Vacant Columbia Street Waterfront bank building eyed for residential rezoning

Key facts

Neighborhood

Columbia Street Waterfront District, Brooklyn

Property

Vacant bank building

Proposal

Eyed for residential rezoning

Owner

Jack LoCicero, through the entity Hamilton House 79

Purchase

$2.3 million in 2021

Reported by

Crain's New York, 11/06/2026

What it means

The highlights

1. Jack LoCicero bought the property in 2021 for $2.3 million.
2. The purchase was made through an entity called Hamilton House 79.

Why it matters Landlords

A rezoning here could bring new apartments to a small Brooklyn waterfront neighborhood and signal more conversion interest nearby.

Not known yet

• The building's exact address
• How many apartments are planned and whether any would be affordable
• Whether a rezoning application has been filed with the Department of City Planning
• Any timeline for public review or construction

Background

In New York City, many private rezonings go through the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP). After the Department of City Planning certifies an application, the local community board and borough president give advisory recommendations, the City Planning Commission votes, and the City Council can approve, modify or reject it. Projects that rezone to allow more housing are often subject to Mandatory Inclusionary Housing, which requires a share of permanently affordable units.