Viñoly’s New Domino Moves Forward

Last April we wrote about Rafael Viñoly’s final big push to win approval for his firm’s proposed $1.5 billion redevelopment of the Domino Sugar Refinery in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Today, Viñoly and co. cleared what should be the last hurdle of a drawn-out and often contentious regulatory review process when the City Council of New York approved the project’s proposed zoning change. The New Domino is now slated to break ground next year.

Frankly, we have mixed feelings about this result. On the one hand, the development will preserve the historic (and badly decayed) Domino refinery; create 660 new units of affordable housing; and open up the waterfront to citizens with a quarter-mile public esplanade. On the hand, it’s going to turn yet another modest, charmingly run-down corner of Brooklyn into a cluster of condo towers–and put yet more pressure on an already overtaxed subway line.

Guess you just can’t stop progress? Tell us what you think using the comments form below.

Image: courtesy Rafael Viñoly Architects