SPURA Update

For those of you who haven't heard, the Seward Park Urban Renewal Area (better known as SPURA) will finally amount to something after decades of disuse. The tract of land has been sitting idle at the foot of the Williamsburg bridge (1.6 million square feet, to be exact), as the debate over how exactly to make use of the vacant plots waged on. After 50 years of arguing, a compromise has been reached and the land will be developed into 900 apartments; half of which will be permanent affordable housing, the other half: "hundreds-of-thousands of feet of commercial space, community facilities, a small park and a new Essex Street Market" (lo-down).

Though the commissioners voted unanimously, one step remains to be taken come Fall when the City Council will have to approve the mixed-use development plan.

Visit Curbed.com for the latest "Thought Experiment" for alternative uses for the space.

BY CARLY B. PERAHIA / NEST SEEKERS INTERNATIONAL