Brooklyn's Progress
April/May 2008

Con Edison delivers green machines
Veteran Con Edison employee Anthony F. Prettiore, in conjunction with the company’s automotive department, and Dejana Utility Trucks of Long Island, recently developed energy efficient vehicles to help remove old cable from the street. The earth-friendly trucks use 70% less hydraulic fluid by using a forced-air-cooled hydraulic tank and a variable-displacement pressure-compensating pump. The new design includes wireless remote controls to permit greater accuracy and insure greater safety of operations.

The trucks are also packed with greater pulling power, allowing it to pull 20,000 pounds, compared to 12,000 pounds by the older vehicles. Two of the green trucks are currently employed by the company so far, with 11 more anticipated to join later this year.
 
Brooklyn’s real estate community supports BHS
The Brooklyn Real Estate Roundtable steering committee held a luncheon on Feb. 5. The luncheon featured Greg Winter, president of Winter & Company Commercial Real Estate Finance, Joseph Salvo, director of the Population Division of the New York City Department of City Planning, Andrew Kimball, president and CEO of the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corp., Chris Gulden, vice president of SL Green and Eli Karp, president of Supreme Builders and Developers. The speakers spoke optimistically about the future of Brooklyn real estate citing new housing projects, real estate acquisitions, and growing economic opportunities due in part to the influx of immigrants. The Committee presented a check for $90,000, proceeds from the 2007 luncheons, to the Brooklyn Historical Society.

Mr. Kimball said that 5,000 people work in businesses at the Navy Yard, up from 3,500 a few years ago, and that visionary leaders are creating a 21st Century manufacturing model there. Steiner Studios, which features the largest sound studio on the East Coast, is at the epicenter of this movement.  He noted that the Navy Yard also is home to a new green manufacturing sector and that all new buildings at the site will be green. “We want to make this a place where green manufacturers will see the Navy Yard as the place to be,” Mr. Kimball said.

Red Hook's IKEA names new manager
After a six year wait, the Red Hook IKEA store is planning to open its doors this summer under the management of Mike Baker. The 346,000-square-foot building will contain 50 different room settings, three home models, a Swedish style restaurant, and kid’s playroom along with the usual store features of the home furniture chain. IKEA began advertising last month for 500 jobs at its new Brooklyn location, slated to open in August. Mr. Baker is a veteran retail manager, having overseen the opening of IKEAs in Shanghai and Toronto.

Red Hook will be the New York/New Jersey area’s fourth IKEA location.

Red Hook vendors receive six year permits
Quelling fears of being shut down, the Parks Department granted six-year permits to the Food Vendors Committee of Red Hook Park. Previously, the vendors were only granted temporary four week permits but new regulations require them to obtain permanent licenses. Licenses will be awarded based on previous experience and variety of cuisine.

The vendors, who have been locked in an off-season battle with the city over the permits, have a loyal following, having set up shop in the park for the last 20 years without scrutiny.

Brokers cooperate in Hale & Hearty expansion
Manhattan-based potage emporium Hale & Hearty will centralize their soup-making facilities in a custom built East Williamsburg space, thanks to Chamber Member Michael C. O’Brien, III.

The company hopes that by centralizing its operations from its retail shops, they will achieve more consistency in their product line.

Newmark Knight Frank’s Dan Segal and Robin Fisher reached out to M.C. O’Brien, Inc. because of their working knowledge of industrial space in Brooklyn. Mr. O’Brien expanded the search by contacting Paul Yuras of DY Realty Services, LLC, and together they agreed that there was no inventory that could be adapted to suit the needs of Hale & Hearty.

However, Mr. Yuras had a build to suit space in East Williamsburg that could be constructed to fit the customers’ needs. After extensive design and negotiations, a lease was executed at 276 Scholes St. and a 23,000 square foot USDA-approved building was erected.

The project took advantage of a vast array of tax abatements and Empire Zone credit, as well as credits for jobs created and utility reduction programs. The benefit package was completed with the help of Richard Imprescia, director of economic planning for the accounting firm of Anchin, Block & Anchin, LLP, also Chamber Members.

Verizon expands network coverage in Brooklyn
Verizon Wireless has activated a new cell site in Evergreen Park in Ridgewood, Queens to improve network coverage and capacity along Jackie Robinson Parkway between exits 1 and 3, and along Jamaica Avenue from Bushwick Avenue to Highland Boulevard. The coverage allows for fewer dropped calls, better quality in services and clearer reception. The company’s $2 billion investment also allowed a 100% upgrade of the EVDO network with faster Revision A technology coverage in the New York Metropolitan area.

SBA salutes the nation’s best entrepreneurs
The nation’s top entrepreneurs will be hailed at the U.S. Small Business Administration’s National Small Business Week events, held April 21-25 in Washington, D.C., and New York City.  This year marks the 55th anniversary of the agency, and the 45th annual proclamation of Small Business Week. 

Small business owners from across the country will be honored for their accomplishments as the nation’s leading small businesses.  The highlight of events will be the announcement of the National Small Business Person of the Year. 

“Small businesses drive our economy, creating jobs and opportunities for Americans in every community across the country,” said SBA Administrator Steve Preston.  “The SBA is very proud of the vital role it plays in enabling America’s entrepreneurs, and we are excited to be able to recognize a few of these great success stories during the week.” 

Additional information on the Small Business Week 2008 events is available at www.sba.gov/sbw.

Akwaaba's Monique Greenwood named
Country Living 2008 Entrepreneur of the Year
Monique Greenwood, owner and CEO of Akwaaba Bed & Breakfast Inns, has been selected by Country Living magazine as one of its 10 Women Entrepreneurs of the Year. Ms. Greenwood, along with the other nine recipients from throughout the country, is featured in the current March issue of the magazine, and will be feted at a luncheon and “A Celebration of Creativity” seminar in Chicago.

Monique started her bed and breakfast business 13 years ago when she and her husband Glenn Pogue purchased a dilapidated 18-room mansion in Brooklyn, NY, and turned it into an upscale inn.

In 2001, the Washington DC native and best-selling author left her full-time job as editor-in-chief of Essence magazine to fully devote herself to building an impressive bed and breakfast collection, which now numbers five.

Capitol One Bank enters New York Metro Area
Capital One Financial Corporation announced the integration and rebranding of North Fork Bank to Capital One Bank recently. The New York and New Jersey launch of Capital One Bank is the culmination of the company's efforts to successfully transform Capital One into the 14th largest bank in the nation based on retail deposits and the 10th largest bank in the nation based on managed loans, following its acquisitions of North Fork Bancorporation in 2006 and Louisiana-based Hibernia Corporation in 2005. Capital One Bank is the trade name for Capital One, N.A.

In addition to changing the name on the signs at all North Fork Bank branches, corporate offices and customer touch points across the New York region, Capital One Bank added several servicing enhancements for bank customers.