IndustryCity is a set of industrial buildings on the waterfront edge of Sunset Park, Brokklyn. Originally a manufacturing area, now bought by developers seeking to bring in businesses to rent in the space, the complex has been the subject of some debate, as some argue that the development will raise rent and housing prices, pushing local residents out of Sunset Park, while others insist that the space will bring economic prosperity and jobs to the area. At 34 35th Street, Hana Kitchens is just one company renting space in the development, a shared kitchen where small-scale food producers and catering companies work until they have gathered the money and momentum needed to buy or rent their own space. The 6000 sq. foot kitchen, which has been in IndustryCity for nine years, is now part of a push within the New York City food scene towards smaller-scale food production, facilitated by shared spaces and kitchen incubators.
Industry City, a swath of warehouse buildings built in the 1890s and formerly known as Bush Terminal, was purchased in 2013 by Jamestown, the development group responsible for Manhattan’s Chelsea Market, beginning development with an initial investment of $100 million.
. Though supporters of the development argue that attracting businesses will bring jobs and prosperity to Sunset Park, those opposed to the development insist that it is disconnected from the neighborhood.
There are worries that the 6 million-square-foot development will prompt an increase in working-class Sunset Park’s already rising rent prices.
But some argue that because the businesses coming in to Industry City are often hi-tech office spaces or production companies requiring high level experience and skill, they don’t offer much for most residents by way of quality working class jobs.
The list of equipment available to tenants is long: from shrink-wrap machines to bread and meat slicers, from mixers that could fit a full-sized person to the crown jewel, the Revent oven, which feels about the size of a NYC studio apartment.
“It’s really surprising, in a way. For some producers, this is like a side job, a weekend job, they still have their 9-5 jobs, and for others, this is their life.”
Pedro Arvizu, who has worked at Hana for three years and has his own line of Mexican-inspired pastries, which he creates at the kitchen.
Hana is just one in a wave of “culinary incubators” that rent kitchen space to new food startups who can avoid heavy equipment costs while they work to gain their footing in the industry.
The 12,000 square foot space is split into eleven kitchens: seven smaller spaces, and four larger ones. Tenants choose between three shifts: the “AM”, 8AM to 4PM at $180, the “PM”, 4PM to midnight for $150, and the “Midnight,” midnight to 8AM at $120.
Hana began as a 6,000 square foot pastry-kitchen, opened by Michael Hu, a pastry chef of thirty-five years who left his home in Hawaii to come to New York. After stints at the Hyatt, Hilton, and Waldorf Astoria, Hu left the hotel world to open his own kitchen nine years ago. When the economy worsened, he came up with the idea to share the space, which he expanded in 2013.
Carts in Hana Kitchen, used by tenants to transport ingredients.
Alfonso Arvizu, who works at Hana part-time.
“The whole purpose is that there’ll be a bridge to the community,” said Arizu. “It’s creating jobs. Industry City is bringing all these companies here, is bringing even more momentum to Brooklyn.”
3 comments
Phoebe, as I have mentioned in class. I really appreciate your efforts. I love your composition. You take great photos! Thanks for showing me a part of NYC I never thought I would ever see.
Phoebss, I love how you have composed your story about Industry City 🙂 looking at your pics i can see the bareness of this neighborhood.. Like seeing the bones of ones body!!!
Love it!!!!
Great work, I think if you were to take out all of the people it would look like you explored like an abandoned building or something. The outside and inside are all so barren that it seems like this place hasn’t been used in years, but then you throw the people in there and it’s like what? people actually work here? Industry City is a very strange collection of things, but I like that you have covered it. Because if I were to go there by myself I would wonder if it were a ghost town or not.
Phoebe, as I have mentioned in class. I really appreciate your efforts. I love your composition. You take great photos! Thanks for showing me a part of NYC I never thought I would ever see.
Phoebss, I love how you have composed your story about Industry City 🙂 looking at your pics i can see the bareness of this neighborhood.. Like seeing the bones of ones body!!!
Love it!!!!
Great work, I think if you were to take out all of the people it would look like you explored like an abandoned building or something. The outside and inside are all so barren that it seems like this place hasn’t been used in years, but then you throw the people in there and it’s like what? people actually work here? Industry City is a very strange collection of things, but I like that you have covered it. Because if I were to go there by myself I would wonder if it were a ghost town or not.