RED HOOK — The founder of New York Water Taxi is proposing a maritime center for Red Hook with ferry service, park space and affordable housing — and residents will have a chance to discuss his vision this week.
Tom Fox, a partner at Durst Sunset LLC, will present his plan for Atlantic Basin and the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal on Wednesday night at Kentler International Drawing Space in Red Hook.
“[The Brooklyn Maritime Center] will create new maritime jobs, support the growth of the ferry industry and maintain industrial commerce on the Red Hook waterfront,” according to his proposal.
One of Fox’s primary goals is for the center to serve as the new home port for New York Water Taxi as well as a full service boat yard for repair and maintenance, he said.
He is also planning a Governor’s Island-Brooklyn ferry for construction material to travel back and forth, access to the waterfront for faculty and students of the New York Harbor School, 83 units of affordable workforce housing and roughly 6.5 acres of park space.
The plan would also repurpose the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal as an event, market and exhibition space when it isn’t being used for passenger ship activities, the proposal said.
Fox had initially proposed a similar plan several years ago but Phoenix Beverages eventually took over the lease for two Atlantic Basin piers, managed by Port Authority.
Fox presented his latest plan to city officials last year.
However it’s unclear whether the city is currently considering a new use for the waterfront site. Port Authority did not respond to requests for comment. The city’s Economic Development Corporation, which manages the Cruise Terminal, did not wish to comment.
“We think the time is right. And hopefully everyone else does too,” Fox said.
Fox will present his plan at 7 p.m. on Jan. 14 at Kentler Drawing Space (353 Van Brunt St.)
