Press Release
July 20, 2004

Amanda Burden, Chair of the NYC Planning Commission, and Director of the NYC Department of City Planning along with Thomas Renyi, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Bank of New York Company, Inc., will be recognized during the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce’s 2004 Annual Building Brooklyn Awards on July 21 at the Brooklyn Museum, 200 Eastern Parkway from 6 to 8:30 p.m.

The Annual Building Brooklyn Awards honor individuals who have made significant contributions toward enhancing the business conditions and economic climate of Brooklyn.  The event also recognizes recently completed construction projects that have had a positive impact on the borough’s economy and quality of life.

“The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce is proud to salute Amanda Burden and Thomas Renyi for their efforts to promote Brooklyn’s economic prosperity,” said Brooklyn Chamber President Kenneth Adams.  “Brooklyn is booming with new construction thanks to the Bloomberg administration’s vision and the commitment of our borough’s builders, owners, architects and contractors.  This year, our Judging Committee selected nine excellent projects out of a large and competitive field of nominees.  These awards remind us how much new investment is driving development all over Brooklyn.”

The Department of City Planning is responsible for the city’s physical and socioeconomic planning, including land use and environmental review for projects.  Ms. Burden advises the Mayor, the Borough Presidents and the City Council on all matters relating to the development and improvement of the city.  She played a critical role in the Downtown Brooklyn Development Plan.
 
The Downtown Brooklyn Plan, recently approved by Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the NYC Council, will allow the development of 4.5 million square feet of new class A office space, nearly one million square feet of new retail and over 1,000 new units of mixed income housing.  The Plan is a critical component of the Bloomberg Administration’s comprehensive strategy to stimulate growth in New York City’s diverse business districts and increase jobs in all five boroughs.

Mr. Renyi is a distinguished financial sector leader.  He has successfully directed The Bank of New York’s transformation from a traditional commercial bank to a global leader in securities services.   The Bank and its 1,400 employees recently moved to the Atlantic Terminal building at Flatbush and Atlantic Avenues.

The nine winning construction projects that will be honored during the 4th annual event on July 21 are:

Peter Jay Sharp Center for Opportunity in the Community Facility category – renovation of a 75,000 square foot knitting factory into transitional housing for 400 homeless men; state of the art computer labs, office space and an industrial kitchen; transformation of an adjacent garbage dump into a recreational area. (East Williamsburg)

Brooklyn Historical Society in the Cultural Facility category – restoration and modernization of a national historic landmark that is home to one of Brooklyn’s leading educational and cultural institutions.  (Brooklyn Heights)
 
P.S. 156/I.S. 392, The Waverly School of the Arts in the Education category – renovation of the first gifted and talented school in the community, which also functions as the community’s main civic building; state of the art facilities include a 450-seat auditorium, a recording studio, computers and pre-wiring for internet service.  (Ocean Hill-Brownsville)
 
Blue Ridge Tea and Herb in the Industrial category – renovation of an old manufacturing building maintaining the building’s façade while modernizing the interior for manufacturing and offices.  (Red Hook)

New Millennium Real Estate Corp. in the Office category – conversion of a former carriage house into mixed-use condos with three residential units and two commercial levels, delivering a variety of essential services to the immediate business and residential communities.  (Park Slope)

Brooklyn Bridge Park/Main Street Playground in the Parks and Open Spaces category – conversion of an asphalt parking lot into an urban oasis with sweeping views of the Brooklyn Bridge, the Manhattan Bridge, the harbor, the East River and Lower Manhattan.  (DUMBO)

Elly’s Market in the Retail category – renovation to restore the building back to its original 1870’s American Victorian design with glass bays framed in delicate wood columns and ornamental work, contributing to the ongoing retail development of DeKalb Avenue.  (Fort Greene)

Crown Heights in the Residential/1-5 Dwellings category – construction of 39 three-family homes for first-time homebuyers; all units are priced as affordable housing and feature energy efficient appliances.  (Crown Heights)

Services for the Underserved in the Residential/Multi-Family category – construction of a new 30,375 square foot apartment building providing services for 50 long-term shelter residents, using a design to blend into the brownstone neighborhood.  (Bedford-Stuyvesant)

Susan Doban Architect, PC, will receive honorary mention for 25 Elm Place in the Office category.  Ms. Doban converted a former vacant retail space into new office space.  She used the building’s historical high window openings and original details including its gilded columns to showcase Brooklyn’s past as well as create a setting for its future growth.
       
A 10-member panel of Brooklyn-based architects, planners, economic development experts and city officials chose the winning projects.  Projects were judged on a list of criteria including: having an economic impact, making a significant improvement to the quality of life, providing critical neighborhood services and amenities, demonstrating a commitment to quality design and pre-existing architectural character, and demonstrating an aesthetic sensitivity to the surrounding community.

This year’s judges were:  Peter Mugazero, American Institute of Architects Brooklyn Chapter; Barbara S. Mishara, Barbara Smith Mishara Architect; Jon Benguiat, Brooklyn Borough President’s Office; Brendan Coburn, Coburn Architecture PC; Susan Hinkson, NYC Department of Buildings/Brooklyn Planning Office; Winston Von Engel, NYC Department of City Planning/Brooklyn Planning Office; Marilyn Gelber, Independence Community Foundation; Vincent Battista, Institute of Design & Construction; Matt Urbanski, Michael Van Valkenburg Associates, Inc.; and Susan Goldfinger, NYC Economic Development Corporation.

The 2004 Annual Building Brooklyn Awards is hosted by the Brooklyn Chamber and sponsored by The Bank of New York Company, Inc.; Ingram & Hebron Realty; Corcoran Group; IKEA; Health Plus; Levine Builders; New Millennium Real Estate Corp.; ConEdison; HSBC Bank, USA; Cushman & Wakefield, Inc.; Marcus Attorneys; Muss Development Company; Penda Aiken, Inc.; Washington Mutual, Inc.; and Waste Management.

For more information on the winning projects and the Building Brooklyn Awards event, please click here or call Mack Tham at (718) 875-1000 ext. 142.