Red Hook Piers Plan Taking On Water?

Some development plans sail through will little public objection. Some go full speed ahead, even with an outcry from the community. Some, however, like the controversial city plan to repurpose a huge swath of the Red Hook waterfront, take on water in the face of turbulence. (End of maritime images.) There have been many objections to the plan, including a demonstration on the steps of City Hall. Last week, the new head of the Port Authority implied that he would take a new look at turning over the piers (which are leased by American Stevedoring) to the city.

The Carroll Gardens Courier reports:

Emboldened by recent comments attributed to the new boss of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, local officials said this week the city's plan to drastically alter Red Hook's waterfront is all but sunk.

"For years, the city has been trying to shut down the container port and turn it into a candy store for developers," Councilmember Michael Nelson, chair of the Council's Committee on Waterfronts, said in a statement.

"We held hearings and spoke to residents, industry, a panel of experts throughout the community, and the consensus is overwhelming: We need real ports, not condos and cruise lines."

"Now it looks like we're almost there," Nelson predicted, vowing to stridently oppose the city's plan.

The future of Piers 7-12, was to be chartered by the city's Economic Development Corporation, which is heading the plan it felt could transform the waterfront into a tourist friendly, job-generating attraction.

You can read the full story here. A spokesperson for the city's Economic Development Corp. says that redevelopment plans are still on track and called the controversy "PR nonesense." Stay tuned for what promises to be a great deal more back and forth.

Related Posts:
Red Hook Piers Development, Round One
First Blows Landed in Red Hook Port Smackdown