‘Made In New York’ Manufacturing Campus Coming To Bush Terminal

SUNSET PARK, BROOKLYN — The city will invest $136 million to transform two buildings at Bush Terminal into the "Made in New York" manufacturing campus, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced yesterday.

The center will focus on garment manufacturing, as well as film and television production, according to the mayor's office, and is projected to create 1,500 permanent jobs along with 800 construction jobs.

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The city expects the manufacturing center to be open for business by 2020. The renovation project will include creating 200,000 square feet of garment manufacturing space in two buildings, as well as a 100,000 square foot "state-of-the-art" film and T.V. production space. The city will also spend money to improve the streetscapes outside the property, located at 43rd Street and 1st Avenue, as well as the property's utilities.

According to the city, the average salary for the fashion industry is $57,000 annually, while those in film production average $53,000 annually.

A rendering of the future Made in New York campus

A city press release added that, "Local hiring and workforce training will ensure Sunset Park residents have access to the campus’ new jobs." Along those lines, the State University of New York's Fashion Institute of Technology will run two courses out of the Brooklyn Army Terminal, in conjunction with the Made in New York campus.

A rendering of the future Made in New York campus

According to the city, 336 feature films were shot in New York last year, a 40 percent increase over 2015. There was also a 13 percent uptick in the production of TV show episodes, the city said.

On the fashion side of the equation, the new manufacturing hub will offer "small white-box spaces" to manufacturers that will be between 2,000 and 20,000 square feet, catering "to companies working in patternmaking, marking and grading, cutting and sewing, and sample making." The city estimates that 25 to 30 garment manufacturing tenants will work in the property.

The project will also see the creation of a 7,500 square foot Café Building, whose operator will provide food and drinks to area clients and the community at large.

The city's Economic Development Corporation is also requiring new tenants at the manufacturing center to utilize the services of HireNYC and Workforce1 when staffing up.

Images via NYC Mayor's Office