Historic Governors Island building to become year-round restaurant and event space
Rendering by OSD (Office of Strategy + Design)
A former military building on Governors Island will be transformed into a SHoP Architects-designed restaurant and event space. The Trust for Governors Island last week unveiled plans for Taco Vista, which has operated on the island seasonally since 2018, to run three distinct venues in Building 140, which was constructed in the 19th century as a munitions warehouse. The 10,000-square-foot space project restores the historic building and adds a cafe and bar, an indoor-outdoor restaurant with event space, and a reimagined Taco Vista.
Building 140 is located directly next to the ferry, and just one building over from the wellness spa QC NY. Constructed in 1875 in the Romanesque-Revival style, it was originally built by the U.S. Army after the Civil War as a storehouse and was adapted as a warehouse in the 1920s. In the 1940s, the building became a storage area, and in 1952, it was renovated into a telephone exchange.
Throughout the 1960s, Building 140 served various purposes, including a guard watch office, post office, district armory, small arms storage, and a bank. In 1992, it was used as a support center and underwent another renovation which rehabilitated the building and restored its exterior masonry work.
In July 2022, the Trust for Governors Island released a request for proposals seeking a vendor for a food and beverage concept or an event venue to lease, redevelop, and operate Building 140. The Trust selected the Taco Vista team, including David Hitchner and Zach Mack of Alphabet City Beer Co. and Michelin-star executive chef Eduard Frauneder, based on their proposal to serve “a broad and diverse audience and align with the Trust’s climate and sustainability goals,” among other proposed terms, according to the Trust.
“Since opening to the public year-round in 2021, Governors Island has grown into a destination for all seasons for nearly one million visitors each year,” Clare Newman, president and CEO of the Trust for Governors Island, said.
“We are excited to announce this new, expanded vision from the Taco Vista team that will increase delicious, affordable year-round food offerings for visitors while restoring one of Governors Island’s most treasured historic structures at Soissons Landing.”
SHoP Architects will lead the preservation and restoration of the building, which involves adding accessibility measures and improving waterfront landscapes. According to the Trust, the building will be the first adaptive reuse project on Governors Island with 100 percent electric operations. The project, which will cost $10 million, according to amNY, will wrap up next fall.
There will be three distinct venues. Priscilla’s will be a year-round cafe serving coffee, pastries, and light lunch, with cocktails, local beer, and a Mediterranean-inspired menu on its outdoor terrace. The Riverline will be an indoor-outdoor full-service restaurant special event space.
The third is a revamped space for Taco Vista, a beloved outdoor eatery on the island that is open seasonally from April through October. The design proposal features a new facility for the restaurant and an expanded and enhanced outdoor area.
“Governors Island is a year-round destination, so it should have great year-round food options,” State Sen. Andrew Gounardes said. “By creating this new venue while revitalizing a historic building, the Trust continues to expand the Island’s cultural offerings while preserving and uplifting its past. Governors Island is such a unique space for New Yorkers to learn, explore, study our climate, and simply enjoy the outdoors—these new food offerings make that
already-rich experience even richer.”
In June, the city’s Landmarks Preservation Commission voted to approve the proposal to convert the historic building into a restaurant and event space. The design proposal included updates to the building’s historic character, with repairs to its brick exterior and work on its windows, doors, and other exterior elements. Additionally, ADA-accessible features like lifts and ramps will be incorporated.
The commission had a few recommendations for the design team, suggesting the designers downsize, eliminate, or reposition the air ducts on the roof to preserve the integrity of the building’s roof. LPC also recommended making the air louvers on the west end darker to appear less intrusive.
Additionally, commissioners advised revisiting the design of the shaded front yard area, as it was considered intrusive. The designers were encouraged to collaborate with staff to ensure the shaded front yard complements the building’s design and maintains visibility.
“This is a great project for Governors Island as we continue to see uses being put into the historic buildings here, it’s really great for the historic district,” LPC Chair Sarah Carroll said during the June hearing on the proposal.
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