East Williamsburg’s Embee Sunshade Company umbrella factory is being transformed into a 69-unit condo building by SL Development. Located at 722 Metropolitan Avenue, the string of conjoined brick buildings have been used by the Brickner family to manufacture umbrellas since 1933. In past years, spaces in the building have been leased out as affordable live-in studios for artists, a workshop with art storage, a black box theater, and a screen-printing shop. The building became embroiled in a legal battle when its owner, Barnett Brickner was in contract to sell the warehouse, but holdout tenants refused to leave — filing an application with the city’s Loft Board to establish the building as an Interim Multiple Dwelling.
Apparently, they lost the battle. SL Development closed on the site in May 2017 for $23.25 million according to city records. The Gramercy-based firm is behind the new condo builds at 120 Java Street and The Lorimer at 535 Lorimer where the last two-bedroom is asking $1.495 million.
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Elevational renderings via SL Development
For the Umbrella Factory, they tapped Manhattan-based Rawlings Architects for the conversion and addition project that will add four floors to the three-story building. New renderings published on the developer’s page differ from a previously-released design and show the existing brick facades are being salvaged while the new topper will be unapologetically modern. Building permits show the broad floorplates will allow eight to 16 apartments per floor. There will be ground-level retail, a 17-car parking garage, a laundry room, bike room and a fitness center.
The Attorney General's office shows an offering plan has been approved but a projected sellout is not given. With construction well underway, sales are likely to begin later this year.
The Attorney General's office shows an offering plan has been approved but a projected sellout is not given. With construction well underway, sales are likely to begin later this year.
Google Earth aerial showing location of the Umbrella Factory
Embee Sunshade Company factory prior to construction (Google)
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