February 2011

Steiner Studios to Double in Size: Brooklyn College School of Cinema Anchor Tenant

ARow

Rendering of Steiner Studios Building 1 Expansion.

In the coming weeks, Navy Yard tenant Steiner Studios will begin construction on 45,000 square feet of new sound stages as well as the 235,000 square foot rehabilitation of historic Building 1 (aka 25 Washington Avenue). The $90 million expansion will add more than 1,200 new film production-related jobs. As part of the expansion, Brooklyn College of the City University of New York will partner with Steiner to establish the first film school embedded on a working film lot, projected to open in the fall 2013.

At his 2011 State of the City address, Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced the Steiner expansion and the Brooklyn College Graduate School of Cinema. The graduate degree will cost approximately $35,000 as opposed to private film school tuition that can cost up to $150,000, and will help develop a diverse workforce for the City's film industry. A recent Wall Street Journal article details a $5 million gift from the college's Board Chair and former hedge fund manager Barry Feirstein. The college is expected to raise an additional $15 million.

Click here to read the full announcement.

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Tenant News

ARES Printing and Packaging

There are signs of growth across the Yard. A recent feature on CNN follows the growth of ARES, a green printing and packaging company and long-time Yard tenant in Building 5. ARES hired five full-time employees in the last few months including Adriane Richburg, a local Brooklyn resident featured in the CNN story. ARES's plans for expansion in 2011 are based upon a sales increase of 20% in 2010 and their ability to take advantage of new employee tax credits.

Underground Signs

Underground Signs, in Building 131, is making its mark in the Navy Yard and in New York City's economy by fabricating authentic aluminum metal subway signs on the same non-corrosive metal the MTA uses. A recent CNN feature uncovers the custom sign-making business and how grass roots marketing efforts has kept it afloat in this economy.

Employment Center

> BNYDC's Employment Center has screened and placed 1,000 individuals over the past six years for employers both inside and outside of the Yard across various industries.

Ysuyen Baez was placed by the Employment Center in 2001

> As a community resident of Williamsburg Brooklyn, Ysuyen Baez was unemployed with limited English language skills. The Brooklyn Navy Yard Employment Center provided an interpreter to help her prepare her for job interviews.

After being placed in 2001 at Navy Yard tenant GMD Shipyard as an Administrative Assistant/Receptionist, Ms. Baez was promoted in 2010 to Assistant Timekeeper. Ms. Baez takes pride in her new position where she is responsible for tracking work hours, submitting timesheets and preparing payroll checks.

Did you know?

...the Yard has served as a backdrop for major films since the 1940's. From "On the Town" (1949) with Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra to "Shaft's Big Score" (1972) and more recent films at Steiner Studios including "Inside Man" (2006), "Spiderman 3" (2007) and "Sex and the City" (2008).

BNYC92 Takes Shape

BNYC92 Under Construction

The Associated Press (AP) and the New York Daily News recently reported on the Navy Yard's unique exhibition and visitors center, the Brooklyn Navy Yard Center at Building 92 (BNYC92). The Daily News story highlights BNYDC's vision to make BNYC92 fully accessible to the public and the depth of its collections from oral histories to access to archival information and artifacts. The AP's story provided the project with national exposure appearing in papers across the US from the Minneapolis Star to the Washington Post generating enormous interest among veterans, relatives of Navy Yard workers, and tourists. Click here for the full AP story. For more on the exhibit, visit www.bnyc92.org.

BNYC92 is on schedule to open in fall 2011. The project includes the rehabilitation of the 1857 Thomas U. Walter-designed former Marine Commandant's residence and the addition of a modern extension constructed from modular units manufactured by Navy Yard tenant, Capsys. For footage of the final modular unit being set in place, click here.

The Navy Yard Continues to Be a Bright Spot for the City's Job Growth

Mayor Delivers Speech on Job Growth at the Brooklyn Navy Yard

In early December, Mayor Bloomberg chose the Navy Yard as the site to deliver a national speech on job creation. Given the Yard's track record of creating jobs throughout the national recession, this was no surprise. From 2001 through 2010, 2,200 jobs were created at the Brooklyn Navy Yard with another 2000 expected over the next two years. For coverage of the Mayor's speech, click here. BNYDC recently announced that 24 small businesses signed new leases or expanded at the Yard in 2010. These businesses range from one-person offices to a 465-employee medical testing company. They collectively occupy more than 75,000 square feet, employing 751 people. More than 35 existing tenants renewed leases, occupying over 400,000 square feet with 872 jobs. New tenants span a range of sectors including photography and design studios, medical rehab device manufacturing, sound design and production studios, a woodworking and cabinet shop, and an event planning office.

For full details on new and expanding businesses, click here.

Community Corner

bnydc
Volunteers and local residents enjoying tables and chairs made from Yard-recycled pallets and celebrating Park(ing) Day under the BQE

> Derek Powers, Vice President of Security at the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation, participated in the 104th Millrose Games, the legendary indoor track meet in which the New York City Police Department competes against the City's Fire Department. Mr. Powers, a former NYPD Lieutenant, was joined by his son Erek, an officer in Brooklyn's 69th Precinct. Read more about the father-son pair and the celebrated four-lap relay competition.

> This past fall, BNYDC contributed wood pallets to the Design Trust for Public Space's participation in Park(ing) Day NYC, a New York City Streets Renaissance collaboration that supports the conversion of parking spots throughout the five boroughs into human-friendly places for a single day. A team of volunteer designers created a "Parking Day" event in a space under the BQE outside of the Navy Yard. More than 30 wood pallets from the Yard were used to design and build a table for community use. For more information about Park(ing) Day, click here.