Yes, as I guessed and the New York Times later reported last October a bit conclusorily, the un-built--and yet-to-be-approved--Site 5 project within Pacific Park has been proposed as part of the city's bid for Amazon.com's second headquarters.
As the Times put it, "Next to Barclays Center, there is a site for a 1 million-square-foot tower."
Not quite. The site could host a two-tower project including office and residential space, as I reported in 2016. But it requires a lawsuit to be settled, and then a public process, run by Empire State Development, to change the General Project Plan to allow the transfer of development rights from the unbuilt B1 (aka Miss Brooklyn) over the arena plaza.
It's hard to think those approvals won't move forward--especially if the nearby 80 Flatbush project proceeds--but it's not happening yet.
Disclosure stymied
So what has the city been saying about the marketing of Site 5?
We don't know, since my Freedom of Information Law request regarding the marketing of Site 5 for Amazon was rejected (see below), on the grounds that the responsive document from the New York City Economic Development Corporation either represented trade secrets or "would impair present or imminent contract awards," among other rationales.
I just wonder if Amazon was told that this site was still kinda tentative.
Amazon still taking a look in NYC
Bisnow reported 3/24/18 that Amazon would visit New York City this month, just as it's visiting other candidate cities. Noted Bisnow:
As the Times put it, "Next to Barclays Center, there is a site for a 1 million-square-foot tower."
Not quite. The site could host a two-tower project including office and residential space, as I reported in 2016. But it requires a lawsuit to be settled, and then a public process, run by Empire State Development, to change the General Project Plan to allow the transfer of development rights from the unbuilt B1 (aka Miss Brooklyn) over the arena plaza.
It's hard to think those approvals won't move forward--especially if the nearby 80 Flatbush project proceeds--but it's not happening yet.
Disclosure stymied
So what has the city been saying about the marketing of Site 5?
We don't know, since my Freedom of Information Law request regarding the marketing of Site 5 for Amazon was rejected (see below), on the grounds that the responsive document from the New York City Economic Development Corporation either represented trade secrets or "would impair present or imminent contract awards," among other rationales.
I just wonder if Amazon was told that this site was still kinda tentative.
Bisnow reported 3/24/18 that Amazon would visit New York City this month, just as it's visiting other candidate cities. Noted Bisnow:
In its official bid for HQ2, the New York City Economic Development Corp. pointed to four possible places in the city that Amazon could set up shop. Midtown West, Long Island City and the "Brooklyn Tech Triangle” — which includes Dumbo, the Brooklyn Navy Yard and Downtown Brooklyn — are all on the list. The Financial District is also a potential contender.
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