by Brooklyn Bridge Park on Aug 4, 2011
BROOKLYN BRIDGE PARK RELEASES REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR PIER 1 HOTEL AND RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT
Annual Proceeds Will Pay for Park Maintenance and Operation
Brooklyn Bridge Park (BBP) today released a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a hotel and residential development adjacent to Pier 1. Revenue generated by the development of the site – as set forth in the 2002 agreement that allowed the park project to move forward – will help fund the maintenance and operations of the sections of the park that are built or underway. The RFP seeks qualified developers for the long-term lease, development and operation of a mixed-use project, which includes hotel, residential and restaurant uses. The hotel portion of the site will accommodate between 170-225 rooms and the residential portion of the site will accommodate between 150-180 units. The site will also include parking facilities, park restrooms and park support facilities.
“Brooklyn Bridge Park is one of the latest crown jewel destinations in a city which attracted a record 48.8 million tourists in 2010,” said Deputy Mayor for Economic Development Robert K. Steel. “This Request for Proposals represents a unique opportunity to build a world-class hotel and residential development in one of New York City’s most exciting neighborhoods.”
Regina Myer, President of Brooklyn Bridge Park said “The hotel and residential component represent a critical element of our park maintenance plan and the development’s amenities will benefit all park users for decades to come.”
The Pier 1 site represents a signature development opportunity in one of the most exciting waterfront projects in New York in decades. Known for its jaw-dropping views, award-winning landscape design and ground-breaking sustainability measures, Brooklyn Bridge Park is a major public investment in one of the most scenic locations in New York City and is adjacent to Brooklyn Heights, an historic residential neighborhood, and Dumbo, a vibrant mixed use district with a strong gallery and restaurant presence.
The Pier 1 Hotel and Residential Development funds critical park maintenance as part of a milestone 2002 agreement. This agreement catalyzed the transformation of this site from vacant piers to world-class park after decades of inaction. The necessary public approvals for the Pier 1 Development site were granted in the original 2005 Brooklyn Bridge Park General Project Plan, allowing the project to move forward expeditiously.
Brooklyn Bridge Park has been a resounding success since the opening of its first section in March 2010. With over 20 acres open to date, the park has attracted tens of thousands of visitors in its inaugural year and is poised to become an even more popular destination with additional parkland sections and the new Jane’s Carousel attraction opening later this summer. Travel + Leisure Magazine recently named Brooklyn Bridge Park one of the 2011 World’s Coolest New Tourist Attractions and the park has been honored with numerous design awards for its sophisticated masterplan which mixes passive and active recreation amid an extraordinary landscape.
The RFP requires respondents to submit conceptual plans that demonstrate responsiveness to the site design guidelines and a level of design that is on par with the investment made on the part of the public sector. The proposals must be responsive to criteria including rent offer, team qualifications, financial feasibility, design, green building components and the project’s responsiveness to the surrounding community.
The responses to the RFP are due on October 24, 2011.
Brooklyn Bridge Park Corporation, known as Brooklyn Bridge Park, is the not-for-profit entity responsible for the planning, construction, maintenance and operation of Brooklyn Bridge Park, an 85-acre sustainable waterfront park stretching 1.3 miles along Brooklyn’s East River shoreline. The park was designed by the award-winning firm of Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, Inc. More information is available on the park’s website: bbpprod2020.wpengine.com.
Brooklyn Bridge Park is one of the nine waterfront destinations that comprise NYHarborWay, an initiative of the Bloomberg Administration to make the New York Harbor a major recreational destination for New Yorkers and visitors. Spearheaded by NYC & Company, the initiative eventually will connect the nine major waterfront points of interest by ferry or bike greenways. In addition, NYHarborWay will develop a cohesive programming, marketing and communications platform which will drive visitation to the nine waterfront sites. In addition to Brooklyn Bridge Park, the destinations are Governors Island, Hudson River Park, The Battery, Ellis Island, Liberty Island, Atlantic Basin, the East River Esplanade and Liberty State Park.