Nadler Congratulates City, Council on Completion of Axis Lease Agreement for South Brooklyn Marine Terminal

NEW YORK – In anticipation of the City Council’s vote tomorrow, Congressman Jerrold Nadler applauded the negotiated lease agreement between the City and the Axis Group for the development of an automobile-processing facility at the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal (SBMT) in Sunset Park.  The lease will be voted on tomorrow in the Subcommittee on Landmarks, Public Siting and Maritime Uses of the City Council’s Land Use Committee. 

The agreed-upon term of the lease is 15 years, with an option to renew for five years at the sole discretion of the City, provided that a container port is not operating, or being constructed, at the site. 

In 1999, the City released the Strategic Plan for the Redevelopment of the Port of New York, which calls for the construction of a state-of-the-art modern container port in Sunset Park that would provide key regional benefits and as many as 17,000 new jobs.  The Plan envisioned an auto terminal on the SBMT site during the first phases of development of the port.  The term of this negotiated Axis lease falls within the timeframe envisioned by the Plan for so-called “interim uses.”

“I’m incredibly pleased that all of the parties involved could come to a good agreement,” Congressman Nadler said.  “The City and the Council have acted in the best interest of New Yorkers by cultivating this important interim investment by Axis, while at the same time ensuring that the lease doesn’t imperil the long-term plan for a working port in South Brooklyn.  I look forward to continue working with the City and the Council to develop our working waterfront.”

“We are always happy when we can bring jobs into the community,” said Councilmember Sara Gonzalez, who represents Sunset Park, where SBMT is located.  “Axis will provide immediate jobs, union jobs, and the lease we were able to negotiate will afford us the opportunity to provide, in future projects, even more jobs.”

“The Axis plan is a positive one that will create new economic development in South Brooklyn,” said Jessica Lappin, Chairwoman of the Council’s Subcommittee.  “Reducing the lease term allows us to create new jobs now, and still move forward with a long-term vision and plan for a Brooklyn container port.”

“Councilmember Gonzalez has been a longtime champion of our waterfront and our ports, dating back to her chairmanship of Brooklyn Community Board 7,” Nadler said.  “In working with Axis to ensure their commitment for good, local jobs and working to preserve the option of creating a container port, she demonstrated once again her commitment to local economic development for the City.”

 “Speaker Quinn showed a remarkable ability to balance the needs of individual districts with the needs of the City as a whole,” Nadler said.  “I commend her efforts, her judgment and her leadership.” 

“Considerable praise is due also for Subcommittee Chairwoman Jessica Lappin and Land Use Chairwoman Melinda Katz, for their wisdom in steering this process,” Nadler said.  “The Subcommittee carefully reviewed this deal to the maximum benefit for the City and the region.”

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