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The City Council is proposing an unusual but potentially lucrative plan: leasing out the secret chambers within the historic Brooklyn Bridge to address New York City’s financial shortfall.
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Hidden within the bridge’s majestic stone anchorages are 13,000 square feet of vaults that once showcased art exhibitions but have remained closed since 2001.
Currently, this area serves as an oversized parking facility for municipal vehicles.
Instead of using the space for car storage, the council recommends City Hall consider renting out the vaults to generate much-needed revenue.
At average Manhattan rents, the city could rake in about $17 million a year if it fully leased the space, according to council estimates.Â
The bridge’s rented rooms could start coughing up the millions of dollars as early as fiscal 2027, the council wrote in its budget response to Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s own controversial spending plan Wednesday.