With its lengthy environmental cleanup now done, Whole Foods Market has begun site preparation work for its first Brooklyn store and is on pace for a fall 2013 opening.
“Once the site preparation is complete, we anticipate beginning work on the foundation in late fall, with the store’s steel frame expected to start going up around the beginning of the year,” said Michael Sinatra, a Whole Foods spokesman in a recent memo to Community Board 6 District Manager Craig Hammerman. “Construction will then move ahead steadily toward our expected fall 2013 grand opening.”
The 52,000-square-foot store along the banks of the toxic Gowanus Canal will include a 20,000-square-foot greenhouse. Whole Foods bought the site in 2004, but the project hit a snag when toxic oil tanks were found buried beneath the site in 2006. The store chain had planned to open the supermarket by 2008.
As planned, a landmarked 19th century brick building at the property’s corner on Third Avenue and Third Street – which is not owned by Whole Foods Market – will remain in place. Whole Foods will build around it but will also spruce up the deteriorating structure with a new roof and exterior repairs.
“As you may recall, as part of our development plan we have committed to undertaking repairs to the landmarked Long Island Coignet Stone Company Building that is located adjacent to our site,” he wrote. “Our architects are currently working on drawings for the renovation of the façade, which will then need to be approved by New York landmarks officials. Once approved, we will be able to move forward on exterior repairs to the building in conjunction with the store’s construction.”