We decided to form a neighborhood association when we faced two challenges in 2024: the DOT’s concrete recycling facility on Columbia Street which spewed toxic dust across our streets, and the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) plan to redevelop the Brooklyn Marine Terminal (BMT). NYCEDC created a task force that included representatives from surrounding communities but no one from the CSW. EDC said we could not have a representative because we did not have our own association. This task force voted in favor of a plan which includes 3,800 new housing units, tripling CSW’s population, but lacks detailed financials, a traffic study, and comprehensive resiliency analysis.

At a community meeting in May 2025, many residents gathered and demonstrated overwhelming support to form our own association. Since then, we’ve applied and received our Certificate of Incorporation and 501(c)(3) decision letter, formed a board, passed bylaws and elected officers, and registered with the NY Charity Bureau. We’ve also revived the annual Holiday Tree Lighting at Human Compass Garden. We held a community clean-up day/scavenger hunt to celebrate Earth Day on April 18.

We’ve advocated for our community’s voice to be heard with the DOT and EDC. Most recently, we organized a meeting with the DOT Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner at Jalopy Theatre and Music School to demand traffic safety measures for dangerous intersections on Columbia St. We also led a successful campaign for an extension on the Brooklyn Marine Terminal Draft Statement of Work scoping comments to give the community adequate time to review information EDC had released a week prior.