Remember this summer, when BP Prez Marty Markowitz tried to sweet talk Apple into opening a store in Brooklyn? Now, he’s giving them an even better reason to come to our fair borough by announcing a plan to transform part of the City-owned Brooklyn Municipal Building at 210 Joralemon Street into retail use. The City issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) today seeking a developer or commercial business to buy or lease 37,000 square feet on the ground floor and second floor of the building at 210 Joralemon Street. The space is currently occupied by the Department of Finance, which will relocate its operations within the building.

“The iconic and beautiful Municipal Building has the foot traffic and the perfect location to help fuel a renaissance along Court Street and add to our growing list of retail about to set up shop in Downtown Brooklyn, including H & M, Aéropostale, Filene’s/Syms and Shake Shack all coming to Fulton Mall, as well as Panera Bread and future retail opportunities at City Point and the area around the Barclays Center,” said Borough President Markowitz. “With all of us looking at ways to consolidate municipal space throughout the City, bringing exciting retail or other compatible uses to the Municipal Building and our vibrant, 24/7 live-work Downtown is an idea that is fortunately moving forward today with the announcement of this RFP.”

Wow, that’s a lot of stuff to look forward to in 2010. So Apple, whaddya’ say?