New Renderings: Gowanus Art Studios Gutted for 200,000 Square Foot High-End Office Complex

Updates: Roulston House has put up a website that provides additional renderings, floor plans, and details about the project.

The site describes the development as "an innovative marketplace of ideas designed with the purpose of becoming a crossroads for artistic culture and business in New York City."

"We’re here to bring businesses, creatives and cultural endeavors together under one roof, in an atmosphere that promotes and elevates the true creative expression of our tenants," it continues. "We are dedicated to preserving the authenticity of Gowanus, to supporting local talent, and to meticulously restoring an historic site in the city we call home."

The site confirms that the project will consist of as much as 200,000 square feet of office space and 70,000 square feet of retail.

Additional renderings from Morris Adjmi Architects (below) show large common work and cafe areas, as well as modern office spaces and lounge areas on the building's roof.

The site also states that the project's backers are "dedicated to preserving the historical integrity of the Gowanus neighborhood while beautifying and restoring the original structure, which has been standing since 1910."

Patch's original story on Roulston House continues below:

GOWANUS, BROOKLYN — A former haven for Gowanus artists is slated to become a massive new mixed-use office and retail space, according to multiple reports.

Citing an article in The Wall Street Journal, The Real Deal reported Monday that Industrie Capital Partners is planning the project inside three adjacent warehouses at 94 9th St., 98 9th St. and 75 10th St.

The developer reportedly paid $21.2 million last year to lease the conjoined properties for 99 years — and will now spend some $70 million more on the rehab.

Industrie Capital Partners couldn't immediately be reached for comment Monday.

Pictured: 75 10th St. Photo by John V. Santore

The project is reportedly being designed by Morris Adjmi Architects.

Renderings released Monday by the architecture firm revealed plans for the future exterior and interior of the office and retail complex:

According to New York Yimby, the development is being called "Roulston House" — named after the entrepreneur who built the warehouses around 100 years ago for his chain of grocery stores.

Industrie now wants to build 200,000 square feet of office space inside the buildings, Yimby reported, as well as 70,000 square feet of retail. And, of course, a bar or restaurant with a roof deck.

The project made headlines and angered the Gowanus-area art scene earlier this year, when Industrie began evicting the artists renting space there. Flood Music Studios, which rented practice space for bands inside the building, was also pushed out.

In an interview with WNYC, Abby Subak, the leader of artists advocacy group Arts Gowanus, described the pressure on local artists to find places to ply their craft.

"Artists are either spending a huge amount of their time having to look for a new studio, move studios, [or] being anxious about studio space when they could be in their studios creating," Subak said, adding that many "are choosing to either stop their practice altogether or to leave New York City."

And at the recent kickoff of the Gowanus Community Planning Project, Councilman Brad Lander cited the evictions as representative of one of the "very real risks and threats" to the community's future development.

In a statement provided to Yimby, an Industrie spokesperson said the developer is "extremely supportive of creative tenants, which is why we chose to redevelop Roulston House to today’s creative office standards."

"We look forward to delivering an exciting project that will further promote and elevate a diversity of innovative tenants who want to work in Brooklyn, and specifically in Gowanus," the statement said.

On Monday, construction workers could be seen gutting the warehouse at 75 10th St.

Nearby on the first floor of 94 9th St., however, business continued as usual at Cabinet Depot.

Two Cabinet Depot staffers said the business, which primarily sells cabinetry to contractors, has been located at the property for about four years, and employs around five people. The workers said they were unaware of any future plans for the space. Cabinet Depot's owner was in China, they said, and couldn't immediately be reached for comment.

Pictured at top: 94 9th St. Photo by John V. Santore