The now bustling and exciting Bruckner Boulevard corridor in Port Morris is welcoming another positive addition.
A vacant parcel at 101 Bruckner Boulevard, across from the Willis Avenue Bridge, is to be transformed into a one-story state-of-the-art retail building.
Owned by 925 Capital, the 101 Bruckner Boulevard property will offer 8,000 to 8,500 square feet of retail space with an additional 4,000 square feet dedicated to parking on the building’s right side.
When it opens in September of 2019, 101 Bruckner will feature an open, rentable rooftop with unobstructed views of Manhattan and the south Bronx.
That property is one of the first ‘new’ developments in the area to come east of the Willis Avenue Bridge, excluding an office building that’s rising east of St. Anns Avenue.
In addition to its close proximity to the Brook and 3rd Avenue #6 IRT stops, 925 Capital sees favorable marketability for this project due to its closeness to Pulaski Park and the Manhattan-connecting pedestrian bridge.
“Right now we’re looking for up to three tenants for this space, but they have to be the right ones,” said Jonathan Yunason, president of 925 Capital. “We want to keep this area as ‘organic’ as possible, so there isn’t any interest in (leasing space to) corporate tenants to 101 Bruckner,” the president added.
Few developers have a commitment to the organic nature of retail like Yunason does.
Six years ago, he along with 925 Capital were some of the first investors to see the hidden gem that is now becoming a vibrant south Bronx.
“When you realize that midtown Manhattan is just 13 minutes away, that’s just something that can’t be overlooked,” Yunason said mentioning that 925 Capital operates primarily with Bronx properties.
In that short time, he saw the nature of the area re-invent itself into creative workspaces for the arts and restaurants alike.
And just as importantly to Yunason is his relationship-building activities with many of the local businesses such as Bronx Native clothing, while even attending open-mic nights at neighboring restaurant hotspot, Beatstro.
“It’s become a real community,” Yunason said while mentioning his affinity towards developing the Port Morris area comes from knowing that population displacement is not an issue in the area.
“It’s mainly industrial so nobody will be pushed out by this,” he added.
Inspired by what is already developed, 925 Capital intends to use its commercial properties to support the area’s creative cultural trends.
“The (new business pioneers) have a vision for this area and we want to be respectful of that,” he said, pointing out that the 18-foot high ceilings of 101 Bruckner should interest certain tenants, potentially an art gallery. Yunason also mentioned a strong desire in luring a unique and trendy restaurant to 101 Bruckner, with the possibility of a rooftop bar.
“We’ll see what happens,” he said.
As far as marketing its inventory of properties in the area, 925 Capital is exploring uses for a two-story, creative space it owns on East 134th Street, adjacent to the Third Avenue Bridge and the Compound art gallery.
