Developers break ground on Pier 6 to expand green space at Bush Terminal

In mid-August, developers broke ground on Pier 6 at Bush Terminal, part of a revitalization plan that will add five acres of green space to Sunset Park’s evolving industrial zone.

The ceremony was held on the waterfront at the construction site next to Bush Terminal Park, at 4100 First Avenue.

Under the hot summer sun, the press, community members, representatives of the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) — the entity leading the Pier 6 conversion — and partner organizations listened to the key speakers involved in the project.

“We have to do better,” said Andrew Kimball, NYCEDC’s president and CEO, underscoring an investment in a part of the neighborhood that has long been neglected.

Council Member Alexa Avilés, a consistent champion of green space, spoke about the need to push these transformations across city neighborhoods.

“We ask for justice for Pier 6,” Avilés said. She emphasized giving Sunset Park residents a place for recreation in the historically underserved industrial zone — a space where families can stroll and workers can take a break from their shifts.

Assemblymember Marcela Mitaynes, who has long organized tenants against unjust displacement, also spoke. She called for transparency in Sunset Park projects and for developers to make a greater effort “to understand who we are.”

“Our residents can move and act together,” she added, underscoring the power of community mobilization to act as a check against developers who might otherwise put profit before the best interests of the neighborhood.

Kathy Park Price, a prominent parks advocate, stressed the importance of creating and maintaining green spaces in New York City. Only about five percent of Sunset Park offers parkland or green space, she said.

“It is essential to create new spaces and open the door to more. This waterfront is an investment in the community,” Price said.

Hewett Chiu, CEO and cofounder of Raising Health, highlighted the value the project brings to residents. “Facing Lady Liberty, today we are building strength in Sunset Park,” Shiu said.

Raising Health is recognized for serving the community, supporting well-being, and advocating for residents. Its work includes food distribution and ESL (English as a Second Language) services.

Among those at the groundbreaking was Margaret, an English teacher in Sunset Park for 15 years, who attended with several of her students.

“We came to see the beginning of change. I’m very happy about this project because it’s truly needed in Sunset Park and marks a cornerstone for the neighborhood,” Margaret said, adding that the new space will not only benefit a heavily industrial area but also draw visitors and help more people discover the neighborhood.

“We are studying English and learning in Sunset Park,” said J.A., a student from the Dominican Republic. “This park will be a place where others like us come to learn, too.”

NYCEDC and its partner organizations plan to introduce and support water-based recreational and educational activities, including an outdoor classroom, tide-pool exploration areas, and other waterfront learning spaces, with program announcements expected in the coming months.

The Pier 6 remodel is part of a $25 million investment at the MADE Bush Terminal campus (short for Manufacturers, Artisans, Designers and Entrepreneurs), a manufacturing and innovation hub led by NYCEDC.

NYCEDC describes the investment as a community-focused project creating a safe, public area with picnic areas, collaboration and gathering spaces, a seawater-access pool, and a waterfront promenade.

“We previously worked on another project with the same company, but this one is larger in scale. We’re proud to be part of the construction team,” said one of the Pier 6 construction workers. Completion is expected in 2027.