New York New Jersey Harbor Estuary Program 290 Broadway, 24th Floor New York, NY 10007

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1 April 3, 2013 New York New Jersey Harbor Estuary Program 290 Broadway, 24th Floor New York, NY To Whom It May Concern, Hester Street Collaborative is pleased to present this proposal on behalf of the Lower East Side Waterfront Alliance for the Paths to Pier 42 project in New York City. The Lower East Side Waterfront Alliance is a collaboration between five community based organizations, working together to advocate for community involvement in the planning process of the waterfront since The Alliance is seeking $25,000 to support Paths to Pier 42, a series of temporary art, education and design installations and public events that will activate the area and give residents interim access to the East River Waterfront as it awaits capital improvements. The Lower East Side Waterfront Alliance, formerly the OUR Waterfront Coalition was founded in 2007 to address resident concerns around the redevelopment of the East River Waterfront. Since then our advocacy efforts have resulted in the allocation of $14 million from the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation for the creation of a public park at Pier 42, and a commitment from key-decision makers to incorporate a community-driven visioning process during the master planning. We are launching Paths to Pier 42 to catalyze and sustain community engagement during the long-term redevelopment process. Ultimately we hope to model activities that can and will take place on the waterfront once it is fully redeveloped, while providing community access and programming in the interim. The requested funding will cover the stipends of the selected artists who will work collaboratively with community organizations to create art installations that will not only engage residents and visitors around the waterfront but also reflect the rich history of the Pier and the surrounding neighborhoods. I sincerely hope you will be able to fund the Paths to Pier 42 through the available funding as it will be crucial to encouraging community participation and increase access to the Lower East River Waterfront. Please let me know if you have any questions or need any additional information. You can contact me at anne@hesterstreet.org or at Thank you. Sincerely, Anne Frederick Executive Director Hester Street Collaborative

2 Title: Paths to Pier 42 Project Leader: Anne Frederick Executive Director. Hester Street Collaborative (HSC) Contact Information: 113 Hester Street, New York NY (212) Project Support: Lower East Side Ecology Center: Daniel Tainow, Education Director, (212) Hester Street Collaborative: Dylan House, Community Design Director, (212) ext 157; Two Bridges Neighborhood Council: Kerri Culhane, Associate Director, (212) ; Christine Keefe, Director of Community Programs, (212) Total Funds Requested from HEP: $ 25,000 Total matching funds: $110,500 Previous Funding: No prior funding from New York New Jersey Harbor Estuary Program. Federal Tax Identification Number: DUNS Number: Project Abstract Hester Street Collaborative, with other Lower East Side Waterfront Alliance members, including the Lower East Side Ecology Center, Two Bridges Neighborhood Council, CAAAV Organizing Asian Communities, and Good Old Lower East Side will implement Paths to Pier 42 in an effort to activate the lower East River waterfront through a series of temporary public art displays, community events, and public programs. Paths to Pier 42 is a series of art, cultural and educational programming that will create community access to a neglected section of the East River Waterfront while addressing issues of waterfront and neighborhood resiliency raised by Hurricane Sandy. The project addresses the need for sustainable planning in a densely populated urban area that has been subject to development pressures over the last decade and more recently suffered damage from Hurricane Sandy. Paths to Pier 42 is the first step in making a large, neglected parcel along the waterfront into a multi-use and accessible piece of open space for the community. It will create short-term and inform long-term improvements to the waterfront that reflect the needs and identities of the local communities while providing recreation and environmental education opportunities, revitalizing an underutilized area of the neighborhood, and demonstrating activities that can take place once fully developed. Our goals and expected outcomes for Paths to Pier 42 directly align with the Harbor Estuary s Action Plan Goal # 3: Improve Public Access and Goal #5: Public Education and Community Involvement.

3 Hester Street Collaborative Paths to Pier 42 The Lower East Side Waterfront Alliance: Paths to Pier 42 Funding Proposal to the New York-New Jersey Harbor Estuary Program PROJECT NARRATIVE Hester Street Collaborative submits this proposal on behalf of ourselves and our partners in the Lower East Side Waterfront Alliance: The Lower East Side Ecology Center, Two Bridges Neighborhood Council, CAAAV: Organizing Asian Communities, and Good Old Lower East Side for the development of Paths to Pier 42, a series of art, cultural and educational programming that will create community access to a neglected section of the East River Waterfront while addressing issues of waterfront and neighborhood resiliency raised by Hurricane Sandy. Problem Description The Lower East Side Waterfront Alliance will implement Paths to Pier 42 in an effort to activate the Lower East River waterfront through a series of temporary public art displays, community events, and public programs. The project addresses the need for sustainable planning in a densely populated urban area that has been subject to development pressures over the last decade and more recently suffered damage from Hurricane Sandy. Paths to Pier 42 will be the first step in making a large, neglected parcel along the waterfront into a multi-use and accessible piece of open space for the community. Our goals and expected outcomes for Paths to Pier 42 directly align with the Harbor Estuary s Action Plan Goal # 3: Improve Public Access and Goal #5: Public Education and Community Involvement. Pier 42 is situated in the Lower East Side and Chinatown neighborhoods of Manhattan, an area that has been home and workplace to generations of immigrants and working families. Although the community has undergone profound gentrification in the past decade, residents are still largely low-income and working class: nearly 85% live in subsidized or rent-regulated housing. Access to public space is not widely available in these densely populated neighborhoods, and existing small public parks are overburdened with heavy use. With many residents living in cramped and overcrowded living conditions, parks and public spaces serve as living rooms for families and meeting places for seniors, making healthy open park space a critical component of residents quality of life. Since 2007, the O.U.R. (Organizing and Uniting Residents) Waterfront Coalition (now the Lower East Side Waterfront Alliance) has been working together to develop a community-driven visioning process for the redevelopment of Pier 42 on the East River Waterfront. Pier 42 has long since sat neglected and empty, limiting the neighborhood s access to the East River while offering little protection from major storms like Hurricane Sandy. The Alliance s visioning process gathered community input from over 1,000 residents and compiled it into a The People s Plan for the East River Waterfront. The Alliance, with State Senator Daniel Squadron s office, used the People s Plan to successfully advocate for $14 million in capital funding from the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation for the creation of a public park in With the capital renovations to the site expected to take 6-10 years to complete, the Alliance is no making an effort to create access and recreational opportunities in the interim. 1

4 Hester Street Collaborative Paths to Pier 42 With the political support of State Senator Daniel Squadron, the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, Community Board 3, and the cultural programming expertise of Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, the Alliance will implement Paths to Pier 42 by drawing upon the complementary skill sets and roles of its members to create short-term and inform long-term improvements to the waterfront that reflect the needs and identities of the local community while providing recreation and environmental education opportunities, revitalizing an underutilized area of the neighborhood, and demonstrating activities that can and will take place once the waterfront is fully developed. Programming will be developed by creating teams of artists, designers, Alliance partners and residents of the Lower East Side and Chinatown to envision the future uses of Pier 42 as a public park. Paths to Pier 42 will also demonstrate the interdependence of arts, community-driven design, health and wellness, and the environment by offering activities that encourage waterfront use as well as pedestrian traffic along corridors between the waterfront and the primarily lowincome upland neighborhoods. The project will culminate with the creation of temporary art, education and design installations, and public events by Alliance partners along the East River Waterfront throughout the summer and fall of Projects may be sited anywhere between the Brooklyn Bridge and East River Park, and on streets that connect to the Waterfront, with the goal of increasing awareness of and access to the waterfront and usage of Pier 42. Objectives Short-term goals (1 year): 1. Identify, outreach to, and engage at least 500 residents who live in Chinatown and the Lower East Side in a multi-lingual community-based design process centering on the Paths to Pier 42 process: Each partnership between Alliance Partner and artist/designer teams results in a built project and a series of programming from July through November Each partnership seeks to serve the needs of local residents and engages the broadest range of participants from each partner organization. Projects will build and sustain momentum for the long-term renovation of Pier 42, drawing as many local residents to the underutilized waterfront as possible. 2. Offer programs and events on or near Pier 42: Create safe and inviting pedestrian access from the surrounding residential neighborhoods that are essential to community use and enjoyment of the East River waterfront Celebrate local culture and history by providing programming and amenities at the East River waterfront Provide environmental education and awareness for local residents. Promote healthy living through active waterfront programming and recreational spaces. Inform and educate residents about local land-use development issues. Engage communities that live and work along the waterfront in the development and construction of the art/design installations. 3. Solicit community recommendations for the future of Pier 42 and communicate the ideas to Department of Parks & Recreation s Pier 42 master planning process by working closely with the Parks Design Excellence Landscape Architecture team. 2

5 Hester Street Collaborative Paths to Pier Explore green infrastructure and resilience strategies to address the threat of climate change on NYC s vulnerable waterfront communities and catalyze NYC s preparation for future Sandy-like disasters. Long-term goals (2-5 years): 1. Secure additional capital funding for the full renovation of Pier 42 and increase momentum for the funding of this project. 2. Incorporate the community's vision for the redevelopment of the waterfront into the final design plans for Pier Establish a process for working with Community Board 3, NYC EDC, and Parks to guarantee that a community-driven design process is an integral part of how local development projects are undertaken. 4. Create an annual Paths to Pier 42 program through the summer and fall that will continue to allow interim access to the site until construction of the permanent Pier 42 park begins. Workplan To raise awareness and build public engagement: Coordinate and facilitate multi-lingual outreach to other community stakeholders, artists and designers to raise awareness about Paths to Pier 42. This will include fliers distributed through the public housing buildings adjacent to Pier 42. Create press packages that will be distribute to local and city media outlets to ensure that information about the installations and programming are widely disseminated. Bring existing programming, such as HSC s Waterfront on Wheels, to community meetings, events, schools and street fairs to raise local awareness about the upcoming process at Pier 42. Organize 8 sessions/events throughout 2013 to reach 500 participants. Determine how Paths to Pier 42 can support the existing programming needs of Waterfront Alliance members and other community groups. Facilitate 3-5 participatory design sessions with art/design teams. Develop and disseminate outreach materials to promote Pier 42 programming and uses. Ongoing community outreach for public events and programming. Facilitate at least one community build day to involve residents in the installation of art on Pier 42. Organize Community Waterfront Day on May 4 to introduce the community to the project and the site. To develop plans for interim and permanent uses of pier based on Paths to Pier 42 process: Partner with LMCC and Waterfront Alliance Partners to develop interim uses on Pier 42 Continue to communicate with the Parks Department s Public Art Coordinator, Manhattan Chief of Staff and Manhattan Chief of Operations to ensure that all permits and safety precautions necessary are addressed. Coordinate with Parks Design Excellence Landscape Architecture team to ensure recommendations are channeled into the Pier 42 Parks master planning process. Select participating artists and designers to collaborate with community organizations. Bi-weekly convening of LMCC and Alliance Partners to develop overall "site strategy". 3

6 Hester Street Collaborative Paths to Pier 42 Work with site strategy technical advisers dlandstudio (landscape architecture firm) and Leroy Street Studio (architecture firm) to ensure that overarching site strategy is comprehensive, innovative and inviting to the community and general public. Break into project teams comprised of an artist and a Waterfront Alliance Partners (Pier 42 teams) to design/build specific installations and coordinate programming. Pier 42 teams to present interim use design and program proposals to the community leaders and public, and revise and finalize proposals based on feedback. Develop strategies for engaging local residents/stakeholders in the creation of art/design installations. Construction and installation of interim projects. Launch event / opening of Paths to Pier 42 and coordinate summer programming. To secure funding for Pier 42 and approval for finalized design proposal: Meet with Parks Design Excellence Landscape Architecture team to align the community engagement strategy for Parks master planning process with Paths the Pier 42. Monthly meetings with Parks Design Excellence Landscape Architecture team to integrate community design recommendations from fall sessions and co-facilitate public input sessions. Continue to work with community organizations, city agencies and elected officials to acquire more city and state capital funding Expected outputs and outcomes: Short Term Outcomes (12-18 months): Paths to Pier 42 offers activities that can and will take place on the waterfront once it is fully redeveloped, while providing interim community access. The short-term outcome will include: The implementation of at least five (5) and up to ten (10) public installations and associated events, programs and activities within a half-mile radius of Pier 42. Community-driven programming that addresses the impact of climate change on the neighborhood, educates residents on green infrastructure, and strengthens community connection to the estuary. Long Term Outcomes (18+ months): Paths to Pier 42 is a pilot project that we plan on replicating in the coming years during the City s continuing master planning process. The long-term outcome will include: Permanent access to the waterfront for local residents. The incorporation of community recommendations and green infrastructure in the final renovation of Pier 42 that both invites community use and protects it from the threats of climate change. The long-term engagement of neighborhood residents in the public process around planning and developing parks and other public spaces in their neighborhood. Increased foot traffic and revitalization of an economically distressed area where 85% live in subsidized or rent-regulated housing. Activating unused waterfront spaces such as Hudson River Park and Brooklyn Bridge Park has proven to be economically beneficial to surrounding areas and NYC as a whole. Manhattan s East River Waterfront is currently underused and underappreciated, resulting in the City's inability to tap into the economic and human capital benefits that such enjoyment could confer. 4

7 Hester Street Collaborative Paths to Pier 42 Evaluation The Lower East Side Waterfront Alliance will use the following measures to evaluate the effectiveness of the project: Conduct a quarterly assessment of proposed goals and activities according to the timeline and outcomes presented in this proposal. Measure quantitative outcomes such as reaching target participant numbers, built projects, solidifying meetings with city agencies and elected officials, securing funding for the renovation of Pier 42, number of press articles and conferences highlighting community engagement efforts on the waterfront, demographic of constituency worked with, number of community members for consensus on final designs, etc. Arrange collaborative assessment meetings with our coalition partners to make progress reports and reevaluate our work-plan based on our progress and new developments. Use of programmatic assessment rubric for qualitative measures, which is based on a scale of 1-5 and includes metrics such as: 1. Participants have hands-on engagement with the built environment 2. Participants represent an underserved community 3. Culminates in a built project, which improves a neglected public space 4. The program for the new space is determined by, and serves the needs and aspirations of the stakeholders 5. Encourages stakeholder ownership and stewardship 6. Increases participant skills, understanding and awareness of their built environment 7. Provides both breadth and depth of participant involvement 8. Building approach employs sustainable design practices Roles and Responsibilities: Hester Street Collaborative (HSC): HSC s community design work integrates community visioning, outreach, and youth programming with participatory art, architecture, and planning strategies. As a member of the Alliance, HSC created visioning and final report materials for the People s Plan campaign, and more recently, developed the Waterfront on Wheels educational planning tool, a mobile interactive model of the piers, to inform residents about the development process and solicits ideas for temporary and permanent uses by engaging community members through a series of ongoing workshops. HSC will continue to solicit ideas for temporary and permanent uses of Pier 42 from the community using the Waterfront on Wheels and engage community members through a series of ongoing workshops. HSC is also coordinating the overarching site strategy with our site technical advisers and oversee the installation of temporary public art. In addition, HSC will be implementing a series of programming and events during the summer and fall in conjunction with one of the artist installations. The Lower East Side Ecology Center: LESEC is a 25 year old nonprofit organization offering community based recycling, education and stewardship programs. Located at the East River Park since 1998, LESEC has developed environmental and stewardship programs reflecting their location on the waterfront park at the bank of the estuary. As a member of the Alliance, LESEC brings sustainable design ideas, engaging environmental programming and more awareness about the East River to the community. The Ecology Center will draw on its existing programs involving the ecology of the East River and will work with local artists to translate the local flora 5

8 Hester Street Collaborative Paths to Pier 42 and fauna into art that informs the community. The Ecology Center will also be directly involved with community outreach about all events on Pier 42 and developing outreach materials. The Ecology Center will also offer free public programming such as catch-and-release fishing clinics, water quality testing workshops, and public visioning workshops on Pier 42. Two Bridges Neighborhood Council (TBNC): TBNC has been improving the quality of life for the residents of the Lower East Side for over 50 years. For more than a decade, TBNC s advocacy efforts have turned toward the waterfront, working with members of the community and the city to explore ways to provide recreational access to the East River waterfront for the first time in over a century. TBNC s role in Paths to Pier 42 includes providing meeting space for Waterfront Alliance Partner meetings and artist meetings, as well as space for artist projects. They are also facilitating contact with integral community leaders along the waterfront such as tenant leaders and engaged low-income residents. TBNC will also be working with a selected artist to create community programming at Pier 42 this summer. CAAAV Organizing Asian Communities: CAAAV serves the broader New York City Asian immigrant and refugee communities. The Chinatown Tenants Union (a project started by CAAAV in 2005) works primarily with low-income Chinese immigrant tenants who live in Manhattan s Chinatown and has a membership base of more than 300 youth and adult residents. CTU helped found the OUR Waterfront Coalition with the goal of ensuring that development of the waterfront was equitable and based on the needs of current community residents. CAAAV will be providing the translation services for all our press and informational material in Chinese. They will be also be involved in creating Paths to Pier 42 programming, specifically directed toward the Chinese-speaking community, and will also be involved in the stewardship of the site during the summer of Good Old Lower East Side (GOLES): GOLES is a neighborhood housing and preservation organization that has served the Lower East Side since Their primary and interrelated areas of concern are affordable housing, environmental justice, economic justice, and land use. More than 3000 people participate annually in over 100 programs and events, reaching 11,000 residents in total. GOLES works as a member of the LES Waterfront Alliance to involve and educate community residents about waterfront health, access, and development. GOLES will also outreach to residents living on the Lower East Side and focus on educating residents about waterfront health, access, and development and will be involved in creating Paths to Pier 42 programming, as well as stewardship of the site. Lower Manhattan Cultural Council (LMCC): LMCC has been a leading voice for arts and culture throughout New York City for nearly 40 years, producing cultural events and promoting the arts through grants, services, artist residencies, advocacy and cultural development programs. Each year, LMCC directly serves an estimated 1,000 artists & arts professionals, over 550 arts groups, and an audience of more than 120,000. LMCC s work is built on the premise that visionary cultural initiatives can lead to sustainable community development and transform the quantity and quality of opportunities available to artists working in the cultural sector. LMCC is coordinating the Paths to Pier 42 artists selection and collaboration process. They will also be providing the liability insurance for the actual installations at the waterfront. In addition, they will be leading the press outreach for Paths to Pier 42. 6

9 Hester Street Collaborative Paths to Pier 42 PROJECT TIMELINE Paths to Pier 42 is a project that can be started as soon as funding becomes available and we anticipate that all project activities funded through this proposal will be completed by December Month 1 - First convening of artists, residents, community organizations. - Alliance partners continue local outreach about project - Site strategy meeting with Alliance partners and City agencies (Dept. of Parks and Recreation, NYCEDC, etc.) - Community meeting to introduce project and teams to local residents - Update Community Board on progress of project - Month 2 - Community day in conjunction with the New Museum, IDEAS CITY 2013: Untapped Capital - Artists have bi-weekly meetings with Alliance partners and community members. - Beginning of implementation of site strategy in preparation for the installation of art exhibits and summer activities - Creation of flier and other multi-lingual outreach materials for summer programming Month 3 - Implementation of site strategy including but not limited to seating, shade, storage and restroom access - Final presentation of project proposal to Alliance members and community members for approval - Installation building begins - Community Build Days for residents to be tangibly involved in building the installations - Dissemination of multi-lingual outreach materials Month 4 - Installation building continues] - Public launch of Paths to Pier public programming events onsite Month Public Programming on Pier 42 continues - Installation maintenance as needed - Collect/Present community ideas on future of Pier 42 to Department of Parks and Recreation Month 8 - Installations dismantled - Closing event - Project Reporting 7

10 Hester Street Collaborative Paths to Pier 42 APPENDIX D: BUDGET FORM PROJECT BUDGET BUDGET CATEGORY (Add/remove itemizing lines below major MATCH* GRANT categories as necessary, but do NOT delete major categories) A. PERSONNEL (list individual names and titles below) TOTAL: $25,000 REQUEST $ Lower East Side Waterfront Alliance Partners ($5000 x 5) $25,000 $ B. FRINGE BENEFITS _10 % of 25,000 (e.g., 10% $2,500 $ of total personnel costs) TOTAL: C. TRAVEL (estimate number/purpose of trips below) TOTAL: $ $ Not Applicable $ $ D. EQUIPMENT** (itemize below) TOTAL: $ $ Not Applicable $ $ E. SUPPLIES (itemize below) TOTAL: $37,500 $ Printing outreach materials $2,500 $ Artist Building Allowance ($5,000 x 5 artists) $25,000 Truck and Equipment Rental for Installation/De-Installation $10,000 $ F. CONTRACTS (identify & itemize below) TOTAL: $27,000 $25,000 Artist Participation Stipend ($5,000 x 5 artists) $15,000 $10,000 Non-partner professionals for overarching site strategy. $12,000 $15,000 G. OTHER (identify & itemize below) TOTAL: $18,500 $ Space Rental $8,500 $ Repairs and maintenance of artist exhibits $10,000 $ H. TOTAL DIRECT COSTS (SUM OF A-G) $110,500 $25,000 I. INDIRECT COSTS % of (e.g., 10% of total $ $ direct costs) TOTAL: J. TOTAL PROJECT COST (SUM OF H+I) $110,500 $25,000 8

11 Hester Street Collaborative Paths to Pier 42 BUDGET NARRATIVE: The budget above lists all of the costs associated with the Lower East Side Waterfront Alliance s Paths to Pier 42 project. Funding from the New York New Jersey Harbor Estuary Program will be used to cover a portion of the stipends for selected artists. Five artists will be selected to work collaboratively with community groups to create art and design installations on Pier 42 for Summer Each artist will be receiving a stipend of $5,000, totaling $25,000. Of this amount, $15,000 will be covered by funds provided by SURDNA Foundation and we are requesting funds received from the New York New Jersey Harbor Estuary Program be used to cover the remaining $10,000. In addition, the New York New Jersey Harbor Estuary Program funds will be used to receive technical assistance from our two site strategy advisers, Leroy Street Studio (architecture firm) and dlandstudio (landscape architecture firm). They will be meeting with the Lower East Side Waterfront Alliance members and the Paths to Pier 42 Advisory Committee to create a comprehensive site strategy plan that will create a space that is welcoming and accommodating to the needs of community members. They will also consult with the artists to ensure that each of the artist installations are sited in a cohesive manner. Finally, they will be overseeing the installation and de-installation of art pieces and master site improvements to assure that it is done correctly and safely. The majority of the other costs associated with the program will be covered by in-hand and expected funds provided by New York Community Trust and the SURDNA Foundation as well as in-kind support from the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. These costs center on the creation, physical installation and maintenance of public space improvements on Pier 42, such as seating, shelters and public art. They also include the costs of the programming that will be managed by the members of the Lower East Side Waterfront Alliance. We also have submitted proposals for additional funding from several government and foundation source for the remainder for funds needed for this budget. 9

12 Hester Street Collaborative Paths to Pier 42 Site Context in Manhattan: Detailed aerial of Paths to Pier 42 Site:

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14 DANIEL SQUADRON SENATOR, 26TH DISTRICT April 2, 2013 THE SENATE STATE OF NEW YORK RANKING MEMBER CODES COMMITTEES CORPORATIONS, AUTHORITIES & COMMISSIONS FINANCE INVESTIGATIONS AND GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS JUDICIARY SOCIAL SERVICES TRANSPORTATION New York New Jersey Harbor Estuary Program 290 Broadway, 24 th Floor New York, NY To Whom it May Concern: I write in support of the Hester Street Collaborative s (HSC) application to the New York New Jersey Harbor Estuary Program. HSC, along with other members of the East River Waterfront Alliance, engages members from throughout the Lower East Side and Chinatown neighborhoods with the aim of developing a comprehensive and community driven vision for the East River Waterfront. HSC has worked to improve the quality of life for residents of the diverse Lower East Side and Chinatown neighborhoods through the development of neighborhood public spaces that respond to the needs of its community. HSC strongly believes in the value of community involvement and has created opportunities for residents to contribute their local knowledge and be involved in decisions regarding redevelopment and land use. Through HSC s Ground Up design education program, students learn about their neighborhood and how they can be involved in improving their community. HSC also helped lead the reconstruction of the Hester Street Playground at the Sara Delano Roosevelt Park on the Lower East Side where local residents were actively engaged in interactive park planning activities. Today HSC is focused on improving access to Pier 42, located along the East River waterfront. HSC has been conducting a series of workshops to gain input from local residents regarding the project. The redevelopment of Pier 42 would create a public space that best serves the accessibility and cultural diversity needs of the Lower East Side and Chinatown. Given the opportunity presented here, I hope you will consider the Hester Street Collaborative s application for this grant. Please feel free to call me or Mauricio Pazmino in my office at ; or at Mauricio@danielsquadron.org. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Sincerely, Daniel Squadron State Senator 26 th District ALBANY OFFICE: 515 LEGISLATIVE OFFICE BUILDING, ALBANY, NY 12247, (518) MANHATTAN OFFICE: 250 BROADWAY, SUITE 2011, NEW YORK, NY 10007, (212) BROOKLYN OFFICE: BROOKLYN BOROUGH HALL ROOM 310, 209 JORALEMON ST., BROOKLYN, NY 11201

15 New York New Jersey Harbor Estuary Program 290 Broadway, 24 th Floor New York, NY To Whom It May Concern, dlandstudio architecture + landscape architecture is writing to support Hester Street Collaborative s proposal to the New York New Jersey Harbor Estuary Program for Paths to Pier 42. dlandstudio provides an integrated approach to planning, programming and design. Our goal is to create beautifully designed, ecologically intelligent, and well executed projects that work well at various scales and are executed in rigorous detail. dlandstudio designed and constructed The Brooklyn Bridge Pop-up Park, a temporary waterfront open space attracted almost two hundred thousand visitors over thirteen weeks of operation in The park provided views of Olafur Eliasson s Waterfalls and access to a formerly inaccessible area prior to the construction of Brooklyn Bridge Park. As a member of the Alliance, HSC uses its architecture, design, and community visioning expertise to connect local residents to decision making processes around their local public spaces. In 2009, HSC designed the Coalition s report called The People Plan for the East River Waterfront in which the community s vision for community recreation facilities and open space at Piers 36 & 42 of the East River were outlined with design recommendations. The campaign around the People s Plan resulted in to $14 million in capital funding for a new park on Pier 42 a commitment to a community-based master planning process. Today, as the campaign to ensure that the development of the waterfront meets community need moves forward, Hester Street Collaborative is working with the Alliance to develop Paths to Pier 42, a series of temporary, community-driven programming on the Pier that will give residents access to the space and serve as recommendations to be incorporated into the full capital renovation plan. With an emphasis on community input, selected artists/designers will work with community organizations to develop cultural activities that reflect the rich diversity of the neighborhood, model activities that can and will take place on the waterfront once it is fully redeveloped, and address the long-term sustainability of the waterfront and the deeper level of planning and design necessary to keep residents safe in light of Hurricane Sandy and the threat of climate change. We share the Alliance s goal to put forward a tangible vision for the future of the East River Waterfront that reflects the needs and aspirations of the residents who live there. Hester Street Collaborative plays a unique role in providing resources that are truly driven by community needs and support the membership based organizations that serve them. It is our pleasure to support Hester Street Collaborative s request to the New York New Jersey Harbor Estuary Program. Sincerely, Susannah C. Drake Principal dlandstudio llc 137 Clinton Street Brooklyn NY T

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18 Keeping people in their homes and community, since 1977! March 26, 2013 New York New Jersey Harbor Estuary Program 290 Broadway, 24 th Floor New York, NY To Whom It May Concern: Good Old Lower East Side, Inc. (GOLES) is writing this letter to support Hester Street Collaborative s proposal to the New York New Jersey Harbor Estuary Program for Paths to Pier 42. GOLES is a membership-led organization that has served the Lower East Side of Manhattan since We work to build the power of low-income residents to address displacement and gentrification, preserve and expand the low-income housing stock, assert community self-determination over the use of public space, and ensure a clean and healthy environment where people live, work, and play. GOLES and Hester Street Collaborative have been partnering on the Lower East Side Waterfront Alliance (formerly known as the O.U.R. Waterfront Coalition) since The Alliance is a coalition representing residents of the Lower East Side and Chinatown and also includes: Lower East Side Ecology Center, Two Bridges Neighborhood Council, CAAAV: Organizing Asian Communities, 265/275 Cherry Street Tenants Association, and Land s End Tenants Association. These groups are a mixture of membership-led community organizing groups, social service providers, tenants groups and other resource allies, and we have established a strong coalition relationship in order to ensure that the needs of our members and all local community members are met as the City renovates Pier 42 on the East River Waterfront. As a member of the Alliance, HSC uses its architecture, design, and community visioning expertise to connect local residents to decision making processes around their local public spaces. In 2009, HSC designed the Coalition s report called The People Plan for the East River Waterfront in which the community s vision for community recreation facilities and open space at Piers 36 & 42 of the East River were outlined with design recommendations. The campaign around the People s Plan resulted in to $14 million in capital funding for a new park on Pier 42 a commitment to a community-based master planning process. Today, as the campaign to ensure that the development of the waterfront meets community need moves forward, HSC is working with the Alliance to develop Paths to Pier 42, a series of temporary, community-driven programming on the Pier that will give residents access to the space and serve as recommendations to be incorporated into the full capital renovation plan. With an emphasis on community input, selected artists/designers will work with GOLES and other local organizations to develop cultural activities that reflect the rich diversity of the neighborhood, model activities that can and will take place on the waterfront once it is fully redeveloped, and address the long-term sustainability of the waterfront and the deeper level of planning and design necessary to keep residents safe in light of Hurricane Sandy and the threat of climate change. GOLES supports the continued involvement and resources that Hester Street Collaborative can provide for the LES Waterfront Alliance. Our ultimate goal is to put forward a tangible vision for the future of the East River Waterfront that reflects the needs and aspirations of the residents who live there. Hester Street Collaborative plays a unique role in providing resources that are truly driven by community needs and support the membership based organizations that serve them. It is our pleasure to support Hester Street Collaborative s request to the New York New Jersey Harbor Estuary Program. Sincerely, Damaris Reyes Executive Director GOLES 1 69 AVE NUE B NEW YORK NY WW W.GOLE S.O RG

19 April 2, 2013 New York New Jersey Harbor Estuary Program 290 Broadway, 24 th Floor New York, NY To Whom It May Concern: CAAAV Organizing Asian Communities is writing this letter to support Hester Street Collaborative s proposal to the New York New Jersey Harbor Estuary Program for Paths to Pier 42. Founded in 1986, CAAAV is a member-based organization that builds the leadership of Asian immigrant and refugee communities throughout New York City. CAAAV and Hester Street Collaborative have been partnering on the Lower East Side Waterfront Alliance (formerly known as the O.U.R. Waterfront Coalition) since The Alliance is a coalition representing residents of the Lower East Side and Chinatown and also includes: Lower East Side Ecology Center, Two Bridges Neighborhood Council, GOLES, 265/275 Cherry Street Tenants Association, and Land s End Tenants Association. These groups are a mixture of membership-led community organizing groups, social service providers, tenants groups and other resource allies, and we have established a strong coalition relationship in order to ensure that the needs of our members and all local community members are met as the City renovates Pier 42 on the East River Waterfront. As a member of the Alliance, HSC uses its architecture, design, and community visioning expertise to connect local residents to decision making processes around their local public spaces. In 2009, HSC designed the Coalition s report called The People Plan for the East River Waterfront in which the community s vision for community recreation facilities and open space at Piers 36 & 42 of the East River were outlined with design recommendations. The campaign around the People s Plan resulted in to $14 million in capital funding for a new park on Pier 42 a commitment to a community-based master planning process. Today, as the campaign to ensure that the development of the waterfront meets community needs moves forward, Hester Street Collaborative is working with the Alliance to develop Paths to Pier 42, a series of temporary, community-driven programming on the Pier that will give residents access to the space and serve as recommendations to be incorporated into the full capital renovation plan. With an emphasis on community input, selected artists/designers will work with CAAAV and other local organizations to develop cultural activities that reflect the rich diversity of the neighborhood, model activities that can and will take place on the waterfront once it is fully redeveloped, and address the long-term sustainability of the waterfront and the deeper level of planning and design necessary to keep residents safe in light of Hurricane Sandy and the threat of climate change. CAAAV supports the continued involvement and resources that Hester Street Collaborative can provide for the LES Waterfront Alliance. Our ultimate goal is to put forward a tangible vision for the future of the East River Waterfront that reflects the needs and aspirations of the residents who live there. Hester Street Collaborative plays a unique role in providing resources that are truly driven by community needs and support the membership based organizations that serve them. It is our pleasure to support Hester Street Collaborative s request to the New York New Jersey Harbor Estuary Program. Sincerely, Helena Wong Executive Director 46 Hester Street, Storefront New York, NY Tel [212] Website:

20 April 1, 2013 New York New Jersey Harbor Estuary Program 290 Broadway, 24 th Floor New York, NY To Whom It May Concern: As the Associate Director of Two Bridges Neighborhood Council, I am writing this letter in support of Hester Street Collaborative s proposal to the New York New Jersey Harbor Estuary Program for Paths to Pier 42. Two Bridges Neighborhood Council has been dedicated to serving the many neighborhoods of Manhattan's Lower East Side since We create equitable housing and celebrate cultural diversity through neighborhood-based programs. For more than half a century, our programs, projects, and activities have nurtured the unique character of the Lower East Side by building bridges among its diverse communities. Since 2007, Two Bridges Neighborhood Council and Hester Street Collaborative have partnered on the Lower East Side Waterfront Alliance (formerly known as the O.U.R. Waterfront Coalition), a coalition of membership-led community organizing groups, social service providers, tenants groups and other resource allies, and represents residents of the Lower East Side and Chinatown. Together with the Lower East Side Ecology Center, GOLES, CAAAV, 265/275 Cherry Street Tenants Association, and Land s End Tenants Association, we have formed a strong, effective coalition to ensure that the needs of our members and all local community members are met as the City works to establish access to the East River Waterfront, including new parks such as Pier 42. Hester Street Collaborative is working with the Alliance to develop Paths to Pier 42, and provide community-driven programming on the Pier that will give residents access to the space and serve as recommendations to be incorporated into the full capital renovation plan. Our ultimate goal is to put forward a tangible vision for the future of the East River Waterfront that reflects the needs and aspirations of the residents who live there. With an emphasis on community input, selected artists/designers will work with Two Bridges and other local organizations to develop cultural activities that: Reflect the rich diversity of the neighborhood; Model activities that can and will take place on the waterfront once it is fully redeveloped; Address the long-term sustainability of the waterfront and the deeper level of planning and design necessary to keep residents safe in light of Hurricane Sandy and the threat of climate change. Hester Street Collaborative plays a unique role in providing resources that are truly driven by community needs and support the membership based organizations that serve them. Two Bridges strongly supports Hester Street Collaborative s request to the New York New Jersey Harbor Estuary Program. Sincerely yours, Kerri Culhane Associate Director Two Bridges Neighborhood Council, Inc. // 275 Cherry Street, New York, NY // (212)