In September, ONE°15 Brooklyn Marina filed for bankruptcy, and Brooklyn Bridge Park Boathouse (non-profit running free kayaking program in Brooklyn Bridge Park) has taken this opportunity to issue a petition calling for a more inclusive use of the waterfront space and more community access.
The ONE°15 Brooklyn Marina, which includes Brooklyn Sail Club and the affiliated Estuary restaurant, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy as they seek a buyer. The debt stems from initial construction costs at the marina’s challenging waterfront site, as well as nearly $500,000 back rent owed to Brooklyn Bridge Park.
Currently, the 8-acre marina between Pier 3 and Pier 5 is home to the ONE°15 sailing club and sailing school and also leases berths to private vessels, from New York Harbor tour boats to historic sailboats to luxury superyachts. There is small community dock with programming supported by 2% of the marina’s revenue, including programs by Brooklyn Bridge Park Boathouse.
However, the promise of free and low-cost community access to boating activites has not been fulfilled, the Brooklyn Bridge Park Boathouse says in their petition, entitled “Make the Brooklyn Bridge Park Marina More Than a Yacht Parking Lot Run By A PE Firm.” They write, “The marina has long struggled to serve the community, with high fees limiting access and unfulfilled commitments to public programming.”
Their petition urges the Park to reimagine the future of the marina with its next owner and create more public waterfront access for the community. In addition to boating and sailing, the Boathouse suggests more public activities like stand-up paddling, sailing lessons for kids, additional kayaking, and educational programs.
The petition warns, “A private equity firm or high-net-worth individual with no ties to community access programs or interest in such things can swoop in fast and try to monetize our Brooklyn waterfront for their own benefit or that of their investors.”
Updated: November 13, 2024.
