A historic 19th-century open-air building in DUMBO is set to become a major source of cultural, community and education programs to be held within Brooklyn Bridge Park.
City officials today started soliciting proposals from developers vying to renovate the 25,000-square-foot former Tobacco Warehouse building.
The project is open to both for-profit groups and nonprofits to bid on. It calls for the warehouse being used year-round, meaning a roof could be added or heated tents could be used during winter months.
As the Post’s Brooklyn Blog reported two weeks ago, city officials had planned to hire a nonprofit group for the job, meaning any on-site revenues raised would only go towards maintaining the warehouse.
But following outcry by local activists fighting to keep more high-rise condos from cropping up in the park, the city opted to open up the bidding to for-group companies too.
The park is relying on high-rise condo buildings, most of which have yet to be built, to pay off an expected $16.1 million yearly maintenance tab — unless alternative funding sources can be found.
“With the release of this requests for proposals, we embark on a new cultural life for the iconic Tobacco Warehouse” said Brooklyn Bridge Park President Regina Myer.
Park officials have said the DUMBO building could host live events, a seasonal ice-skating rink and other amenities.
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