Steiner Gets Approval For New Film Studio, Despite Community Requests To Pause The Process
The New York City Economic Development Corp. is paving the way for a new film and television studio in Sunset Park, voting for the project to go forward even after calls from local residents to delay the approval process.
The EDC board of directors voted Wednesday to allow the new studio, Crain’s New York Business reports. Local groups wanted the agency to hold off on the vote so they had more time to voice their views on the development.
Jorge Muniz, an organizer with Protect Sunset Park, told the publication the project isn't certain, despite the vote going ahead. The EDC said the community had been consulted throughout the planning process.
Brooklyn Navy Yard-based studio builder Steiner Studios was selected by the city in August to build the new project. The development, which is by-right, is set to span 500K SF and is aimed at bringing diversity to the New York City film industry.
The studio is slated to be built on EDC’s Made In New York campus at Bush Terminal. The city put out the call for developers through an RFP two years ago.
Steiner’s studio in the Brooklyn Navy Yard is the largest film and television complex east of Hollywood. The city is also home to Silvercup Studio in Queens — which reportedly just sold for $500M to a group of investors — and Kaufman Astoria Studios. Last year, Wildflower Ltd., Robert De Niro, his son, Raphael, and producer Jane Rosenthal announced plans for a new $400M film production facility in Astoria.
