A vacant property that was once occupied by the family-oriented Whitestone Multiplex Cinemas, adjacent to the Unionport Bridge, will undergo the start of major development this summer, according to the property’s owner .
The former drive-in theater property will soon boast the largest fulfillment, last mile delivery, delivery center under construction in New York City at 2505 Bruckner Boulevard.
The two story, 968,000-square foot warehouse facility will break ground between July and September, according to Rob Kossar, who handles leasing for the facility along with developers Innovo Property Group and Square Mile Capital.
Currently the site doesn’t have committed tenants for the 111 loading docks split between the two floors, according to Kossar.
“We’ll be closer to reaching tenant agreements as the project gets underway this summer,” he said. “What we are very excited about is creating jobs for the Bronx in both construction and afterwards,” Kossar explained.
The leasing agent also indicated that if the facility secures e-commerce tenants, then as many as three to ten times more jobs will likely be created as opposed to the average tenant.
One aspect of the project that would attract an e-commerce giant to ink a deal with 2505 Bruckner is what Kossar called its “unique nature with so much scale.”
Some of that scale is demonstrated in the ultra high ceilings that range from 28-32 feet in height that are designed to accommodate modern tracking systems to accommodate the quick turnaround of orders and deliveries.
The property’s uniqueness is demonstrated through large scale, glass paned windows and solar panels in addition to roofed entrance ramps for trucks and an open style architectural design that will compliment the city landscape, according to Kossar.
The last mile center will serve up to a 15-mile radius and reach 9.4 million people, according to documents on the project in development.
A major part of choosing the Unionport Bridge site was its close proximity to the Bruckner Interchange, which would allow access to major highways that can easily access the entire city and well as its surrounding suburbs, the management said.
The project’s renderings indicate the builder plans to integrate providedirect access to the nearby interchange’s on and off ramps.
The site is currently used a parking lot for school buses, trucks and NYC marshal-seized vehicles.
As of press time, Community Board 10 had not determined if the proposed project was being built as of right.
Kossar and his team estimate the project to be completed within 18 to 24 months.
