55 Water Street part of Empire Stores – a Mixed-Use Development in Brooklyn

Stroock has represented a joint venture between Rockwood Capital and Midtown Equities in securing financing from M &T Bank for a mixed-use project in the DUMBO section of Brooklyn.

The $245 million loan is for 55 Water Street, an 1860s-era warehouse building that was recently renovated – including the addition of a sixth floor to the original five stories. Part of the Empire Stores development, the project will ultimately have 380,000 square feet of commercial space, including office, retail, restaurant, exhibition, rooftop gardens and public facilities.  The loan consisted of a $217.3 million land loan, plus $27.7 million for future project costs.

Stroock real estate partner Diana Brummer and associate Elizabeth Akerman led the team on behalf of Rockwood and Midtown Equities.

The Midtown Equities and Rockwood Capital partnership was selected by the Brooklyn Bridge Park Board of Directors to redevelop Empire Stores in 2013.  At the time of the selection, the City provided the following description of the former warehouses: “The Empire Stores are a complex of seven contiguous four- and five-story historic warehouses containing approximately 347,000 gross square feet. The warehouses, located in DUMBO, were built between 1869 and 1885 and primarily used for coffee storage until they were abandoned in the 1960s. The warehouses have been closed for over 50 years due to deteriorated buildings conditions. Redevelopment will reactivate the structure and allow for a mix of commercial, retail and office uses that complement that unique character of this industrial waterfront structure.”

Stroock provides strategic transactional, regulatory and litigation advice to advance the business objectives of leading financial institutions, multinational corporations and entrepreneurial businesses in the U.S. and globally.  With a rich history dating back 140 years, the firm has offices in New York, Los Angeles, Miami and Washington, DC. For more, visit www.stroock.com.