Brooklyn got the park — now here comes the payback.
A nearly $300 million luxury hotel and condo complex is set to stretch across the waterfront from the main entrance of Brooklyn Bridge Park by 2015 as city officials today tapped developers to build the controversial project.
Toll Brothers and Starwood Capital Group are expected to break ground next summer on two, 10- and 5-story buildings that’ll bring 200 hotel rooms and 159 apartments to a bulldozed lot at Pier 1 in Brooklyn Heights, just south of the Brooklyn Bridge.
Project opponents fear the new development will create neighborhood traffic woes, block scenic waterfront views – especially from the Brooklyn Heights promenade — and turn the public park into little more than a fancy backyard for condo buyers.
But city officials say the development is essential to completing the entire park as it will generate $3.3 million in revenues towards the park’s expected $16.1 million annual maintenance budget.
The development will also include 16,000 square feet of restaurant space, 16,000 square feet of banquet and meeting space, 2,000 square feet of retail space, a 6,000-square-foot spa and fitness center, 300 parking spaces and provide new public restrooms for park visitors.
When complete, the city expects the park to hold more than 1,200 condos to raise money to offset maintenance costs. This includes new housing towers for two other locations: John Street in DUMBO and at Pier 6 in Brooklyn Heights.
The existing 440-unit One Brooklyn Bridge Park housing development by Pier 5 opened four years ago.
rcalder@nypost.com