Task force votes next week on development plans for Brooklyn Marine Terminal
BROOKLYN, N.Y. (PIX11) -- The next chapter on the Brooklyn waterfront could be written next week.
NYC Economic Development Corporation has proposed a master plan for the Brooklyn Marine Terminal.
A task force has been reviewing proposals during the past year for the more than 120-acre site.
It has been described as a mixed-use development, integrating maritime operations with residential, commercial, and industrial spaces, while prioritizing community benefits and environmental sustainability.
Previous votes on the plan, including at the end of June, have been delayed. Participants say plans are still moving forward for a vote by the end of next week.
Two-thirds of the members must approve, or the current plan will not move forward, officials have said.
The facility is an active port with maritime and commercial shipping activity. The NYC Ferry has a stop.
Expansion and renovation of port and shipping infrastructure are part of the proposals, along with housing and open space.
Maria Nieto lives in Red Hook and has organized neighbors and businesses.
“This land has a purpose already. We say don’t rezone it. You could build housing at other sites. It can be a port only here. Why have private development for a public infrastructure need," she says.
NYC EDC calls the project “a brighter, more abundant future for the Brooklyn waterfront—replacing decades of disinvestment with a bold, forward-looking plan rooted in inclusive economic growth.”
The task force includes local elected leaders from Congressman Dan Golden to Borough President Antonio Reynoso.
State Senator Andrew Gounardes is also in the task force. The state has committed some additional funding, and the city has some grant money. The total cost could be more than $3 billion.
Issues have been raised about the number of affordable housing units, transit and transportation, and increasing the port's economic uses.
Council Member Alexa Aviles supports affordable housing but wants more specifics about these plans, including for the working waterfront and the history it represents.
"This is a question of the cart before the horse. They’re saying trust us, and the data will come later. There are unanswered questions," Councilmember Aviles says.
Adding a higher percentage of affordable units at a different income range is also on the table. 6,000 total units have been discussed, with a possibility of 40% affordable.
The project is not going through the city's land-use planning process. It's following a series of guidelines from a state process.
If the task force approves the plans, further environmental studies would be done. Construction would not begin for a few years.