Big day at the Sunset Park Piers, by George Fiala

(L-R) Nydia Velazquez, Jerry Nadler, Carlos Menchaca, Mike Stamatis, and EDC head James Patchett

There was a big ceremony today at the foot of 39th Street in Sunset Park. The occasion was a press event heralding what is called the reactivation of the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal.

In the old days in Brooklyn, most of the waterfront in this part of Brooklyn was a full of commercial activity – most of it the loading and unloading of ships bearing products from all over the world.

For the past ten years or so, the piers in Sunset Park lay barren. The last attempt at commercial activity was from a car importer who spent a long time haggling with EDC to get a long term lease. Once they got the lease though, their parent company went out of business and the only work they did was to sue the NY Economic Development Corporation (EDC) to keep the lease.

EDC won and in 2014 and went to the City Council to receive a 49 year net lease on the property, something that until then was a pro-forma request, since EDC basically represents the wishes of the mayor.

Carlos Menchaca, then a brand new City Council member representing Red Hook and Sunset Park, stood in their way and demanded it be only a 39 year lease, as well as community input for use and planning of the property. EDC gulped, and the mayor took a bit of revenge on the councilman, but all survived to this sunny day for the formal announcement of a new 35 year lease on the property to the RFP winner, the Red Hook Container Terminal, LLC.

What this means is that after some hard political haggling, maritime use, together with community input, will guide the use of the terminal for decades to come. Congressional reps Nydia Velazquez and Jerrold Nadler, both longtime maritime advocates, spoke of the travels this project has taken. Menchaca spoke of his work to guarantee community input. Mike Stamatis, CEO of the Red Hook Containerport, LLC, gained a nice round of applause when he spoke of well paid dockworkers still employed at the pier long after everyone today is gone.

The only possible negative of the sunny afternoon was the fact that not one of the speakers said anything about the future of Red Hook’s container terminal. Stamatis has received one five year renewal, but after that, it’s quite possible that all of the container operations will be shifted to Sunset Park, opening up our own piece of the water to development, most probably similar to what has gone on further north, at Brooklyn Bridge Park and Williamsburg.

Patchet with Josh Levin of the Brooklyn BP’s office
The ILA has already been loading ships. in Sunset Park
Carlos flanked by Nydia and Jerry Nadler
That’s ILA 1814 President Lou Pernice, an important behind-the-scenes mover in today’s event. He’s the guy with white hair and his hand in his face.

Author

Share:

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn

2 Comments

  1. Next to Nydia Valasquez & Jerry Nadler Carlos looks tall.

  2. At far left in the top photo and not mentioned in the photo caption is Carolina Salguero of Red Hook’s PortSide NewYork, the only Red Hook member of the Sunset Park Task Force.

READ OUR FULL PRINT EDITION

click here to see our previous issues.

Our Sister Publication

a word from our sponsors!

Latest Media Guide!

Where to find the Star-Revue

Instagram

How many have visited our site?

wordpress hit counter

Social Media

Most Popular

On Key

Related Posts

Special birthday issue – information for advertisers

Author George Fiala George Fiala has worked in radio, newspapers and direct marketing his whole life, except for when he was a vendor at Shea Stadium, pizza and cheesesteak maker in Lancaster, PA, and an occasional comic book dealer. He studied English and drinking in college, international relations at the New School, and in his spare time plays drums and

PS 15’s ACES program a boon for students with special needs, by Laryn Kuchta

At P.S. 15 Patrick F. Daly in Red Hook, staff are reshaping the way elementary schoolers learn educationally and socially. They’ve put special emphasis on programs for students with intellectual disabilities and students who are learning or want to learn a second language, making sure those students have the same advantages and interactions any other child would. P.S. 15’s ACES

Big donors taking an interest in our City Council races

The New York City Council primary is less than three months away, and as campaigns are picking up steam, so are donations. In districts 38 and 39 in South Brooklyn, Incumbents Alexa Avilés (District 38) and Shahana Hanif (District 39) are being challenged by two moderate Democrats, and as we reported last month, big money is making its way into

Wraptor celebrates the start of spring

Red Hook’s Wraptor Restaurant, located at 358 Columbia St., marked the start of spring on March 30. Despite cool weather in the low 50s, more than 50 people showed up to enjoy the festivities. “We wanted to do something nice for everyone and celebrate the start of the spring so we got the permits to have everyone out in front,”