The East Midtown Waterfront Project will fill a major gap in the Manhattan Waterfront Greenway between East 38th and East 60th Streets along the East River, while providing much-desired waterfront access and public open space resources for the communities of East Midtown and the public at large.
Project Overview
- NYCEDC, working in partnership with the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation and NYC Department of Transportation, elected officials, and local communities, is engaged in planning for the East Midtown Waterfront Project to improve access to the East River, enhance bicycle and pedestrian connectivity, and create waterfront amenities for public use and enjoyment, in accordance with Vision 2020: New York City Comprehensive Waterfront Plan and PlaNYC. The new waterfront esplanade would stretch for 22 blocks and fill a major gap in the 32-mile Manhattan Waterfront Greenway.
- In October 2011, the City and State executed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that provides a framework for the United Nations to expand its New York City campus while creating funding sources for the East Midtown Waterfront Project.
- The MOU, which follows State enabling legislation signed by Governor Cuomo in July 2011, addresses the United Nations’ longstanding critical need to expand and consolidate its operations by allowing a portion of Robert Moses Playground along First Avenue between East 41st and 42nd Streets to be de-mapped and conveyed to the United Nations Development Corporation (UNDC) for the construction of a new office building known as the UN Consolidation Building. By the time the future site of the Consolidation Building is de-mapped and conveyed, the MOU requires that UNDC will have provided funds to the Eastside Greenway and Park (EGAP) Fund, a special purpose fund for the East Midtown Waterfront Project and other local open space improvements. In the future, additional funding for the Project is expected to become available from the disposition of publicly-owned buildings where the UN currently leases office space.
- As required by the State legislation and the MOU, Asser Levy Place, an existing street between East 23rd and 25th Streets near the FDR Drive and adjacent to Asser Levy Playground and Recreation Center, will be closed to vehicular traffic, de-mapped as a street, and mapped as parkland. The Parks Department will undertake improvements to make the former street available for active recreation.
- The MOU provides for the formation of the Eastside Greenway and Park (EGAP) Board, consisting of six members appointed by the Mayor and five elected officials, to provide oversight and guidance of the EGAP Fund as well as to review certain neighborhood open space projects that may go forward in connection with the East Midtown Waterfront Project.
Key Esplanade Features
- The East Midtown Waterfront Project will consist of three sections served by a number of potential upland connections:
- East 38th-41st Streets: Waterside Pier, an existing City-owned structure formerly used by Con Edison for fuel deliveries to the adjacent Waterside steam plant (since demolished) and later for parking.
- East 41st-53rd Streets: the UN Esplanade. This middle section of the Esplanade would pass by the UN campus.
- East 53rd-60th Streets: the ODR Esplanade. This northern section of the Esplanade may make use of existing in-water caisson structures that supported the Outboard Detour Roadway (ODR) during the recent reconstruction of the FDR Drive.
- Upland connections will be explored, including improvements at the current East 37th Street entrance to Glick Park and at East 60th Street, where the Esplanade would connect to Andrew Haswell Green Park.
Public Outreach
- In order to gather public input that will inform the first stage of design for the future esplanade, the City team and the EGAP Board have invited a range of neighborhood groups and Citywide stakeholders to join a community working group.
- The first meeting of the community working group was held in May 2012 and focused on articulating specific goals and priorities for the esplanade design. At future meetings, the project team will seek feedback on design concepts.
- Presentation to East Midtown Waterfront Community Working Group
- Notice of Meeting - A meeting of the Members of the Eastside Greenway and Park Board (“EGAP”) will be held on Friday, June 7, 2013, in the Committee of the Whole Room, at City Hall, New York, New York 10007. The meeting will begin at 3:30 p.m.
Project Timeline
- NYCEDC, in conjunction with its City partners, retained AECOM, Inc. to complete engineering and feasibility studies and provide design services for the East Midtown Waterfront Project. For the last several months, AECOM has been conducting site surveys, inspections, and engineering reports.
- Design work has begun to bring Waterside Pier into a state of good repair for future public use.
