The Red Hook Civic Association had their November meeting at the Red Hook Rec Center on the 27th.
Formed earlier in the year, the new Association includes a number of committee so more could be accomplished outside of the general meeting.
Each committee meets once a month. There is the organizing committee, an infrastructure committee, a services committee (public and private) and communications.
At redhookcivic.org there is information about a discourse forum where ideas are discussed. There is a newly created Facebook (Red Hook Civic Association) and Instagram (@RedHookCivic) page.
A vision statement had been discussed at organizing committee meetings and it’s a first step in forming structure. “We see a caring and united Red Hook that celebrates its diversity, and provides a green and healthy urban environment for all its citizens. This includes well maintained housing, equal and ample educational and cultural opportunities, clean air and water, high quality parkland for physical and recreational activity, and flood protection.”
Library update
Imre Kovacs, who is on the Service Committee, gave a library update. The old library is being refurbished and the committee has had contact with the construction company.
“On the schedule it was promised to be completed in two years to make it open in March of 2025 but only recently in talking to them did it become clear that even after the construction work is finished there is still inspections, permits, furniture, the electrical and putting in computers, desks and books,” Kovacs said. “The estimate from the construction people is that it will take an additional three to six months.”
There is an effort to have an interim location to provide some services.
Edward Cerna, from Councilmember Aviles’ office, said that it has been difficult to find a site. One space they are trying is Visitation Church.
“It’s across the street from Coffey Park so it’s centrally located,” Cerna said. “We have been having conversations with them to make that a site. Until we get to the finish line, it’s still not where we want it to be.”
The library has said that if an interim space is secured they can bring carts of books.
While the old library has been closed, the library has been offering a book mobile, a tech mobile as well as programs at Pioneer Works and RHI.
Express Bus
Nico Kean talked about the effort to get a direct bus from Red Hook into Manhattan.
He pointed out that any approach to Atlantic Avenue has a lot of traffic most of the day and going the other direction to Smith & 9th St. is the highest access point to the subway with no elevator.
“We need a direct bus through the tunnel, which is right here,” Kean said. “We need a bus that makes a loop through Red Hook, that makes a few stops around the Houses, Van Brunt, Union or anywhere along that part of Red Hook.”
This proposal has been shared with a lot of elected officials. Seven or eight community organizations, including the Red Hook Business Alliance and the Red Hook Star-Revue, signed on as part of this new coalition supporting this direct bus to Manhattan.
“We shared our version of the document with Alexa’s office because she was interested in the issues,” Kean added. “We don’t care if it is an addition to an existing line as long as it goes into Manhattan. Congressman Goldman was on this early and we are happy because that is federal.”
Kristen Rouse, the Goldman representative, said the congressman wrote an advisory request letter to the MTA regarding what should be done with revenue generated from congestion pricing.
The letter identified Red Hook as an existing transit desert that demands investment. It advocated for expanded bus service and it identified specific bus routes that the community boards have identified needing improvements or restoration of.
The Services Committee has expressed a vision that can make the quality of life better.
Their goal is to create one weekend a month that will bring everybody in the neighborhood together.
“There are other organizations also considering this and we are working together,” Kean said. “The vision is to have it spread throughout Red Hook. The Red Hook Business Alliance is interested. Now we are on the same page about it.”
Matias Kalwill added that they are basing this on an existing practice that smaller communities have within cities where local businesses might have an idea round a single weekend.
The Record Shop, Mark’s Pizza, Basin Gallery and Red Hook Open Studios have also been in dialogue about this once a month event. The plan is to have a brochure to say when it is happening.
Kalwill gave an update on the infrastructure committee. There was a recent NYC DOT meeting about the future of the BQE.
Traffic issues came up about the coastal resiliency in regards to the possibility of creating an alternate truck route through Halleck Street.
Kalwill added that they do not want the alternative truck routes to go through residential streets, the housing complexes, through schools or through parks.
There is an effort to think about how to approach water and freight distribution to take trucks off the road. They are trying to put ideas out there to improve traffic and one way is organizing walks through Hamilton Ave to share and listen to problems as they want this avenue improved.
Hamilton Avenue
This statement was read: The Hamilton Avenue corridor is presently a multi lane speedway for heavy vehicles that merges into quiet 19th century neighborhood streets. It is a hell scape of noise, pollution, and dangerous driving.
These are 10 recommendations for a more calm and rational Hamilton Avenue: A better second truck route through Red Hook including the Halleck Street proposal, camera speed and noise enforcement, implement a 2014 DCP design, make the West 9th Street/Clinton Street pedestrian crossing better than it is, build a buffered bike lane, redesign the tunnel plaza turnabout so it’s not a crazy intersection, new and improved pedestrian street crossings, study and pedestrianize Hamilton Ave, reverse Imlay Street’s direction to accommodate more traffic to the Cruise Terminal and finally to fix the port.
Cerna said there was going to be a rezoning application at CB6 on November 30 at 6:30. The building application is at 41 Richards Street.
The Councilmember supports the application since the building will have industrial use.
Container Terminal
Cerna said there was recently a call with the Port Authority and elected officials about the Red Hook Container Terminal. The Port Authority says the pier and port was too big to save since it would cost too much money.
“Alexa’s position is how can you say that when there is not even a plan that articulates what can happen,” Cerna said. “We want real investments into the port and a plan that actually sustains a working pier and that prioritizes industrial use.”
Congressman Goldman is very invested in the port.
“He has been a strong advocate for the continued maritime use of the port and is continuing in dialogue with the Port Authority and with EDC,” Rouse said. “To continue the maritime use, to keep those maritime jobs and to ensure that it is a hub for seeking solutions to the truck congestion in Red Hook.”
Alexa Aviles’ district office will have office hours in Red Hook at the Red Hook Initiative on December 7 and 21 from 11 to 3 pm.
