In a surprise turn of events in Brooklyn, a community member driving past 1672 86th Street at Bath Beach this Wednesday (August 13) stumbled upon an ongoing demolition at the location. Curious, the individual searched online for permits and was astonished to discover that the land was slated to be redeveloped into a lithium battery energy storage station.
Upon checking the permit records on the Department of Buildings (DOB) website, it was found that there was only a demolition permit for the site and no clear application for subsequent construction. However, further inquiry through the Department of Finance’s Automated City Register System (ACRS) revealed that the land had been leased in November 2024 to the clean energy company Mockingbird Clean Energy LLC by the new owner, 86th Street Owner LLC. The lease specified the intended use of the property for battery energy storage systems, solar power generation facilities, electric vehicle charging stations, and community distributed generation (CDG).
For most residents, this equated to the imminent establishment of a large lithium battery storage plant within a residential area without any prior public notice or discussion. Given recent incidents of lithium battery explosions and fires, this news immediately sparked safety and environmental concerns.
According to the lease agreement, the timing of when the clean energy company would move in depended on two key dates: the Premises Delivery Date – when the landlord completes the demolition and hands over the vacant land to the tenant, and the Tenant’s Chosen Possession Date – the date chosen by the tenant to begin utilizing the space.
Rent commencement would be 60 days after the later of these two dates. This means that the tenant would not pay basic rent during the construction phase and would only start rental calculations once the demolition is completed and possession of the site is obtained.
The lease term is also tied to the delivery time, with a maximum duration of 26 or 27 lease years from the starting date. Additionally, the tenant has the option to renew the lease. In other words, once the project materializes, it will be a long-term endeavor of at least twenty years, with a lasting impact on the community environment.
The community member analyzed that since the current owner is in the process of demolishing the existing property, including the tall chimney, it can be inferred that the energy company has leased the “vacant land after demolition” and has not taken formal possession yet. In other words, the clock for constructing the storage facility has yet to start ticking, but once possession is taken, things may take a different turn.
Yesterday (Thursday), the community member contacted local elected officials including City Council Member Justin Brannan, State Senator Andrew Gounardes, as well as the offices of State Assembly Members William Colton and Peter Abbate, expressing concerns about the issue to the local Community Board 11 district manager. The response received from all parties was that they were unaware of this planned construction of a lithium battery storage facility here.
Currently, the construction site has been posted with a “Stop Work Order” issued by the Department of Buildings on the 13th. The neighboring property has a notice of “Partial Vacate Order” posted outside.
DOB records show that on August 13, during the demolition work at 1672 86th Street, a safety incident occurred – the tall bricked chimney of the building partially collapsed during the demolition process, with some bricks falling and hitting the roof of the adjacent property at 1682 86th Street. As per the description in the neighbor’s complaint record with DOB, at the moment of brick falling, the neighboring building visibly shook: “Part of the chimney collapsed and hit our roof, causing vibrations throughout the entire building.”
On the same day, DOB issued a full stop-work order for 1672 86th Street, citing reasons such as failure to take safety measures to protect neighboring buildings and pedestrians, non-compliance with approved drawings, failure to remove building glass before demolition, and lack of providing roof protection for neighboring properties.
Simultaneously, a second-floor vacate order was issued for 1682 86th Street, requiring residents to temporarily evacuate to avoid further damage or casualties. According to records from August 14, the contracting party must hire a professional engineer to supervise and commence stabilization or demolition of the chimney by August 15, with a formal application to be submitted within two days.
The site had previously housed a gas station and auto repair shop, potentially containing oil stains or chemical residues underground. State Assembly Member William Colton, after inspecting the site yesterday, stated that the developer failed to inform the community beforehand and did not address pollution risks. Of more concern was whether the Department of Buildings was aware of the land’s intended use for an energy company’s storage facility when approving the demolition permit. He emphasized that any projects involving flammable or toxic substances must undergo stricter approval and supervision procedures.
In recent years, the Sheepshead Bay and surrounding communities have repeatedly opposed the construction of lithium battery storage stations within residential areas. At the end of April this year, the Community Board 15 had voted against a lithium battery project, citing reasons such as fire hazards, air pollution, and emergency response difficulties.
State Assembly Member Peter Abbate is preparing to amend Bill A.6996 to include the 49th Assembly District of Southern Brooklyn in the scope of prohibiting the establishment of lithium battery energy storage systems. He pointed out that while storage facilities are part of clean energy infrastructure, they must be kept away from heavily populated residential areas to avoid safety incidents.
Meanwhile, State Senators Kevin S. Parker and Joseph Addabbo Jr. are pushing forward with Bill A.6955A, which requires such facilities to maintain a distance of at least 1,000 feet from residences, schools, and farms, essentially restricting them to industrial zones. Both of these bills are currently under review in the state legislature committees.
Our attempts to reach Mockingbird Clean Energy LLC for comment remained unanswered.