Brooklyn's Progress
October 2001

Kings Harbor View Associates, led by long-time Brooklyn resident, Greg O’Connell, seeks to bring an exciting mix of tenants together under one roof, each with something unique to offer South Brooklyn. Following the success of Fairway Markets on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, in Harlem, and in Plainview, Long Island, Fairway’s partners – David Sneddon, Howard Glickberg and Harold Seybert – decided to open a Brooklyn branch. The search for the best location led them to Red Hook Stores, the Civil War-era warehouse still known to some residents as simply “480-500.” The project at 480-500 Van Brunt Street would include the 52,000-square foot store, artists’ studios, digital technology office space and non-profit office space. Fairway is a New York-based specialty and wholesale food market known for providing an extraordinary variety of superior quality fresh food from around the globe – fruits, vegetables, baked goods, cheese, meats and fish – all at reasonable prices. The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce participated in a public hearing on land use applications on October 4 at Borough Hall. Following is Chamber President Kenneth Adams’ and Hank Auffarth of JPMorgan Chase’s testimony in support of the project: Testimony of Kenneth Adams, President of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce I am the President of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, a business assistance and economic development organization with over 1300 members. The mission of the Brooklyn Chamber is to help businesses grow and to promote the economic development of Brooklyn. To that end, the Brooklyn Chamber advocates for projects that create jobs and stimulate investment in the borough’s economy. I am here today to voice the Brooklyn Chamber’s support of King’s Harbor View Associates’ initiative to attract a Fairway Market to Red Hook. We understand that the proposed project will involve the disposition of 485-500 Van Brunt Street from the New York City Economic Development Corporation to King’s Harbor View Associates, an application for a special permit allowing for the construction of a supermarket in excess of 10,000 square feet and the re-zoning of a two and a half block area from M-3 to M1-1/R-5. The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce believes that the proposed project will work towards the economic development of Brooklyn. Aside from potentially bringing over 500 new jobs to the borough, the project will also involve the renovation of an underutilized warehouse and the creation of much-needed office and gallery space. In a time when we hear more and more about reduced spending and job cuts, it is encouraging to discuss a project of this size and scope. Testimony of Hank Auffarth of JP Morgan Chase I am the chairman of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce Business Attraction/ Business Retention Council. The council, which is made up of over 25 professionals from Brooklyn’s real estate, finance and development communities, meets on a quarterly basis to discuss economic development projects and opportunities throughout the borough. The council also works closely with the Brooklyn Chamber to attract companies to the borough and to assist Brooklyn companies to grow and expand. At our last meeting on September 26, members of the council were briefed on Kings Harbor View Associates’ plans to redevelop 485-500 Van Brunt Street and the re-zoning initiative that has been proposed in conjunction with the project. We understand that the proposed project will involve significant renovations of an underutilized warehouse building, has the potential to create up to 500 full-time equivalent jobs and will result in the creation of a new Fairway Market and significant blocks of space for artist, office and not-for-profit users. We also understand that the project includes a proposal to re-zone a two and a half block area adjacent to the 485-500 Van Brunt Street from M-3 to M-1/R-5. While we understand that there are concerns pertaining to the re-zoning’s inclusion of residential uses, the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce Business Attraction/ Business Retention Advisory Council supports the Red Hook Stores Project. We feel that the project’s economic development value is substantial; the resulting job creation and business investment will work to further stimulate Brooklyn’s growing economy. In addition, the attraction of a Fairway market to Brooklyn will further reinforce the borough’s status as a great place to both live and do business.