New York will invest $80 million to transform the Red Hook coastline, with plans to modernize the Brooklyn Marine Terminal and create a mixed-use development concept that may add housing.
An agreement was reached between the City, State, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and the New York City Economic Development Corporation (EDC) to enable the City to transform the Brooklyn Marine Terminal into a modern maritime port and vibrant mixed-use community hub, officials said on Tuesday.
Mayor Eric Adams said creating a new modern maritime port and community along the Brooklyn waterfront further is part of the “Harbor of the Future" initiative that looks to modernize the city's waterfronts.
“For 20 years, skeptics thought this deal couldn’t get done, but our administration prioritized the ‘Harbor of the Future’ and now we have the potential to create thousands of new jobs, generate billions in economic impact, and build a vibrant mixed-use neighborhood and modern maritime port focused on getting trucks off the roads,” said Adams.
“By assuming control of the Brooklyn Marine Terminal in Red Hook in our city government’s largest real estate transaction in recent memory, our administration is demonstrating that we will continue to deliver big wins for New Yorkers, day after day. The potential for this area is limitless."
The city will assume control of the entire marine terminal in Brooklyn from the Port Authority, encompassing 122 acres of waterfront in Red Hook and the Columbia Street Waterfront District, including the existing Brooklyn Cruise Terminal.
An initial $80 million investment will go towards Brooklyn Marine Terminal to stabilize and repair Piers 7, 8, and 10, and to fund future planning for the 122-acre waterfront, including an up to $15 million investment to fund a new modern, electrified container crane for operations at the terminal.
By mid-June, the EDC will manage and operate the Brooklyn Marine Terminal, including assuming the recent five-year extension of Red Hook Container Terminal’s operating agreement.
Although unclear, it is thought that the Port Authority will in turn get help from the city and state to modernize its 42nd Street bus terminal in Manhattan, according to the New York Times.
The EDC will look to develop a micro-mobility strategy to reduce truck traffic, and work with the community on a master plan to ensure the long-term viability of the port while incorporating important community amenities, according to a news release.
The city will assemble a Brooklyn Marine Terminal Taskforce — chaired by U.S. Representative Dan Goldman with New York State Senator Andrew Gounardes and New York City Councilmember Alexa Aviles serving as vice chairs — to co-lead an extensive engagement process.
The process will kick off later this spring and will engage a wide range of stakeholders — including local elected officials, unions, waterfront stakeholders, Brooklyn businesses, workforce development, the adjacent community, and the maritime industry — to develop a shared vision for the future of this vital facility and district.
The EDC has hired community engagement and urban design firm WXY to support this work.
"I hope this land swap will bring us closer to our sustainability goals and build toward a modern port and equitable working waterfront," said Councilmember Alexa Avilés. "This project must include direct accountability, and I am committed to being there every step of the way to make sure there is a public review process and the people of Red Hook are heard. I look forward to a robust revisioning process alongside my neighbors."
