Industry City moves forward with expansion, shocking local leaders
The city approved Industry City’s rezoning application on Monday afternoon, setting off a seven-month public review of the $1 billion redevelopment that would add roughly 1.3 million square feet of space to the complex by 2027. Industry City CEO Andrew Kimball put forward the proposal for certification just a month after agreeing to a second delay to allow for additional community engagement.
The filing came as a surprise to many within the Sunset Park community, including Councilmember Carlos Menchaca, who found Kimball’s abrupt actions “deeply troubling” and “premature,” according to a staffer. The employee said that the local politician would reject the current proposal unless “a lot of work” was done.
“Starting [Monday] creates a high-stakes pressure that is antithetical to sound community input in the face of a developer’s overwhelming resources,” Menchaca said. “I am outraged that they would choose to move forward less than one week after a community coalition, comprised of our neighbors, made a commitment to explore the feasibility of a community benefits agreement. The developer’s decision reflects an unwillingness to continue following the Sunset Park community’s lead and I find that troubling.”