A. INTRODUCTION B. DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED ACTION

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1 Chapter 1: Project Description A. ITRODUCTIO The ew York City Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) has requested funds from the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation (LMDC) for a project involving the reconstruction of the Catherine, Rutgers, and Montgomery Slips in Lower Manhattan (Proposed Action). The work at Catherine Slip would take place between Madison and South Streets; the work at Rutgers Slip would take place between Cherry and South Streets; and the work at Montgomery Slip would take place between Madison and South Streets (see Figure 1-1). B. DESCRIPTIO OF PROPOSED ACTIO The Proposed Action aims to provide pedestrian connections to the waterfront in order to enhance the quality of life in Lower Manhattan and contribute toward the restoration, stabilization, and enhancement of the community. ot only would the Proposed Action provide for recreational space and amenities, it would improve the overall visual character of the Slips, and would serve as a gateway to the East River Esplanade from interior blocks. The specific goals of the Proposed Action are to provide: Open spaces that provide passive recreation; A strengthened connection and universal access to the East River waterfront for pedestrians and cyclists; Outdoor spaces that embrace the diversity of the city and unique characters of the adjacent neighborhoods; Uniquely lit spaces with opportunities for integration in graphics, signage, and interpretive materials; An expression of a broad landscape narrative reflecting natural history with upland planted areas of trees and grass gardens; A reference to cultural, industrial, and maritime heritage with the thoughtful use of appropriate materials. The reconstruction of the Slips would begin in late 2009 and be completed by 2010 or The City of ew York would coordinate construction activities with the Lower Manhattan Construction Command Center. Furthermore, the City would comply with the requirements of ew York City Local Law 77, the ew York City oise Control Code, and the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation s Environmental Performance Commitments. LMDC would provide a portion of the funding for the proposed reconstruction of the three slips. Established in the aftermath of September 11, 2001, LMDC coordinates the rebuilding and revitalization efforts in Lower Manhattan. LMDC is a subsidiary of the ew York State Urban Development Corporation, doing business as Empire State Development Corporation (ESDC), a political subdivision and public benefit corporation of the State of ew York. 1-1

2 East River Waterfront Access: Catherine, Rutgers, and Montgomery Slips The proposed design for each of the three slips is described below. CATHERIE SLIP The improvements at Catherine Slip include the widening of the existing planted median between Water and Cherry Streets and merging it into Tanahey Park for one, continuous open space, thus closing off the northbound lane of traffic along the slip. The southbound lane would remain unaffected. This expanded median between Water and Cherry Streets would include a seating area with benches, additional trees and other plantings, a lawn mound, and asphalt brick pavers marking the entrance to Tanahey Park (see Figure 1-2). A small patch of ground cover would also be installed on the east side of the slip, just north of Cherry Street and the crosswalk at Cherry Street would be restriped with reflective striping (see Figure 1-3). The Proposed Action would also include improvements to the existing median between South and Water Streets. There would be no changes to traffic patterns, however, the median would be planted with new trees and other plantings, and asphalt brick pavers, maritime-themed bollards, and a seating area with benches would be installed. orth of Cherry Street, the existing parallel parking on the eastern side of Catherine Street would be restriped and converted to diagonal parking (see Figure 1-4). RUTGERS SLIP The improvements at Rutgers Slip would include the addition of a neck-down on the east and west sides of the slip to formalize the parking lane, the planting of additional street trees, and the reconstruction of the curb on both sides of the slip. A pedestrian passageway would be constructed on the east side of the street to facilitate pedestrian traffic as there is currently no sidewalk on this side. Crosswalks running east/west across Rutgers Slip would also be striped at Cherry and South Streets (see Figure 1-5). MOTGOMERY SLIP The improvements at Montgomery Slip would include the reconstruction of the existing striped median between South and Cherry Streets as a raised, planted median bisecting north and southbound traffic. A neck-down would be added to the east and west sides of the slip to formalize the parking lane, and additional street trees would be planted. Additional street trees would also be planted along both sides of the slip north of Cherry Street to Madison Street (see Figure 1-6). C. EVIROMETAL REVIEW LMDC is responsible, pursuant to federal statute 42 U.S.C. 5304(g) as the recipient of United States Department of Housing and Development (HUD) Community Development Block Grant program funds, for conducting environmental reviews of projects receiving HUD funds in accordance with 24 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 58, as well as other laws and regulations. LMDC is serving as lead agency for the environmental review of the Proposed Action under the ational Environmental Policy Act (EPA) and the ew York State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA). ew York City Environmental Quality Review (CEQR) and its implementing regulations are referenced as appropriate. Because the Proposed Action is located in ew York City and will involve actions by the City, the CEQR Technical Manual (Mayor s Office of Environmental Coordination, 2001) generally serves as a guide with 1-2

3 Chapter 1: Project Description respect to methodologies and impact criteria for evaluating the Proposed Action. In addition to EPA and SEQRA, the review of the Proposed Action has been coordinated with review pursuant to other applicable laws and regulations, such as Section 106 of the ational Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (HPA). The City is serving as a cooperating/involved agency through relevant departments including DPR, YCDOT, and ew York City Department of Design and Construction (DDC). 1-3

4 . BIALYSTOKER PL. ABRAHAM E. KAZA ST PRICE ST. CHRYSTIE ST. STATO ST. ELDRIDGE ST. FORSYTH ST. ALLE ST. ORCHARD ST. LUDLOW ST. RIVIGTO ST. WILLIAMSBURG BRIDGE SPRIG ST. DELACEY ST. LEWIS ST. BROOME ST. BROOME ST. GRAD ST. EAST RIVER PARK T. WOOSTER ST. GREEE ST. MERCER ST. CAAL ST. LISPEARD ST. WALKER ST. WHITE ST. CROSBY ST. HOWARD ST. FRAKLI ST. LEOARD ST. CORTLADT AL. BESO PL. CETRE ST. BAXTER ST. MULBERRY ST. MOTT ST. ELIZABETH ST. BAYARD ST. HESTER ST. PELL ST. BOWERY RUTGERS ST. JEFFERSO ST. RUTGERS SLIP EAST BROADWAY HERY ST. MADISO ST. MOTGOMERY SLIP SLip GOUVEEUR ST. MOTGOMERY ST. PIER 36 JACKSO ST. PIER 42 WORTH ST. THOMAS ST. DUAE ST. CATHERIE L. CHURCH ST. BROADWAY ELK ST. WARRE ST. CETRE ST. PEARL ST. PARK ROW MADISO ST. ST. JAMES PL. MOROE ST. CATHERIE SLIP CHERRY ST. WATER ST. MAHATTA BRIDGE PIER 35 MURRAY ST. PARK PL. BARCLAY ST. VESEY ST. DEY ST. CORTLADT ST. CITY HALL PARK PARK ROW FULTO ST. JOH ST. ASSAU ST. A ST. SPRUCE ST. BEEKMA ST. WILLIAM ST. GOLD ST. FRAKFORT ST. PEARL ST. WATER ST. BROOKLY BRIDGE LIBERTY ST. MAIDE L. PIER 17 RECTOR ST. BROADWAY BROAD ST. RECTOR ST. PEARL ST. PIER 16 PIER 15 PIER 14 PIER 13 PIER 11 EAST RIVER BROOKLY BRIDGE ST. WHITEHALL ST. WATER ST. BATTERY PARK PIER 6 BATTERY MARITIME BUILDIG East River Waterfront Access Project FEET Project Location Figure 1-1

5 FEET OTE: For Illustrative Purposes Only Proposed Reconstruction: Catherine Slip Figure 1-2

6 FEET OTE: For Illustrative Purposes Only Proposed Reconstruction: Catherine Slip Figure 1-3

7 MADISO ST. CATHERIE ST. MOROE ST. Proposed Diagonal Parking: Catherine Slip Figure 1-4

8 FEET OTE: For Illustrative Purposes Only Proposed Reconstruction: Rutgers Slip Figure 1-5

9 FEET OTE: For Illustrative Purposes Only Proposed Reconstruction: Montgomery Slip Figure 1-6