Whether businesses or residential buildings should be built on an old sugar factory site has become the center of debate in Red Hook.

A city commission recently voted on the final boundaries of 16 industrial business zones, including six in Brooklyn. The zones are meant to preserve New York?s industrial base. However, the borders of the southwest Brooklyn zone were the subject of debate. After public hearings, some sites were excluded from the industrial zone, including the old Revere Sugar Factory in Red Hook.

The sugar factory property is now owned by developer Thor Equities. A spokesman from Thor says the company wants to work with the community on what to develop on the site. Many business owners say they want the area to remain industrial and have no residential buildings developed.