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Construction of the esplanade between Maiden Lane and Wall Street continues
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The city’s vision for downtown’s East River Waterfront is coming to life. In just over a year since work began, the Esplanade -- stretching from the Battery Maritime Building to East River Park (at Montgomery Street) -- has undergone significant construction progress.
Much of the marine work, including infrastructure for newly developed piers, is complete, and attention has shifted to the “uplands.” Among that work are utility upgrades like better drainage and new electric service, preparing for the new and expanded walkway/bikeway, and repainting sections of the FDR Drive.
The city’s Economic Development Corporation (EDC) is the lead agency for the East River project, in collaboration with the Department of City Planning and other agencies. Nicole Dooskin is the EDC’s Assistant Vice President of Development, with a focus on open-space projects and master planning for Lower Manhattan.
Ms. Dooskin is in constant contact with Esplanade contractors and project managers, giving her special insight into the steady work that is transforming two miles of prized riverfront real estate. We asked her three questions about the current phase of construction, and what Lower Manhattan can look forward to by next summer.
Read more details about the complete project here.
Where does the East River Esplanade project stand now?
Ms. Dooskin: We are actively building the first phase of the park, and busy designing the others. Right now, you can see construction of the esplanade between Maiden Lane and Wall Street. The whimsical elements of the dog run -- a giant squirrel and a bronze tree -- are on the site, as are more traditional elements like the paving. Mock-ups of the furniture can be tried out by the public near the entrance to Pier 11. And the purple strip along the FDR that ties the entire project site together is almost finished -- just look up to see it!
Other portions of the park are in various stages of design. We preview renderings of the future sections with the local community boards and post them on the Lower Manhattan Construction Command Center’s website (LowerManhattan.info). We’ll keep bidding new sections over the next year.
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| The giant tree is one of the whimsical elements of the dog run |
What can New Yorkers expect the esplanade to be like this summer, compared with what will be in place for summer 2012?
This summer we will still be in the throes of construction, but by summer 2012 it will be a whole new waterfront. Concessionaires will be selling goods from the pavilions under the FDR and on Pier 15. Sunbathers will flock to the upper level of Pier 15, while those looking to get out on the water will be able to board ships from the lower level. Dogs will be enjoying Manhattan’s newest dog run. Pier 35 will offer a living wall, an eco-park, and lawns for rest and relaxation. Cyclists will have a dedicated bike lane. And people will have plenty of places to sit or recline and look out over the East River.
How is this project part of the city’s overall vision for Lower Manhattan?
A big part of the Lower Manhattan vision was reclaiming the waterfront. For years, the waterfront in this area was home to buses and parking lots and offered limited amenities other than the South Street Seaport. This project makes the waterfront a destination and removes obstacles that blocked access to it, also opening piers to the public.
And part of the vision is that it completes a link in the Manhattan Greenway, a 32-mile bikeway that circles Manhattan. By building out over the water in the southern section, we are able to add a bike lane and esplanade where currently there is only a narrow sidewalk, and then continue that bikeway all the way to the north of the project area.
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