 News and stories about the waterways of
New York and New Jersey, from the
Metropolitan Waterfront AllianceAPRIL 29, 2013 |
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CONTENTS
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Ferry Tales - Updates from the world of ferries and MWA's Ferry Transit Program
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SEAPORT MUSEUM STRUGGLES
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The beleaguered South Street Seaport Museum, operated by the Museum of the City of New York for the past 18 months, was beginning to hit its stride last fall -- until Superstorm Sandy interrupted, flooding the buildings and severely damaging the power systems. Power was reinstalled at the Fulton Street galleries but it was temporary; on April 7 the galleries were closed and on April 16, museum general manager Jerry Gallagher told Community Board 1 that even though the museum had raised hundreds of thousands of dollars, that was nowhere near the millions needed for maintenance and operations. According to published reports, Mr. Gallagher described "a dire situation" and said the museum would soon be out of money. "We are struggling," Susan Henshaw Jones, president of both museums, told WaterWire. The City Museum's contract to operate the Seaport Museum expires July 5, 2013.
Making matters worse is the reportedly poor relationship between the Museum and the Howard Hughes Corporation (HHC), leaseholder of the museum buildings. "We have made little progress concerning the goals set forth in the agreement that NYC Economic Development Corporation, Museum of the City of New York, Department of Cultural Affairs and the Seaport Museum signed 18 months ago," said Ms. Henshaw Jones. "We understand now that there will be no changes to the 1981 lease which binds the Seaport Museum and the developer, now Howard Hughes Corporation; the lease severely limits the Seaport Museum's rights concerning properties within its control."
If the museum vacates the galleries at 12 Fulton Street, HHC has the right to acquire the space. In October, HHC will begin demolishing the mall on Pier 17, adjacent to the Seaport Museum's prized historic vessels, for reconstruction.
In an effort to improve communication among the Seaport stakeholders, Council Member Margaret Chin's office is organizing an emergency meeting of representatives from the museum, HHC and EDC. "This open dialogue is critical to the preservation of our historic seaport," said Catherine McVay Hughes, chairperson of Community Board 1.
"We hope for a breakthrough in the next three months and in the meantime we continue to push forward," Ms. Henshaw Jones said. Her tone grew buoyant when she turned to an update on the boats. "Rosanne Cash's fundraiser for Lettie G. Howard has taken us to our goal and Captain Jonathan Boulware is now working with shipyards in Maine," she said. "Lettie can motor up, but her masts will have to be trucked. Pioneer, under the aegis of Water Taxi,will start public sails next weekend, with Seaport Museum Captain Richard Dorfman, his crew, and volunteers manning the boat. And, we are working with the Department of Cultural Affairs, which has provided $400,000 for the replacement of Ambrose's deck; once this is done, she will be watertight!"
Photo by Robert Simko
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PRACTICAL STRATEGIES FROM THE MWA
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 To meet the challenges of the new reality at the shoreline, the Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance presents the Waterfront Platform -- five new policy documents that offer a practical framework for resilience, sustainability, access and economic health at the waterfront.
The MWA calls for the next administration and City leadership to commit to the Waterfront Platform: Ferries: Island People Need Ferries in Good Times and Bad Resiliency: The Watchword for a 21st-Century Coastal City Reconnect to the Water with Docks, Piers, and Beaches Working Waterfront: Our Less Visible Yet Critical Economic Engine Department of the Waterfront: Who's in charge? Click here to review the one-page documents, and here to READ MORE. _________________________________________________________
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HURRICANE SEASON BEGINS JUNE 1. ARE WE READY?
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People clustered around large flood maps at the Hoboken's Proto Gallery on April 18, locating landmarks, intersections, their own homes. It was the first event in a series called "The Storm Next Time: Will Hoboken be Ready?" organized by Hoboken's Fund for a Better Waterfront (FBW). Hoboken resident Lisa Biase contemplated the crowd. Her husband, Lou Casciano, Hoboken's Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Coordinator, was getting ready to talk about people he and others rescued during Superstorm Sandy. Nearby, FBW President Jim Vance was preparing to speak to the crowd, too. "The purpose of this event is to start a public policy and urban planning discussion, to act as a clearinghouse for information, and to define the problem and to educate people," he told WaterWire. "There, now you've heard my speech."Professor Philip Orton, a research scientist of ocean engineering at Stevens Institute of Technology, was looking at a large model of Hoboken. "Well, people now know how fast..." READ MORE
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TESTING THE WATERS
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 Two years ago, the fire at the North River Wastewater Treatment Plant at 125th Street and the Hudson River resulted in the release of millions of gallons of sewage into the water. Timely data about water quality became paramount. Boating clubs, fishermen and others who came in close contact with the water needed to know when it was safe to resume their activities -- but were frustrated by a lack of useful information. Last year, to supplement water quality data presented by government agencies, the NYC Water Trail Association in partnership with The River Project organized the Citizens Water Quality Testing Program, in which people volunteered to take weekly water samples at shoreline sites all around New York City (agencies generally collect samples mid-channel). The samples were tested for Enterococcus, an indicator of human waste.See results of last year's program here. The 2013 program begins Wednesday, May 1 at 5pm, when Nina Zain offers a training session at The River Project's field station on Pier 40. Participants agree to take a sample every Thursday morning starting May 23, and deliver samples to Ms. Zain at Pier 40 by noon. Weekly sampling continues for 20 weeks, with results posted online every Friday. Ms. Zain and Rob Buchanan, coordinators of the program, are adding new sites and hoping to expand testing to difficult-to-understand locations. "We are always looking for more locations and participants," Mr. Buchanan said. "People can volunteer as samplers, or just join our mailing list and see the results every Friday afternoon when we send them out." For details, email water-quality@nycwatertrail.org. _________________________________________________________ |
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Sailing ahead with its political advocacy for an extensive, affordable, frequent and integrated ferry system in New York City, the Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance held a City Council legislative briefing on Thursday, April 25. About two dozen people filled the conference room at 250 Broadway, including four Council Members (James Vacca, Peter Koo, Donovan Richards and Vincent Gentile), policy directors, and committee staffers. After a warm introduction from Council Members Vacca and Koo, MWA's Ferry Transit Program Manager Harrison Peck presented a detailed analysis of sites across the five boroughs that would be well-served by new ferry transit. Check out the presentation to learn about MWA's methodology and vision for the future of ferries. Think we missed any neighborhoods that would be prime for new ferry service? New York's a big city, fringed with 520 miles of coastline, so consider the sites in this presentation just a start, meant to focus attention on ferries. If you have additional suggestions, feel free to email hpeck@waterfrontalliance.org. Be sure to include a short explanation of why you think nearby residents would benefit from ferry service.
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BY & LARGEShort items on
waterfront events and issues
PortSide NewYork Wins White House Recognition
For its quick-thinking and innovative Sandy recovery work both afloat and ashore, the maritime organization PortSide NewYork, based in the historic tanker Mary A. Whalen docked off Red Hook, has been honored by the White House with a Champions of Change award.
Founder/director Carolina Salguero went to Washington on April 24 to accept the award and talk about how she and Red Hook responded to the destructive storm. Part 1 of the PortSide experience, she said, was preparing the huge tanker for the wind and surge. Click here for a blog post on tanker preparations. Part 2 was the spontaneous post-Sandy creation of PortSide's pop-up assistance center "351," which became a busy hub and information conduit for storm victims.
"They set up meetings between residents and elected officials, engineers, lawyers, electricians... anyone who needed something came to them and PortSide NewYork reached out to find it. I don't know what we would have done without them," said State Senator Velmanette Montgomery.
Adrian Benepe Named to MWA Board of Directors
Adrian Benepe, NYC Parks Commissioner for a decade until last year and currently Senior Vice President, Director of City Park Development at the Trust for Public Land, has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance.
During his 10 years as Commissioner, NYC's 29,000-acre park system expanded to include new waterfront spaces such as Hudson River Park and Brooklyn Bridge Park, and new standards for sustainable design were introduced to guide all landscape architecture and architecture projects.
"We are thrilled to have Adrian join the MWA team," said Alliance President and CEO Roland Lewis. "He is a champion of open space and he knows what makes a waterfront park successful."
"Adrian is a trusted colleague and tireless park advocate," said MWA Board Chairman Christopher Ward. "Without a doubt, his background and knowledge will strengthen our board."
Economic Recovery
Loans Still Available
Although the deadline to apply for Small Business Administration disaster loans related to physical damage from Superstorm Sandy has passed, Economic Injury Disaster Loans are still available to businesses and private nonprofits. The deadline to submit an application for this type of loan -- which does not require physical damage -- is July 31, 2013. These loans are available to businesses, including small enterprises engaged in aquaculture. For more information about the SBA's disaster assistance program, go to www.sba.gov/disaster.
Gateway National Recreation Area will reopen Sandy Hook to the public for the first time since Hurricane Sandy at 10am on Wednesday, May 1. "Employees and volunteers have literally dug out beach centers and parking lots, and pumped out flooded basements, we've even rebuilt sand dunes and replanted beach grasses," said Sandy Hook Unit Coordinator Pete McCarthy. Work will continue this summer as more services are restored and roads continue to be repaved.
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Investing for the
New Normal
The NJ Regional Planning Summit takes place April 30 in Trenton. Titled "Investing for the New Normal," the summit will examine flooding, land-use planning and infrastructure investment in the wake of natural disasters. Click here for more information.
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The River Project Opens with Wet Lab Look-InsSix months after the River Project's aquarium and wetlab on PIer 40 were destroyed by Superstorm Sandy, the nonprofit organization has rejuvenated its wetlab and is inviting the public to visit a new interactive exhibit every Tuesday and Thursday from 2pm to 5pm. Viewing and touch tanks will be set up on the south walkway of Pier 40, along with other hands-on activities.
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WW Follow-UpCorrections, clarifications, updates, and letters to the editor
Details on DockNYC?
To the editor,
So the WaterWire has announced DockNYC. That's exciting news, but what exactly does it mean for recreational boaters? What kinds of docks will be available at those locations that will have overnight docking? Brian Luster, owner of Puffin
Editor's note: Some of the DockNYC sites will offer overnight docking for recreational boaters. As plans for the six sites begin to solidify, MWA will be reaching out to boaters of all kinds to figure out how we can best expand usage of these sites and what sort of docks would accommodate the most people and vessels. Stay tuned for news of MWA outreach meetings. ________________________
EVENTS April 29Bayonne Senior Center, 16 West 4th St., Bayonne, 6pm-8pm
April 30 8am-4:30pm, Trenton, NJ
May 1 Fundraiser. $30. 6:30pm. The Pilsener Haus and Biergarten, 1422 Grand Street, Hoboken
May 2 May 4
Click here for more water-related events on the MWA web site!
______________________ CLASSIFIED ADSPlace your water-related classified ad free in
WaterWire! Contact asimko@waterfrontalliance.org
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WATERFRONT NEWSLINKS
Six months after Hurricane Sandy, Breezy Point struggles to rebuild
"Limbo by the sea. Six months after Hurricane Sandy rampaged through the tranquil seaside community of Breezy Point, 2,400 of the 2,800 homes remain unoccupied..."
NY Daily News, April 28, 2013
Volunteers clean up Newtown Creek in Greenpoint for Earth Day
"...National Grid donated $50,000 to the "Open Space Alliance of North Brooklyn" so the walk can be maintained through the spring and summer..."
News 12, April 26, 2013
Collecting stories from the shores of Jamaica Bay
"Superstorm Sandy has added a whole new chapter to the rich history of Jamaica Bay..."
NY Daily News, April 23, 2013
State pumps money into salt marsh restoration at Jamaica Bay
"In a move designed to protect southern Queens against future storms and improve the eco-system of Jamaica Bay, the state is giving local groups $645,000 to help rebuild 28 acres of salt marshes, the Daily News has learned..."
NY Daily News, April 16, 2013
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