Follow-Up to CM Aviles // Apr 9 (Meeting held Apr 2)
2025-04-02
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Board of Managers
New York Dock Building
160 Imlay Street
Brooklyn, NY 11231
April 9, 2025
Alexa Aviles
New York City Council Member
4417 4th Avenue
Brooklyn, New York 11220
Subject: Thank You and Follow-up Comments / Questions around the BMT
Dear Council Member Aviles,
On behalf of the New York Dock Building residents at 160 Imlay Street, we sincerely thank you for taking the time out of your schedule to meet with us. We also thank you for your transparency and openness in discussing the issues regarding the Brooklyn Marine Terminal plans.
160 Imlay Street is a newly completed building that is home to 70 families ranging from grandparents to infants. Our community is financially invested in and passionate about Red Hook. Also, as a building that is directly adjacent to the Brooklyn Marine Terminal site, we have serious concerns about the proposed project that will directly impact the building and all residents.
We appreciate and understand the complexity of planning that goes into reimagining and redeveloping the Brooklyn Marine Terminal—a once-in-a-three-generation opportunity. That said, this opportunity deserves time to investigate, explore, and define feasible ideas that enable Red Hook to flourish today, tomorrow, and far into the future. To that end, we sincerely hope that you reflect and consider the priorities that we have identified in the upcoming vote – shared in bullet-points on the following pages.
We remain committed to being a constructive voice in this process. We appreciate your questioning EDC representatives and attempting to obtain details and backup documentation for the proposed plans. Thank you, truly, for your leadership and for including our community in shaping the future of Red Hook. We look forward to continuing to work collaboratively to shape a thoughtful, sustainable future for Red Hook. Again, we thank you for all you are doing for your constituents.
Sincerely,
John Mealy
President, Board of Managers
New York Dock Building160 Imlay Street, Brooklyn, NY 11231
160 Imlay Street Specific Priorities
● Designate active, accessible greenspace on Pier 11 that serves residents and visitors alike.
● Define strict height limits/zoning for new construction around our building, particularly on Pier 11, to preserve light, views, and character.
● Limit heavy industrial use and disruptive construction adjacent to our building to protect the quality of life.
● Invest significantly in essential infrastructure—sewage, flood protection, and transportation—before bringing additional density to the neighborhood.
We Support Requests from the Broader Red Hook Community
● Direct reinvestment from EDC into the Red Hook neighborhood, not just the terminal
● Establish funding for long-neglected NYCHA housing repairs and improvements.
● Create Fort Defiance Park on the UPS site, delivering much-needed green space to Red Hook.
● Preserve light industrial uses that provide jobs and support the local economy.
● Commit to improving transportation access (e.g., ferry, bus, subway) before approving new housing development.
Where We Need More Clarity
● The financial model behind the $2.3B investment in port improvements, specifically, whether the city’s dependence on housing stems from a 99-year lease and revenue-sharing model.
● Why are alternatives to housing, such as performance venues, cultural institutions, or satellite university campuses, not prioritized or seriously evaluated?
● What market research and analysis has been conducted to confirm the long-term viability of hotels, retail, and entertainment uses?
● How does the EDC plan to avoid vacancy and underutilization, particularly given the limited current engagement from cruise terminal passengers?
● How can our community actively support and help implement the Blue Highway initiative, which we fully endorse?
The Principles We Believe Must Guide This Process
1. We want a resilient, thriving green port that serves our community and the region now and into the future.
2. We want this port to operate as a public good, financed and governed in the public interest.
3. We want investment that prioritizes long-neglected local infrastructure and housing before new market-rate development.
4. We want local equity through jobs, small businesses, and community wealth-building.
5. We want alignment with existing local and regional planning efforts.
6. We want compliance with all applicable laws and environmental justice frameworks.
7. We want actual, ongoing community participation, backed by funding for independent expert support.