The Mall-ification Of Williamsburg

Last month Brownstoner reported that a huge housing and retail complex was coming to a plot of land in Williamsburg, by Keap Street, Grand Street and Borniquen Place. Today the Brooklyn Paper takes a closer look at the development, using the dreaded M word—and not just any mall, either: a strip mall.

Meir Babaev, the developer for the project, has called it Triangle Court, and says he's negotiating with a pharmacy, an electronics shop, a convenience store, and a restaurant to move in. The silver lining: he doesn't own the land yet! Although, he says he will be purchasing it and breaking ground in June—plans are to first complete the retail section, and later add 36 residential units.

In the past the space has been occupied by an open-air retail market (early 1900s), a theater (1920s), and a gas station (1967 to recently). In the early '90s there were plans to bring a movie theater to the area, but that fell through... so strip mall it is.

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By Jen Carlson in News on April 9, 2010 3:27 PM

Comments [rss]

Guest

Meir Babaev: http://store.theonion.com/product/sometimes-i-feel-like-im-the-only-one-trying-to-ge,265/

Automocar

A strip mall in a walkable neighborhood well-served by public transit? I thought we were finally done with this crap.

Meanie Queenie

Nothing would make me happier than a Walmart.

jaycjay

"not just any mall, either: a strip mall."

On the continuum of suburban blights, a strip mall is not nearly as bad as a fully-enclosed mall.

crippledmark

How about a Trader Joe's? My life would be complete.

kazubes

here comes the apple store

TeddyNYC

Atlantic Ave., near Trader Joe's, would be a better location for Apple's 1st Brooklyn store and I'm not just saying that because I live nearby. People in Williamsburg just have to take the L to the 14th St. store (or G to the new Brooklyn store).

Papercutninja

no way man....leave it an empty lot...it's so real...it's street.

dirty hipster

i don't care what gets put in this spot as long as it's something. that empty triange is pretty dismal.

Steve R

I posted this as a comment over at the Brooklyn Paper -- here's a map on OASIS of the property and the surrounding area: Triangle property map View aerial photos over time, nearby demographics and open space, zoning patterns for the area, and more.