Official Update from Office of Sen. Andrew Gounardes

2025-04-04

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Dear Neighbor, 

Following up on my last update to you on the Brooklyn Marine Terminal project, I wanted to share a few important developments.

We have once again successfully pushed back the final Task Force vote, and received commitment for additional public engagement from the NYC Economic Development Corp. I believe there are many crucial, outstanding issues still to discuss with the community before we can vote on a plan. So far, no new time frame has been shared with us. I have asked EDC to consider addressing these crucial questions and concerns in advance of the Task Force voting on the final plan. 

Here’s where things stand right now: 

Last week, EDC laid out a series of commitments and community benefits for the Task Force to discuss. Many of these proposals are exciting—most notably a commitment to investments in NYCHA and improvements to public transit service. These commitments would provide enormous opportunity for the Red Hook and Columbia Waterfront communities. 

While I am very interested in pursuing these commitments and better understanding the funding streams for them, certain fundamental elements of the site plan have still not been properly presented or explained. Let me be clear: until the Task Force receives clarity and understanding on key issues like transportation flow, massing of housing and affordability levels, resiliency, and site governance, we can not move forward with a vote. 

My team and I have been working in good faith since last spring to build consensus and move towards a plan that capitalizes on this once-in-a-generation opportunity to invest in our maritime infrastructure, provide economic opportunity and build affordable housing. This work is too important to be dictated by arbitrary, externally-imposed timelines. 

As always, I want to hear from neighbors and residents on this. Please share your thoughts at gounardes@nysenate.gov. 

In service,

Andrew