Industrial Complex at 221 McKibbin Street
historic place
At 221 McKibbin Street in Brooklyn's East Williamsburg neighborhood stands an industrial complex. This site's history of manufacturing began around 1845. The oldest building, constructed in 1850, originally housed H. Lawrence & Sons Rope Works, a significant rope manufacturer. The complex includes a spinning house, which is the last known structure of its type remaining in Brooklyn. Over the decades, the complex adapted to changing industries. In the late 1870s, it became home to a cardboard manufactory. By the early 1900s, a leather company operated here, and later, the Laitman family used the site for leather goods and cosmetic accessories manufacturing until the mid-1960s. Other tenants included glass and knitwear manufacturers. More recently, Casa Stradivari produced furniture here. In 2009, the Industrial Complex at 221 McKibbin Street was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Today, it serves as the Greenpoint Manufacturing and Design Center, providing space for various light industrial and artisanal businesses. This complex illustrates the continuous industrial development of Brooklyn's Eastern District.