No Dorms, But Jamestown Rezoning Push Is Still On Track For Industry City

The proposed rezoning of Industry City‘s 32 acres along the Sunset Park waterfront is still a go, with developer Jamestown Properties hoping that city approval would allow them to site more retail space, as well as two hotels.

However, the plan won’t include a 150,000 square foot dorm for college students enrolled at nearby NYU and City University of New York campuses in Downtown Brooklyn.

According to The Real Deal,:

NYU and CUNY have considered taking space at Industry City for educational facilities focused on manufacturing and engineering – right in line with the kinds of tenants attracted to the office and light manufacturing complex.

But criticism from community members and local politicians, including Councilmember Carlos Menchaca, who objected to the use of the industrial waterfront for residential purposes, changed their mind.

“One of the strong pieces of feedback we have gotten on our plans is that people don’t like the dorm component,” said Andrew Kimball, the CEO of Industry City, adding that the dorm space was removed from the plan because housing is not something that “the community is interested in at this site.”

Hotels don’t count as a residence according to zoning rules, as they are businesses and not long-term or steady housing options.

There are already several hotels in the area west of Fourth Avenue and the Brooklyn Queens Expressway, lured to the area by more space, subway accessibility, increasing trendiness of the neighborhood, and relative low density of hotels compared to, say, Downtown Brooklyn (although this is swiftly changing).