New York City and State officials have approved a landmark $3.5 billion redevelopment plan for the Brooklyn Marine Terminal, a 122-acre waterfront site that has remained largely unused for decades. The ambitious vision, led by prominent architecture and design firms including Buro Happold, WXY, One Architecture, and SCAPE, promises to transform the sprawling brownfield into a modern mixed-use community featuring 6,000 new homes, extensive public spaces, and a state-of-the-art maritime port.
The Brooklyn waterfront once bustled with activity as longshoremen used cargo hooks to load bags of grain and other commodities onto trucks and trains. By 1960, New York City boasted over one million factory jobs, many concentrated in areas like Red Hook, Sunset Park, the Brooklyn Marine Terminal, and the Brooklyn Navy Yard. However, by 2000, that number had plummeted to approximately 200,000, leaving vast areas of land deteriorated and without purpose.
The New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) commissioned this comprehensive vision plan, bringing together a team of established local firms with specialized expertise. Buro Happold led site investigation and planning while handling financial modeling, traffic analysis, infrastructure development, and resiliency strategy alongside sub-consultants. WXY took responsibility for community engagement efforts, while SCAPE served as the landscape architect. One Architecture contributed urban design expertise, BJH Advisors provided real estate analytics, TYLin handled traffic engineering, and Creative Urban Alchemy served as the environmental justice consultant.
The redevelopment plan envisions creating 6,000 new residential units, with 2,400 designated as permanently affordable housing. Additionally, 50 affordable units will be specifically reserved for residents of NYCHA's Wyckoff and Gowanus Houses. The project also includes plans for a 400-room hotel and extensive commercial facilities. Architectural renderings reveal a collection of mid-rise and high-rise buildings positioned along the site's perimeter.
This latest proposal represents a significant breakthrough after five previous iterations were rejected due to various concerns including traffic congestion, lack of transparency, and other community issues. The current plan has successfully addressed critics' concerns both in government offices and within the local community, gaining unprecedented support for the redevelopment initiative.
The maritime port will occupy approximately half of the 122-acre site, while the remaining area will accommodate residential, civic, hotel, and commercial uses. The development will feature 28 acres of public space, 275,000 square feet of commercial space, 250,000 square feet dedicated to community use, and 275,000 square feet of light industrial and industrial space offered at discounted rents to support local businesses.
SCAPE's landscape architecture plans include creating a mile-long greenway that will connect Brooklyn Bridge Park to Atlantic Basin, an area encompassing Pier 11. This green corridor will provide residents and visitors with continuous waterfront access and recreational opportunities while enhancing the area's environmental sustainability.
The new all-electric, 60-acre maritime port represents a major economic development opportunity for the region. The NYCEDC estimates that the completed campus will support approximately 2,000 permanent jobs across maritime, industrial, commercial, and residential sectors, providing significant employment opportunities for local residents.
Climate resilience and environmental protection feature prominently in the development plans. The entire site will be raised to protect against flooding, while on-site stormwater management systems will be installed throughout the property. Additionally, a flood wall will be constructed to insulate the Brooklyn Marine Terminal from rising sea levels and ensure the facility can withstand a 100-year storm event.
To oversee the implementation of this ambitious vision, a new legal entity called the Brooklyn Marine Terminal Development Corporation will be established. This organization will be responsible for executing all aspects of the redevelopment plan and ensuring the project meets its timeline and budget requirements. Mayor Eric Adams praised the initiative, stating that the vision plan will transform a crumbling marine terminal into "the harbor of the future," representing a new chapter for Brooklyn's waterfront development.
