Locals Offer Reward For Info On Historic Red Hook Warehouse Fire

RED HOOK, BROOKLYN — Local preservationists offered a reward for information on who set the fire that tore through a century-old Red Hook warehouse last month after they started a push to landmark the spot.

The Gowanus Landmarking Coalition will give $300 for tips that lead to an arrest of the person who set the two-alarm fire at the S.W. Bowne Grain Storehouse, Bklyner reported.

The reward comes after the FDNY deemed the fire was intentionally set but did not know who did it.

"We are sad to have our strong suspicions confirmed but are not deterred from continuing to advocate for the protection of important sites in the Gowanus area – including the S.W. Bowne Grain Storehouse," the group told Bklyner. "In light of the upcoming Gowanus rezoning, these historic buildings are vulnerable to profound change and development pressures."

The 595-611 Smith St. building went up in flames late night on June 14 — a week after residents spotted workers with axes on the roof — and took nearly 106 firefighters more than an hour to put it out, fire officials said. No one was injured in the fire because it was vacant at the time.

Councilman Carlos Menchaca called the blaze "highly suspicious" since it occurred weeks after locals started a push to landmark the warehouse as part of a larger effort to protect buildings in Gowanus and Red Hook before a planned rezoning.

"I also place the owners of this property on notice: I will not allow demolition by neglect or fire to prompt zoning changes that allow residential or other non-manufacturing uses at this site in Red Hook's Industrial Business Zone," Menchaca said.

Days after the blaze, the Department of Buildings issued a stop work order to owners the Chetrit Group after inspectors found demolition work being done without a permit, city records show. Locals feared they were trying to tear it down to build apartments.

The S.W. Bowne Grain Storehouse was built in 1886 at the time Red Hook was a global shipping hub, Curbed New York reported. It remained a warehouse until the 1960s when it was abandoned.

CF Smith LLC and Red Hook Developers Holding LLC bought the spot for $14.5 million in 2007 along with several other properties nearby, records show.

The Chetrit Group, whose listed as the owner in DOB records, previously demolished three buildings on the Smith Street lot, but only filed permits for one and there's no record it was approved, Brownstoner reported.

Despite the blaze damaging the top two floors of the building, locals still hope it can be saved and started a petition calling on the city to landmark it before it's gone for good.

Image: FDNY/Twitter