Ridgewood civic and business leaders are hoping to create an “industrial business zone” in the area known as SOMA – South of Myrtle Avenue – including Stephen Street. The individuals hope to draw industries back to sites in Ridgewood that once housed the hundreds of factories that previously dominated the area. While this building – a former knitting mill – was sold in May for $1.3 million and is slated to become an artist’s studio, residents said they would like to see new industries set up shop in buildings like this. Anna Gustafson/The Forum Newsgroup
Where once there were hundreds of factories lining the streets of Ridgewood – places that churned out as much as 25 percent of the sweaters bought by Americans and made supplies for soldiers in World War II – there remain empty buildings, their exteriors now adorned by decades-old telephone numbers and “For Rent” signs.
These buildings sit in the area known as “SOMA” – South of Myrtle Avenue – emblazoned with signs of companies long gone – businesses like knitting factories and textile mills that closed up shop as the American economy shifted away from production and cheaper labor costs prompted those industries to migrate to other countries.
And, for some in the Ridgewood community, they are representative of what the U.S. – and specifically this neighborhood – could, once again, become: a production giant where people can land skilled jobs that guarantee them a spot in the middle class.
But in order to do that, some civic and business leaders said there must be incentives to draw companies back to the area – which is why the Ridgewood Local Development Corporation has proposed creating what is known as an “industrial business zone” in the area bordered by Cypress Avenue in the north, Irving Avenue to the south, Hancock Street to the west and the New York Connecting Railroad Bay Ridge Freight Line in the east. Also being considered for the IBZ are Ridgewood and Glendale properties along the freight line from Irving Avenue to Myrtle Avenue. The city first launched the IBZ program in 2006, creating 16 such zones throughout the five boroughs, including in Maspeth, Jamaica, Astoria, and Long Island City, in an attempt to lure industrial and manufacturing businesses back to the area through tax credits and other business assistance.
“We’ve always felt manufacturing is very important for the sustainability of a viable community,” said Ted Renz, executive director of the Ridgewood LDC. “The IBZ program seems to be a program that, if it’s brought into our area, will bring vital jobs to our community and residents and, at the same time, preserve the manufacturing areas that have begun to disappear in the city of New York.”
Community Board 5 held a hearing on the proposal at its meeting last week, during which a number of civic and business leaders backed the idea – though some property owners said they would rather see the area be zoned for residential use because they have tried, and failed, to lease space to manufacturing or industrial companies.
“We shouldn’t be allowing the rest of the world to make products that we consume at very low wages,” said CB 5 District Manager Gary Giordano. “That section of Myrtle Avenue was quite vibrant years ago. I think that things have changed as far as what types of businesses might move into an area like that – I don’t think you’ll see big manufacturers looking to locate there. I think what is more the reality nowadays is dividing what was once manufacturing space for one large business among numerous businesses.”
Giordano said he imagines something like what has occurred at 17-17 Troutman St. in Ridgewood would play out in the IBZ. At the Troutman Street building – formerly a big industrial site – about 50 businesses have moved in, including designers and architects.
“New York City has always had this boutique manufacturing – it’s what made the garment industry the garment industry,” said CB 5 member John Maier. “One company would do the cutting, another the sewing – and that’s returning to the U.S. That mode of manufacturing is on the uptick.”
An attorney for some of the property owners opposed to the IBZ did not return phone calls for comment, but Eric Palatnik, who represents some of the property owners on Irving Avenue, told the Daily News that his clients have had little luck finding tenants and want the area to become residential so they could potentially build more lucrative apartment buildings.
But those in favor of the proposal emphasized that they believe tenants would be drawn to the IBZ because, as part of the program, companies that relocate to the area receive a $1,000 tax credit per employee, up to 100 workers.
“That’s a very positive thing,” said Vernon McDermott, who owns the Julian A. McDermott Corp., a lighting company, on Stephen Street – part of the area that would be in the IBZ. “There’s assistance you get as an industrial business – they assign somebody to help you do things like get a loan or expand. For me, it’s a win for businesses. There are so many empty buildings there; it would be good to get business back.”
The community board’s Zoning and Land Use Committee and Economic Development Committee will meet around July 1 to discuss the proposal, including property owners’ concerns, after which Giordano said there’s a “50-50” chance the board would vote on the plan at its July 10 meeting. If the board approves the plan, it then goes to the city for the final stamp of approval.
By Anna Gustafson
