The
Red Hook StarªRevue
SEPTEMBER 2015
SOUTH BROOKLYN’S COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER
FREE
The Great Atlantic Basin Mystery by George Fiala
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ed Hook has been home to many mysteries. Cherry factories, toxic sludge and HP Lovecraft are just a few. People in Red Hook today are scratching their heads trying to figure out why the NYC Economic Development Corporation (EDC), will do just about anything to avoid sharing Atlantic Basin, a huge expanse of local waterfront, with us. The latest dustup occurred at the 76th Precinct last August 20. That was the scene of a Community Board 6 (CB6) Transportation Committee meeting. That is where EDC made their first local presentation of their plans for a Red Hook commuter ferry, a service ordered by the Mayor as part of a general upgrading of East River ferries Everyone in the room, including John McGettrick, Jim Tampakas, IKEA’s Lorna Montalvo, Est4te Four’s Massimilo Senise, and Adam Armstrong fully expected that once Red Hook
were told that the new ferry landing would either be at the end of the Beard Street pier, or possibly Valentino Pier. As the floor was opened up to questions, all the locals spoke up in utter disbelief. They told EDC that Atlantic Basin was better located, had parking, was better sheltered from the elements and what exactly were they thinking? What they are thinking is that they’ve already decided on what they’ve decided, and there’s nothing anyone can do about it. So what’s up with Atlantic Basin? First of all, to get there, all you have to do is walk down Pioneer Street past Pioneer Works and you will see a gate with an open door. Walk through the door, slant a bit towards the right and you’ll see a large expanse of water, with land on three corners. That’s the Basin. Look right past the opening to the river and you’ll see Governor’s Island. It is that close. Look to your right and you’ll see lots of parking spaces. It is usually devoid of cars - it’s a resource waiting to be taken advantage of. The whole place is. You’ll see a huge metal shed. At one time this shed served as a warehouse for goods shipped in and out of the basin. Things like cocoa and coffee beans, bananas, and lumber. Right now it is used to recycle bottles and cans by Phoenix Beverage, an EDC tenant whose main facility is further down the pier. They were forced to rent the shed as part of the deal that put them on Pier 7.
Ferry riders would have to walk up through the gate at the end of Van Brunt and all the way down the walkway next to the Beard Street warehouses if EDC puts a commuter ferry stop there. (Fiala photo)
finally got a commuter ferry - which people have been asking about for years, there would be no doubt about it sailing from the long underutilized Atlantic Basin - that great expanse of protected harbor specially built for the maritime industry in the 19th century. But no. After sitting through a mind numbing presentation explaining all sorts of trivialities having to do with barge design and water depths, we
Red Hook Star-Revue
You can walk right up to the basin, and if you like, sit down and stick your feet close to the water. One could easily could imagine a million uses for this valuable land. They would include maritime, entrepreneurial and educational and recreational activities. In fact, at different times over the past fifteen years EDC has floated ideas about what might be at the basin. They were floated and then sunk.
A history of RFP’s In 2007 EDC issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the development of a marina. The Cruise Terminal was already open next door at Pier 12, and the Red Hook Containerport was in the process of receiving a new ten year lease. Both were already under the post 9/11 security regulations imposed by Homeland Security and the Coast Guard. (continued on page 5)
This is a photo taken from behind Fairway last winter. It shows the ice-filled water. The area, especially the walkway next to the Beard Street warehouses at the top of the photo, is often especially cold with a stiff wind coming in off the water. We have photoshopped a ferry into the photo showing where it would be headed if the EDC plan for a ferry terminal at the far end of Van Brunt Street is adopted. (photo and collage by George Fiala)
NURSING HOME UPDATE by George Fiala
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ust before the summer, a presentation was made to the Red Hook Civic Association at PS 15, and to Community Board Six (CB6) at the Miccio Center, regarding an application to build a nine story nursing home right in the middle of Red Hook, close to Pioneer Works. The South Oxford Nursing Home is a Fort Greene facility that has needed a new building for some time. They purchased land in Red Hook in 2003 and have promised NY State that they would eventually upgrade to a modern facility. In the meantime, they have been renting their property to a welder and for parking. Finally, this spring, they filed paperwork with the Dept. of City Planning (DCP) requesting permission to build. They have begun a ULURP process which begins with DCP and ends with the NY City Council. The process also includes the CB6, the Brooklyn Borough President, City Planning, and the mayor. Approval of the zoning change is essential if the nursing home will be built. (continued on page 3)
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