Admiral's Row in Brooklyn Navy Yard to get a retail rebirth

A plan to redevelop Admiral's Row, a historic six-acre site in the Brooklyn Navy Yard, received final approval from the City Council on Tuesday, clearing the way for an industrial and retail rebirth.

The transformation requires the federal government to transfer the land to the city, and the project will be overseen by the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corp., which plans to put a request for proposals out before the end of the year. A groundbreaking could start as soon as next year.

"We are thrilled to ... not only bring a major supermarket with fresh produce and groceries to the area, but also create 500 industrial and retail jobs at Admiral's Row," said Andrew Kimball, president of the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corp.

Preservationists, however, have been vocal about safeguarding the historical integrity of the site, which is currently overseen by the National Guard. Any development is supposed to maintain two existing structures, while other less stable ones must be razed, according to reports.