News

News

First BMT meeting a scripted online affair, by Brian Abate

NYC Economic Development Corporation (EDC) held an informational webinar on August 12 regarding the future of the Columbia Street Piers. Over 120 acres of coastal land comprising the Red Hook Container Terminal, Erie Basin including the Cruise Terminal, Manhattan Beverage, the concrete recycling plant, the Waterfront and Port Authority building, and anyplace else in between were turned over to the […]

Land Use, Local Issues - Red Hook, News, Real Estate, Waterfront

Our position on the future of the shoreline, by George Fiala

UPDATE: The introductory webinar was held on August 12. As predicted below, it was an undemocratic neighborhood meeting. We were told that over 400 people were online, but there was no further information as to who they were, what they looked like, or whether they had anything to say. It was the kind of ZOOM meant for a one-way conversation, […]

Environment, News

How safe is that Columbia Street concrete plant, anyway? by Oscar Fock

In our July issue we wrote about the concrete recycling plant that temporarily occupies part of the Columbia Street Waterfront District docks. At the time, the NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) told us that they “take all the necessary steps to mitigate dust and keep the public safe.” That is important because crystalline silica, a compound present in concrete, poses […]

Environment, Gowanus, Gowanus Canal, News

Findings of toxic fumes in Gowanus prompt calls for moratorium on new construction, by Oscar Fock

(Editor’s note – Mr. Hang takes issue with our characterization of these events, and requested that we include his clarification: “Please note that we have NOT called for a “moratorium on new construction” in the Gowanus Canal Area.  We respectfully wrote Governor Hochul: “Until the shortcomings of New York’s Brownfield program have been fully assessed and all applicable regulatory cleanup requirements […]

News

Inclusivity the theme at Harbor School celebration, by Nathan Weiser

Harbor Middle School / PS 676 had their second annual Pride celebration and talent show on Friday, June 14. The auditorium was packed with parents, staff and the community. This year’s talent show drew inspiration from Beyonce’s Renaissance Tour which celebrated LGBTQ+ culture, vogue, ballroom and black queer joy. The Beyonce tour also focused on promoting inclusivity and fostering a […]

News

Gowanus Oversight group focuses on Wyckoff Gardens and the Gowanus Houses, by Oscar Fock

The Gowanus Oversight Task Force met for its second quarterly meeting of the year on Thursday evening, June 27. This time around, the public meeting tackled the issues of “community resources” and “streets and safety.” This task force took life as a condition of the Gowanus rezoning, which allowed for the building of high rise residential buildings in the formerly […]

Cobble Hill, Environment, News

Temporary concrete facility raises concerns on Columbia Street, by Oscar Fock

A concrete recycling plant opened up along the Columbia Street waterfront earlier this year, raising concerns among some residents in the neighborhood and nearby Cobble Hill. The plant, located by the intersection of Columbia and Kane Streets, is only there temporarily, however. It was moved there in February to accommodate the city’s plans to develop offshore wind. Just next door […]

News

Small turnout listens to flood remediation tips in Gowanus, by Oscar Fock

In a poorly ventilated public school gym, community members of Park Slope, Gowanus and the surrounding neighborhoods gathered on Wednesday, May 22, for a sustainability and resiliency resource fair, co-hosted by the Mayor’s Office for Climate and Environmental Justice and the office of Council Member Shahana Hanif. “This was a pretty standard, successful community event for us,” Kimberly Winston, Communication’s […]