"We are very optimistic about the future of these two properties," Empire State Development Corp. spokesperson Maura Gallucci tells GlobeSt.com. ESD is the economic development agency responsible for the disposal of state-owned property. "We worked closely with the borough president's office on this project," Gallucci says.

The three vacant Hoyt-Schermerhorn properties, located near Downtown Brooklyn on Schermerhorn Street between Smith Street and Bond Street and on Smith Street between Atlantic Avenue and State Street, were acquired by the state in 1974 from the City of New York as part of the abandoned Schermerhorn-Pacific Urban Renewal Project. All 178,000 acres have been used for parking ever since.

The 18,000-sf parcel on Smith Street between Atlantic Avenue and State Street was sold in May for $3.3 million and is being developed by Shaya B Developers Inc. as an office, retail and housing complex that will be the future home of the Brooklyn Central YMCA as well as 30 market-rate condominium apartments. Bids on the two remaining parcels are due by October 12.