Williamsburg

Now beyond hip, parts of Williamsburg may become the new SoHo-East

May 7, 2013 By Rob Abruzzese Brooklyn Daily Eagle
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If a recent announcement by brokers Julia McHugh is any indication, Grand Street is getting grander – at least in ground level retail. 

Three retail spaces have recently become available in a historic cast iron building on Grand Street in Williamsburg. The building – which will feature a glass and brushed metal façade –  will, according to brokers, look exquisite once it is finished.

“It is such a beautiful building and it is in a great location on Grand Street that gets a ton of foot traffic, essential for any retail business,” said Julia McHugh, a realtor for Modern Spaces NYC. “It has a gorgeous cast iron facade, one of only a handful in the neighborhood, that really makes it stand out.”

Cast iron has been used for centuries in architecture, going back to 9th century China. The building considered as the first iron-framed building in the world was built in England in 1796. It became popular during the Industrial Revolution era because it was relatively cheap and modern steel hadn’t yet been developed.

This four-story building, located at the corner of Grand Street and Driggs Avenue along one of Williamsburg’s busiest restaurant and retail corridors, is currently in use as a co-op and artist studios. The retail spaces are for dry use, which means no bars or restaurants will be permitted, but the listing describes it as the perfect place for a clothing store, yoga studio, salon, fine wine & spirits store, or bicycle shop. Unbeatable foot-traffic is fueled by a new and constantly packed seven-screen cinema across the street and several nearby residential luxury developments; Grand Street is known as a premiere dining and shopping destination. A bank, which seems to finally be making its way into the area, would also be a nice fit. 

“Williamsburg and Greenpoint both have such great recreation areas with all of the restored parks, so it would be nice to see retailers who carry sporting goods fill the spot,” McHugh said. “It would be an extra bonus if they want to get involved in community activities, such as sponsoring little league teams and the like.

“We only have one kitchen store in the area and it’s very high end. It would be nice to have a store that sells some nice basics for the home, from the kitchen and beyond like sheets and towels and the basic things that are hard to find here in the neighborhood.”

222 Grand Street is the biggest of the three locations. It’s a 1,706 square foot loft with a half bath, 23-feet of street frontage and 14.5-foot ceilings available for $80 per square foot annually. A brand new glass storefront is also being installed at the owner’s expense.

224 Grand Street is the smallest of the three units, at 1,480 square feet, but it features a slightly taller ceiling, at 14.67 feet, as well as a half bathroom. 226 Grand Street is 1,580 square feet with lower ceilings, at 13.5 feet, and a half bath.

All three units, which can be combined, feature brand new glass storefronts with heat and hot water included. Each unit also comes with the same price of $80 per square foot annually.

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