No Land Grab

SUNSET PARK - The New York City Economic Development Corporation (EDC) has issued a Request for Proposals (FP) for the northern portion of the 65th Street Rail Yard in Sunset Park.

The RFP offers 14.9 acres of the 33-acre rail yard for development for intermodal rail or waterborne uses. The rail yard is adjacent to the Brooklyn Army Terminal (BAT), a former military facility that is currently home to more than 70 companies and thousands of employees.

There will be an informational meeting and site visit for potential respondents at 11 a.m. Wednesday, February 2, at 63rd Street and Second Avenue.

"This RFP is further evidence of Mayor Bloomberg's commitment to revitalizing the City's waterfronts for industrial and maritime uses and creating quality jobs for residents of all five boroughs," said Andrew Alper, EDC president, in a published statement. "By improving freight movement in the City, we have the potential to divert thousands of cars from the roads and improve the quality of life of all New Yorkers."

The RFP is for potential use and occupancy of only the northern, intermodal portion of the Yard. The RFP arena is about 1,665 feet long by 250 feet wide and has water frontage with unimproved shoreline. The shoreline could be converted into useable concrete bulkhead for landing barges. The EDC estimates that the cost of converting the 400-foot waterfront would be about $3.8 million.

Two railroad tracks run through this portion of the yard, and two other tracks run north from the Rail Yard's throat at Second Avenue into the Brooklyn Army Terminal and to a connection with the First Avenue Rail Yard. The southern portion of the Yard consists of 14 rail tracks that make up a classification yard connected to two electric gantry float bridges. A railroad operator will be responsible for the operation of the southern portion of the site.

The 65th Street Rail Yard is located between 64th and 66th Streets, west of Second Avenue. It forms the terminus of the Long Island Rail Road's Bay Ridge freight line along the Brooklyn waterfront. The City acquired the 65th Street Rail Yard in 1982 and, in conjunction with the State, has invested more than $20 million in improvements, including construction of the two new rail transfer bridges.

To maximize alternatives available for the site, a number of agreement structures are possible, depending on whether the yard is to be used for maritime endeavors or industrial rail. The RFP contains details of the various agreement structures. For a copy, please call 212-312-3565. Proposals are due by 4 p.m. on March 8.

For site visit reservations, please send an e-mail to 65rfp@nycedc.com or call (212) 312-3600.