New York's Next Great Waterfront Park - Urban Design

New York’s
Next Great
waterfroNt
Park

table of Contents
1. l Background ...............................................................................p.01
The Neighborhood
New York City Waterfront Policy
The Project Site

2. l The Opportunity ........................................................................p.05
East River Greenway Study
New Funding
P.S. 281 & Ferry Service

3. l 2011 Charrette .........................................................................p.10
General Themes
Issues and Challenges

4. l Principles + Strategies .............................................................p.14
PHASE 1: Pier Infrastructure
PrinciPlE 1: Get the most value out of the initial investment
PrinciPlE 2: Maximize engagement with the water
PrinciPlE 3: create changes in elevation
PHASE 2: Interim Plan
PrinciPlE 4: Improve flexibility and flow
PrinciPlE 5: Promote local ecology and education
PrinciPlE 6: Create a destination
PrinciPlE 7: Build partnerships
PHASE 3: Long-Term Plan

5. l Conclusion ................................................................................ p.34

6. l Acknowledgements .................................................................. p.36

7. l Appendix A .................................................................................p.48

8. l Appendix B ................................................................................p.60

all Materials are Copyright Mas

1. I BackGrouNd

1 New York’s Next Great Waterfront Park

Background

In July of 2011, MAS gathered city officials, designers, planners, civic advocates With renewed momentum in redeveloping the East River Waterfront, MAS
and community members to collect ideas for transforming the former Con continues to work to articulate a community driven vision for the future of New
1
Ed Pier/Waterside Pier into a first rate park for residents of the East Side of York City’s waterfront. This report outlines our most recent work and captures
Manhattan. This report is a synthesis of the ideas expressed that day and is a the many important ideas that came from the charrette that was held on July 26,
testament to the creativity that emerges from collaboration. 2011.

The goal of the discussion, also known as a charrette, was twofold:

1. To bring attention to the East Side’s desperate need for publicly accessible
open space; and
2. To articulate a community driven vision for a new waterfront park.

After successfully developing waterfront open space in a number of other
neighborhoods, the City is focused on unlocking the potential of the East River
Waterfront. There is funding in place to begin to rehabilitate the pier and the City
has selected a consultant to undertake a careful study of the waterfront between
East 38th Street and East 60th Street. Now is a critical time for the future of the
East River Waterfront.

In October of 2011, the City and State signed a Memorandum of Understanding
(MOU) that would help fund the East River Greenway between East 38th Street
and East 60th Street. The initial funds will come from two sources. First,
the sale of a portion of the Robert Moses playground to the United Nations.
Second, the sale of two office towers that are owned by the City where the UN
currently occupies space at below market rate rents.2

The Municipal Art Society of New York (MAS) has a long history of advocating for
thoughtful development along New York’s waterfront. Our work over the years
has often involved collaborating with city officials, communities, designers and
planning professionals to seize opportunities to create great new open spaces
2011 East River Waterfront Charrette Participants
and improve waterfront policy. In 2007, MAS hosted a charrette to envision a
new park on the East Side Waterfront, to be integrated with the development
proposed by the East River Realty Company on a site across from the FDR Drive.
1 In this report, the site is referred to as the former Con Ed Pier although in other documentation
it is referred to as Waterside Pier. We have kept the Con Ed pier name as a historical reminder of the
pier’s proximity to a power plant that occupied the East River Realty site.
2 For more details on the MOU: http://www.eastsideopenspace.com/p/mou.html


The Neighborhood

The former Con Ed Pier, located along the East
River between East 38th and East 41st Streets,
represents a tremendous opportunity to turn an
unused pier into a wonderful new waterfront park.
The site is located within Manhattan Community
Board 6 (CB6). CB6 roughly covers the area on
the East Side of Manhattan from 14th to 59th
Streets, and from the East River to Lexington
Avenue. While the population of CB6 is about
average for a community district, it has a mere 26
acres of parkland, compared to an average of 198
acres in other Manhattan districts. In addition,
the latest census figures show a steadily growing
population, particularly in young children and the
elderly, pointing to a vital need for additional open
Site Location space in the area.

New York city Waterfront Policy

From rivers to creeks, canals, bays and sounds, the waterfront is central to New East River North Recommended Areas of Work, Vision 2020:
York’s identity. The East River, which runs along the former Con Ed Pier, is one New York City Comprehensive Waterfront Plan
of the more important waterways, separating Manhattan and the Bronx from In March 2011, Mayor Bloomberg and City Council Speaker Christine Quinn
Brooklyn and Queens. Unfortunately, highways, industry, and infrastructure have released a citywide plan entitled the Waterfront Vision and Enhancement Strategy
historically blocked pedestrian access to the river, and the connections that do (WAVES), which includes Vision 2020: New York City Comprehensive Waterfront
exist are often inadequate, unreliable, or unsafe. Consequently, New Yorkers and Plan and the New York City Waterfront Action Agenda. Vision 2020, developed
visitors alike have been unable to take advantage of their proximity to this great by the Department of City Planning with extensive community participation and
resource. input from MAS and other organizations, established long-term goals for the
future of New York City’s waterfront. All of these long-term planning efforts for
In 2004, to address these challenges, the New York City Department of City New York City’s shoreline prioritize the open space needs of residential waterfront
Planning published the Manhattan Waterfront Greenway Master Plan. This plan communities. In fact, Vision 2020 specifically identifies the former Con Ed pier
sought to provide an uninterrupted path along the perimeter of Manhattan. Many as a potential waterfront open space.
portions of the plan have now been successfully implemented.
Now is the time to turn that potential into a reality.


The Project Site

Former Con Ed Pier and Solow Site Architects Working at the 2007 East River Waterfront Charrette

The land between East 38th and East 41st Streets across from the FDR Drive In June 2007, in response to ERRC’s development plan, MAS lead a design
and the former Con Ed Pier was the site of a massive Con Edison power plant. charrette in collaboration with City Council Member Daniel Garodnick, State
The plant was demolished after the 9.7-acre site was purchased in 2002 by Senator Liz Krueger, the Reed Foundation and CB6 to generate a cohesive and
developer Sheldon Solow, who heads the East River Realty Company (ERRC). inspired vision for the site.

The ERRC plan initially proposed six residential towers of 3.5 million square In March 2008, the City Council approved the Solow plan and CB6’s 197a plan
feet with approximately 4,000 apartments, one commercial tower of 1.4 million with modifications. The economic downturn and subsequent changes in the real
square feet, and approximately 4.8 acres of open space. estate climate stalled progress on the ERRC project and nothing on the site has
yet been built.


2. I The oPPorTuNITY


The opportunity

The former Con Ed Pier is approximately 34,000 square feet in size, and, until
recently, had been under lease to Con Edison for use as a parking lot. In 2010,
Con Edison’s lease with the NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services
expired and the site was turned over to the City. The pier is immediately to the
north of Glick Park, which stretches from East 34th Street to East 38th Street
and stops at the foot of the pier. Directly to the west of the site is the FDR Drive,
with an exit ramp at 42nd Street that is elevated above grade.

Over the past year, there have been several critical developments that need to be
leveraged in order to build NYC’s next waterfront park. These include:

• East River Greenway Study

• New Funding

• P.S. 281 and the East River Ferry Service

Glick Park Facing North


east river Greenway Study

In the spring of 2011, the New York City Economic Development Corporation
(NYC EDC), on behalf of the City of New York, submitted a Request for Proposals
(RFP) for the East Midtown Waterfront Esplanade and Greenway Project. The
RFP was released in partnership with the Department of Transportation (NYC
DOT) and the Department of Parks and Recreation (NYC DPR). In June 2011,
NYC EDC selected the engineering, planning and design firm, AECOM.

AECOM is now undertaking a waterfront open space feasibility study between
East 38th Street and East 60th Street. The study will provide a much more
detailed picture of the cost of constructing new waterfront open space. The four
major components of the study are:

• The potential re-use of 24 existing support structures, which are now in the
East River, to create an esplanade between 53rd Street and 59th Street.
These structures were originally built to support construction work on the
FDR Drive, but could be re-used to provide structural support for a new open
space;

• The UN Esplanade Project, which could establish a new walkway along the
East River between East 41st Street and East 51st Street to the east of the
UN campus;
Aerial View of the Former Con Ed Pier
• Improving connections to the waterfront from the surrounding neighborhoods;
and

• The potential for new open space at the former Con Ed Pier, the focus of this
report.


New Funding

The MOU, signed in October of 2011, permits the City to sell a portion of Robert
Moses Playground (located on First Avenue between East 41st and 42nd Street)
to the United Nations. The UN would then consolidate their office space in a new
building on this site, allowing the City to sell two City-owned office buildings where
the UN is renting space at below market rents.3

The MOU also creates an Eastside Greenway and Park Board (EGAP Board) to
oversee the development of the greenway. The EGAP Board will consist of eleven
members: six members will be appointed by the Mayor, while the remaining five
members will be appointed by the local elected officials. The EGAP Board will
oversee the Eastside Greenway and Park Fund (EGAP Fund), which will be formed
with a $70 million payment from the United Nations Development Corporation
(UNDC) for the land where Robert Moses Playground is currently located.
Additional funds will be generated from the sale of United Nations 1 (UN 1) and
United Nations 2 (UN 2).

With the signing of the MOU, and the future construction of a new UN Tower on
the Robert Moses Playground site, new funding for open space will be available,
but there will also be thousands of new workers coming to the area. Given the
United Nations Secretariat Building scarcity of open space on the East Side of Manhattan, public open space on the
In July 2011, the city received a $13 million dollar payment from Con Edison for former Con Ed Pier needs to be provided prior to the construction of a new UN
structural rehabilitation work on the pier. In addition, Councilmember Garodnick, building.
a champion of developing new open space along the East River, was successful
in allocating $1 million in funds to provide amenities for a new park on the site.

To supplement the $13 million received from Con Edison to stabilize the pier,
the state legislature passed legislation that allowed city and state officials to
sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to generate additional funding.

3 For more information please visit: http://www.eastsideopenspace.com/


P.S. 281 & Ferry Service

A new public school, P.S. 281, is being built near the former Con Ed Pier site at
First Avenue, and East 35th Street, and in June of 2011, the City began to operate
a new East River Ferry Service with a stop on East 34th Street. Both the school
and the ferry will attract a number of new people to the area – ranging from
commuters, to tourists, to young children and their parents – who will benefit
from a welcoming open space.

The combination of all of these factors served as a catalyst for MAS to host
a second charrette for the East River Waterfront on July 26, 2011. Given the
City’s interest in developing open space on the the former Con Ed Pier, and the
immediate funding available for the rehabilitation of the pier, MAS focused the
2011 charrette on the pier. The goal of the charrette was to provide the City and
its consultants with an outline of the community’s goals and priorities for a new
waterfront park.

The New East River Ferry


3. I 2011 charreTTe


2011 charrette

This intensive workshop set out to facilitate meaningful community engagement
in the development of a new park, while putting the conversation within the
context of the City’s waterfront priorities.

The day began with remarks from elected officials, including Councilmember
Daniel Garodnick, State Senator Liz Krueger, Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney’s
office, and Mark Thompson, Chair of CB6. David Quart, Senior Vice President
at NYC EDC, Joshua Laird, Assistant Commissioner at NYC DPR, and John
West from CB6 and a member of the MAS Planning Committee also gave
presentations providing critical background information. See the Appendices for
these presentations.

Participants were divided into six groups, each with several community
members, an architect, and a MAS staff-member. Other participants included
representatives from organizations such as the Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance,
Transportation Alternatives, NYU Hospitals, School Construction Authority, Solar
1 and the UNDC.

The work sessions were divided into two hour-and-a-half blocks. An architect
was selected to act as a facilitator for each of the six tables. They were George
Vellonakis, George Bloomer and Jim Mituzas from NYC DPR; Mary Margaret
Jones, Hargreaves Associates; Chris Marcinkoski, PORT; and Dong-Ping Wong,
FAMILY. MAS provided the facilitators with discussion guidelines and questions
to help organize and shape the brainstorming process. The culmination of these Former Con Ed Pier Facing North
discussions was a presentation to the rest of the groups at the end of the day.

General Themes and Spirit

Participants were energized by the possibility of turning this unused
piece of land into a vital resource for the community. The conversations
initially focused on analyzing the issues and challenges facing the former
Con Ed Pier site. The dialogue then shifted to identifying those design
and implementation approaches that would get the former Con Ed Pier
open as soon as possible, while simultaneously turning it into a first-rate
open space and community resource.


Issues and challenges

Pedestrian safety. The former Con Ed Pier runs along the FDR Drive and its
access roads, where cars drive at very high speeds. In creating access points to
the park, careful thought must be given to pedestrian and bicycle connections to
provide comfortable and safe access to the park.

Loud noise and pollution. With the park adjacent to the FDR Drive, there is a
lot of noise and other kinds of pollution from the cars and trucks that speed by.
This can be an impediment to certain programming in the park, such as outdoor
movies and concerts. In designing the park, consideration should be given to
structures, landscaping, and changes in elevation that would mitigate the loud
noise coming from the highway and improve the air quality.

Lack of identity. One of the challenges of this site is that very few people know it
View of the Former Con Ed Pier from Glick Park
exists – it does not have a clear sense of place or history. In developing the design
and amenities of the park, many of the participants noted that it should be given
In brainstorming various design and programming elements for the former Con a name that is representative of the site’s history and relationship to the water.
Ed Pier, the charrette groups identified a number of challenges. As the pier lies on what formerly was a bay, one group recommended that the
park be named “East Bay Park.” Another complementary approach to creating
Access from the north end. The only entrance to the former Con Ed Pier is from this sense of identity was to find ways to express values, like environmental
the south at 38th Street through Glick Park. As the remainder of the East River stewardship, in the design of the open space.
Greenway is constructed, the former Con Ed Pier site will be connected to that
network. However, as it currently stands, the former Con Ed Pier has a dead end
on East 41st Street. As a result, the groups discussed several ideas to create
entrances at the northern end of the park to provide greater accessibility and
connectivity.


Issues and challenges

Potential Access Points to the East River


4. I PrINcIPleS + STraTeGIeS


Principles and Strategies

The intention of the charrette was not to create a final design for the open space,
but rather to formulate design principles. As it will be several years until the
East River Waterfront Esplanade from East 38th Street to East 60th Street is
completed, the charrette participants had to bear in mind a design approach that
would create a stand alone park that would reflect the community’s priorities,
while also recognizing that in the long term, the park will be incorporated into a
larger greenway along the East River.

The first phase of the project is the creation of a structurally sound pier. This is
an opportunity to think about providing the park with some form and identity and
to make sure that any design features, such as the location of trees or changes
in elevation, can be incorporated into the structural rehabilitation work in order
to make park construction as cost effective as possible.


PhaSe 1:
PIer INFraSTrucTure
ensure that the rebuilding of the pier infrastructure
considers critical park design elements.


PrINcIPle 1:
GeT The moST value ouT oF
The INITIal INveSTmeNT
The design for the park needs to be reflected in the pier infrastructure. The design
of the edge of the park and the topographic elevation are two key elements that
will be determined as the pier is rebuilt. These two decisions will have an impact
on access to the water, park identity and form. Examples where this approach
has been successfully implemented are Pier 46 and Pier 64 at Hudson River
Park. Pier 46 includes built-in tree pits and a sunken lawn – both features that
were built into the structure of the pier – while Pier 64 gradually rises over 10
feet above the water. The tree pits and sunken lawn of Pier 46 and the slope of
Pier 64 were design decisions that were made when the infrastructure was built.
Moreover, the ERRC site plan provides for the continuation of 39th and 40th
Streets as pedestrian ways that can span the FDR Drive if the elevated exit ramp
is eliminated or depressed. It is critical that we consider these kinds of structural
elements now in order to create a unique new park that maximizes the benefits
of the initial infrastructure investment.


Rough Outlines of Piers at Queens West Are Shaped to Allow Access to the Water and Corner Pier 46 at Hudson River Park Includes Built-In Tree Pits and Sunken Lawn
Gathering Places

Pier 64 at the Hudson River Park Gradually Rises Over 10 Feet Above the Water


PrINcIPle 2:
maxImIze eNGaGemeNT
WITh The WaTer
The waterfront is both a spectacle with a myriad of activities to watch, as well as
a place of active physical engagement. Not surprisingly, a number of charrette
participants suggested that very careful consideration be given to interacting
directly with the water and finding space for water related activities. Opportunities
that were discussed included step downs, boat launches, fishing areas, tidal
pools, viewing platforms and beach areas, among others. Varying the design
and use of the perimeter of the pier will allow for different interactions with the
water. Cuts into the structure were also discussed at length, creating additional
points of access to the water along the perimeter of the pier as well as within the
pier to create “tidal pools.” These “tidal pools” could create a unique window
into the water and help to celebrate and measure the significant improvements
in water quality over the last thirty years.


Step Down to the Water

Urban Beach Concept


PrINcIPle 3:
creaTe chaNGeS IN
elevaTIoN
The adjacent elevated FDR Drive generates noise, which flows down onto the
pier. The topography of the pier can help mitigate these conditions, as well as
provide visitors breathtaking views of New York City and the East River. In addition
to providing places for viewing, these elevated areas can support a variety of
activities, such as sledding, and provide a setting for movies, concerts, and
other public events. In the reconstruction of the pier, thinking through potential
elevation changes will help to literally lay the foundation for a new park, which
leverages the unique advantages of this particular site. Raising the elevation at
the north end also creates the potential for later building a connection between
the pier and the city street grid, or a connection to a future pedestrianized FDR
access ramp.


Hilltop and Overlook Concept

Passageway between the FDR Drive and the Former Con Ed Pier Park Elevation Change Concept


PhaSe 2:
INTerIm PlaN
To create a functional stand alone park until future
connections to the esplanade can be built.


PrINcIPle 4:
ImProve FlexIBIlITY
aNd FloW
Until additional access points are created by the ERRC at 39th and 40th Streets
and by potentially converting the elevated FDR Drive exit ramp at 42nd Street
into a passageway to the park, pedestrians, bicyclists, and skateboarders will
enter the park from the south. A bike share station could be located at the
southern edge of the pier or close to the ferry station to help reinforce the idea
of the ferry station as a transit hub, enabling morning commuters to hop off the
ferry and then ride into Midtown or the hospital corridor further to the south.
Visibility through the open space was a priority as many felt that care should be
taken not to create hidden pockets. Most also felt that the water’s edge should
be reserved for pedestrians, while bicyclists and others could be integrated
in the western portion of the site. In addition, the narrow pier should not be
so overwhelmed by pathways that gathering spaces are diminished. A flexible
gathering space, which accommodates community events, markets, and passive
and active recreation of all kinds should be included in the plan. Providing a
gathering space and creatively programming this space with a variety of events
will help bring people to the site until better connections can be established.


Circulation Path Concept

Park Program Ideas Connection Ideas


PrINcIPle 5:
PromoTe local ecoloGY
aNd educaTIoN
This area had in fact been a bay before it was filled for development. Suggestions Design features that help improve the ecology of the pier should also be
for naming the area “East Bay” or another historically based name were suggested. considered including:
Some groups also suggested using the pier as a laboratory for understanding • Composting toilets
climate change and sea level rise. Further to the south at approximately East • Storm water collection gardens
20th Street and the East River is Stuyvesant Cove Park, which provided many • Native plants and habitats
sources of inspiration for how ecology and education can be integrated into park • A vegetative pier edge
design.

Activities related to the natural qualities of the site include:
• Bird watching
• Gardens
• Community gardens
• Science lab
• Tidal pool


Looking South From Stuyvesant Cove Park (Credit: Transpoman) Urban Farm Concept


PrINcIPle 6:
creaTe a deSTINaTIoN
To overcome the isolation and potential security issues at the remote,
disconnected north end of the pier, the community understood the necessity of
providing an attractive destination at this side of the park. Suggestions included
a heightened elevation at the northern end to provide a sense of arrival (hilltop
viewing destination) and potentially help to create a future link to the City streets.
Other suggestions include:
• A small but unique food service establishment
• A beach – both a temporary and permanent use – sunbathing, volleyball
• Temporary barges for activities – pools, theater, concerts
• Creative programming – fishing docks, farmer’s market


Potential Destinations for the Northern End: Hill and Beach


PrINcIPle 7:
BuIld
ParTNerShIPS
As many of the landscape architects pointed out, a plan for maintaining a park is
as important as the design. The participants discussed many precedents, from
Stuyvesant Cove to Brooklyn Bridge Park to the Tudor City Gardens, for models
of partnership and organization to sustain the park. The various tasks required
include park maintenance, programming and potentially fundraising. Programs
for special events, boating, community services and many other activities must
be planned and orchestrated by the organization. Above all, the transformation
of the former Con Ed Pier site into a public park will only be successful if the
community takes a leadership role in the maintenance and future development
of the site. A number of groups in nearby Tudor City have already been very active
in the maintenance of park spaces in that neighborhood. This demonstrates
a great deal of capacity within the community that can be brought to bear in
service of this park.


Suggested Partners and Activities


PhaSe 3:
loNG-Term PlaN
To integrate the former con ed Pier with the
esplanade to the north and create better connections
to the rest of the city.


long-Term Plan

for the continuation of 39th and 40th Streets to the park site provided that the
elevated exit ramp to the FDR Drive is eliminated or depressed. This will help
create safe points of access at locations throughout the length of the former Con
Ed Pier site. Multiple points of access will attract visitors to the park, while also
helping to fully integrate this new amenity into the neighborhood.

Minimizing the impact of FDR
The FDR Drive is a major safety and accessibility issue for the development of
the East Side Waterfront. Eventually, the FDR Drive between approximately 25th
Street and 42nd Street will be rebuilt. Therefore, thought should be given to how
it can be reconstructed to minimize the impact on the waterfront open spaces
and support access from the surrounding neighborhoods to the waterfront. This
has been done in the past with the West Side Highway, which was completely
demolished in 1989 as a result of neglect and lack of maintenance. In the case
of the West Side Highway, removing the elevated portion served as an asset
in developing one of New York City’s most successful waterfront parks, Hudson
River Park. There are different challenges on the East Side, but any long-term
plan needs to consider how to overcome the barrier to the water that the FDR
Drive presents and ensure that any future reconstruction work of the FDR Drive
considers pedestrian, bicycle and ferry access.
Long-Term Vision from the 2007 Charrette
Expanding East River Ferry service to 42nd Street
As progress is made on infrastructure development and design of the park, the Opening in June of 2011, the East River Ferry has accomplished a major goal
community and the City need to work together to develop a plan to integrate this of bringing New Yorkers to the waterfront. According to The New York Times,
new amenity into the fabric of the surrounding neighborhood. ridership of the ferry service on the weekends averages approximately 4,500,
which is almost six times the City’s projection. The success of the East River
42nd Street exit ramp Ferry represents an opportunity for increased service and the potential to add
Plans should be studied that evaluate the feasibility of converting the existing FDR additional stops to its route. Currently, the northern most stop is at 34th Street.
exit ramp at 42nd Street into an entrance for the park. This would entail closing As 42nd Street is arguably New York’s most thriving commercial corridor, plans
the exit ramp to traffic and connecting it to the existing street grid. Transforming should be considered to expand the East River Ferry service to 42nd Street.
the exit ramp into a safe pedestrian entrance at the northern most part of the
former Con Ed Pier site is a creative solution to the difficult challenge of providing Develop a unique design and identity for the park through history
access from the upland areas to the waterfront. The history of the East River and Midtown East should be expressed in the design
of the park amenities, which will imbue this new waterfront park with a sense of
Integrating access from the ERRC site to the waterfront place that is connected to the community. This will continue to help differentiate
The future residential towers being built along First Avenue by ERRC will serve as the park that will be built on the former Con Ed Pier site from other parks in New
an impetus to connect the city streets to the park site. The ERRC site plan calls York City, and create a vibrant unique public space for New Yorkers to enjoy.


5. I coNcluSIoN


conclusion

MAS has long been an advocate of open space development along New York City’s
waterfront and specifically along the East River. With renewed commitment on
the part of the City and the availability of new funding, now is a critical moment
for the East River Waterfront.

In July 2011, MAS hosted a charrette to generate design ideas for one portion of
the proposed waterfront esplanade – the former Con Ed Pier located along the
East River from 38th to 41st Streets. The charrette served as a forum for the
community to articulate their ideas.

The ideas that were presented at the charrette, which have been described
throughout this report, are a reflection of what is possible for the future East River
Waterfront Esplanade. While the waterfront esplanade from 38th to 60th Streets
will not be completed for a number of years, there is funding for the immediate
rehabilitation of the former Con Ed Pier, which will lay the ground work for a new
waterfront park. As work begins on rehabilitating the pier and designing the park
amenities, MAS encourages the City and the consultant, AECOM, to consider the
thoughtful ideas the community articulated.

We are confident that the new park on the former Con Ed Pier will provide a much
needed open space for all neighbors and all New Yorkers to enjoy, while also
supporting its future waterfront development along the East River.

We hope that this kind of collaboration between the City, the community board,
neighboring institutions, elected officials, non-profits and residents continues to
demonstrate the value of collaboration for other projects across the City.


6. I ackNoWledGemeNTS


acknowledgements

Special thanks to Barbara Wilks and her firm W Architecture and Landscape The Reed Foundation
Architecture and Melany Wimpee, Marketing Director at W Architecture and New York State Council on the Arts
Landscape Architecture. Manhattan Community Board Six
Mark Thompson
Municipal Art Society of New York: Ellen Imbimbo
US Representative Carolyn Maloney
Vin Cipolla, President State Senator Liz Krueger
State Senator Thomas Duane
Eugenie Birch, Chair MAS Program Committee State Assembly Member Jonathan Bing
Hugh Hardy, Chair MAS Planning Committee State Assembly Member Brian Kavanagh
John West, MAS Planning Committee City Council Member Daniel Garodnick
City Council Member Jessica Lappin
Frank Sanchis, Senior Advisor City Council Member Rosie Mendez
Ronda Wist, Senior Vice President, Policy and Advocacy Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer
Raju Mann, Director of Planning Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance
Joel Kolkmann, Project Manager, Policy and Advocacy ’wichcraft
Paul Kelterborn, Project Manager, Public Programs
David Smucker, Intern, Policy and Advocacy David Quart, NYC Economic Development Corporation
Juan Camilo Osorio, Senior Planner / GIS Analyst Cali Gorewitz, NYC Economic Development Corporation
Aileen Gorsuch, Associate Planner Laura Bozgo, NYC Economic Development Corporation
Kokutona Kaijage, Assistant GIS Analyst Joshua Laird, NYC Department of Parks and Recreation
Hazel Balaban, Manager, Communications and Marketing Michael Bradley, NYC Department of Parks and Recreation
Alana Farkas, Public Programs Associate
MAS would like to thank all of the participants and the following architects who
New York’s Next Great Waterfront Park is a project of the Municipal Art offered their time and expertise to facilitating discussions at the 2011 charrette:
Society of New York rooted in the organization’s commitment to making
New York City more livable through intelligent urban design, planning and George Bloomer, NYC Department of Parks and Recreation
preservation. MAS would like to thank the following organizations and Jim Mituzas, NYC Department of Parks and Recreation
individuals for their leadership and support in envisioning New York’s Next George Vellonakis, NYC Department of Parks and Recreation
Great Waterfront Park: Mary Margaret Jones, Hargreaves Associates
Christopher Marcinkoski, PORT Architecture + Urbanism
Dong-Ping Wong, Family Architects


7. I aPPeNdIx a


Waterside Pier & East Midtown Waterfront Overview
Municipal Arts Society Charrette
July 26, 2011

1
EAST MIDTOWN WATERFRONT & WATERSIDE PIER

Agenda

§ Project Context
– UN Consolidation Project
– East Midtown Waterfront
§ Project Overview: Waterside Pier
§ Waterfront and Open Space Examples

2

Project Context
§ Challenge of waterfront access on
the East Side
– In-water construction is costly and
subject to regulatory hurdles
– FDR structure makes upland
connections challenging
– Project requires comprehensive
approach

§ Project timing – why now?
– Community Board 6 lacks open space;
new upland park opportunities are
limited
– Con Ed payment allows for structural
rehab of Waterside Pier
– Federal and State grants to fund
esplanade feasibility study
– UN Consolidation Project provides new
opportunity to realize waterfront
3

Project Context: UN Consolidation Project
§ United Nations faces space
challenges
– Constrained campus
– Rents space in City-owned buildings and
various private properties throughout
East Midtown
– Long-standing need to expand and
desire to consolidate

§ Project summary
– State legislation may allow UN to
construct new Consolidation Building at
Robert Moses Playground
– MOU required
– Project would facilitate new esplanade Robert Moses
Playground (portion)
from 38th to 60th Streets, and upland
open space improvements

4

Project Context: East Midtown Waterfront
§ EDC, in partnership with
Parks and City DOT, will
conduct feasibility study for
waterfront greenway
– Scope includes full ODR
structural/marine design for
Waterside Pier rehabilitation

§ East Midtown Esplanade: Robert Moses
– ODR Playground UN Esplanade
– UN Esplanade
– Waterside Pier
– Upland Connections Glick Park
ConEd
Waterside Pier
§ UN Consolidation Project is
only foreseeable source of
capital funding to realize
waterfront vision

5

Project Overview: Waterside Pier

ConEd
Waterside Pier
(~34,000 SF)

6

Pier requires complete structural rehabilitation/rebuild required
§ Recent $13 million payment from Con Ed
§ Work anticipated to begin early fall on investigations and pre-
design of piles and decking

City to commence conceptual design
and feasibility study for waterfront
esplanade
§ Charrette provides early opportunity
for public input
§ Project outreach to be coordinated
through CB6

7


§ Opportunities
– Create waterfront access
– Make Pier accessible for future public use
– Extend Manhattan Greenway north from
Glick Park

§ Challenges
– Significant damage and deterioration of
concrete deck and timber sub-structure
– No capital funding available for open space
finishes at this time

8

Waterside Pier – Existing Conditions

Serious cracking across the deck surface Substantial weakening of piles

9

Waterside Pier – Existing Conditions

Significant deterioration of piles and sub-structure

10


Critical
considerations:
• Phasing—first goal is
the rehabilitation of
Waterside Pier
• Permits—coordinate
with regulatory
agencies
• Budget—understand
NYC precedents

Waterside Pier looking west

11

Riverside Park “Riverwalk”
Description: Eight-block pile supported bikeway/walkway adjacent to Henry Hudson
Parkway

Size: 33,000 sf

Date of Completion: 2010

12

Waterfront & Open Space Examples: Piers 25 & 26
Description: Pier 25 – sand volleyball courts, 18-hole miniature golf course, large
children’s playground with water features, artificial turf lawn area, snack bar, town dock
and provisions for historic vessels

Pier 26 – Fully reconstructed marine platform, dock and fendering for future non-
motorized boathouse/restaurant building, estuarium building and public open space

Size:
Pier 25 – 130,000 sf
Pier 26 – 117,500 sf

Dates of Completion:
Pier 25 – 2010
Pier 26 – 2009 (pier
structure only)

13

East River Waterfront Esplanade
Description: Project will improve access, enhance pedestrian connectivity, and create public
amenities along a two-mile stretch of the waterfront, from Battery Maritime Building to the
Lower East Side. First segment includes passive open space areas with varied seating,
game tables, native plantings and trees, a “Look-Out” (stadium-like steps leading to the
water) and a new dog park.

Size: Approx. 62,000 sf

Date of Completion (Segment 1):
June 2011

14

West Harlem Piers Park

Description: Waterfront park on the Hudson River between 125th and 135th Streets,
includes passive recreational space (benches, lawn spaces, public art), bicycle pathway
connecting, water play feature, excursion boat pier, floating barge for ferry landings and
recreational pier.

Size: Approx. 80,000 sf

Date of Completion: Fall 2008

15

Brooklyn Bridge Park – Pier 1 “Pop Up” Park

Description: Temporary sand play area, seating and railings on existing pier

Size: 35,000 sf

Date of Completion: 2010

16

Waterside Pier

Thank You!

17

Appendix Slides

18

Project Overview: Waterfront and UN Consolidation

19

Vision 2020
Action Agenda

20

Vision 2020
Action Agenda

WAVES GOALS
1. Expand public access.

2. Enliven the waterfront.
3. Support the working waterfront.

4. Improve water quality.
5. Restore the natural waterfront.
6. Enhance the Blue Network.
7. Improve government oversight.
8. Increase climate resilience.
21

8. I aPPeNdIx B


New York's Next Great Waterfront Park - Urban Design

New York's Next Great Waterfront Park - Urban Design

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