Sidewalk closures, scaffolding and construction crews have become common place along several stretches of Myrtle Avenue in Fort Greene and Clinton Hill. The recent surge in construction work is both private developments of mixed-use buildings, as well as the reconstruction of Myrtle Avenue itself and the creation of the new Myrtle Avenue Plaza. Below is a rundown and status update of all the projects currently planned or in development.
Along Myrtle Avenue in Fort Greene and Clinton Hill, there are nine new projects currently under construction or planned. Combined, these projects will add 1,125 new housing units and 70,500 square feet of new ground-floor commercial space.
531 Myrtle Avenue
Former site of White Castle, at the corner of Steuben Street, this new five-story development will have 6,000 square feet of retail space on the ground floor with 27 apartments above.
The project is being developed by Greystone Property Development and was designed by AB Architekten. Commercial space is currently available to lease through RKF.
525 Myrtle Avenue
Former site of Myrtle Car Service, between Grand Avenue and Steuben Street, this new seven-story building will have 22 apartments on the upper floors and 2,650 square feet of commercial condo space available on the ground floor.
The project is being developed by FBS Realty and was designed by Gerald J. Caliendo.
504 Myrtle Avenue
Former site of the Pratt Station Post Office, between Grand Avenue and Ryerson Street, this new eight-story building will have 141 apartments and 20,000 square feet of retail space on the ground floor. 28 apartments are slated to be filled through an affordable housing lottery, details of which have not yet been released.
The project is being developed by Madison Capital Realty and was designed by HTO Architects.
504 Myrtle Avenue
As seen in the previous photo, foundation work has been completed and framing for the building is now rising quickly. In addition to new stores and apartments, the building is also slated to house 95 under-ground parking spaces.
491 Myrtle Avenue
This formerly vacant lot (which witnessed a building collapse in 2009), will be home to a new five-story mixed-use building. Six new apartments and 1,220 square feet of commercial space will comprise this 5,000 square foot building.
The project is being developed by MLR Holdings and was designed by Isaac Stern.
501 Myrtle Avenue
In November 2014, the owners of Sapolo restaurant filed plans to construction a new six-story building. The plans call for a 1,700 square foot commercial space on the ground floor, with ten units of housing above.
The restaurant remains open and no date has been announced for when work might begin.
Myrtle Avenue Plaza
Construction work is underway to build the new Myrtle Avenue Plaza, which will span two blocks alongside Myrtle Avenue between Grand Avenue and Emerson Place. Click here to read more details about the new 25,000 SF pedestrian space.
Construction work resumed in March, following a winter hiatus. Currently, crews are installing new curbs and pouring new sidewalks. All subsurface work, including the installation of new sewer and water lines, was completed in late 2015.
Construction activity has closed the eastbound driving lane of Myrtle Avenue, between Hall Street and Emerson Place. All car and bus traffic must detour to Willoughby Avenue to continue east. Please click here to read full details about the B54 reroute and temporary relocation of bus stops. These traffic changes are scheduled to be in place until late July 2016.
134 Vanderbilt Avenue
The former Gulf Gas Station at the corner of Myrtle and Vanderbilt Avenues, which closed in 2014, is slated to see a new eight story building. The new development will house 46 apartments and 8,050 square feet of commercial space on the ground floor.
Construction work has not yet begun, even though new building permits were issued in June 2015.
The property is being developed by All Year Management and was designed by ODA Architects.
The Margo: 180 Myrtle Avenue
This fifteen floor building will have 228 apartments on the upper-floors, with 10,603 square feet of commercial space and 500 square feet of community facility space on the ground floor. The building will also house a garage in the basement with 133 parking spaces. Up to ten storefronts are currently available to lease, marketed by Winick Retail Specialists.
The building topped out on August 2015 with most major construction has been completed.
The property is being developed by Red Apple Development Group and was designed by Dattner Architects.
The Giovanni: 81 Fleet Place
This fifteen floor building will have 205 apartments on the upper-floors, with 11,773 square feet of commercial space on the ground floor. The building also houses a 150-space commercial parking garage in the basement, operated by Quik Park.
The building is now open, with residential apartments available to rent through Corcoran Real Estate Group, and up to five storefronts available to lease through Winick Retail Specialists. At least one storefront has already been leased to Wine Legend, a full service wine, beer and spirits shop.
The property is being developed by Red Apple Development Group and was designed by Dattner Architects.
86 Fleet Place
The fourth and final Myrtle Avenue development by John Catsimatidis’ Red Apple Group will be a 32-story tower. The building will include 440 apartments, with 10,025 square feet of ground-floor retail space. Up to four storefronts are currently available to lease through Winick Retail Specialists.
Construction is well underway, with foundation work completed and framing quickly rising.
The building was designed by Goldstein, Hill & West Architects.
86 Fleet Place
Red Apple Group’s 32-story tower sits between the 15-story Giovanni and the 37-story Toren building at the corner of Myrtle and Flatbush Avenue extension.
Room for Local Business Growth
The new buildings rising on Myrtle Avenue will bring many new storefronts and opportunities for the commercial district to serve the daily needs of local residents. In total, these nine buildings will add up to 26 new storefronts, growing Myrtle Avenue’s commercial footprint by 13%.
“In conversations with property owners and brokers of these new spaces, we’ve advocated for businesses that are most in demand by local residents. Our recent consumer surveys and a district retail assessment found opportunity in sectors like specialty food shops (butchers and ice cream), family clothing, boutique retailers, and services like gyms and urgent care, so we’ve focused our business attraction efforts in these categories.”- Meredith Phillips Almeida, Executive Director, Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn Partnership
Click here to view a list of available retail spaces or to view the current business attraction brochure, It’s On Myrtle Avenue.
Below is a map of the new privately developed buildings along Myrtle Avenue that are either currently planned or under construction.
