Better-Than-Chelsea Market Concept Proposed for the 'Burg

Design studio Spacecutter is proposing turning a low-slung red brick warehouse on Berry Street next to McCarren Park into the Williamsburg Market, replete with chic artisanal vendors filling its stalls, a green roof, and public space that will make the market an extension of McCarren Park across the street. Or maybe just turn that warehouse into a mega-Duane Reade?

Spacecutter's proposal for a Williamsburg Market:

Have you seen that 1 story, brick, warehouse on the west side of McCarren Park? It’s obvious that site is underutilized & a storage warehouse no longer makes sense there. The entire perimeter of the park has been undergoing an intense food & mid-rise
redevelopment. The track, soccer field & tennis courts are all new & the widely
anticipated pool renovation was completed this summer. It’s obvious that the North-Williamsburg/Greenpoint park environs have received some investment, & it shows .
Let’s convert that warehouse into a food market for the neighborhood & hungry park-goers. Let’s call it Williamsburg Market, like Chelsea Market, but better.

The first floor is composed of food vendors & stalls of various sizes, to include:
sandwich & coffee shops; butchers; fruit & vegetable vendors; bread, pastry & chocolate
shops; artisanal cheeses; wine & beer. Surely, Momofuku & The Bedford Cheese Shop
will want a spot there.

The second floor deck takes advantage of the views to the park & the large sun
exposure. Facing the deck can be found restaurants, bars & nighttime establishments.
Running along the rear/west edge is a 50’x200’ space allocated for a community-based cultural establishment to include art, dance & music performance. The idea being, that the second level is a nighttime destination with a variety of programs that work in concert.

Lastly, the green roof aides with storm water retention & is conceptually an extension of
the park, an open roof/stair connects N12th & N13th Street inviting pedestrians in, with
parking located underground.

This is clearly what the neighborhood needs.

· Spacecutter [spacecutter.com]