LOCATION

The site is situated on the northern shore of the Bushwick Creek Inlet. The terminus of the Bushwick Creek Inlet affords shelter from strong currents and large boat traffic along the East River while providing striking views of the Manhattan skyline. Additionally, the site is two blocks from McCarren Park, one of largest open spaces in the Greenpoint and Williamsburg neighborhoods of Brooklyn. The close proximity to the park and sheltered nature, encourages public access to the waterfront and increased familiarity with nautical and aquatic equipment in a protected environment.

At present, to the north of this site is a one-story, low-rise brick and glass storage facility extending almost the entire length of the site. The community is currently working with elected officials to explore the acquisition of this site as a park and museum to commemorate the first Civil War ironclad vessel, The Monitor, built and launched from this location. If the northern sites are developed as desired, the Community Boathouse site will provide a physical and metaphorical link to the boatbuilding heritage of the neighborhood.

The southern lot of the competition site and the Bushwick Creek Inlet is currently a hotly contested portion of the waterfront. Currently occupied by Bayside Oil, TransGas Energy Systems, LLC (TGE), a limited liability corporation, proposes to construct and operate an 1,100 megawatt combined cycle power plant. GWAPP, other active community organizations and concerned citizens oppose this development. Other potential developments for this area receiving favorable support in Greenpoint and Williamsburg include a facility for New York University Track and Field as well an archery facility for the proposed 2012 Olympics. The Community Boathouse site will encourage and reinforce the notion of positive community development activities along the waterfront.

Finally, The New York City Department of City Planning recently unveiled a rezoning proposal for Williamsburg and Greenpoint. The proposal focuses on residential issues to rebuild the district, industrial rezoning designed to foster jobs and creation of a public esplanade promoting reconstruction of the waterfront and reconnect the community with the river. Among a host of objectives incorporated in the rezoning proposal was a focus on public waterfront access, stressing that all new development on the waterfront must provide open public space (esplanade) with physical public access and view corridors.

Clearly, the actions of community residents and city officials accentuate that the East River and Newtown Creek are among Greenpoint and Williamsburg’s most valuable resources, have been abused and overlooked for far to long and efforts to improve the waterfront are of paramount importance.