For half a century, the Brooklyn Marine Terminal has languished — its piers rotting, its potential unrealized — while the Port Authority focused its resources elsewhere. That changed last spring when the city struck a pivotal deal: New York gained control of this underused waterfront land in exchange for property on Staten Island, unlocking an ambitious plan to bring Red Hook back to life.
The proposal now before the Brooklyn Marine Terminal Task Force is the result of years of negotiation, months of community engagement, and a clear-eyed assessment of the city’s urgent needs. And yet, another vote has been delayed — once again stalling a once-in-a-generation opportunity for Brooklyn and the city as a whole.
Let’s be clear: The arguments against the current Economic Development Corp. plan do not hold up under scrutiny.
Some claim the plan sacrifices maritime industry potential. But actual freight and port professionals — the people whose job it is to make marine terminals work — have said that the 60-acre shipping area is more than adequate for container and flex terminal operations. Spending as much as $1.75 billion to upgrade the port, rebuild the piers and install a modern crane will allow the city to shift more freight from trucks to barges, reducing congestion and emissions. This is a maritime investment, not a giveaway.
Others object to the housing component; the plan calls for the sale of land to private developers to fund port improvements. The need for housing of all kinds in the city is undeniable. The plan calls for up to 8,200 apartments — more than 2,600 of them designated for low- and moderate-income New Yorkers. That alone is reason to move forward.
Some critics have called for deeper city and state investment and fewer acres sold to developers. Another skeptic, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, wants the land entirely devoted to manufacturing. In the past, Reynoso has identified himself as a “YIMBY” who supports responsible growth to solve the city’s housing crisis. This is his moment to show it.
Finally, some critics are saying that the city is moving too fast. The notion that this process has been rushed defies the record. Since last fall, more than 3,000 people have participated in public workshops and webinars. More than 100 toured the site. EDC has made extensive efforts to listen — and revise — along the way.
Further delay risks more than momentum. It puts $164 million in federal grants in jeopardy. It sends a message that New York City is not serious about making smart use of its land or solving its urgent housing crisis.
This is not about bypassing community input. It’s about not allowing endlessly moving goalposts to derail a project that is both visionary and vital.
The city has committed $189 million. The economic impact is projected at $12 billion. The time for hesitation is over. The time to build the future of the Brooklyn waterfront is now.
