Prospect Park’s horse stables get new owner, plan for residential topper

The winning bidder for Brooklyn’s once-endangered Kensington Stables has revealed his identity: industrialist and working waterfront proponent John Quadrozzi Jr., who is president of the GBX-Gowanus Bay Terminal (which includes the abandoned Red Hook Grain Terminal), is now the owner of the historic stables—one of Brooklyn’s last.

Quadrozzi purchased the property back in December, but the deal just closed this month. As the stables’ new owner, Quadrozzi plans to maintain the space a facility for horses while also seeking a zoning variance so as to build seven or so floors of residential space on top of the single-story structure, Crain’s reported. Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams also tweeted his support.

“We’re going to revitalize the stable with all state of the art equipment,” Quadrozzi told Crain’s. This equipment will include include odor elimination ventilators, a prime investment to keep future upstairs residents happy. City Councilman Brad Lander, who swore to prevent a rezoning of the stables if the new owner didn’t intend on preserving the space as a horse facility, tweeted his support for Quadrozzi’s plan—or at least the preservation aspect.

The Blankenship family will maintain a stake in the property and continue caring for the horses. Quadrozzi’s 19-year-old daughter will also have a stake. According to Crain’s, Quadrozzi and his family have long been customers of the stables.

Quadrozzi’s ownership comes after the city’s bid to buy the barn from its longtime operators, the Blankenship family, fell through back in August. “Parks is disappointed in the outcome of this deal, given that we had a clear understanding with the owner to bring the Stables under city ownership,” a Parks Department rep told DNAinfo at the time. The stables, built in 1930 at 55 Caton Place, declared bankruptcy last February.

Besides Kensington Stables, Brooklyn’s only other equestrian facility is Jamaica Bay Riding Academy out in Bergen Beach.

• And the winning bidder for Brooklyn’s Kensington Stables is … [Crain’s]
• City bid to buy Prospect Park’s endangered horse stables falls apart [Curbed]