EDC Talks Latest Red Hook Waterfront Plans
A View From the Hook has a recap of the EDC’s presentation last week to the Columbia Waterfront Neighborhood Association about the city’s new plans for the Red Hook waterfront, which were first unveiled late last year. The rejiggered designs replaced grander schemes to install hotels, restaurants and other new developments on the waterfront, plans…
A View From the Hook has a recap of the EDC’s presentation last week to the Columbia Waterfront Neighborhood Association about the city’s new plans for the Red Hook waterfront, which were first unveiled late last year. The rejiggered designs replaced grander schemes to install hotels, restaurants and other new developments on the waterfront, plans that died after the Red Hook Container Port was allowed to keep its space. The city said last week that it intends to run a ferry from the waterfront to Governor’s Island (although this aspect of the plan was announced in January, it was absent from the EDC’s presentation to the community in May) and let Water Taxi use Atlantic Basin to moor its boats. The blogger writes that there was significant concern among meeting attendees about the city’s plans for Pier 11 because it’s feared that its lease to beer distributor Phoenix Beverages will bring heavy truck traffic and, thus, congestion and pollution to the neighborhood. Another point of contention, according to the writeup, is that the EDC is sounding iffy on plans to ensure public access at Atlantic Basin. The EDC’s timetable for all this stuff is unclear.
Future of Red Hook and Columbia Street Waterfront [A View From the Hook]
Rejuggling of Plans for Red Hook Waterfront [Brownstoner]
Photo by spiffae.
Left hook- it wasn’t condescending. That’s you being thin skinned.That’s what happens when people read blogs and infuse other people’s words with their own issues.
And for the record I lived in that area for years and was one of the community activists fighting to keep 204 open- which serviced Red Hook.Taking a hit for the rest of us? Oh yes- martyrdom for the masses. Puhleeze.
Now you want to talk about taking a hit in your neighborhood for the rest of us? Try being in the most social service bed saturated area in the city with Bloomberg trying to shove a huge intake center down your throat. You take the intake center, I’ll take the trucks.
EDC’s main argument for bringing phoenix bev to red hook is that it will reduce the carbon footprint since phoenix will otherwise be trucking the beer in from new jersey. so in order to reduce the carbon foot print in the city red hook is taking the hit. I think it is more than fair for the community to ask the EDC to find ways to keep red hook carbon neutral. i.e. if red hook gets more trucks, then they should be cold ironing the cruise ships. or the EDC should demand that the phoenix truck fleet run on compressed natural gas.
bxgirl, your condescending comment, that “maybe the community could put more energy into how to improve that rather than fighting business coming in,” got my panties in a bunch too. you really have know idea what the red hook community is trying to do, so don’t be surprised when people from the community get annoyed by these kinds of comments. particularly when they are the ones taking the hit so the rest of the city can become greener and cleaner.
Excellent – well I hope you’ve had some of your questions answered – most of which seemed rhetorical at first read. Knickers decisively unbunched.
AA,
It’s one thing to be passionate about your cause, but you might want to tone down the hyperbole and didacticism a wee bit. BG and I asked some pretty middle of the road questions regarding the pier project. Yet in your response, you accused us of wishing ill fortunate to the small children of Red Hook — a little twisted, don’t you think? If you’re looking to broaden your coalition and expand support, I recommend that maybe you don’t jump all over someone’s jock when they express the slightest bit of dissent. Not only is it a big turnoff, it just makes it that much easier for the powers that be to marginalize you and ilk.
Have you ever done any community organizing before? You might want to read some Saul Alinsky.
AA- I do take your point but first of all no one called you nimbys. Both PB and I asked questions- ego- for more information- so don’t get your knickers in a bunch.
Hey bg and pb. Before jumping to conclusions about the supposed NIMBYism of the Red Hook residents who are weighing in on this issue and trying to draw attention to some of the negative impacts it may bring – myself included through the blog referred to in this post – you should read some of the writing on this issue. The vast majority of Red Hook residents, businesses, etc., are in favor of a plan that would bring Phoenix, the Water Taxi and other activities to the waterfront. We are saying yes to a working waterfront – yes to the jobs both Phoenix and NY Water Taxi would bring, and yes to trying to maintain the unique character of Red Hook. The criticism of the plan – which has now been signed off on by the Port Authority – is that it doesn’t give back to the community in a way that is beneficial to the small businesses and residents in a meaningful way. It also does little to mitigate the impact of the pollution created by not only the trucks, but the increased number of ships which idle 24/7 when in port, belching carcinogenic and asthma producing smoke over Red Hook, Carroll Gardens and Cobble Hill (1 ship = 12,000 cars). Go to my blog for some little known information about the impact of these emissions on populations surrounding ports – particularly on the most vulnerable – kids, asthma sufferers, the elderly and minority communities. There are some statements made by the EPA on this very issue, made as recently as last Wednesday, in my recent post and on the side-bar of my blog. It seems fair enough that the people who are being impacted by these sort of proposals try to make sure their kids aren’t being poisoned for the sake of the “bottom line” of the Port Authority or the EDC – don’t you agree? Or are you also telling the kids of Red Hook, as are the PA and the EDC, to suck it up?
thx, bg and pb.
Aren’t the trucks completely avoiding residential streets in RH by entering and exiting the port on Hamilton Avenue? I understand residents, regardless of the neighborhood, will speak out against truck traffic. However, judging by the current economy, Red Hook’s long history as an active port and the city’s strong support for Phoenix, I think the opponents have the work cut out for them.
Red Hook was a working waterfront. Isn’t that a good thing? Especially in these times? I know congestion is a problem but businesses and jobs is a priority and maybe the community could put more energy into how to improve that rather than fighting business coming in.