Debate Grows Over 600-Foot Waterfront Housing Project in Greenpoint

By Yisroel R.

A proposed waterfront housing project in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, is drawing sharp debate as it heads toward a key community board review, nearly 20 years after a major rezoning reshaped the neighborhood’s skyline but left major promises unfulfilled.

The project, known as Monitor Point, would be built on MTA-owned land along Quay Street and include 1,150 apartments, with buildings rising up to 600 feet tall, making them among the tallest in the neighborhood. The plan follows the 2005 Greenpoint-Williamsburg rezoning, which led to widespread waterfront development and included a commitment to create Bushwick Inlet Park, a large public park that remains unfinished due to environmental cleanup issues and years of legal delays.

Opponents say the proposal reflects a deeper frustration among residents. Greenpoint has produced more housing than any other New York City neighborhood over the past 15 years, they note, yet the park promised two decades ago is still incomplete. Community groups also warn that large-scale construction near the inlet could harm the natural environment and increase flooding risks.

In response to public opposition, the project’s developer, Gotham Organization, revised the plan to increase affordable housing. The updated proposal would designate 40% of the apartments, or about 460 units, for low- and middle-income renters. One building would be fully affordable, while two additional towers would include a mix of market-rate and income-restricted units. City housing officials praised the changes as a meaningful step during a severe housing shortage.

Still, City Councilmember Lincoln Restler, who represents the area, said the revisions do not go far enough. He said he does not currently support the project, arguing that development on public land should prioritize affordability. Restler said he would reconsider his position if a majority of the apartments were affordable and if the city made clear, enforceable commitments to completing Bushwick Inlet Park.

The MTA, which owns the site, has defended the proposal, saying leasing the land would generate revenue needed to support transit operations and capital improvements. Supporters also point to additional benefits tied to the project, including expanded public waterfront access, the relocation of an MTA facility to allow for future park space further north, and plans for a museum honoring the Civil War–era ironclad USS Monitor, which was built in Greenpoint in the 1860s.

The proposal is scheduled to be reviewed Tuesday evening by the local community board’s land use committee, a meeting expected to draw significant public attention as residents weigh the need for housing against environmental concerns and long-standing frustration over unfulfilled development promises.

illustration photo: Shutterstock