To combat rising rent in Manhattan’s Garment District and a shortage of filming space in the city, New York is set for a new 300,000-square-foot production facility dedicated to local businesses in the fashion, TV and film industries. Under the vision of WXY architecture + urban design, the city’s Made in NY Campus will be a new creative community hub in Sunset Park, Brooklyn.
In his annual State of the City speech this week, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the proposal for the $136 million development set in the borough’s industrial waterfront — the latest hotspot for creative and tech companies looking for an affordable place to work.
For the Made in NY Campus, the city is backing the renovation of two long-neglected structures in Bush Terminal that will house the burgeoning garment-manufacturing industry. The 200,000-square-foot space will accommodate 25 to 35 tenants committed to pattern making, sewing and cutting and sample making.
In addition, a new 100,000-square-foot space will be built to cater to film and TV production. One of the fastest-growing, high-wage sectors in New York, there was a 40 percent increase in feature film production last year and a 13 percent growth in television production. The new facility will offset the city’s lack of filming space with high-ceiling sound stages and areas for production and video and photo shoots as well as Augmented and Virtual Reality technology spaces.
To attract business and gain retention in the area, the campus will also feature pedestrian-friendly plazas, community amenities as well as a 7,500-square-foot cafe. Shared services like photography and educational support will also be provided to tenants.
Once complete in 2020, the project is anticipated to create 1,500 permanent jobs and 800 construction jobs.
The Made in New York Campus adds a third business campus to the Sunset Park District Plan, a New York City Economic Development Corporation–led strategy to renovate aging infrastructure and increase job-intensive industrial uses. The city already plans to set aside $115 million to upgrade the nearby Brooklyn Army Terminal with a 500,000-square-foot expansion this fall.
Images via WXY