Brooklyn Powerhouse Sports, a new operator for fitness and athletic training, has signed a lease for its first location. The company is letting 10,871 square feet in the prominent Whale Building at 14 53rd Street in Sunset Park, close to New York Harbor. The property is owned by Capstone Equities.
The new sports facility will be established on the third floor of the building. The lease term is eight years at an asking rent of $28 per square foot, according to landlord broker Newmark. Plans include baseball and softball batting cages, state-of-the-art technology simulators, and a small office space.
Transformation of the Whale Building into a leisure destination
According to Edward Kent of Capstone Equities, the agreement continues the repositioning of the property. The Whale Building is increasingly turning into a hub for active and experiential tenants. With its arrival, Brooklyn Powerhouse Sports joins existing concepts such as Soccer Roof and a series of other recently completed lettings to bring an expanded sports offering to Sunset Park and Brooklyn.
On the landlord side, Bernard Weitzman, Ryan Gessin, Jordan Gosin, and Rohan Kapur of Newmark handled the transaction. Whitten Morris of JLL represented the tenant. Morris explained that Brooklyn Powerhouse Sports had pursued a very precise vision for its first facility. The property at 14 53rd Street provided the exact space and flexibility needed to realise this venture and establish a solid foundation for future business in Brooklyn.
Industrial history and current use
Shamus Connolly, founder of Brooklyn Powerhouse Sports, emphasised that the opening turns a long-standing vision into reality. The objective is to establish the leading batting cage facility in Brooklyn and provide tailored training opportunities for players of all abilities, from beginners to seasoned athletes.
The Whale Building spans seven storeys and was originally built in 1918 by the E.W. Bliss Company. Following extensive conversions, the industrial complex now brings together offices, artists' studios, and modern sports facilities under one roof.
