BOROUGH Manhattan MAP ID# M1 COUNCIL DISTRICT: 1 COMMUNITY BOARD: 1 NAME OF PLAN Community Organization: Manhattan Community Board 1 Address 49 Chambers Street, Suite 715, New York City, New York 10007 Contact Name: Paul Goldstein, District Manager Phone Number 212.442.5050 Fax Number Website: http://www.cb1.org/ TYPE OF PLAN 197-c Plan GEOGRAPHIC AREA OF PLAN The South Street Seaport Historic District encompasses a nine-block area around Fulton Street. NEIGHBORHOOD/PLAN BACKGROUND The South Street Seaport area is one of New York's oldest historic districts. The century-old, smaller buildings in the historic district sharply contrast with the high-rises in the nearby financial district. Despite its status as a historic district, the South Street Seaport Area is zoned for highrise commercial buildings. GOALS OF PLAN 1. Establish contextual zoning for the South Street Seaport Historic District, and thereby maintains the character of the historic district RECOMMENDATIONS 1. Change the zoning from C6-4 (10 FAR) to C6-2A (6 FAR) in the South Street Seaport Historic District. IDENTIFIED STEPS FOR IMPLEMENTATION 1. Continue to develop support in the community. 2. Gain support among historic preservation groups, elected officials, and City Planning. 3. Hire experts in planning and zoning to help prepare and present the plan to City Planning. PARTICIPATORY PROCESS 1. Held separate meetings with several major constituent groups including local residents, local business organizations, and preservation organizations. 2. Plan has passed through committees on Community Board for review and comment. 3. Planning process will be publicized and commentary will be invited through advertisements in local newspapers. 4. Public hearings will be held regarding the plan.
PARTNERS Seaport Community Coalition; Seaport North Business Association; Southbridge Towers. OBSTACLES 1. Down-zoning is difficult to accomplish in New York City. 2. It is likely that the plan will be opposed by the Real-Estate Board, an organization with a great deal of political weight. 3. At least one major property owner in the plan area may come out against the plan. TIMELINE INITIAL IDEA 1988 FORMAL PLAN? Yes DATE SUBMITTED: 2001 SUBMITTED TO Department of City Planning, Landmarks Commission CITY ACTION? The Community Board plans to submit the plan to the Department of City Planning in fall of 2001. The Department of City Planning has not taken action on community requests for zoning changes since the idea was initially brought up in 1988. MODIFICATIONS MADE TO PLAN N/A ADDITIONAL INFORMATION N/A
BOROUGH Manhattan MAP ID#: M2 COUNCIL DISTRICT: 1 COMMUNITY BOARD: 1 NAME OF PLAN Community Organization: Manhattan Community Board 1 Address: 49 Chambers Street, Suite 715, New York City, New York 10007 Contact Name: Paul Goldstein, District Manager Phone Number 212.442.5050 Fax Number Website: http://www.cb1.org/ TYPE OF PLAN Open Space and Recreation Plan GEOGRAPHIC AREA OF PLAN Facilities are planned throughout the Community Board. NEIGHBORHOOD/PLAN BACKGROUND Community Board 1 is a fast-growing residential community. From 1990 to 2000, the district grew by 50%. In the past, the area was primarily business-oriented; today, the number of young families and children in the community has grown significantly. Due to Community Board 1's history, there are not the necessary recreational facilities in the community to support the current residential population. There are essentially no indoor recreation facilities in the community. There are no YMCAs, Boys' and Girls' Clubs, or indoor Parks and Recreation facilities. There are very few outdoor recreational areas in the community, such as baseball or soccer fields. GOALS OF PLAN 1. To provide the fast-growing residential population--from children to seniors-- with recreational opportunities in their community. RECOMMENDATIONS 1. Create 100,000 square feet of indoor community recreation space. Approximately half of the space should go into two new buildings at Battery Park City on sites 23 and 24. Additional space is being sought in new developments in TriBeCa and in the financial district. 2. Create permanent playing fields in Battery Park City just south of Stuyvesant High School for Little Leagues and soccer leagues. IDENTIFIED STEPS FOR IMPLEMENTATION 1. When developers propose new projects, request that they set aside space for indoor recreational use by the community. 2. Work with established youth organizations and their constituency. Families with children in Little Leagues and soccer leagues have attended rallies and written letters to elected officials. 3. Formed important partnership with the Battery Park City Authority.
4. Hired architects to work on design of spaces. PARTICIPATORY PROCESS 1. Design charettes over past four years for ball-fields and upcoming charrettes for indoor recreational space. 2. Notices in newspapers soliciting public participation and comment. 3. Architects hired to take public commentary on design. 4. Advisory boards formed of Youth Leagues, Community Board, and Battery Park City Authority to help design and operate facilities PARTNERS Battery Park City Authority, Downtown Little League, Downtown Soccer League, Manhattan Youth Recreation and Resources, Inc. OBSTACLES 1. Property is expensive. Trying to get developers and government to turn developable property over for public use has proved difficult. 2. Market conditions dictate timeline for the indoor residential space, because the Community Board is relying on developers to help create the space as a component of their development. If the market drops, development may also drop. 3. Getting operating funds for recreational space. TIMELINE INITIAL IDEA 1994 FORMAL PLAN? Yes DATE SUBMITTED: 2000 SUBMITTED TO Department of City Planning, Department of Parks and Recreation, Battery Park City CITY ACTION? Construction will begin on the ball-fields in fall of 2001. The indoor recreational space is still contingent on developers' plans. MODIFICATIONS MADE TO PLAN N/A ADDITIONAL INFORMATION N/A
BOROUGH Manhattan MAP ID# M13 COUNCIL DISTRICT: 1 COMMUNITY BOARD: 2 NAME OF PLAN Community Organization: Friends of NOHO Architecture Address: 684 Broadway, New York, New York 10012 Contact Name: Tiziano Hardy or Stan Reese Phone Number: 777-5612 and 533.1852 Fax Number Website TYPE OF PLAN 197-c Plan GEOGRAPHIC AREA OF PLAN NOHO Historic District south of Astor Place. NEIGHBORHOOD/PLAN BACKGROUND The NOHO (NOrth of HOuston Street) neighborhood represents a diverse mix of architectural styles and land uses. Many of the buildings in this neighborhood were originally built as manufacturing warehouses and offices and have been converted to either residential lofts and apartments or commercial use. The NOHO community s disapproval of the NOHO Business Improvement District (BID) proposal to increase height limitations and Floor-Area-Ratio (FAR) by changing the current zoning has sparked a community effort to develop an alternative zoning plan. This effort is spearheaded by The Friends of NOHO Architecture and the NOHO Neighbors Association. GOALS OF PLAN N/A RECOMMENDATIONS Review existing M1-5B zoning district and NOHO Business Improvement District's rezoning proposal. Produce a new zoning proposal incorporating some of the BID's proposal with the proposal written by the Friends of NOHO and the NOHO Neighborhood Association. IDENTIFIED STEPS FOR IMPLEMENTATION N/A PARTICIPATORY PROCESS Meetings will begin in early fall of 2001 to discuss the current zoning change proposed by the NOHO BID. All members of the community will be invited to attend these sessions. BFJ Planners have been hired to further investigate and develop the proposed zoning change initiated by Friends of NOHO Architecture. PARTNERS Friends of NOHO Architecture NOHO Neighbors Association.
NOHO Business Improvement District OBSTACLES N/A TIMELINE INITIAL IDEA 1998 FORMAL PLAN? NO DATE SUBMITTED SUBMITTED TO: N/A CITY ACTION? N/A MODIFICATIONS MADE TO PLAN: N/A ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: N/A
BOROUGH: Manhattan MAP ID# C3 COUNCIL DISTRICT: 1, 3, 6 COMMUNITY BOARD: 1,2,4 NAME OF PLAN: Hudson River Park Design Guidelines Master Plan Community Organization: Hudson River Park Trust Address: Pier 40, Second Floor, West Houston and West Sts., New York, NY 10014 Contact Name: Alex Dudley Phone Number: (917) 661-8740 TYPE OF PLAN: Waterfront Revitalization and Access Plan GEOGRAPHIC AREA OF PLAN: The Hudson River Park project area extends from Battery Place to 59 th Street. It comprises all areas (upland, pier, and water) west of the completed Route 9A out to the pierhead line, with the following exceptions: Battery Park City; Pier 76, the current home of the NYC tow pound; Pier 78, which is privately owned by the New York Waterways ferry operator; Piers 88 and 90, which are the Passenger Ship Piers; and Piers 92 and 94, which are proposed as film and television studios. NEIGHBORHOOD CHARACTER: The Hudson River waterfront has long been a part of the fabric of New York. Even before the first European contact, the river sustained human settlements. Later, the river became the focus of commerce and a vital link to the world beyond. By 1913, more than half of the U.S. Treasury came from Port of New York duties. Closely tied to the people living in the adjoining neighborhoods, the Hudson River waterfront was vibrant, reflecting the diversity of the city as a whole. That changed as New York s shipping industry on Manhattan s Hudson River waterfront declined in the mid 20 th century, and the piers and shoreline were abandoned. Docks became parking lots; and piers collapsed into the river. But people continued to come by the river waterfront whether for recreational or relaxation purposes. When the elevated highway that ran alongside the river began collapsing in 1973, it was replaced by a temporary grade-level roadway. Plans for the controversial, $2 billion superhighway-landfill proposal called Westway were withdrawn in 1985 after a huge public outcry and an adverse court decision. Plans for a waterfront park began shortly thereafter. GOALS OF PLAN: To establish a design philosophy for the Hudson River Park, and to provide direction for future designers about consistent, overall park components, including entrances, the waterside esplanade, areas for active and passive recreation, planting and lighting. RECOMMENDATIONS: The plan includes numerous recommendations. Below is a selection of these: Ecology: An ecological learning center on Pier 26. HRPT anticipates that this facility will be run by a notfor-profit educational and research institution to be determined at a later stage.
Dedication of several ecological piers as an innovative and cost effective way of promoting new and enhanced environments for native plants. These riverine habitats will be created on parts of extremely deteriorated piers that would be prohibitively expensive to repair as public structures. Access to the water: Providing a variety of boating facilities including small boat houses, mooring areas and launches, kayak and canoe launches, town docks and a marina. Key Design Features: Entrances: The Master Plan envisions 10 gateway entrances: at the north and the south ends of the park (Battery Place and 59 th Street), at a midtown ferry landing, and at N. Moore, Christopher, 14 th, 23 rd, 34 th, 42 nd and 55 th Streets. Waterside Esplanade: Included in Hudson River Park are 13 public piers (25, 26, 34, 42, 45, 46, 51, 54, 62, 63, 64, 79, and 97). Once repaired, these piers will again become viable places filled with maritime and recreational activities. Some piers will feature educational, historical, ecological, and sports activities. Others simply offer sweeping views of the river and skyline, offering people a place to relax. Site Structures: Hudson River Park will include small concessions typical of the city s larger parks. These are proposed at major entrances, and could rent sports equipment for use in and around the park, such as roller skates, bicycles, boats, and fishing gear. An Estuarium is proposed for pier 26 (near N. Moore Street) to provide facilities for marine research, education and related activities. Small satellite research and interpretive centers may be located elsewhere in the park. Identified Steps for Implementation: Park design is expected to proceed as follows: A public request for proposals process will identify a team of landscape architects, engineers, designers and other professionals to create detailed drawings and construction documents for each park segment. These segment designs will be guided by the Master Plan and coordinated by HRPT, with input from the communities. Schematic designs for each segment will refine the Master Plan within seven smaller geographical areas specified in the plan. They will include detailed descriptions of the layout, grading, dimensions, surface treatments, plantings, furnishings, architectural features, public pier features, water access features, and all other improvements to be undertaken. The fully detailed drawings will appear at the appropriate scale for translation into construction documents. There will also be specific cost estimates. HRPT will follow standard NYC Department of Parks and Recreation procedures to present schematic plans, and preliminary contract documents to the relevant community board. All comments received will be studied and incorporated as appropriate at all stages of review. PARTNERS: Hudson River Park Trust (HRPT) Empire State Development Corporation Quennell Rothschild Associates/Signe Nielsen, Master Design Consultants PARTICIPATORY PROCESS In 1994, the Hudson River Park Conservancy (HRPC) began the design process through its hired design consultant, Quennell Rothschild Associates/Signe Nielsen. In addition, professional
landscape architects were selected by each local Community Board and engaged by HRPC to serve as community liaisons. HRPC s broad-based Community Design Process was inspired by an extensive public outreach program, and included a series of design charrettes, community workshops and meetings (more than 120 gatherings in all), as well as advertisements and mailings to more than 7,500 local residents. After HRPC and the design team released the Concept Plan in 1995, they began working on the Hudson River Park Design Guidelines Master Plan. Their first step involved preparing a series of design alternatives for selected areas, which explored alternatives for basic elements of the park. Between December 2, 1996 and January 14, 1997, HRPC hosted five Design Alternatives Open Houses at its office. Invitations were mailed to the 3,500 groups and individuals on HRPC s mailing list. Conservancy staff was present at each open house to answer questions and discuss drawings. Specific groups were also invited for separately scheduled reviews including federal, state, and city agencies, local Business Improvement Districts, environmental organizations and park advocates, active recreation groups and current site tenants. Eighty individuals completed response forms commenting on specific project features and treatments. HRPC and the design team subsequently incorporated many comments received during the design alternatives phase into the Master Plan. In 1998 Governor Pataki signed the Hudson River Park Act, setting the boundaries for the Park and creating the Hudson River Park Trust to design, build, and operate the five mile, 550 acre park. The design process did not end with the Master Plan, however. Because the design continued to be developed over the years after the plan was completed, and because each segment received individual attention regarding issues specific to each site, public review and input remained a primary focus of HRPT s efforts. OBSTACLES: No major obstacles. TIMELINE INITIAL IDEA: 1986 FORMAL PLAN? Yes DATE SUBMITTED: 1997 SUBMITTED TO: numerous agencies CITY ACTION? Both the State and the City have committed $100 million each to the project. MODIFICATIONS MADE TO PLAN: None yet. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Hudson River Park s first section opened in Greenwich Village in September 1999, and further sections are under construction. The projected date of completion is 2005.
BOROUGH: Manhattan MAP ID# C4 COUNCIL DISTRICTS: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 COMMUNITY BOARDS: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 NAME OF PLAN: Comprehensive Manhattan Waterfront Plan Community Organization: Manhattan Borough President s Office Address: One Centre St., 19 th Fl., New York, NY 10007 Contact Name: Jennifer Hoppa or Wilbert Woods, NYC DCP, Waterfront & Open Space Division Phone Number: 212-669-8300 / 212-720-3525 TYPE OF PLAN: Waterfront Revitalization and Access Plan GEOGRAPHIC AREA OF PLAN: Manhattan s waterfront NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN/BACKGROUND: For more than 300 years, commerce and industry dominated Manhattan s waterfront, helping make New York the nation s largest, most economically important and most international city. The great heyday of New York as a port city has long since passed and one unfortunate result has been the shortsighted failure to capitalize on the waterfront s enduring advantages and appeal. More than a dozen City, State and Federal agencies now control various parts of the waterfront. In some cases, several of these agencies have developed worthwhile plans for portions of the waterfront; however, these plans have not been made to fit into a larger vision for the borough. The multiplicity of agencies involved on the waterfront also produces a jurisdictional jumble that contributes to many of the waterfront s current problems: its intermittent disrepair and decay; the unnecessary use of the prime waterfront locations for such eyesores as bus garages and parking lots; the granting of leases to private users that do not sufficiently protect public access to the waterfront; and, most tellingly, the lack of a coordinated effort to exploit the waterfront s rich and varied potential. GOALS OF PLAN: Develop a continuous waterfront esplanade around Manhattan with public access. Redevelopment of the waterfront for water-related commercial, educational, and transportation activities. RECOMMENDATIONS: The following is a sample of site-specific recommendations posited by the plan: Lower Manhattan (Community District 1) - Planning for Battery Park improvements should provide for a clear pedestrian link between the park s esplanade and the newly redesigned Whitehall Ferry Terminal. - If structurally and financially feasible, at least a portion of the Battery Maritime Building should be devoted to public, cultural, and commercial uses that would complement the redevelopment of Piers 9-12 and reconstruction of the ferry terminal.
East River Waterfront (Community Districts 3, 6, and 8) - Improve pedestrian access to East River Park as part of the FDR reconstruction. - Implement ISTEA-funded improvement of the 35 th Street Pier to accommodate a ferry landing and public access (ferry services are currently provided at East 34 th Street). - Using private and/or public funding sources, create a waterfront gateway along the Queensboro Bridge corridor by redeveloping spaces on the north side of 59 th Street between Second Avenue and the East 60 th Street Pavilion Park and esplanade. Upper East River/Harlem River Waterfront (Community Districts 11 and 10) - To improve access from East Harlem to Randall s Island recreational facilities - Work toward obtaining construction funds to implement plans for a park and esplanade between 125 th and 142 nd Streets (Harlem Beach). Northern Manhattan Waterfront (Community District 12) - Implement Department of Parks and Recreation access plans for Fort Washington Park as funds become available. - Construct a link between Fort Washington and Riverside Parks. Hudson River Waterfront (Community Districts 9 and 7) - Consider Scenic Landmark designation of the portion of the Riverside Park above 135 th Street. - In planning for the Harlem Piers, recognize their importance as a major catalyst for the economic revitalization of the neighborhood. - Support plans for a bicycle/pedestrian path through Riverside Park. Hudson River Waterfront (Community Districts 4 and 2) - Pier 76, currently excluded from the Hudson River Park, should be included in the park. - The poor condition of the sanitation facility detracts from the overall Greenwich Village waterfront area. DOS should maintain the structure and clean the entrance area on a regular basis. - Any long-term uses proposed for Pier 40 should be water-dependent or water-enhancing. Residential, office and hotel development, mega-stores, and parking do not represent a desirable strategy for generating revenue from the Pier. IDENTIFIED STEPS FOR IMPLEMENTATION: - Change current City leasing and concession policies to generate greater revenue for waterfront improvements while reinforcing a commitment to reopening the waterfront to public access and appropriate water-enhancing and -dependent uses. - Refining the City s new waterfront zoning regulations to strengthen the goal of public access and appropriate use. - Creating a waterfront open space fund similar to the East Rive Esplanade fund to fund the maintenance of new waterfront open space. - Create an enforcement entity to guarantee waterfront improvement completion and availability. - Consider issues of security in areas of waterfront development. PARTNERS: The plan involved hundreds of people, including members of all Manhattan s waterfront Community Boards (1-12), as well as representatives from a broad range of public agencies including the Department of City Planning (DCP), the Economic Development Corporation (EDC), the Department of Parks and Recreation, and the Department of Transportation (DOT), environmental and civic organizations including the 125 th Street Local Development Corporation, Chelsea Waterside Park Association, Citizens for a Hudson River Esplanade, CIVITAS, Environmental Action Coalition, Federation to Preserve the Greenwich Village Waterfront and
Great Port, Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation, Neighborhood Open Space Coalition, Parks Council, and Regional Plan Association, and the maritime industries. PARTICIPATORY PROCESS: This plan grew out of the work of the Manhattan Waterfront Task Force, an effort initiated in 1990 by the Manhattan Borough President s office and consisting of representatives of Community Boards, civic organizations and public agencies with waterfront interests. A draft plan was released in February 1992 and circulated widely among local elected officials, businesses, and community groups and the input received was subsequently incorporated in the updated version of the plan. Community boards played an active role in providing information for the plan. OBSTACLES: 1. Long term leases have already been issued for non-water dependent or water-enhancing issues. 2. Finding Sites to relocate city services on the waterfront 3. Securing capital funding to make all waterfront improvements and to make connections to the continuous esplanade throughout Manhattan. These factors along with the multiplicity of agencies involved on the waterfront make it a difficult and long process to execute projects. 4. Maintenance dollars are lacking. TIMELINE INITIAL IDEA: 1990 FORMAL PLAN? Yes DATE SUBMITTED: 1995 SUBMITTED TO: Department of City Planning CITY ACTION? Adopted April 16, 1997 MODIFICATIONS MADE TO PLAN: City Council modified and adopted the 197-a plan as modified by the City Planning Commission. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: 1. Construction is ongoing at Stuyvesant Cove, Harlem Piers, and Hudson River Park. Plan provides a rationale to acquire funding for different projects and serves a defense against certain developments. 2. Bikeway connections are in place between Hudson River Park and Riverside South, with planning underway for connections to East River Park. Fort Washington Park has been linked to Riverside Park and planning for improvements to the bikeway is in progress. 3. The plan provides a rationale to secure funding for various projects and serves as a defense against certain developments.
BOROUGH: Brooklyn, Manhattan, Staten Island, MAP ID# C1 COUNCIL DISTRICT: Brooklyn 33,38,39; Manhattan 1; Staten Island 49, 50 COMMUNITY BOARD: Brooklyn 2,6,7; Manhattan 1; Staten Island 1,2 NAME OF PLAN: The Harbor Loop: Proposed Harbor Loop Ferry System for the Upper New York Bay Community Organization: Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance Address: 457 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10022 Contact Name: Carter Craft Phone Number: 800-364-9943 Website: http://www.waterwire.net/currentprojects.html#harbor TYPE OF PLAN: Transportation Plan GEOGRAPHIC AREA OF PLAN: The Upper New York Bay NEIGHBORHOOD BACKGROUND: Upper New York Bay is the geographic and economic heart of our region. The bay where the Hudson River meets the ocean is home to international landmarks such as the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, as well as a hub of the region s $70 billion international trade and shipping network. Dozens of development project are also underway along the Upper Bay. In the waterfront district area bounded by lower Manhattan, Brooklyn, Staten Island, Bayonne, and Jersey City more than 50 distinct projects including more than 7 million square feet of office space, and over 330 residential units are creating a waterfront real estate boom of nearly $2 billion in new construction. At the same time, redevelopment of many of the remaining sites, including the four largest tracts including Governors Island, Homeport/Stapleton Yards, the Military Ocean Terminal Bayonne, and Ellis Island is thwarted by poor transportation access. GOALS OF PLAN: Development of a Harbor Loop ferry network that would connect waterfront communities between Lower Manhattan, Brooklyn, Staten Island, Bayonne, and Jersey City. RECOMMENDATIONS: The plan contains numerous recommendations. Below is a selection of these: - The Harbor Loop proposal envisions a seven-day a week operation that would connect 10 existing ferry terminals with 15 newly created stops. On weekdays, the loop would serve key job centers such as downtown Jersey City, Lower Manhattan, Downtown Brooklyn, St. George, and the Brooklyn Army Terminal. On weekends, the same vessels would be used to serve cultural and recreational attractions such as Sailors Snug Harbor, Liberty State Park, Fulton Ferry Landing, and Battery Park. - Capital costs can be covered through federal loan programs, local or state budget allocations or bond issues. Operating costs may be covered either by boat fares or from existing transportation subsidies. - Explore modest rail and bus line extensions to increase access to the Loop system.
- Explore the creation of other possible transit nodes including Exchange Place, Jersey City, Military Ocean Terminal-Bayonne, Smith-9 th Streets/Gowanus Bay, and Atlantic Avenue. IDENTIFIED STEPS FOR IMPLEMENTATION: - The Loop could be implemented in phases. An initial route could be created in 12-18 months, perhaps sooner, if existing waterfront facilities were upgraded and existing ferry terminals were tied together. Development of major sites such as the Military-Ocean Terminal-Bayonne and Governors Island can be expected in the next 5-7 years, Stapleton in Staten Island or 39 th Street in Brooklyn perhaps sooner. PARTNERS: Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance Conservancy for Historic Battery Park Hudson River Property Owners and Conservators Association National Lighthouse Center and Museum National Park Service Sierra Club, NYC Group Staten Island Ferry Riders Committee St. George Civic Association PARTICIPATORY PROCESS: 150 surveys were sent out to various agencies and organizations and four task force meetings were held involving numerous public agencies, transportation organizations, public and private property owners and local organizations. OBSTACLES: Agency inertia, lack of available public resources TIMELINE: INITIAL IDEA: 1999 FORMAL PLAN? Yes DATE SUBMITTED: Dec 2000 SUBMITTED TO: DOT, Deputy Mayor for Economic Development CITY ACTION? City allocated $300,000 to plan and design three of the stops in the Harbor Loop MODIFICATIONS MADE TO PLAN: None ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: none