26 April 2010

Admiral's Row to Be Mowed Down For ShopRite


Progress is having its way with Admiral's Row.

The decaying, but beautiful and historic, row of ancient military homes along City-owned Brooklyn Navy Yard, will be torn down to may way for a 55,000-square-foot ShopRite, along with 30,000 square feet of other new retail space and 125,000 square feet of industrial space.

"I can’t wait until that wall is demolished," said genius Councilwoman Letitia James. "It creates psychological barriers for the entire neighborhood." Ugly big box stores create their own headaches, too, Letitia.

James said the new ShopRite would be a "destination supermarket like the [Pathmark] at Atlantic Terminal Mall" in Fort Greene—which is another visual beauty, as we all know. And it will finally give the neighborhood a convenient place to shop, she said. Because convenience always trump historical heritage.

The project, which is expected to break ground by early 2012 and be finished by 2013, will provide 500 (lousy, low-paying) permanent jobs and 500 (here-today, gone-tomorrow) construction jobs. Those happy construction workers will have the privilege of demolishing nine historic buildings. One single former military residence and timber shed at Admirals Row will be restored and incorporated into the development.

And here's the icing on the cake: The project will also provide more than 300 parking spaces for the new businesses.

Parking spaces. Gorgeous. 

4 comments:

BrooksNYC said...

Speechless.

Ken Mac said...

there it goes. History, culture, sense of time, beauty, all be damned. For a city of Shoprites and Duane Reades. This City will be extinct by 2020. Done.

bigmissfrenchie said...

Usually I am a big fan of Tish James, but this is a bummer. As if there isn't another spot in that area where they could build a supermarket...it just HAS to go where those historic buildings are. Ugh.

ShopRite said...

Much has been written recently about the plan to revitalize the Brooklyn Navy Yard. PA Developers, a New York-based developer, won the right to develop the site, agreeing to the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation’s conditions that a supermarket must be incorporated into the design and that certain of the historical structures be preserved. ShopRite expressed interest in serving the local community and would welcome the opportunity to open a location at the Brooklyn Navy Yard once the site receives all necessary approvals. At this time, ShopRite has made a commitment to the site although it has not signed a formal agreement. Any questions about site development should be directed to PA Developers at www.admiralsrowplaza.com.