From an old school printing press to a high tech 3D printer, businesses that make things at the Brooklyn Army Terminal showcased their items Thursday to mark the terminal's 100th anniversary.
The company Lee Spring displayed its namesake product, metal springs. The company has been around 100 years too — all in Brooklyn — before moving its manufacturing here.
"The Brooklyn Army Terminal has ensured that the only spring manufacturer left in New York City continues to make its product here," said Lee Spring CEO Steve Kempf.
More than 100 manufacturers are now located at the terminal, a far cry from its original purpose. The federal government broke ground in 1918, building the four million square foot complex in Sunset Park that served as a supply base and military depot. Countless soldiers passed through, most famously Elvis Presley when he was deployed to Germany in 1958.
"This complex was actually built by Cas Gilbert who is the same architect who did the Woolworth Building. Just think of vertical and horizontal. It's just amazing right. The bones that we're in today," said NYC Deputy Mayor Alicia Glen.
The Army decommissioned the site in the mid 1960's. It stood empty for several years until the city bought the property in 1981 and began using it as an industrial and manufacturing campus.
The de Blasio administration is spending more than $200 million to upgrade the facility and enhance its status as a manufacturing hub.
"We own this place and we're going to make it great. And we're going to make it affordable," said NYC Economic Development Corporation President James Patchett.
That's welcome news to City Councilman Carlos Menchaca who talked about the affordability crisis in his district.
"We're feeling it in the housing space. But we're also feeling it in the commercial and the industrial and manufacturing space," Menchaca said.
The Brooklyn Army Terminal added nine tenants in the last year. As part of the centennial celebration, the city on Thursday officially dedicated 500,000 square feet of newly renovated space.
"It starts with real estate. You don't want to have to keep looking for your next move because you're being pushed out by other forms of development. And thats why this is so exciting," Glen said.
Laying the groundwork, city officials hope, for another century.