Riddle of 'haunted' tower: Trendy Brooklyn neighborhood is creeped out by monstrous gray eyesore that looms empty

Detailed summary

Rampant speculation abounds about the baffling structure that sits in the shadow of one of NYC's busiest bridges. The Daily Mail went to find out.

Published: 00:32 GMT, 15 November 2026 | Updated: 00:32 GMT, 15 November 2026

It is one of the strangest-looking buildings to appear on the Brooklyn waterfront – and it's got locals baffled.

The derelict four-story structure, which has appeared beside the bustling Pulaski Bridge that runs between Greenpoint and Queens, has been attracting curious glances and raising a flurry of questions among locals.

With its imposing height, distinctive skinny shape and small bubble-like portal near the roof, the building looks like nothing else in the surrounding neighborhood.

Speculation has gathered pace online. Inquisitive residents took to Reddit to debate what the mysterious development could possibly be, with theories ranging from unusual commercial ventures to more ambitious architectural projects.

One user commented 'Haunted as sh*t.' Equally perturbed, another added: 'Home base for ghost tours!'

The Daily Mail went to see what was really happening behind the shuttered doors and see if the site was as eerie as it has been made out to be. The answer was unexpected: it's a planned boating school.

The bottom two floors of the building are being prepared for maritime education, with kayaks and canoes already stashed against the wall, while the top two floors are in the process of being rented out as office space.

It is an unexpected combination, particularly given the building’s prominent position beside the bridge, but those behind the project say getting it to this stage has been a lengthy undertaking. Builders at the site told the Daily Mail it has been empty for at least nine months and was under construction for two years before that.

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