Red Hook Rising Update by the Red Hook Rising Committee, by Gita Nandan, Co-Chair

Over the past year a committee of local residents was formed to work with the Governor’s Office of Storm Recovery to create a road to recovery post-Sandy. Red Hook was selected as one of ten NYC neighborhoods to participate in the NY Rising Community Reconstruction program. The goal was to create a plan that will help foster a more sustainable Red Hook and help our neighborhood be prepared for future events. Over the past year regular Committee meetings were held and four public meetings to gather ideas and discuss the best solutions for Red Hook. Through this community led process, over 50 projects were identified as a part of this Resilience Plan and 8 Proposed Projects were highlighted as recommendations for immediate funding. All recommended projects are now moving forward into the implementation phase.

There is an allocated funding source through the CBDG funds of $3 million.

The committee will be continuing on through the implementation phase to help provide a community voice in the process, and to ensure that the projects are realized in a manner that aligns with our vision. The firm of HGA has been hired through the Governor’s Office of Storm Recovery (a consulting firm based in New Orleans yet with extensive New York City experience), to facilitate implementation for all NY Rising Proposed Projects in Plans across the state. Implementation will happen in various phases, and will take up to two or more years. So, while this is exciting there is a lot more work to be done to help bring these projects to life.

Red Hook Proposed Projects include:

• Relief center network
• Emergency backup generator for health and social services provider
• Resiliency construction workforce training
• Local financial assistance program for small businesses, start-ups and homeowners/tenants
• Solar-powered emergency lights for Red Hook Houses stairwells
• Red Hook Houses microgrid feasibility study
• New ferry landing at or near Atlantic Basin
• Red Hook drainage study

In addition to the above Proposed Projects, the Red Hook NYRCR Community has drafted principles to guide the development of the $200 million partnership between the State and the City of New York to construct a comprehensive flood management system to protect Red Hook. This Integrated Flood Protection System would reduce risk for much of the Community and is critical to the overall safety of this evolving neighborhood.

If you have any questions or comments, please send an email to rising@redhookstar.com, and the Star-Revue will forward us your concerns. We also maintain a website, www.redhookcrzp@wordpress.com

gbrook@pipeline.com