The East River Waterfront Esplanade & Piers Project

East River Waterfront Esplanade

The East River Waterfront Esplanade and Piers Project is a plan to improve a two-mile section of the east side waterfront in Lower Manhattan. The Project involves the design, renovation and expansion of the East River Esplanade from Peter Minuit Plaza in the south to East River Park in the north. The Project includes the creation of new City-owned public open space that enhances connections between neighborhoods, improves the function and appearance of the waterfront, and provides amenities to facilitate access to the waterfront.

LMDC conducted a comprehensive environmental review under state and federal law. On November 8, 2007, LMDC’s Board approved the Record of Decision and Lead Agency Findings Statement for the East River Waterfront Esplanade and Piers Project after consideration of all public comments received on the Final Environmental Impact Statement earlier this year. This approval marks the conclusion of the environmental review process.

With the environmental review process now complete, LMDC will seek formal release of up to $137 million in federal grant funds to support and implement the Project. In 2008, LMDC and The City of New York will work closely to complete the schematic designs and begin construction of this newly-envisioned stretch of waterfront.

• Public Notices for the ROD
• Record of Decision and Lead Agency Findings Statement
• View Earlier Documents from the Environmental Review

LMDC Awards $70 Million Grant for Hudson River Park
Hudson River Park is a 550-acre park in Manhattan created by New York State Legislation (the "Hudson River Park Act," Chapter 592 of the Laws of 1998). The park includes the area generally bounded by Battery Place at the south and 59th Street at the north. The western boundary is the U.S. Pierhead Line and the eastern boundary is generally the westernmost point of Route 9A. In total, the park includes approximately 150 acres of upland and pier area, and 400 water acres, all of which are further designated as part of the Hudson River Park Estuarine Sanctuary, which was also created by the Hudson River Park Act.

The $70 million in funding approved by the LMDC Board on September 8, 2005 will be used to build "Segment 3." Segment 3 encompasses Lower Manhattan and Tribeca, and its boundaries extend from Chambers Street to Houston Street. Within this area will be two public recreational piers (Piers 25 and 26), an ecological pier, and the adjacent upland park. Hudson River Park is being constructed by the Trust, the joint City-State public benefit corporation charged with the park's planning, design, construction and operation.

• Segment 3 Renderings

Greenwich Street South:
Prior to September 11, 2001, the Greenwich Street South area, defined as the area between Liberty Street and Battery Place, from Broadway to West Street, was experiencing a steady rebirth, as pockets of outdated office buildings were converted to residences. The destruction of the World Trade Center, followed by the subsequent recovery effort, nearly stopped the area's redevelopment by cutting off access to the rest of the city. Compounding the problem, several large buildings in the area were severely or permanently damaged and remain vacant.

The 8-acre Brooklyn Battery Tunnel Plaza, which runs along Greenwich Street, represents the single-largest development opportunity downtown after the World Trade Center site. The Greenwich Street South study looks at ways to unlock the full potential of the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel Plaza by examining ways to incorporate new housing and neighborhood amenities into the area as well as the ability to forge new connections between neighborhoods. The plan envisions the transformation of this under-performing area into a new residential enclave and open space for Lower Manhattan – linking the World Trade Center site with Battery Park.

• Greenwich Street South Redevelopment Study
• Public Presentation April 7, 2005 (PowerPoint | HTML)

Public Realm Enhancements:
The Strategic Open Space / Public Realm Enhancement Study is a central component of the overall renewal of Lower Manhattan, and will result in recommendations for the reconstruction and systemization of many existing public open spaces in the Financial District.

Although Lower Manhattan remains the third largest central business district in North America, it has been in decline for several decades (eclipsed some time ago by Midtown Manhattan - the largest central business district in the nation). The Public Realm Enhancement Study will cover the entire historic core of the Financial District (a triangular site of approximately 104 acres) bounded by Fulton Street on the north; Church Street on the West; Water Street on the east; and the intersection of Whitehall and Water Street on the south. The study will develop in close collaboration with a variety of agencies, including the New York City Departments of City Planning, Parks, and Transportation.

In order to find the most effective physical structures for a linked network of open spaces, and one which will take into account the changing nature of the daily and residential populations in Lower Manhattan, this study will re-consider the value and current use of all forms of open public space in Lower Manhattan. The variety of public spaces within the study area is varied: spaces above and below ground; publicly and privately owned spaces; indoor and outdoor spaces; and a diverse set of streets and plazas representing the entire history of public space in the historic core of New York City.

Chinatown / Brooklyn Bridge Study:
The events of September 11, 2001 greatly impacted areas all around Lower Manhattan. As part of its efforts to revitalize downtown, the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation (LMDC) has developed a plan to better integrate the Chinatown community and the area around the Brooklyn Bridge Anchorage, located to the east of Chinatown, with the rest of Lower Manhattan. The main elements of the plan include five components developed from fourteen public outreach meetings related to Chinatown circulation and access problems. They include reopening Park Row, relocating the Police Plaza security checkpoint, connecting Bowery directly with St. James Place, widening St. James Place, and reconfiguring Frankfort Street for two way traffic.

• Chinatown/Brooklyn Bridge Study Summary
• Chinatown/Brooklyn Bridge Study Public Presentation April 12, 2005 (PowerPoint | HTML)

The Chinatown/Brooklyn Bridge Anchorage Study combines two efforts undertaken by the LMDC. In December of 2004, the LMDC released a report on the Chinatown Access and Circulation Study which was the culmination of a nearly 15-month effort initiated in July 2003 by the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation, in cooperation with the New York City Department of Transportation, to address the transportation and access issues in Chinatown compounded by the events of 9/11 and to identify possible solutions for other transportation problems in this vital area of the city. Recommendations outlined in the report were shaped by community meetings with Chinatown residents as well as the input of various New York City agencies. The report was prepared by Parsons Brinkerhoff Quade & Douglas, Inc. in association with Chan & Krieger & Associates and SIMCO Engineering.

Chinatown Access and Circulation Study:
On June 24, 2004, LMDC held a public workshop in Chinatown to address the area's myriad traffic and transportation issues. The workshop, held at the Church of Transfiguration on Mott Street, was the culmination of months of technical analysis and community outreach conducted as part of the Chinatown Access and Circulation Study, which commenced in the summer of 2003 in partnership with the New York City Department of Transportation. The study focused on vehicular and pedestrian concerns that affect quality of life in Chinatown; major focus areas include Park Row, Chatham Square, Coach Buses, other Bus and Van Services, Parking, and Streetscape. Read More »