Brooklyn Mogul Fights to Prevent Sinking of Historic Ocean Liner

A Brooklyn concrete magnate is making a final push to save a historic ocean liner from being sunk off the coast of Florida and instead bring it to the Red Hook waterfront.

John Quadrozzi Jr., a key figure in Brooklyn's industrial landscape, is working to prevent the historic S.S. United States from being turned into an artificial reef off the coast of Florida, Gothamist reported.

As the owner of Gowanus Bay Terminal and a leader in the concrete industry, he aims to bring the rusty 990-foot vessel, which is larger than the Titanic, to Brooklyn's waterfront, where it could instead be preserved and repurposed as a "floating ecosystem."

"Coworking space, incubators. Preferably things that are more maritime and environmentally focused … The vessel is just filled with small spaces in it, which would be ideal for that type of use," Quadrozzi said.

"It gets built up in increments. There are residences. There are commercial spaces. There are industrial spaces."

Quadrozzi has secured a 1,300-foot space near the Gowanus Canal, ready to accommodate the ship. Among his supporters is Dan McSweeney, co-founder of the S.S. United States Conservancy, who recently proposed to a West Harlem community board the idea of transforming the ship into a floating affordable housing complex along the Hudson River.

"The chances are fading and they have been for a number of years," said McSweeney, who co-founded the S.S. United States Conservancy in 2004.

However, the S.S. United States Conservancy Slammed Sweeney, saying it was “deeply troubling” that he “continues to mislead the public into thinking there is a viable path for redevelopment of the SS United States as a destination in John Quadrozzi's Gowanus Bay Terminal in New York or other location in the New York area.”

The effort to save the S.S. United States follows a recent legal ruling in Philadelphia, which allowed plans to move the ship to Florida for a potential dive tourism project. Despite the ship's scheduled departure, bad weather has delayed the journey, leaving Quadrozzi concerned about its chances of making it safely. The ship was purchased by the county for $1 million with hopes of turning it into a major tourist attraction.

He is focused on finding a "compelling, realistic reason" to get Florida officials to change their plans. However, Florida officials say they haven't heard from him.

"I'm not familiar with that gentleman and what he has going on in Brooklyn," said Nick Tomecek, an Okaloosa County spokesperson.

"I do know Okaloosa County has purchased this vessel for the use of the world's largest artificial reef. That decision has been made by our Board of County Commissioners and we're proceeding with that process. And the next step is to move that vessel out of Philadelphia."

In a statement, the conservancy said it had spent over a decade pushing for a redevelopment project in New York for the S.S. United States, partnering with RXR and MCR Hotels to create a world-class mixed-use destination. Despite this effort, the conservancy noted, New York State and City leaders did not support the plan.

After exploring several relocation options that failed to meet requirements, the conservancy's board decided to turn the ship into an artificial reef with a museum, allowing public access while preserving its legacy.

“We chose the latter as the more dignified path as it will still allow tens of thousands of visitors to experience the ship and museum each year,” the statement read.

“Efforts to push unrealistic proposals in the press are both disappointing and irresponsible and will do nothing more than sully the legacy of America’s Flagship.”