The loading balconies in the atrium of warehouse B are staggered diagonally, and a 5-short-ton (4.46-long-ton; 4.54-metric-ton) overhead movable crane moved cargo between the balconies. [61], By December, the federal government agreed to sell the terminal for $8.5 million; roughly half of the cost, or $4 million, would be paid by the city, while the remaining balance would be paid by the United States Economic Development Administration. But the multi-tiered fort located under the shadows of Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge on Staten Island is a 226-acre park with one-of-a-kind views of New York Harbor. Want more Thrillist? It involves 500,000 square feet more than 11 acres on seven floors in the middle of Building A, on the waterfront. Description [ edit] Abandoned railroad tracks inside building B's atrium Close-up of staggered balconies inside the atrium The Brooklyn Army Terminal covers about 97 acres (39 ha). See. The Brooklyn Army Terminal is a large complex of warehouses, offices, piers, docks, cranes, rail sidings and cargo loading equipment on 95 acres (380,000 m2) between 58th and 63rd Street in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, New York City. Mr. Bodnar has tried to set a more upbeat tone with the historical photos displayed around the lobby of Building B. [102], After subway service in Lower Manhattan was disrupted following the September 11, 2001, attacks, the city established a free ferry service from the Brooklyn Army Terminal's 58th Street Pier to Pier 11/Wall Street, using funds provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. [104] In 2008, New York Water Taxi established a route between Pier 11 and Breezy Point, Queens, with a stop at Brooklyn Army Terminal. Under this arrangement, transatlantic liners were able to dock at the Brooklyn Army Base's piers. CAN YOU CALL ME AT 212-426-1020 ASK FOR BRANISLAV LUCIC. My ship, the Gen. Darby, transported Army troops and dependents to West Germany in the 60s. [75] After the renovations were complete, the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) started leasing the property as a center for dozens of light manufacturing, warehousing and back-office businesses,[33] with rents averaging $3.75 per square foot. [74] All of the available space had been leased by October 1989. Id rather not go to my own funeral, he said. Afternoon light penetrates the west wall of the atrium. At almost 100 acres, the property covers the length of several city blocks. [37] By July 1948, the base was receiving 18,500 soldiers' bodies within a span of two weeks. All that remains of the fishing-vessel-turned-warship is its weathered hull. Like us on Facebook to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. Building A has had the most cosmetic work inside so far and looks far more modern. [32] During the late 1950s, the base received Hungarian Revolution refugees, as well as victims of a 1956 crash between the SS Andrea Doria and the MS Stockholm. Next Phase of Renovation to Begin at a Vast Military Remnant in Brooklyn But through much of the 60s and 70s, the facility fell into a period ofdecay and decline. The Brooklyn Army Base was one of six United States Army terminals whose construction was approved by United States Congress on May 6, 1918, to accommodate Army activity during World War I. Finally, A Park Grows in Brooklyn's Last Industrial Pocket Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, TikTok, and Snapchat. [29] Despite protests, the government decided to proceed with plans for the prison. The ferry route charged a $2 fare for each passenger. Pingback: The 50 best things to do on the Brooklyn waterfront this summer, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE IT A SHOPPING CENTER AND FOOD COURT. Brooklyn Army Terminal's immense size and unique combination of building specifications enable the complex to support a wide variety of business uses. His company is still there and theyre friendly so Ill definitely see if I can get a glimpse in The subway tracks nearby are also amazing, as well as the port and loading dock. Follow us on Twitter to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. [13] The NYCEDC also started renovating the Administration Building into a food-manufacturing complex at a cost of $15 million. [54][55] The Navy moved into the terminal in 1972, and renamed it the Military Ocean Terminal. Despite its enormous size, the Army Terminal was not the largestmilitary supply base in the country, or even in New York City, but it did serve as the headquarters for the New York Port of Embarkation, a vast network of warehouses, piers, supply depots and camps scattered across the region that moved more troops and matieriel than any other port in the country. [27] However, the base commander denied all rumors that the base would be abandoned or sold off. you can pick up a signed copy directly through me at this website. Title advice: "Abandoned in Brooklyn" sounds like it's literally abandoned. [15] The renovation of the 500,000-square-foot space in Building A was completed in June 2018, just after the 100th anniversary of when construction started on the terminal. Fort Totten Park, QueensOnce an impressive Civil War fortress, Fort Totten stands (mostly untouched) as a hauntingly beautiful relic. Each of the piers measured 1,300 feet (400m) long; one of the piers was 130 feet (40m) wide while the other two piers measured 130 feet (40m) wide. All rights reserved. Nov. 23, 2018 The Brooklyn Army Terminal was built for war, and during World War II, it was the largest military supply base in the country, with its own railroad line and police and fire. The former Brooklyn Army Base now served as the headquarters for the Military Sealift Command (MSC) Atlantic. [45] Immediately afterward, the New York City government announced that it would acquire the terminal for maritime redevelopment. Once deposited into the warehouse, cargo could be moved through the buildings by means of a network of connecting skybridges, and eventually moved down onto three enormous waterfront piers and loaded onto ships. As World War I had already ended, this full capacity was not used for some time. Nothing too special, but fun to see! During World War II, the terminal was the headquarters of a network of installations along the East Coast that sent 3.5 million troops and 43 million tons of cargo overseas. [47] In addition, U.S. The Brooklyn Army Terminal was designed by Cass Gilbert. In 1981, the complex was sold to New York City, and it is now a thriving industrial park, home to more than 100 businesses and employing more than 3,600 New Yorkers in a variety of industries. [4] Warehouse A had a footprint of 200 by 980 feet (61 by 299m), while warehouse B measured 306 by 980 feet (93 by 299m). [77] Its location outside the terminal was a temporary measure, necessitated because residents of neighborhoods along the East River objected to the barge's presence. 2023 Atlas Obscura. The jobwas split into discrete stages, tackling one section of the massivecomplexat a time. Let me be the first to point out that the Brooklyn Army Terminal is far from abandoned. The most famous visitor wasElvis Presley, who stayedlonger than most, holding a press conference in front ofa crowd of photographers, reporters, and fans before embarking on an 18 month tour of Germany in 1958. Restoration is progressing on a previously abandoned admin building. Seemingly decorative studs lining the topof the facadeactually function as a simple but effective drainage system for the roof. Hundreds of thousands of men passed through the terminal on their way to serve overseas, arriving by trains that dropped them off a few paces from the ramps ofoutgoing ships. Robert S. McNamara, who was then the secretary of defense, ordered the terminal closed in 1964. 10 Abandoned Places to Discover in Brooklyn, NYC [11], The railroad tracks connected to four car floats and a large rail yard along the western shore of Bay Ridge, to the south of Brooklyn Army Terminal. [75] The first industrial tenants signed leases for space in the terminal in May 1987. It contains two warehouses, three piers, several smaller administrative buildings, and rail sidings for loading cargo. The city received four proposals: of these, two were for industrial redevelopment, one was for residential development, and one was for mixed-use development. However, the Brooklyn Army Base was also designed for light industrial use so that it could be used as a civilian facility after the war ended. These include Pvt. Each could lower a cable that would then be attached to items unloaded from the trains. Among the 3,200 civilian and military jobs that were lost that day, about one-third were held by longshoremen. The Brooklyn Army Terminal (BAT) Covid-19 testing and vaccine site was urgently built in just a few weeks in Spring 2020. Overall, the structure reflects the austerity and efficiency one might expect given its military origins, and sure enough, nearly every architectural embellishment turns out to serve a practical purpose. Book stuff is starting to wind down, but I do have a couple events on the horizonfor anyone interested in attending. It offers two-hour tours of the terminal, which is otherwise closed to the general public. But heres an example of ahistoric building that has been painstakingly brought back from the brink of decayover a period of 35 yearswith$150millionin public and private investmenttobecome a viable sourceof job creation. [48] A dispute arose between local business owners, who wanted a large post office facility in the terminal, and the city. [20] The next year, a law passed by Congress gave the United States Shipping Board access to all piers that the Army was not using. [56] Army shipping activities were permanently moved to Bayonne starting in 1974, saving the federal government $2 million per year. This is the Bush Terminal, about 10 blocks away from the Brooklyn Army Terminal, and it wasn't a shipyard, but a port and warehouse facility. (A freight line, New York New Jersey Rail, still runs through the complex.) House Votes for a Takeover by City Of Old Army Terminal in Brooklyn That year the Army Terminal was decommissioned, though it limped along with a few federal agencies continuing to occupy its cavernous spaces. [70], The site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. The refurbished area could accommodate an additional 20 companies.
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