New Affordable Industrial Center Will House More Than Two Dozen Manufacturing Businesses, Including Woodworkers, Custom Fabricators, and Others
Non-profit Industrial developer Greenpoint Manufacturing and Design Center Invested $42 million to Rehabilitate a 113-year-old Factory
State agencies including Empire State Development (ESD), NYS Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation, and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) today joined non-profit industrial developer Greenpoint Manufacturing and Design Center (GMDC) and Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul to open the GMDC Ozone Park Industrial Center in Ozone Park, Queens. By providing 85,000 square feet of affordable industrial space to local small and mid-sized manufacturing businesses, this project supports Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s efforts to revitalize New York’s manufacturing sector and support small businesses.
Empire State Development Acting Commissioner and President & CEO-Designate Eric J. Gertler said, “New York City was a manufacturing stalwart for generations, producing everything from ships and pianos to bicycles and textiles — all while powering our economy to new heights. Today, our economy spans from the largest multi-national corporations to individual artisans, and we are honoring that legacy by partnering with a non-profit that will ensure small manufacturers remain part of New York’s economic landscape.”
Erik Kullesied, Commissioner of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation, said, “The rehabilitation of the New York State and National Registers listed former Spear & Company Factory is another example of how Historic Tax Credits create sustainable development opportunities in New York City. By reusing a historic asset from our past, the Greenpoint Manufacturing and Design Center is now a hub for generating bright and innovate pathways to the future.”
Alicia Barton, President and CEO, NYSERDA said, “Congratulations to Greenpoint Manufacturing and Design Center for its commitment to transitioning under-utilized historic buildings into high-quality space for skilled artisans and entrepreneurs who are helping strengthen the local economy. Supporting energy efficient technologies and renewable energy resources as part of historic renovations demonstrates New York’s commitment to fostering economy-wide carbon neutrality as we build cleaner, healthier communities for all and protect our natural environment under Governor Cuomo’s clean energy and climate goals.”
“The new GMDC Ozone Park Industrial Center builds on our economic development strategy by transforming a historic structure into space that will allow manufacturers to thrive in Queens,” said Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul. “Supported by significant state investment, this project embraces our past and charts a course for the future focused on job growth, innovation, and the continued rebirth of manufacturing across New York.”
Brian T. Coleman, CEO of Greenpoint Manufacturing and Design Center Local Development Corporation, said, “GMDC is grateful for the strong support the State of New York has provided to our Ozone Park project. Funding from ESD, subsidy from NYSERDA and historic tax credits from SHPO were vital to the completion of our project.”
Founded in 1992, Greenpoint Manufacturing and Design Center (GMDC) is New York City’s premier non-profit industrial developer. To date, GMDC has rehabilitated eight manufacturing buildings in Brooklyn, providing affordable space to small manufacturers, artisans, and artists. The GMDC Ozone Park Industrial Center is GMDC’s first location outside Brooklyn.
Spread over three buildings and spanning an entire city block, the GMDC Ozone Park Industrial Center’s 85,000 square feet of manufacturing space will be leased to local woodworkers, artisans, custom fabricators, and other entrepreneurs at affordable rates. The building will house more than two dozen manufacturing businesses, providing approximately 80 jobs at the facility. The rehabilitated building achieved LEED certification and roughly two-thirds of construction workers were based in Brooklyn and Queens.
The building was originally built in 1906 as the Spear & Company Factory, and originally produced hats and wax novelty items. The building later housed the Worksman bicycle company. GMDC spent $42 million to purchase and rehabilitate the property, representing one of the largest investments in Ozone Park in recent history. The buildingis now listed on both the New York State Register of Historic Places and the National Register of Historic Places.
Winston Fisher, New York City Regional Economic Development Council Co-Chair and Partner at Fisher Brothers, said, "Small entrepreneurs represent the best of New York City, combining the Big Apple’s creativity, energy, and hustle to build their own success. Their work honors New York’s history as a manufacturing center — and by supporting this project, we are celebrating that important legacy while providing a foundation to help today’s makers succeed.”
Cheryl A. Moore, New York City Regional Economic Development Council Co-Chair and President and Chief Operating Officer of the New York Genome Center, said, “While factories may no longer line the waterfront, New York still has a robust maker economy — and we must support this new generation of artisans, woodworkers, and entrepreneurs. By rehabilitating a century-old factory, GMDC is embracing New York City’s manufacturing history while providing affordable space for the small manufacturers and artists of today. We are proud to support this project, which will make a real difference for New Yorkers.”
The project was supported by nearly $11 million from New York State, including a $2.1 million grant from Empire State Development, $8.8 million in state and federal historic preservation tax credits administered by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, and $39,000 from NYSERDA to support solar power installations on the building’s roof. The GMDC Ozone Park Industrial Center also received a $10 million grant from New York City’s Industrial Developer Fund as well as a $3.7 million loan through the Industrial Developer Loan Fund. In addition, $2.3 million in City property tax benefits were provided through the NYC Industrial Development Agency.
Tenants are expected to begin occupying the space on a full-time basis in early 2020.
State Senator James Sanders, Jr. said, “I am hopeful that this new project will create much-needed good-paying jobs, while helping re-energize our local economy and re-purpose an empty factory. This project is a good example of how government and non-profits working together can produce positive results.”
Assemblymember Michael Miller said, “I would like to thank Empire State Development, NYS Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation, and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and non-profit industrial developer Greenpoint Manufacturing and Design Center for their joint efforts completing this project in Ozone Park, Queens. With this initiative, jobs we will be created, and small businesses can thrive in the community. New York State is invested in Queens and I wholeheartedly support this new venture .”
Queens Borough President Sharon Lee said, “The GMDC Ozone Park Industrial Center will help strengthen our economy and keep us globally competitive as a borough, city and region. Entrepreneurs, businesses and workers will directly benefit from the Center’s opening, while many more will benefit from the economic ripple effects created by this critical revitalization backed by millions of dollars of public investment."
Council Member Adrienne Adams said, “I am so proud to have the new GMDC Ozone Park Industrial Center, a first-class industrial work space, in my district to increase quality industrial jobs and economic development. This previously unused space has been transformed to a gem for the community that will bring quality living wage jobs to Queens residents.”
Contact:
Jack Sterne (ESD) | [email protected] | (212) 803-3764
Dan Keefe (Parks) | [email protected]
Claudette Thornton (NYSERDA) | [email protected]