Councilman Ken Fisher of Brooklyn and CEO David Sweeny of GMDC were both on hand to lead the opening ceremonies at 37 Greenpoint Ave. where 15 light manufacturers, craft designers and artists have found a new home. The ceremony was a twist on the traditional ribbon cutting. Councilman Fisher moved a historic image of the century-old factory, revealing the revitalized building behind the picture.

GMDC acquired the building last year and invested $1.5 million in the rehabilitation. The factory had been vacant for the last five years. GMDC is a not-for-profit company founded in May 1992 originally to redevelop 1155 Manhattan Ave.

Back in October the firm opened 810 Humboldt St., also in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. The one-time bowling alley and Christmas ornament warehouse had been vacant for three years and was purchased for $4.3 million. GMDC spent $2 million to renovate it, creating 12 small spaces. The total square footage is also 80,000 sf, leaving anywhere from 4,000 sf to 12,000 sf for the individual spaces.