Grave Sitch for Red Hook Graving Dock

We didn’t get around to reading the City section until Wednesday this week and so we’re a little late to the draw on highlighting this article on the historic graving dock in Red Hook being threatened by Ikea’s plans for a parking lot. To begin building over the historic structure, the retailer needs to obtain permits from the Army Corps of Engineers and the State Department of Environmental Conservation. A coalition of 11 preservation and maritime groups called Save the Graving Dock has come together over the past year to try to block the plans, going so far as to commission two alternative designs. The preservationist organization says it does not oppose the store, but it contends that the dock has historic significance and is crucial to the harbor’s future, especially since only two other comparable docks exist in the New York region. In January, the Preservation League of New York State included the dock on its “Seven to Save” list of threatened structures. We haven’t seen the alternative proposals but we don’t think Ikea’s “compromise” of saving 20% of the dock as part of its waterfront park cuts the mustard.
Sailing Into History [NY Times]