floor retail, or a hotel, and a real estate expert says the latter two are the more lucrative options.

“The best and highest use for the space is a hotel, or residential and retail if permitted,” said Chris Havens, a commercial broker with aptsandlofts.com.

Forest City is currently in default on a $40-million mortgage for the building, but it is not in immediate danger of foreclosure. It has two years to pay back the lender, which it might do with the cash it brings in from redeveloping the lot.

If the complex goes non-commercial, it will be the latest in a long line of Downtown facilities to make the switch from office space to retail or luxury residential digs, including the Municipal Building, the bottom two floors of which are now being leased to stores, and the former Board of Education building at 110 Livingston St., which is now apartments with a performing arts space downstairs.

Google Snapshot:
Green Marker is the building being demo'd...

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2813/11653617426_e619fb080a_o.jpg
Google Maps

[Crawford]

Notice there are three low-rise 60's office buildings in that pic at the corner of Flatbush and Fulton, and all were included in the upzoning a few years ago.

This is the first of three to go, but I think eventually all three office building sites will be home to highrise residentials. I know one of the two remaining is only offering short-term leases and has a demolition clause, so you know what that means.

[Tectonic]

This was taken on 12.27.13

http://imageshack.us/a/img843/3003/ir75.jpg

[dumbo]

I've said it before but... This area, right along Flatbush is probably the one of the best places for development in the entire city. The best transit options anywhere at Atlantic av, right next to the beautiful brownstone-y parts of Ft Greene, lots and lots of great pubs and restaurants, and Ft Greene park is pretty good.

I just hope they don't waste the opportunity by building something ugly.

[chris08876]

I'd like to see more development along the sides of Prospect Park. That area is very nice. Almost like NY's Hyde Park IMO. Flat bush is beautiful. I'm usually in Manhattan, but I did take a trip one day and walked the length of Flat bush from Prospect Park, and was pleasantly surprised. I hope it becomes a canyon one day of high rises.

[Hypothalamus]

Here's some zoning information I found. I'm not sure what it all means, so maybe somebody more familiar with zoning rights could fill me in!

Forest City, Avoiding Default on 10 MetroTech, Will Demo for Residential (http://commercialobserver.com/2013/06/forest-city-avoiding-default-on-10-metrotech-will-demo-for-residential-build/)
BY NORMAN ODER 6/05/2013 2:24PM


....
They decided, LaRue recounted, that the best use was to “take the building down. It has zoning in place that we can convert that building to residential property.”

LaRue did not provide details on the size of the build, but, according to the city’s zoning map (http://gis.nyc.gov/doitt/nycitymap/template?applicationName=ZOLA), the C6-4 zoning (http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/pdf/zone/zoning_handbook/c6.pdf) at the site offers an FAR (Floor Area Ratio) of 10, though 80 DeKalb likely used some of the overall parcel’s available development rights. Nor did he mention whether Forest City’s new factory for modular construction, established in the Navy Yard in partnership with Skanska to build towers for Atlantic Yards, would be used.
.....

[Fardeb]

It would seem at least on paper something rather tall could go here, although like that article said 80 DeKalb could have used some of its rights.

There are tons of 300-550ft towers going up all over that general area, it would need to be 600 + to be impressive.

[Tectonic]

I'd like to see more development along the sides of Prospect Park. That area is very nice. Almost like NY's Hyde Park IMO. Flat bush is beautiful. I'm usually in Manhattan, but I did take a trip one day and walked the length of Flat bush from Prospect Park, and was pleasantly surprised. I hope it becomes a canyon one day of high rises.

I live in that area along the park and while some sites can be redeveloped, I will not like to see a bunch of high rises exceeding 10 floors. Downtown Brooklyn south to to Atlantic Yards has better transit, that area should be maximized, commercial and residential. The B, Q, 2, 3, 4 & 5 trains are already crowded.

[dc_denizen]

this area (basically Grand Army Plaza to Barclays to BAM to Fulton market to DT Brooklyn) has the potential to evolve into the most interesting neighborhood in NYC, let alone Brooklyn.

[NYguy]

Here's some zoning information I found. I'm not sure what it all means, so maybe somebody more familiar with zoning rights could fill me in!

I would expect something of at least 30 floors, maybe as high as 50 or so.



This was taken on 12.27.13

http://imageshack.us/a/img843/3003/ir75.jpg

There are so many parking lots and garages in that area that are slated for development, and more will follow so long as the boom continues.



This area, right along Flatbush is probably the one of the best places for development in the entire city. The best transit options anywhere

Usually when people think of urban living in New York (outside of highrise living), this side of Brooklyn is what comes to mind. I always think of Brooklyn as the most "New York" of the boroughs,
it has everything the other boroughs have, though Queens is waking up to its potential.



I'd like to see more development along the sides of Prospect Park. That area is very nice.


It is indeed, though exactly how much development can take place is likely limited.


psweeting (http://www.flickr.com/photos/93704384@N04/8686812303/sizes/h/in/photostream/)

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http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8529/8547954861_6a79b47f9e_h.jpg

[Hypothalamus]

Brownstoner:

MetroTech Building on Fulton Partially Demolished to Make Way for Apartments (http://www.brownstoner.com/blog/2014/05/metrotech-building-on-fulton-partially-demolished/)

by Rebecca
05/12/14 10:45am

Demolition is well under way at Forest City Ratner’s 10 Metrotech Center, where the Dekalb side of the building has been reduced to rubble. The 359,000-square-foot building will be replaced by apartments, but no new building permits have been filed. Forest City Ratner has owned 1960s-era property at 625 Fulton Street, a former candy factory, since 1989.

http://cdn.brownstoner.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/10-metrotech-demo-downtown-brooklyn-52014.jpg

http://cdn.brownstoner.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/10-metrotech-demolition-downtown-brooklyn-52014.jpg

http://cdn.brownstoner.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/10-metrotech-downtown-brooklyn-52014.jpg

[chris08876]

Forest City Ratner aims to sell Brooklyn site for $185M — or find partner

Forest City Ratner is at a fork in the road with respect to its development site at 625 Fulton Street. Either the firm will sell the plot, which is asking $185 million, or it will find a development partner to construct a residential tower.

CBRE Group is marketing the site located between Hudson Avenue and Rockwell Place. It can accommodate over 600,000 squaree feet of residential development, Crain’s reported.

The asking price boils down to $300 per foot. Crain’s sources indicated the average Downtown Brooklyn asking price is $50 higher, however. That means the plot could sell for much more than its ask.
==========================
http://therealdeal.com/blog/2014/10/13/forest-city-ratner-aims-to-sell-brooklyn-site-for-185m-or-find-partner/#sthash.VWZxNKOk.dpuf

[NYguy]

Forest City Ratner is at a fork in the road with respect to its development site at 625 Fulton Street. Either the firm will sell the plot, which is asking $185 million, or it will find a development partner to construct a residential tower.

If Ratner can't handle it right now, better to let some other developer who can come in or take over the site. It's one of the largest buildable sites in that area, and Brooklyn is booming.

[chris08876]

When I noticed that 600,000 marker, given the area, it will be huge for the borough. Hopefully something goes down on this site because this is a great opportunity. 500 FT + possibly. Its a small site. I think something within the 45-55 floor range could be a possibility.

[chris08876]

Forest City Selling DoBro Site to Rabsky Group for $158M

https://nyocommercialobserver.files.wordpress.com/2015/11/3-02094-0001-wyzmo7sw.jpg?h=510

Forest City Enterprises has reached an agreement to sell its vacant site at 625 Fulton Street to Rabsky Group for $158 million, according to Forest City’s third-quarter earnings report released today.

The site sits between Hudson Avenue and Rockwell Place across from Forest City’s 36-story residential building at 80 DeKalb Avenue, formerly known as 10 MetroTech Center.

Forest City demolished the seven-story, 359,000-square-foot office building at the site in 2013 and had plans to build a residential tower there, as Commercial Observer previously reported. The property was home to the Internal Revenue Service and the Department of Motor Vehicles. It was also the site of Barton’s Candy Company, which closed in 1981.

Last year, Forest City was looking for a partner to develop the site which offered 600,000 square feet of buildable space, or was interested in selling it. The company was asking $185 million, according to Crain’s New York Business.

“We remain as bullish as ever on the Brooklyn real estate market as demonstrated by our four residential buildings under construction today at Pacific Park, Brooklyn,” a spokeswoman for Forest City said in an email to CO. “This sale is related to our stated corporate commitment to our shareholders to shore up our balance sheet by enhancing liquidity and delivering through strategic dispositions as [Forest City Enterprises] becomes a [real estate investment trust] on Jan 1, 2016.”

Darcy Stacom and William Shanahan of CBRE represented Forest City in the deal, according to a spokesman for CBRE, who declined to provide further comment further. It wasn’t immediately clear who represented the buyer in the transaction. A representative of Williamsburg-based residential landlord Rabsky Group did not immediately return a request for comment.

Forest City owns a number of properties in Brooklyn, including 1 MetroTech Center and is co-developing Pacific Park, a residential complex which is under construction, with Greenland USA.
=========================
https://commercialobserver.com/2015/11/forest-city-selling-dobro-site-to-rabsky-group-for-158m/

[sparkling]

Forest City Closes $158M Sale of Downtown Brooklyn Development Site

LIAM LA GUERRE
JAN. 26, 2016

Article (https://commercialobserver.com/2016/01/forest-city-closes-158m-sale-of-downtown-brooklyn-development-site/)

[NYguy]

Last year, Forest City was looking for a partner to develop the site which offered 600,000 square feet of buildable space


Very interested to see what gets developed there. It's a great location (they're all great in that area).

[chris08876]

I wouldn't say this "parcel" is canceled just yet. Something may spring up again down the line, but for now, this is crappy news.

= = = = = = = = = = = = =

Rabsky shelves plans for DoBro office tower

Rabsky Group is no longer moving ahead with plans for an office tower at the Downtown Brooklyn site it bought for $158 million, sources told The Real Deal.

The developer bought the site at 625 Fulton Street, which allows for a 625,000-square-foot project as-of-right, from Forest City Ratner in January. It then tapped Eran Chen’s ODA New York to design a 35-story office building. No renderings of the project were released, however, and sources said Monday that Rabsky has decided not to go ahead with the project for now. :(

The site is zoned for both residential and commercial. Forest City tore down the seven-story office building there in 2013, with plans to construct a residential tower. The real estate investment trust first sought a development partner, but ultimately decided to dispose of the property.
The former building on the site housed such tenants as the Department of Motor Vehicles and the Internal Revenue Service.

The purchase was Rabsky’s largest to date. The Williamsburg-based developer, led by Simon Dushinsky and Isaac Rabinowitz, secured an $80 million acquisition loan from Bank Leumi at the time of the closing in January.

The project also marked the residential-centric developer’s move into office development. Other than the office-and-retail conversion project at 101 Varick Avenue in East Williamsburg and a former minority stake in the early stages of the ground-up Williamsburg office project at 25 Kent Avenue, Rabsky does not have a track record of building office product.
=========================
http://therealdeal.com/2016/10/03/rabsky-shelves-plans-for-dobro-office-tower/

[PeterQM]

First Renderings of Rabsky Group's Soaring Brooklyn Office Tower Designed by Albo Liberis (https://www.cityrealty.com/nyc/market-insight/features/the-new-skyline/first-renderings-rabsky-group039s-soaring-brooklyn-office-tower-designed-albo-liberis/7282)
December 9, 2016
A large Downtown Brooklyn development site at 625 Fulton Street is slated to receive one of Brooklyn’s largest office buildings. The parcel, bounded by Rockwell Place, Hudson, Fulton, and Lafayette streets, formerly held a drab, seven-story office building which Forest City Ratner razed in 2013. The lot was sold to Brooklyn-based Rabsky Group for $158 million, and a recent article from the Real Deal specifies the developer intends to build a 36-story commercial skyscraper, upwards of 700,000 square feet of leasable space. To garner a tower of that size, Rabsky is in talks with City Planning to take advantage of a plaza bonus.

https://ds2.cityrealty.com/img/5139505dd21d517713d14122da7435452766e56d+1004++0+60

https://ds3.cityrealty.com/img/d85357a71d7e62b4418f3ebdb8f6c13c9eec31da+1004++0+60

https://ds1.cityrealty.com/img/ebaf40ae5476ba346c353aaa589d0b189d584e2f+1004++0+60

More info and images in the post here. (https://www.cityrealty.com/nyc/market-insight/features/the-new-skyline/first-renderings-rabsky-group039s-soaring-brooklyn-office-tower-designed-albo-liberis/7282)

[yankeesfan1000]

That base is amazing. Nice to see Brooklyn get more and more big, new office buildings.

[tdawg]

Looks stunning! The base at least.

[chris08876]

Yay the project is alive! :cheers:

Glad that Rabsky is back in the game.

[NYguy]

One of the nicest so far for Brooklyn.

[Fardeb]

Looks like its somewhere in the 500-550 foot range in those renders. Thats two office towers potentially going up in Brooklyn soon.

[chris08876]

Its good to be patient. That's why for other projects, like Astoria Cove which right now is questionable, it's worth to wait. Land is worth to much, and the opportunity is to great for it not to be developed.

I agree. This is a nice office project. Stellar base btw. Kinda has a touch of Hudson Yards, but it works and it's not outlandish in its nature.

https://ds1.cityrealty.com/img/c204391ac5cdc3ca8cd9c9b7640505cce15ccf12+w+h+0+60
Credit: https://www.cityrealty.com/nyc/market-insight/features/the-new-skyline/first-renderings-rabsky-group039s-soaring-brooklyn-office-tower-designed-albo-liberis/7282

[NYguy]

https://therealdeal.com/2017/05/11/rabsky-pays-68m-for-site-next-to-proposed-dobro-tower/

Rabsky pays $68M for site next to proposed DoBro tower
Developer's Fulton Street project grows to 770K sf as-of-right

https://s12.therealdeal.com/trd/up/2017/05/633-645-Fulton-and-625-Fulton.jpg


By Mark Maurer
May 11, 2017


Rabsky Group is expanding its plans for a Downtown Brooklyn skyscraper as big as 770,000 square feet with the recent $68 million purchase of a neighboring property at 633 Fulton Street, sources told The Real Deal.

The Brooklyn development firm, led by Simon Dushinsky and Isaac Rabinowitz, closed Wednesday night on the three-story retail building, which has the addresses of 633-645 Fulton Street and 44-60 Rockwell Place. The purchase allows Rabsky to build a larger ground-up tower, which is expected to contain 150,000 square feet of retail and significant frontage along Fulton Street.

The seller of the 36,000-square-foot property, home to discount store Dollar Deals, is landlord Sam Jemal, sources said. The building is slated for demolition later this year, paving the way for construction to begin.

Prior to this acquisition, Rabsky was planning a 36-story, roughly 618,000-square-foot office tower on the site at 625 Fulton Street. But the firm is now considering either residential or office as the tower’s primary use, said Tucker Reed, whose new real estate consultancy Totem is a partner on the project. The combined parcels offer 770,000 square feet as-of-right.

“The zoning on the site allows for a lot of flexibility,” Reed said. “This additional piece was very important.”

The site is located just outside of the prime Fulton Street retail corridor, between Boerum Place and Flatbush Avenue Extension, where retail rents are the priciest in Brooklyn at an average $326 per square foot, according to a recent Real Estate Board of New York report.
Peter Wolf of Select Real Equity Advisors brokered the deal. Albo Liberis is serving as the architect of record, replacing Eran Chen’s ODA New York last year.

Representatives for Rabsky, Jemal and Wolf could not be reached.

Rabsky struck one of its largest deals to date in January 2016 when it bought the development site at 625 Fulton Street from Forest City Ratner for $158 million. Forest City considered building a residential tower but instead opted to sell.

The developer is also weighing the construction of a hotel on a site along Bedford Avenue in Williamsburg and building a 400,000-square-foot, 500-unit rental on part of the Rheingold Brewery site, for which it secured a $93 million construction loan in December.

[chris08876]

I could easily see this top 1100 units if they keep the sq ft per unit at 500-600 sq ft. Parcel is massive. Even subtracting the 150,000 sq ft for retail. I'm hoping the developer goes with the small space, but high unit count. Good opportunity for much needed supply in the area.

Although Nevins and Dekalb stations will be further strained, but thats why the Japanese invented subway pushers.

http://www.weirdasianews.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/tokyo-subway.jpg

:haha:

Can't wait for NY to see this.

[NYguy]

I could see a mixed-use development, similar to Ratners planned tower on tve Modells site.

[chris08876]

Rabsky files retail plans for DoBro development site:
Developer and partners can build Fulton Street tower as big as 770K sf :cheers:

https://s12.therealdeal.com/trd/up/2017/06/625-Fulton-1.jpg

Rabsky Group filed plans to build about 75,000 square feet of ground-floor retail on the site of his $226 million Downtown Brooklyn assemblage, where he has enough development rights to build a 770,000-square-foot skyscraper.

The Brooklyn development firm, led by Simon Dushinsky and Isaac Rabinowitz, filed a permit application Wednesday with the city’s Department of Buildings that indicates he plans to develop 75,347 square feet of retail on the ground floor at 625 Fulton Street and another 72,676 square feet on the lower level.

A representative for Rabsky did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Rabsky, which is partnering on the project with Joel Gluck’s Spencer Equity and former Downtown Brooklyn Partnership president Tucker Reed, purchased the lot at 625 Fulton Street in January 2016 from Forest City Ratner for $158 million.

Last month, the partners bought the adjacent lot at 633 Fulton Street for $68 million. Rabsky had earlier been planning a 36-story office tower with retail, but sources told The Real Deal that he is considering residential as the primary use.
========================
https://therealdeal.com/2017/06/14/rabsky-files-retail-plans-for-dobro-development-site/

[NYguy]

Further filings for the entire building will follow...

http://a810-bisweb.nyc.gov/bisweb/JobsQueryByNumberServlet?requestid=2&passjobnumber=321583238&passdocnumber=01


http://a810-bisweb.nyc.gov/bisweb/JobsQueryByNumberServlet?requestid=2&passjobnumber=321583238&passdocnumber=02

[mrnyc]

hey now -- somebody put some thought into this office design, it's pretty groovy.

finally that annoying lot will go away. i'm glad the ratners sold it because otherwise nothing would have happened there until they gathered up the maximum possible government handouts. glacial speed & thee most minimum risk possible, that's how forest city rolls.

[NYguy]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/therealdeal.com/2018/12/14/rabsky-development-hopes-to-bring-942-foot-tall-building-to-dobro/amp/

Rabsky Development hopes to bring 942-foot-tall building to DoBro

KERRY BARGER
DEC 14, 2018


Downtown Brooklyn could be getting another megaproject.

Rabsky Development hopes to build a 942-foot-tall building with 902 apartments, 739,000 square feet of office space and a 640-seat public elementary school at 625 Fulton Street, according to Politico. The project would span 1.8 million square feet overall, and its public review process will start in January.

The project would be the densest development in Brooklyn if it is approved as-is. Rabsky framed it as an attempt to bring more office space to Downtown Brooklyn.

The firm is also working on the massive and controversial Broadway Triangle project in South Williamsburg, where they recently landed a $65 million loan.

Rabsky would not need a residential rezoning for the project given the allowed density on the site, so the project would not be subject to city regulations from 2016 that mandate affordable apartments in exchange for higher density. The firm still plans to include some affordable housing with the project but not as much as the policy would call for.

Local City Council member Laurie Cumbo told Politico she planned to push for a project of this scale to include a significant affordable component.

“You can’t allow a project of that magnitude and scale to be discussed without affordability being at the forefront of the table,” she said. “I’m looking for both residential and commercial [affordability].”

[toddguy]

Wow. 942 feet. And this is just down the street from that wonderful supertall under construction. Downtown Brooklyn alone will have a better skyline than just a handful of other American cities.

*Someone needs to show what 942 feet plus the Dekalb tower would look like rising up from Brooklyn.

[Hudson11]

The project would be the densest development in Brooklyn if it is approved as-is.

I'm pretty sure I just heard the NIMBYs scream all the way from here in the suburbs.

[toddguy]

I'm pretty sure I just heard the NIMBYs scream all the way from here in the suburbs.

The thought of tormented NIMBY's screaming like lost souls brings a smile to my face. :) It is NYC and even though it is Brooklyn it is a tiny fraction what like less than 1 or 2 percent of the 70 or so square miles of land area of that borough that is highrise! They need to get over it.

[Crawford]

I'm pretty sure I just heard the NIMBYs scream all the way from here in the suburbs.

And no public review is needed, so there's not a damn thing they can do. This tower is completely as-of-right.

This will be second tallest building in downtown BK, and given the bulk (1.7 million square ft.), will have huge skyline impact.

[NYguy]

...the project would not be subject to city regulations from 2016 that mandate affordable apartments in exchange for higher density. The firm still plans to include some affordable housing with the project but not as much as the policy would call for.

Local City Council member Laurie Cumbo told Politico she planned to push for a project of this scale to include a significant affordable component.

“You can’t allow a project of that magnitude and scale to be discussed without affordability being at the forefront of the table,” she said. “I’m looking for both residential and commercial [affordability].”



I'm so sick of these whiny politicians. They want to have say over everything both ways - as of right or not as of right. And if the legal as of right development doesn't suit them (in other words, if their "power" is diminished), they want to change the rules.

This tower will be within a couple of blocks of both 9 deKalb and 80 Flatbush, the other tallest towers coming to Brooklyn. It will make a nice cluster. Queens, it's your move.

[toddguy]

1066, 942 and 840 feet will make a good tall cluster. Again few US cities can match it.

[NYguy]

1066, 942 and 840 feet will make a good tall cluster. Again few US cities can match it.

Not to mention Extell's 700 footer, which is rising nicely, and could also be a part of that pack. For so many years, Brooklyn's tallest was a 500 footer. But now we're starting to check off all the right boxes.

[chris08876]

Not bad. Although I would of liked to see the 902 units bumped up to 1200-1500. Theoretically, if you don't include the office component, you could probally add 500-700 more units depending on the size and distribution of unit functionality (studio..1 BD..2BD..ect).

But nevertheless, fantastic news for DoBro.

The office component is nice, but I think more housing would be ideal. 902 units is a lot for any tower, but in NYC, more are needed, and would assist in adding some nice affordable housing.

While this is not 100% affordable, but with a mix of affordable/market rate, its still will add some units to the pipeline.

[chris08876]

I'm so sick of these whiny politicians. They want to have say over everything both ways - as of right or not as of right. And if the legal as of right development doesn't suit them (in other words, if their "power" is diminished), they want to change the rules.

.

If they were openly advocating for more units, I could see it being a plus. Not downsizing, but up sizing.

If they want more affordable units, they need to change the zoning to allow for it.

The market is there... given the housing crisis... the need, and so on.

But it seems we rarely hear them push for larger projects. Even under current rules, if you change the total number of total units to be build, with a mix of market/affordable, the affordable unit count will increase.

I don't think the politicians are really for the people, because if they were, they'd be pushing for more larger projects, and transit. The two ying-yangs of any city.

[NYguy]

We'll see what happens.


Some GoogleEarth images, and proximity to other sites...


http://a4.pbase.com/o10/06/102706/1/168539886.2b9PJMdt.g1.JPG



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http://a4.pbase.com/o10/06/102706/1/168539892.gtOVB5cY.g7b.JPG

[NYguy]

Haven't had a chance to digest all of these documents, but here is some of the basic info, and basic massing....

3 versions

- residential, office, school 942 ft

- residential, office 928 ft or 864 ft

- residential 821 ft


https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/planning/download/pdf/applicants/env-review/625-fulton-street-rezoning/625-fulton-street-rezoning-draft-scope-work.pdf



http://a4.pbase.com/o10/06/102706/1/168540062.Pfnz1O3E.d1.JPG
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[Crawford]

There's also that giant assemblage two blocks north on Fulton, as well as those two 70's-era lowrise office blocks, one of which is currently for sale as residential development site.

The Fulton corridor is gonna be one of the most impressive in NYC in a couple of years. There could easily be a half-dozen 800 ft.+ towers.

[dc_denizen]

OT, but I wonder if they will ever take down the ugly radio tower at brooklyn tech

[Zapatan]

Well that's awesome

[NYguy]

This is a project very much like 80 Flatbush, but it still needs the School Construction Authority approval for the school, which shouldn't be a problem. New York always needs more schools. And this tower will be so bulky that it needs every bit of extra height it can get. But you just know the NIMBYs will declare this armageddon. I can't wait to see how they try to trash this proposal. It will be entertaining.


https://i.giphy.com/media/vjwACwDxB0hZ6/giphy.webp
https://giphy.com/gifs/mrw-quality-vjwACwDxB0hZ6



The worst case scenario would be no approvals, and that 800 footer with all of the open space. No one wants that.


942 ft

http://a4.pbase.com/o10/06/102706/1/168540069.fappVQTN.d8.JPG


928 ft

http://a4.pbase.com/o10/06/102706/1/168540075.v234wSck.d13.JPG


864 ft

http://a4.pbase.com/o10/06/102706/1/168540076.STa5RnCV.d14.JPG


821 ft

http://a4.pbase.com/o10/06/102706/1/168540074.KAmZl9PH.d12.JPG

[peteybrooklyn1959]

This is a project very much like 80 Flatbush, but it still needs the School Construction Authority approval for the school, which shouldn't be a problem. New York always needs more schools. And this tower will be so bulky that it needs every bit of extra height it can get. But you just know the NIMBYs will declare this armageddon. I can't wait to see how they try to trash this proposal. It will be entertaining.


https://i.giphy.com/media/vjwACwDxB0hZ6/giphy.webp
https://giphy.com/gifs/mrw-quality-vjwACwDxB0hZ6



The worst case scenario would be no approvals, and that 800 footer with all of the open space. No one wants that.


942 ft

http://a4.pbase.com/o10/06/102706/1/168540069.fappVQTN.d8.JPG


928 ft

http://a4.pbase.com/o10/06/102706/1/168540075.v234wSck.d13.JPG


864 ft

http://a4.pbase.com/o10/06/102706/1/168540076.STa5RnCV.d14.JPG


821 ft

http://a4.pbase.com/o10/06/102706/1/168540074.KAmZl9PH.d12.JPG

NYguy.....My question in 2 parts about this development is this.
Does 625 Fulton Street fall within the Zoning Guidelines that
considers it technically "DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN" that will allow the
building to rise to it's potential of 941 feet and is the property "As-
Of-Right" ? I assume if the answers are yes to those questions, than
the NIMBY's have no ground to stand on other than to vote it down
at their respective Community Board Meeting and howl at the moon
which will bare no weight. Therefore the City Planning Commission
and "Full" City Council eventually renders it's final decision should it
reach that stage is the only thing that matters. But you know how
organized NIMBY's in NYC react and take action...They will attempt
to examine every available loophole and persuade the resident City
Councilman that represents that area similar to what happened at
80 Flatbush.....NYguy....WHAT'S YOUR INITIAL TAKE AND ANALYSIS
ON THIS ????

[peteybrooklyn1959]

NYguy.....My question in 2 parts about this development is this.
Does 625 Fulton Street fall within the Zoning Guidelines that
considers it technically "DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN" that will allow the
building to rise to it's potential of 941 feet and is the property "As-
Of-Right" ? I assume if the answers are yes to those questions, than
the NIMBY's have no ground to stand on other than to vote it down
at their respective Community Board Meeting and howl at the moon
which will bare no weight. Therefore the City Planning Commission
and "Full" City Council eventually renders it's final decision should it
reach that stage is the only thing that matters. But you know how
organized NIMBY's in NYC react and take action...They will attempt
to examine every available loophole and persuade the resident City
Councilman that represents that area similar to what happened at
80 Flatbush.....NYguy....WHAT'S YOUR INITIAL TAKE AND ANALYSIS
ON THIS ????

[NYguy]

NYguy.....My question in 2 parts about this development is this.
Does 625 Fulton Street fall within the Zoning Guidelines that
considers it technically "DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN" that will allow the
building to rise to it's potential of 941 feet and is the property "As-
Of-Right" ?

It falls within the rezoning of 2004, but still needs a further rezoning to increase the FAR on the site. Also, the inclusion of the school would include a bonus FAR of 1.


Local City Council member Laurie Cumbo told Politico she planned to push for a project of this scale to include a significant affordable component.

“You can’t allow a project of that magnitude and scale to be discussed without affordability being at the forefront of the table,” she said.
“I’m looking for both residential and commercial [affordability].”



According to the draft, the developers do plan to include up to 25% affordable units, although they are required to do so. Perhaps the local council member will push for a lock on a set number
of units, or try to increase it a little more. That seems to be her initial concern. We know where the city stands on the proposal, based on the draft.





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[NYguy]

I wonder if the old team will design the new tower. This was just a couple of years ago...


https://www.cityrealty.com/nyc/market-insight/features/future-nyc/first-renderings-rabsky-group039s-soaring-brooklyn-office-tower-designed-albo-liberis/7282

First Renderings of Rabsky Group's Soaring Brooklyn Office Tower Designed by Albo Liberis

By CityRealty Staff
December 9, 2016



https://ds3.cityrealty.com/img/d85357a71d7e62b4418f3ebdb8f6c13c9eec31da+1024++0+60



https://ds4.cityrealty.com/img/dcaf449850834ffb8f89f51a4215e0dbc4b869ac+w+h+0+60



https://ds1.cityrealty.com/img/de189673a78ded2e76ed8cea347b27889dba3f16+w+h+0+60



https://ds1.cityrealty.com/img/b60db75919a87c9b09df7dc5a75c65d20b7477c7+w+h+0+60



https://ds1.cityrealty.com/img/70682fc12e6c227f15d044c8d0d7d6277ced9979+1024++0+60

[sbarn]

I wonder if the old team will design the new tower. This was just a couple of years ago...

The diagrams indicate that SOM is the architect.

[NYguy]

The diagrams indicate that SOM is the architect.

Ok, I missed that, and you are correct. Hopefully when the DEIS is released, we will see some actual renderings.

[NYguy]

A little more info...you can see this project has both indoor and outdoor public spaces...



http://a4.pbase.com/o11/06/102706/1/168736249.RcxznUYV.d1.JPG



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http://a4.pbase.com/o11/06/102706/1/168736254.Mcostl0x.d6.JPG

[chris08876]

Exciting stuff. The regulatory/bureaucratic timeline as usual is too long. I just hope the economy continues at its strength. I know NY tends to weather economic declines nicely or won't be impacted AS much in regards to housing/office impact, but the talk of the coming recession, makes me a bit nervous when I see a time line of 2020/2021 before steel or concrete is on the ground. Surely hope in the future this isn't downsized.

If all goes well, this and 80 Flashbush. 9 Dekalb being the well deserved trophy tower for DoBro.

[Zerton]

I love it. It's like a new take on the Secretariat Building.

[NYguy]

I love it. It's like a new take on the Secretariat Building.

Which version?

[Zerton]

The one in New York. (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b7/The_United_Nations_Secretariat_Building.jpg)

The rendering on the right here (https://ds1.cityrealty.com/img/70682fc12e6c227f15d044c8d0d7d6277ced9979+1024++0+60) looks similar.

[NYguy]

The one in New York. (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b7/The_United_Nations_Secretariat_Building.jpg)

The rendering on the right here (https://ds1.cityrealty.com/img/70682fc12e6c227f15d044c8d0d7d6277ced9979+1024++0+60) looks similar.

I was talking about which proposal. But that's not the current proposal.





Some opinion from the Municipal Arts Society

https://www.mas.org/news/proposed-development-for-625-fulton-street-is-a-mixed-bag-of-costs-and-benefits/

Proposed Development for 625 Fulton Street is a Mixed Bag of Costs and Benefits


JANUARY 17, 2019


The Municipal Art Society of New York (MAS) recognizes the proposed development at 625 Fulton Street offers much needed commercial office space and new school seats in Downtown Brooklyn. However, we have major concerns about the massive scale of the development (up to 21 FAR), the paltry amount of proposed open space, and the potential impacts on area community facilities.

...We find the proposed development to be at best, a mixed bag of costs and benefits.


One of our primary concerns is that the project does little to address the glaring need for open space in this area. In fact, the proposed project would actually reduce the amount of publicly accessible open space by almost one-half of an acre. We find this unacceptable.

MAS has other concerns about the project and requests the following items be included in the Final Scope of Work (FSOW) and evaluated in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS).


Directly across Fulton Street from the proposed project, 570 Fulton Street Property LLC is seeking a variety of zoning actions to facilitate the development of a 40-story, mixed-use residential and commercial office building. Expected to be completed by 2021, this development would offer no new open space to the area. The RWCDS must include this development and evaluate all other No-Build projects under consideration in the 625 Fulton No-Build Development scenario.


According to the U.S. Census, the median household income within approximately a quarter-mile of the Project Area is over $100,000 per year. Within Community District 2 it is about $87,000.1 These figures have increased significantly faster than borough and citywide rates over the past decade. To reduce the potential for indirect residential displacement of low income residents in the area and ensure continued affordability for residents at lower income bands, MAS strongly urges a deeper level of affordability than the 80 percent Area Median Income stated in the DSOW be identified and evaluated in the DEIS.


he proposed public elementary school is subject to New York City School Construction Authority (SCA) approval and will be included in the environmental review of the proposed development. We expect the DEIS evaluation of Community Facilities and Services will include details of the SCA site selection process, the evaluation criteria for all school sites considered, information on why other school sites were not selected, and a summary of the Mayor and City Council site plan review process.


The project has the potential to result in significant shadow impacts on open space and historic resources. According to preliminary modeling conducted by MAS, project-related shadows would cover substantial portions of Fort Greene Park and University Place during March and September evaluation periods. Shadows will also be cast on individual landmarks during the same period, including the First Free Congregational Church, Dime Savings Bank, Offerman Building, and the Fort Green Historic District. Because of these potential adverse impacts, the DEIS must identify specific mitigation measures that eliminate or reduce shadows.


According to the DSOW, the development would generate more than 50 additional vehicular trips in the weekday AM, midday, and PM peak hours, necessitating a travel demand forecast. However, of the 15 intersections identified for further analysis, none are located north of the Project Area. MAS requests a broader traffic analysis that extends at least 0.25-miles from the Development Site boundary, or a detailed explanation and the assumptions as to why intersections to the north were not identified for further analysis.


MAS believes the project’s commercial development and proposed elementary school address a glaring need in Downtown Brooklyn. However, the project also needs to address the area’s lack of open space, public child-care facilities, and affordable housing. A project of this magnitude should also implement LEED™ or equivalent design practices for reducing energy and water consumption, and apply appropriate mitigation strategies to address adverse impacts on child care facilities and shadows. We look forward to our comments being addressed in the DEIS.

[chris08876]

Rabksy gets six-month extension on $100M in loans for towering Brooklyn project

Rabsky Group has gotten an extension on $100 million in past-due loans for a Downtown Brooklyn development site it hopes to build a 942-foot-tall tower.

The developer signed a deal to extend two loans — for 625 and 635 Fulton Street, which it owns with Joel Gluck’s Spencer Equity — until July, Commercial Observer reported. Documents for the deal were filed on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange.

Total financing for the project is $120 million. It combines an $80 million senior mortgage from Bank Leumi USA on 625 Fulton Street, a $20 million senior mortgage on 635 Fulton Street from BofI Federal Bank (now Axos Bank), and a $20 million mezzanine loan from the State Bank of Texas. All three were due in January this year.

Bank Leumi originated the loan in 2016, which was extended to mid-July with the option to further extend until January 2020. The mezzanine loan, with has an 11 percent interest rate, was also extended until mid-July. The second senior loan hasn’t yet been extended.

Rabsky and Spencer paid $158 million for the 75,000-square-foot site in 2016. It has 600,000 buildable square feet. The lot at 625 Fulton Street is vacant — and 635 Fulton Street contains a three-story building, which as of 2017, had three tenants with leases expiring in 2018 and 2019, the report said.
============
TRD (https://therealdeal.com/2019/03/07/rabksy-gets-six-month-extension-on-100m-in-loans-for-towering-brooklyn-project/)

[NYguy]

https://www.instagram.com/p/BwlDcD6l4zl/

The last day of #dollardream, emblem of the grittier days of #downtownbrooklyn, now subsumed by #gentrification and glassy #highrisecondos



https://scontent-lht6-1.cdninstagram.com/vp/dc383913396f31aafd464d6beec2bba2/5D5C6A39/t51.2885-15/e35/56770802_543802142812399_7097370213699501391_n.jpg?_nc_ht=scontent-lht6-1.cdninstagram.com&se=7&ig_cache_key=MjAyODA0MjMyOTY4OTM5NDQwNQ%3D%3D.2

[NYguy]

https://www.instagram.com/p/BwnZc33FBV8/

https://scontent-lht6-1.cdninstagram.com/vp/47d25345ec77f222c414e01402c128cb/5D6C7928/t51.2885-15/e35/58775465_567799270376397_5941355685358697970_n.jpg?_nc_ht=scontent-lht6-1.cdninstagram.com&se=7&ig_cache_key=MjAyODcwMjA5MjQ0MTY4NzQyMA%3D%3D.2

[JMKeynes]

https://www.instagram.com/p/BwlDcD6l4zl/




https://scontent-lht6-1.cdninstagram.com/vp/dc383913396f31aafd464d6beec2bba2/5D5C6A39/t51.2885-15/e35/56770802_543802142812399_7097370213699501391_n.jpg?_nc_ht=scontent-lht6-1.cdninstagram.com&se=7&ig_cache_key=MjAyODA0MjMyOTY4OTM5NDQwNQ%3D%3D.2

That shlocky garbage can't come down soon enough. That area is filled with ruffians, and I'll be glad when all that junk is gone.

[NYguy]

https://www.dbartsalliance.org/memberevents/2019/5/23/625fultoncommunityvisioning

Community Visioning Session - 625 Fulton Street

Thursday, May 23, 2019
10:00 AM 12:00 PM

BRIC 647 Fulton Street Brooklyn, NY


A proposed mixed-use development to create new housing, office, retail, and educational space at 625 Fulton Street is currently undergoing the City’s land use review process. Included in the project will be more than 12,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor public space that the development partners, Rabsky Group and Totem, have committed to working with the community to design and program.

Downtown Brooklyn Arts Alliance members are invited to join New York City Council Majority Leader Laurie Cumbo and the development team at 625 Fulton Street for a community visioning session to learn more about the project and offer feedback on the public space design and generate program ideas.

We would like to have as many member organizations represented at this meeting as possible. Participation is limited to 2 senior representatives per organization at this time. If there is space available we will consider opening it up to additional staff.

[matt19215]

Renderings leaked

https://brooklyneagle.com/articles/2019/06/26/a-first-look-at-what-could-become-one-of-brooklyns-tallest-buildings/625-fulton-st-rendering-01-skidmore-owings-merrill/
https://brooklyneagle.com/articles/2019/06/26/a-first-look-at-what-could-become-one-of-brooklyns-tallest-buildings/

[NYguy]

^ Cool.



https://brooklyneagle.com/articles/2019/06/26/a-first-look-at-what-could-become-one-of-brooklyns-tallest-buildings/

A first look at what could become one of Brooklyn’s tallest buildings


https://brooklyneagle.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/625-Fulton-St-rendering-school-Skidmore-Owings-Merrill-1024x759.jpg


June 26, 2019
Mary Frost


A major mixed-use development planned for Downtown Brooklyn — promising a school, event space, commercial space and affordable housing — would rise 240 feet above what is currently the tallest building in the borough.

If upzoning at the site is approved, the 941-foot tower planned by Rabsky Group would be developed with large floor plates (leasable square footage on individual floors) throughout roughly 79 stories.

The developer is employing a laundry list of strategies to squeeze out extra floors, including plans for a school and indoor and outdoor community spaces for cultural performances and events. The developers also said they are looking to make 25 percent of the residential units affordable — more than double the amount required if they stuck with the area’s current zoning (which requires 8.9 percent of the units be affordable).


Community Board 2 members got their first look at the project planned for 625 Fulton St., right off DeKalb Avenue, on June 19.

“There’s a great need in Downtown Brooklyn for a specific type of commercial office space. That means very big, open plates,” David Karnovsky, an attorney representing the developers, told the board. “These exist in Brooklyn — but only on the periphery. Think Brooklyn Navy Yard, think Industry City. Nothing right in the center, nothing connected to transit, nothing supporting Downtown.”

Frank Mahan, an associate director at Skidmore Owings & Merrill, the architecture firm on the project, added that the 2004 rezoning of the neighborhood left something to be desired: large tenants.

“Downtown Brooklyn was rezoned to create a vibrant, mixed-use neighborhood, but what we all got instead in the intervening time was more than 9 million square feet of residential building,” Mahan said.

“We don’t have a mixed-use, well-functioning neighborhood. Large tenants don’t even bother looking in Brooklyn; they pass us right by.”


Mahan said that the massive scale of the building’s footprint allows for the addition of “community benefits” to the planned office space. These include: a 640-seat school; 5,000 square feet of commercial space; 14,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor public space; affordable housing; commitments to local hiring — plus 350 parking spaces.

A mixed-use building like this, Mahan claimed, would add some $6 billion to the city’s economy, and millions more in employee earnings.

The building will look different from every vantage point, he said, with retail on the ground floor and separate entrances and lobbies for the various uses.

The school’s entrance would be on Rockwell Place, “the quieter, more residential street … away from busy Fulton Street,” Mahan said.

The sidewalk fronting the site is currently 19 feet wide, but developers are proposing to set the building back an additional 5 feet on Fulton Street, creating what they call a “linear plaza” along Fulton Street.

Plans for the sidewalk setback include an outdoor park with seating spaces and an indoor multicultural space with programming from local cultural partners.


The project has yet to go through the ULURP review process that could allow it to come to fruition; Rabsky Group’s presentation to the board this go-round was purely informational.

Some board members voiced concerns about why a school would be permitted in this building, but not in other nearby projects.

“The board should invite School Construction Authority here to explain their criteria for siting a school. We did this with 80 Flatbush. [Where two schools are being constructed.] They couldn’t build a school on Fleet Street because of whatever … The criteria boggles my mind,” one CB2 member said.

Another wanted to know why the building required 350 parking spaces. “That’s a lot of parking spaces when we’ve got all this transit,” she said.

“That’s our assessment of demand … given the size of this project,” Mahan replied.

The board asked for a traffic study to further understand the impact of the project on surface traffic and the Nevins Street station. The developers are in the early stages of environmental review still, but in the future would prepare a “full-blown traffic and transit analysis that will look at traffic flows at peak times to each station,” they promised.

Another board member was concerned about another planned high-rise nearby on Fulton Street, planned by Slate Developers. “We’re going to have two 80-story developments along Fulton St.,” he said. “I’m cynical. Fulton is a main thoroughfare … I’d like to see that full EIS [Environmental Impact Study].”




https://a4.pbase.com/g12/06/102706/2/169415512.dFnW9QBL.jpg



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https://a4.pbase.com/o12/06/102706/1/169415513.R0JY1jr8.r1c.jpg

[Crawford]

This would be the second tallest tower in Brooklyn, at least for now. Looks pretty good.

[chris08876]

Oh god the community is going to flip when they see this one. Get ready for the slug fest. Once the community gets involved, the dumb questions arise, and the "out of character" and "too big for Brooklyn" arguments will come out.

I hope this is a smooth process, and the NIMBYS don't try to derail this one.

[NYguy]

Oh god the community is going to flip when they see this one. Get ready for the slug fest. Once the community gets involved, the dumb questions arise, and the "out of character" and "too big for Brooklyn" arguments will come out.

I hope this is a smooth process, and the NIMBYS don't try to derail this one.

They've already seen the massings from the initial filings, and from the January presentation, so this shouldn't be a shock. It will be a large, bulky tower in either version, but this one gives the most to the community. They should be happy, but of course they won't be.

[Crawford]

I hope this is a smooth process, and the NIMBYS don't try to derail this one.

There's nothing to derail, really. The as-of-right tower is almost as tall/bulky. The developer is really looking for slight changes in usage.

No doubt they'll complain but even if they stopped this proposal they would build the as-of-right proposal, which has roughly comparable height and bulk.

[patriotizzy]

I want to see all vantage points. Having said that, this sneak peak has me excited. Looks like a nice blend of facades, with the almighty and everNYC setbacks! Color me happy!

[Zerton]

I wonder if the facade is metal like brushed copper or stone.

[NYguy]

I wonder if the facade is metal like brushed copper or stone.

Hard to tell from those fuzzy renderings. Hopefully we'll get more detailed views soon.

[Barney Greengrass]

I'm bumping this thread in hopes we get some news soon, as far as I know Rabsky is still planning a 2020 start and I've heard some positive chatter at SOM.

[NYguy]

Looks like we are gearing up for ULURP...

https://zap.planning.nyc.gov/projects/P2017K0314

May 7, 2020

625 Fulton Street Rezoning

Applicant Team:

625 Fulton LCC (Primary Applicant)
David Karnovsky (Primary Contact)


Project Brief:

A zoning map amendment to change an existing C6-4 (DB) district to a C6-9 (DB) district, zoning text amendments, and a special permit to facilitate the development of a new 1.5 million square foot mixed-use office development, including a school, office space, retail, community facility space, residential units and publicly accessible indoor and outdoor space, is being sought by a private applicant, 625 Fulton LLC, at 625 Fulton Street, Community District 2, Brooklyn.

[Zapatan]

Good news I guess? Been a while on this one

[NYguy]

Good news I guess? Been a while on this one

Moving forward is better than not. So yeah, good news to me.

[chris08876]

Once this virus crap goes away, I think a big boom is in store. 2022-2025ish. That range.

[NYguy]

https://www.instagram.com/p/CCBmFjHDYr-/

https://scontent-ort2-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-15/e35/p1080x1080/106121757_135540414838900_7754848083364184507_n.jpg?_nc_ht=scontent-ort2-1.cdninstagram.com&_nc_cat=104&_nc_ohc=nH6zNr9hpscAX-mlwvQ&oh=452338bc85c4d6104ae74b69e462ccea&oe=5F22F97B

[chris08876]

https://aws1.discourse-cdn.com/business5/uploads/yimby/original/3X/e/e/eefe0535ae4d649ceb217b15f181fffd45cddf4e.jpeg
Credit: Tectonic (https://forum.newyorkyimby.com/t/new-york-625-fulton-street-485-hudson-942-ft-floors/158/23?u=chris08876)

[JMKeynes]

https://aws1.discourse-cdn.com/business5/uploads/yimby/original/3X/e/e/eefe0535ae4d649ceb217b15f181fffd45cddf4e.jpeg
Credit: Tectonic (https://forum.newyorkyimby.com/t/new-york-625-fulton-street-485-hudson-942-ft-floors/158/23?u=chris08876)

So the garbage on this site had been partially razed and what’s left will also come down for sure? That’s great news!

[NYguy]

So the garbage on this site had been partially razed and what’s left will also come down for sure? That’s great news!

The larger part of the site was cleared and has been vacant. This is the final piece to come down.




Brownstoner:

MetroTech Building on Fulton Partially Demolished to Make Way for Apartments (http://www.brownstoner.com/blog/2014/05/metrotech-building-on-fulton-partially-demolished/)

by Rebecca
05/12/14 10:45am



http://cdn.brownstoner.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/10-metrotech-demo-downtown-brooklyn-52014.jpg

http://cdn.brownstoner.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/10-metrotech-demolition-downtown-brooklyn-52014.jpg

http://cdn.brownstoner.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/10-metrotech-downtown-brooklyn-52014.jpg



https://therealdeal.com/2017/05/11/rabsky-pays-68m-for-site-next-to-proposed-dobro-tower/

Rabsky pays $68M for site next to proposed DoBro tower
Developer's Fulton Street project grows to 770K sf as-of-right

https://s12.therealdeal.com/trd/up/2017/05/633-645-Fulton-and-625-Fulton.jpg


By Mark Maurer
May 11, 2017

[JMKeynes]

Beautiful!!

[BK1985]

This is a pretty big site. I hope they don’t disappoint us.

[NYguy]

https://a4.pbase.com/o12/06/102706/1/170876542.vzvCDrHM.z1.JPG

[chris08876]

Very nice! :cheers:

https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/planning/images/content/pages/zoning/districts-tools/commercial/c6_table.jpg

Pulled this up for an idea. Significant.

[chris08876]

https://aws1.discourse-cdn.com/business5/uploads/yimby/original/3X/b/b/bbe07eb060c1639ea219c8218df010ceae41e4ac.jpeg
Credit: JC_Heights
(https://forum.newyorkyimby.com/t/new-york-625-fulton-street-485-hudson-942-ft-floors/158/31?u=chris08876)

[NYguy]

This will fit in nicely with 9 Dekalb, another peak on the BK skyline.

[Zapatan]

This will fit in nicely with 9 Dekalb, another peak on the BK skyline.

Agreed, gonna be huge.

Here's to hoping for a 2021 ground breaking

[chris08876]

https://aws1.discourse-cdn.com/business5/uploads/yimby/original/3X/1/5/15f9ef4a31edd6b449f6844dd50d33f85c4b140c.jpeg
Credit: JC_Heights (https://forum.newyorkyimby.com/t/new-york-625-fulton-street-485-hudson-942-ft-floors/158/37?u=chris08876)

[chris08876]

ENTIRE DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN BLOCK FACES DEMOLITION DURING PANDEMIC

A triangular block of buildings in Downtown Brooklyn is facing the wrecking ball.

Currently, 10 of the 16 buildings that are on the block, which fronts Fulton Street, Dekalb Avenue, Flatbush Extension and Bond Street, have been demolished. One of those buildings, located at the tip of the flatiron-shaped block at 547 Fulton Street, overlooking Albee Square, once prominently displayed a mural by the artist Steve “ESPO” Powers that said, “All I Need Is You and New Shoes.”

Fourteen of the lots are owned by RedSky Capital, who slowly acquired nearly the entire block starting in 2015, paying somewhere around $112 million to date.

Remaining on the block are three cast-iron Italianate storefronts, although two of them, located at 565 and 569 Fulton Street, are currently in the process of being demolished. Demolition permits were filed in December 2020 for the third, located at 571 Fulton Street.

Also remaining on the block are two buildings located at 559 and 563 Fulton Street, the latter of which is currently occupied by Duane Reade. They are owned by Barberry Rose Management, who told Brownstoner in July 2019 they had no plans to sell.

It’s unclear what current plans are for the multiple sites. RedSky lists a project called Fulton Mall on their website, but other than saying “coming soon,” no further information is provided. A rendering published by CityRealty in 2019 show what were at least tentative plans: a tower of roughly 50 stories, with a larger four-story base at the bottom and a rectangular shape that has been twisted at different parts in its elevation, breaking its uniformity and giving it a jagged look.

If built, the tower will join a cavalcade of soaring buildings in Downtown Brooklyn, including the 70-story supertall at 9 Dekalb Avenue, which is currently under construction across the street.

RedSky, which owns property all over the borough and wooed Apple to Brooklyn, appears to have fallen on hard times before the pandemic. They handed back to a lender in lieu of foreclosure part of their portfolio in Williamsburg, a combined 14 properties near North 6th Street and Bedford Avenue, valued at $145 million, according to The Real Deal. They still own the sprawling building on Bedford that contains Brooklyn’s first Apple store.
===================
https://www.brooklynpaper.com/downtown-brooklyn-block-demolition-pandemic/

[chris08876]

https://aws1.discourse-cdn.com/business5/uploads/yimby/original/3X/e/8/e81bc1027e4436708568a3b429066e83387c123f.jpeg
Credit: JC_Heights (https://forum.newyorkyimby.com/t/new-york-625-fulton-street-485-hudson-942-ft-floors/158/40?u=chris08876)

[chris08876]

https://aws1.discourse-cdn.com/business5/uploads/yimby/original/3X/2/0/2048e6da8dadca445ed07b48d42021cd1528b97f.jpeg
Credit: the Dronalist (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRqKcOGH9kA&ab_channel=theDronalist)

[NYguy]

Shown with 9 Dekalb and other upcoming developments in the area...



https://a4.pbase.com/o12/06/102706/1/171574709.GL5ujF7Y.d1.JPG



https://a4.pbase.com/o12/06/102706/1/171574710.oA2QurxR.d2.JPG



https://a4.pbase.com/o12/06/102706/1/171574711.v4GjYxFb.d3.JPG

[NYguy]

https://www.instagram.com/p/CO_o7v2A1Dh/

https://www.picuki.com/hosted-by-instagram/url=https%3A%7C%7C%7C%7Cinstagram.fiev22-1.fna.fbcdn.net%7C%7Cv%7C%7Ct51.2885-15%7C%7Ce35%7C%7Cs1080x1080%7C%7C188149101_122859119910917_5202606584408955419_n.jpg%3Ftp%3D1%26_nc_ht%3Dinstagram.fiev22-1.fna.fbcdn.net%26_nc_cat%3D105%26_nc_ohc%3Dy0t09Wz3tk4AX9CqcI_%26edm%3DAP_V10EBAAAA%26ccb%3D7-4%26oh%3Db3d1d19752c920fbc950eb093e8d572d%26oe%3D60C9EE4F%26_nc_sid%3D4f375e

[NYguy]

As work begins on site, I'm not sure if plans have changed, or if they are just filing to have the work begin. But filings (which can change) currently show a building of 35 stories, 395 ft.



https://a4.pbase.com/o12/06/102706/1/171657133.qqr3HLBi.b1.JPG



However, zoning diagrams only show a single story retail building with below grade parking.



https://a4.pbase.com/o12/06/102706/1/171657134.6NSZ0T0H.d1.JPG



https://a4.pbase.com/o12/06/102706/1/171657135.qcYdkKMB.d2.JPG



https://a4.pbase.com/o12/06/102706/1/171657136.XhbqPj3A.d3.JPG



https://a4.pbase.com/o12/06/102706/1/171657137.09v1JJaI.d4.JPG



https://a4.pbase.com/o12/06/102706/1/171657138.DzKID14f.d5.JPG

[DTBKFan]

https://newyorkyimby.com/2021/05/excavation-underway-for-soms-941-foot-tall-625-fulton-street-in-downtown-brooklyn.html

Excavation Underway For SOM’s 941-Foot-Tall 625 Fulton Street In Downtown Brooklyn

BY: MICHAEL YOUNG 8:00 AM ON MAY 25, 2021

Excavation work has begun at 625 Fulton Street, site of a proposed 941-foot tall, 79-story mixed-use skyscraper in Downtown Brooklyn. Designed by Skidmore Owings & Merrill and developed by Rabsky Group, which purchased the site for $158 million, the 1.8-million-square-foot project is planned to yield a mix of offices, residential units, retail space, an elementary school, and a public plaza. The property is located between Fulton Street to the south, Hudson Avenue to the west, DeKalb Avenue to the north, and Rockwell Place to the east.

[DTBKFan]

Found these on Instagram, but not sure how official or final they are. https://www.instagram.com/p/CPam1QqriGo/

https://i.postimg.cc/3xL2PsMM/Screen-Shot-2021-05-30-at-10-00-10-AM.png

https://i.postimg.cc/J7JcGYXJ/Screen-Shot-2021-05-30-at-10-00-22-AM.png

https://i.postimg.cc/c4S7Y77z/Screen-Shot-2021-05-30-at-10-00-51-AM.png

https://i.postimg.cc/X7kfgZQY/Screen-Shot-2021-05-30-at-10-01-01-AM.png

https://i.postimg.cc/XYNw1Vzc/Screen-Shot-2021-05-30-at-10-01-14-AM.png

https://i.postimg.cc/sxppq1zK/Screen-Shot-2021-05-30-at-9-59-59-AM.png

[JMKeynes]

Very impressive!

[Busy Bee]

They look pretty official to me.