The embattled plan to redevelop the Brooklyn Marine Terminal into a mixed-use area complete with thousands of new housing units is facing stiff opposition from local residents and officials as it approaches a pivotal vote. Critics are wary, drawing parallels to the broken promises of the Atlantic Yards project, where affordable housing commitments never materialized despite state officials and local community groups entering a legally binding agreement—this historical context coloring current perceptions as detailed by Gothamist.
Andrew Kimball, president and CEO of the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), has advanced the vision for the 122-acre terminal as one that would ostensibly revitalize the deteriorating infrastructure while gentrifying the area, drawing inspiration from European cities with successful waterfront developments. Despite the allure of such successes, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso has opposed the plan, arguing that it undermines the potential for reviving manufacturing at the expense of housing, and in a statement obtained by Gothamist, noted, "We can’t just take one agency’s word for what is and isn’t feasible here," casting doubt on governmental assurances and the rushed nature of the project approval process.
The plan proposes to redistribute some of the city's housing shortages by adding roughly 7,700 new units to the waterfront area, with a significant investment aimed at the adjacent Red Hook public housing; this comes as an attempt to sweeten the deal for skeptical locals, as NYCEDC President Kimball asserted in a Gothamist interview, "They're going to look at it as one of the best deals that the city of New York has made on economic development in recent history."
This imminent redevelopment plan, rapidly advancing toward an environmental review phase if passed by the task force on June 27, continues to stir contentious debate among stakeholders, some of whom advocate for increased public transportation options and others, such as Maria Nieto from Voices of the Waterfront, challenge the necessity of pairing upscale housing with infrastructure repairs, arguing "You don't have to build a skyscraper every time you want to fix the highway," a sentiment she expressed in a CBS News interview.
As the community awaits the task force decision on the future of Red Hook's waterfront, concerns remain due to past experiences like the Atlantic Yards project. Local leaders, including Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and Councilmember Shahana Hanif, are calling for transparency throughout the process.
