East New York Industrial Business Zone (IBZ)

East New York IBZ Plan 

The East New York IBZ Plan is a comprehensive approach to strengthening the historic industrial hub and securing its future as a thriving employment center and contributor to the local economy of East New York and Brownsville. 

Released by NYCEDC and Council Member Rafael L. Espinal, Jr. in 2016, the plan is bolstered by $16.7M in capital investment and outlines five main strategies to position the IBZ for growth, including: 

• Activating underutilized sites to jumpstart industrial growth 
• Aligning land use framework to preserve and grow industrial space 
• Investing in critical infrastructure to improve the business environment 
• Increasing business services and local job opportunities to better connect the East New York IBZ with surrounding communities 
• Promoting the East New York IBZ to attract new industrial businesses and growing sectors 

A Plan in Action

Marketing the IBZ

We worked with the East Brooklyn Business Improvement District (EBBID) to design a new marketing campaign to rebrand the industrial area buildings. The campaign highlights the diverse businesses and sectors that are active in the IBZ and has been used by the EBBID for business attraction and tradeshow events with local developers. 

We also unveiled new light pole banners around the IBZ, posters at key intersection, and a large-scale mural on the façade of the Trey Whitfield School—visible from as high as the Atlantic Avenue viaduct—in fall 2017 as part of National Manufacturer’s Day. Four new gateway industrial park signs, with new lighting, were also designed and installed at the entryways to the IBZ.

Updating Space

For the design and gut renovation of a 30,000-square-foot City-owned and NYCEDC-managed building at Powell Street and Pitkin Avenue, we procured an architecture firm and construction manager that are each City-and State-certified M/WBEs. Construction is anticipated to begin in Summer 2019.

We also worked with Eastern Effects, a video and film production company, to convert a 25,000-square-foot warehouse on Georgia Avenue into new film studios, creating new good-paying permanent jobs.