There was a Red Hook family in need last week – the community responded! Just below is an update from the Justice Center… On Friday, Ms. Quinones was able to get the keys for her new apartment – a three bedroom on Lorraine Street in Red Hook West. Ms. Smith and Mr. Laval and the NYCHA team worked very […]
Red Hook Houses
BASIS School to open in Red Hook this fall, by George Fiala
The BASIS Independent School received permission to run a Red Hook School at a March 25 hearing of the Board of Standards and Appeals (BSA). The school, which will be located at 556 Columbia Street, is located in an IBZ manufacturing zone, and needed the approval to begin construction. They immediately announced their opening this fall, despite the fact that […]
New boilers to be installed at Red Hook Houses, by George Fiala
Although advertised as one, there were actually two separate meetings at PS 15 on March 6th. The auditorium held an informational meeting where affected homeowners could meet representatives from Build It Back, a city program that is supposed to distribute federal funds to distressed homeowners who have had to rebuild their homes. After some opening statements, councilman Carlos Menchaca led […]
Red Hook to vote on PB projects, by Kimberly Gail Price
Forty-six proposals in District 38 have been submitted for 2014 Participatory Budgeting Process (PBP) season. Ten of those projects are in Red Hook. PBP is a process that enables community members to submit ideas for projects in their district to be funded by discretionary funds allocated by their local councilperson. Former Councilwoman, Sara Gonzalez allocated $2 million – double the […]
BASIS Independent School’s for-profit strategy, by George Fiala
The initial controversy surrounding the BASIS Independent School stemmed from their under-the-radar approach in entering our community. While they assured a Community Board 6 (CB6) committee that they had done sufficient groundwork, it turned out that very few in the community had any idea of their plans, nor anything about them. For this reason, their initial application for approval was […]
Alex House Project helps young moms, by Angela Johnson-Archer
Raising children is a complex juggling act that requires parents to act as nurturers, providers and disciplinarians. For many teen and young adult mothers, the difficulty of moving between so many complex roles is exacerbated by limited access to education and difficulty entering a competitive job market. Eight years ago, Samora Coles wanted to help the young mothers she encountered […]
CB 6 whacks BASIS School, by George Fiala
At its December General Board meeting, Community Board 6 (CB 6) did something unusual. They voted against the recommendation of one of its committees. Last month at a Miccio Center hearing, the Land Use Committee heard an application from the BASIS Independent School for permission to construct a school in a district zoned for manufacturing. The lot, on Columbia and […]
Red Hook West elections to be December 10th.
It was a full house at 428 Columbia Street, #1C as the Red Hook West Tenants Association (TA) held their nominating meeting on November 12. This meeting precedes the election of five positions mandated by the Association Charter. While the tenant leaders act independently of NYCHA, a NYCHA official, Michael Cox, was on hand to ensure that procedures were followed […]
Fine Fare to reopen soon, by Camille Daniels
Since two weeks after super storm Sandy devastated coastal communities, Fine Fare foods has had its doors closed. But in the next couple of months they’re promising a new return with some of the old store mixed in with new products, a new interior, and likely a new distributor. Open and serving Red Hook for some seven years, owner Damien […]
Miccio Center to remain open
Good news re Miccio Center! The city budget was completed last night and we just got this from local Councilmember Sara Gonzalez: “Ten days ago, as we were readying our final budget, NYCHA dropped the bombshell announcement that due to sequestration, they faced a $203 million shortfall in their budget. Their stated position at that time was that they would […]