The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) in 2019 for the redevelopment of 40 Quay Street. In addition to creating new housing and addressing issues related to waterfront resiliency and access, the approved proposal facilitates the relocation of MTA’s Mobile Wash and Materials Control Units currently at Quay St. and the NYCT Emergency Response Unit (ERU) from Box St. to 213 Meadow St. as a modern, resilient and energy-efficient MTA facility.
The project team participated in a competitive Request for Proposals (RFP) issued by the MTA in 2019. Gotham’s proposal was selected due to its exemplary track record in community-oriented development, the potential synergies of combining the MTA and Monitor sites, and the feasibility of relocating MTA's facilities to a site within the North Brooklyn Industrial Business Zone (IBZ). Gotham will partner with an affordable housing partner to provide community-based affordable housing and supportive services, as well as to co-manage the affordable housing portion of this development.
Monitor Point creates approximately 700 feet of shore public walkway and open space along the waterfront. It also connects the proposed Bushwick Inlet Park to the south and the existing Greenpoint shore walkway to the north, extending waterfront access between Greenpoint and Williamsburg. Monitor Point will also contain a new permanent home for the Greenpoint Monitor Museum, which will be built on the museum’s land that shares the launch site of the USS Monitor.
In developing the proposal, Monitor Point prioritized the issues identified by Brooklyn Community Board 1 as district priorities: the need for affordable housing, access to open and green space, and street safety. The project team began preliminary community outreach in 2022-23 and will continue to engage residents and local leaders in 2024 and 2025 as it begins the formal land use process for the community to evaluate and provide feedback on the plans for Monitor Point.
New York City and Brooklyn are facing an affordability and housing crisis. The Greenpoint community has identified housing as a top priority for the district, particularly affordable housing for low-income New Yorkers. As requested by the MTA’s RFP, the proposal transforms a previously industrial site owned by New York State to address critical housing needs while increasing access to green and open space along the waterfront. It also provides in-kind investments for the MTA. Revenue generated from the project will help fund transit system improvements and ensure the MTA continues to deliver reliable service for all riders.
The project team understands the impact that climate change has along the Greenpoint waterfront and the risk of coastal flooding and erosion from more frequent and intense storms. Monitor Point provides critical improvements to the shoreline to counter the impacts of rising water levels and would raise both the waterfront plaza and ground floor above Design Flood Elevation. It would also incorporate a raised shoreline with a living buffer of native plants and relocate critical infrastructure to mitigate flooding and erosion to ensure a safer, more resilient Greenpoint.
An environmental impact study is required as part of the land use process for the proposed project. It will be available for public review as the project nears certification by the NYC Department of City Planning, which is currently anticipated in early 2025. Community members will also have an opportunity to share feedback regarding the draft scope of the environmental impact study.
The project will provide a significant amount of mixed-income housing that is both connected and respectful of the community and neighboring open space. A minimum of 25 percent of the new homes built at Monitor Point will be permanently affordable. The project will offer equitable and affordable rents through the City of New York’s Mandatory Inclusionary Housing (MIH) provisions. A leading affordable housing partner will co-manage the affordable housing created at Monitor Point.
The proposal will create approximately 40,000 square feet of mixed retail and commercial space, and the project team is committed to ensuring access to neighborhood-focused businesses and entrepreneurs. Additionally, the project team is committed to local hiring and contracting with Women- and Minority-Owned Businesses during the project’s construction and creating new unionized building jobs onsite after completion.
The project also provides critical funds for the realization of a permanent home for the Greenpoint Monitor Museum, which will celebrate the local history of the USS Monitor and Continental Iron Works. This opportunity ensures that Greenpoint’s waterfront can be a thriving cultural and educational destination for residents and visitors alike.
By relocating MTA facilities and operations from the residential neighborhood to an industrial zone, Monitor Point facilitates the elimination of significant industrial truck traffic in the community, particularly near existing green and open spaces. Additionally, the project site incorporates the design and placemaking of plazas that promote pedestrian-friendly mobility throughout the development site and onto the waterfront.
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