CB7 approves big box option at Federal Building #2
Members of Community Board 7 board voted on September 19 to recommend that developers of Federal Building #2 on the Sunset Park waterfront be allowed to bring on a big box retail sore as an anchor tenant, should they so choose.
The vote was to eliminate themaximum size variance for a single retail store currently set at 10,000 square feet per store, which is too small for a large tenant such as Bed, Bath & Beyond or Burlington Coat Factory two of the national chains being floated as prospective tenants.
Even if a big box store moves in, though, it can only take up a maximum of 15 percent of the entire building. This limit was agreed to by the city and developer Salmar Properties when the deal went through in August, 2011. The rest of the 1.1 million square foot building must be used for manufacturing and industrial businesses, which is part of the city Economic Development Corporations plan to re-develop industry and bring jobs back to the community.