During a public meeting at the Miccio Center on December 1, 2016, Thor Equities and their land use council, Fox Rothschild, revealed glossy development plans for 270-280 Richards Street. Spanning 7.7 acres atop the former site of the Revere Sugar Factory, Thor’s office and retail complex dubbed “Red Hoek Point” would jut 700 feet into the Erie Basin. “Thor has […]
Waterfront
Walt Whitman at Barge Museum, by Noah Phillips
Katherine Lanpher leans against the pier’s railing in front of the Waterfront Barge Museum. The Statue of Liberty is behind her in the distance. It is a beautiful Saturday evening, but slightly chilly. She takes a deep breath and reads from the paper before her: I believe in those wing’d purposes, And acknowledge red, yellow, white, playing within me, And […]
Indie Pop-Up Concert Gets Red Hook Debut, by Sarah Matusek
Leo Liebeskind, the front man of rock and roll band Lovechild, breathed on his fingers to heat them up. “We hope everyone’s warm enough,” he told the audience from center stage, shouldering his guitar with a star-spangled strap. “We sort of are.” The audience laughed, their coats and scarves still on. On Saturday’s cold and rainy night, Lovechild and two other […]
IN BRIEF, by the Star-Revue Staff
Summit Wins Participatory Budgeting Funds Summit Academy’s good fortune continues as City Councilman Carlos Menchaca announced that the school’s “Smart Tech” proposal was one of five winning Participatory Budgeting projects voted on at the end of April. The school will receive $120,000 to revamp their classrooms with Smart Tech upgrades. The proposal specifically noted the additions of “teacher resource stations, […]
SBIDC Executive Director moves to greener pastures, by Nathan Weiser
David Meade, longtime Executive Director of South Brooklyn Industrial Development Corporation (SBIDC), announced Friday, April 14 that he would be resigning from his position. Meade began working with SBIDC seven years ago, and took the lead position one year later. Meade is moving on to work at Building Skills of New York (BSNY) as Executive Director. BSNY connects low income […]
Red Hook Commuter Ferry service to begin June 1, by the Red Hook Star-Revue Staff
The New York Economic Development Corporation (EDC) announced today that the South Brooklyn ferry route, which will connect Red Hook to other spots along the waterfront, will begin service June 1. Weekend service to Governor’s Island will begin two days later, on Saturday June 3, according to the press release. Red Hook residents have long wanted more transportation options. […]
REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK: Does Thor Equities plan to resell 280 Richards Street? by Noah Phillips
There’s reason to be skeptical of Thor Equities’ Red Hoek Point plan. Many people in the community have raised questions about the project itself – if space might be made for local nonprofits, if the construction would jeopardize our neighborhood’s historic cobblestones, if the tenants would change the character of Red Hook, if the development will economically benefit the community […]
Community Pushes Back on Thor Equities Plan, by Noah Phillips
After years of speculation and rumors about Thor Equities’ intentions for its waterfront holding at 280 Richards Street, representatives from the company unveiled the “Red Hoek Point” at a well-attended Community Board 6 Land Use committee meeting. The December 1 presentation at the Miccio Center was given by Ethan Goodman, Director of New York Planning & Project Management at Fox […]
The Fish Gods of Erie Basin, by Noah Phillips
Paulie McDonald is looking for striped bass tonight. “They’re the biggest, meanest thing out here,” says McDonald, “and that’s what I’m trying to catch.” McDonald is standing on a crumbling concrete bulkhead behind one of the long brick warehouses that define the Red Hook landscape. Even as he speaks, McDonald’s eyes are fixated on the tip of the fishing rod […]
Red Hook Shore Power system is operational, by Noah Phillips
The first Shore Power System (SPS) on the East Coast is operational in Red Hook at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal and has been for several months, according to New York Power Authority spokesman Paul DeMichele. The SPS allows some cruise ships to plug into the New York Power Authority’s electric grid, rather than idling their engines in port by burning […]