A View of the World Trade Center Site from the Hudson River.
Lower Manhattan Neighborhoods
The attacks on the World Trade Center and the subsequent recovery had a
profound impact on Lower Manhattan's communities. Many residents could not
return to their homes for weeks or months and when they did return, endured
closings of streets and public spaces, transportation disruptions, and
re-laying of electrical cables. Throughout it all, Lower Manhattan residents
have shown remarkable resolve to remain in their communities. The progress in
restoring a normal quality of life over the last two years has been dramatic,
but the full recovery of Lower Manhattan will take several years to achieve,
and will require the continued patience, commitment and perseverance of
downtown's residents and businesses. LMDC is committed to ease the hardships
during the recovery period and to ensure Lower Manhattan emerges from this
tragedy even better than it was before.
In addition to the planning currently underway on the World Trade Center site,
an integral part of LMDC's efforts to revitalize Lower Manhattan is a series of
studies to identify short-term and long-term solutions to the challenges facing
Lower Manhattan's neighborhoods in the wake of September 11, 2001.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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