News and stories about the waterways of New York and New Jersey, from the Metropolitan Waterfront AllianceNOVEMBER 16, 2013
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TELL MAYOR-ELECT DE BLASIO ABOUT YOUR WATERFRONT
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Join the Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance at Talking Transition, a high-tech, comfortable gathering place set up at Canal Street and Sixth Avenue until November 23 to allow New Yorkers to communicate their ideas about the future of New York City to Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio.
Every day, multiple discussions and presentations are taking place at Talking Transition. Visitors may communicate their ideas individually at computer screens or in discussion groups. On Thursday, November 21, from 4:30pm to 6:30pm, MWA hosts "Protecting the Waterfront and Revitalizing it for Fun, Recreation, Commerce, and Transportation." MWA Chairman Christopher Ward will address the audience, and MWA President/CEO Roland Lewis will moderate a discussion with panelists Helena Durst (New York Water Taxi and Circle Line Downtown), Ariella Maron (Happold Consulting), Rob Pirani (Regional Plan Association and Governors Island Alliance), Mary Habstritt (Lilac Preservation Project), Nancy Brous (New York Water Trail Association) and Michael Stamatis (Red Hook Container Terminal). After general discussion, the audience will break into five groups that mirror the five areas of MWA's Waterfront Platform: Ferries, Resiliency, Leadership/Governance, Access/Docks and Working Waterfront.
Talking Transition is an opportunity for...READ MORE HERE.
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STATEN ISLAND ECO DOCK FUNDED IN NY WHEEL DEAL
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New York is catching Eco Dock fever!
The Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance salutes City Council Member Debi Rose for working to expand public access to the waterfront on Staten Island's North Shore. As part of the Community Benefits Agreement for the New York Wheel and Empire Outlets development project, which was approved by the NYC Council in late October, Council Member Rose successfully fought to include funding for a Community Eco Dock at the Homeport development site in the Stapleton neighborhood.
MWA looks forward to working with community and recreational groups, maritime users, Staten Island Community Board 1, Council Member Rose, incoming Borough President James Oddo, NYC Parks and others to ensure that the planning and design for this Community Eco Dock suits the needs of Staten Islanders.
Rendering of proposed wetlands off Staten Island courtesy of the NYC Economic Development Corporation.
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PLANS REVEALED FOR GOVERNORS ISLAND
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Mayor Bloomberg could not help crowing about the little gingko tree he was about to plant on Governors Island on November 14, 2013. Not only was this said to be the 800,000th tree planted in his administration's MillionTreesNYC initiative, the event represented the completion of 30 acres of new parkland at Governors Island and was an opportunity for the Mayor to announce plans for expanded public access to the island next summer and new tenants for the historic buildings. When the new park opens to the public next year on Memorial Day, people will find rolling hills, red hammocks, giant jungle gyms for big kids made of logs and rope, and spectacular ball fields (below). This past July, construction began on The Hills, new topography for Governors Island made of recycled construction and fill materials. By completion in 2015, the three new HIlls will rise as high as 80 feet. The Mayor also reported that the ambitious capital program to restore potable water, repair and rehabilitate the seawall and upgrade electric and telecommunication infrastructure is on time and on budget. Plans are moving ahead for more tenants to join the Harbor School and move into the island's historic buildings, once infrastructure is upgraded. Quadratic Spa, the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) and the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council (LMCC) were selected by the Trust for Governors Island out of 15 responses to a Request for Proposals. A day spa with indoor facilities and outdoor pools, Quadratic Spa will be the island's first commercial tenant. The CIEE will create a residential campus for international exchange students, and the LMCC will expand its existing arts program on the island. Perhaps most exciting, the Trust is proposing an expansion of public access to the island from summer weekends to four solid months in 2014 -- every single day from Memorial Day through September 29. To help pay for higher security, maintenance and operations costs, the Trust proposes to charge $2 per ferry ride. Seniors would pay $1 and children (and bicycles) would travel free. Manhattan ferry service would be seven days a week; Brooklyn service would remain limited to weekends. Photos: Timothy Schenck, courtesy of The Trust for Governors Island
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ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS CONSIDERS THE NEXT SANDY
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Part 1 and Part 2 of this article, written by Dr. JoAnne Castagna of the Army Corps of Engineers/NY District, ran in previous editions of WaterWire. Above, Army Corps workers replenish the beach at Coney Island.
The $50 billion Sandy Bill, signed into law in January of this year, called on the Army Corps of Engineers' regional North Atlantic Division to study ways to help reduce risk from storms to coastal communities throughout the northeastern United States.
The Division has assembled a team of professionals from its District offices, federal, state and local agencies and academia to collaborate on the North Atlantic Coast Comprehensive Study. The team is... TO READ MORE, CLICK HERE
Photo: Chris Gardner, USACE, NY District
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BY & LARGE~
One year after Superstorm Sandy, the discussion about how to protect New York City continues. An independently produced video shot and edited by documentary filmmaker Thomas Halaczinsky titled "Sandy's Hidden Damage" shows how the storm has changed the city forever, how expert's opinions on what will save New York clash and how some New Yorkers affected by Sandy feel left behind.To see Mr. Halaczinsky's video, click
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HUD Announces Which Ten Rebuilding Projects Made the Cut
Public input undoubtedly helped guide the Rebuild by Design jury over the past few weeks as it considered 41 resiliency design proposals for the New York, New Jersey and Connecticut waterfronts. The proposals were submitted by 10 international teams in this multi-stage design competition that challenges architects, engineers and planners to address structural and environmental vulnerabilities exposed by Superstorm Sandy. On November 14, the jury announced which project each team will pursue as they advance to the final phase of this federal rebuilding initiative. For a list of the projects, click here. Each team will now spend the next five months working with community leaders to collaboratively develop design solutions. Watch for news of planning and implementation workshops. The goal is to arrive at projects that are implementable and fundable, leveraging federal recovery investments being made in the region. _______________________
Bay Ridge Community Eco Dock is Open to Individual Users
The NYC Parks Department has announced that the Bay Ridge Community Eco Dock is open to human-powered boaters from April 1st to December 1st. All human-powered boaters wishing to use the dock must be able to show proof of a current NYC Parks launch permit. Instructions on obtaining a permit can be found here. The Parks Dept. will supply users with the entry code and safe boating practices. For more information, please contact Jose Soegaard at MWA, ____________________________
Sponsor a LIghthouse Model at the Future National LIghthouse Museum
For $1,000, have your name permanently displayed on the Wall of Lights exhibit when the National LIghthouse Museum opens on the Staten Island waterfront. Your donation will secure your choice of one of the lighthouse models; click here to see your options. Contact the National Lighthouse Museum at [email protected] or call 855-NLM-SINY to arrange your donation and model choice.
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TAKE ACTION!
We want a waterfront with convenient ferry transit, resilient waterfront design, multi-use docks, an active maritime industry and an NYC Department of the Waterfront. Do you?
Click here to sign MWA's Waterfront Platform petition.
Soundview and Throgs Neck are densely populated neighborhoods with few public transit options. Commutes from the southeastern Bronx tend to be long and expensive. Ferry service could save many Bronx commuters a lot of time. The MWA is petitioning the Mayor, City Council Speaker and Economic Development Corporation to test a six-month pilot ferry service between Throgs Neck, Clason Point, and Manhattan that is priced competitively with express bus service. Sign the petition here.
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EVENTS
November 16
Celebrate new waterfront space with music by the Hungry March Band, family-friendly activities and staff-led tours. 10am-1pm.
November 18 Meteorlogical Night at Pier 42 Visit Pier 42 on the night of the Leonids meteor shower for stargazing, star charts, projections, music and storytelling. 11pm-2am. East River between the Manhattan and Williamsburg Bridges; entrance at Montgomery Street.
6:30pm.
7pm. Amity School, 3867 Shore Pkwy, Brooklyn
November 21
Click here for more water-related events on the MWA web site! ___________________________
CLASSIFIED ADS FREE listng for WaterWire readers
Row New York is in need of volunteers this fall. If you have any spare time after-school or Saturday mornings or know any great teenagers who need to fulfill community service hours, email [email protected]. Extra hands are needed to help kids at boathouses in Manhattan and Queens, tutoring sessions, and Saturday morning rowing for people with disabilities. No experience necessary! Row New York has great coaches and tutors who will guide volunteers. ________________________
Support the Waterfront Platform for New York City
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MWA PARTNER SPOTLIGHT
Expanding every week, the Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance is more than a coalition; it's a force. We are ferry captains, shipping executives, park directors, scientists, sailors, paddlers, swimmers, teachers, urban planners, architects and more. Together, we advocate for the best possible waterfront in the best possible city, a waterfront that is clean and accessible to all, with a robust maritime workforce and efficient, affordable waterborne transportation. Join us! Contact Louis Kleinman at [email protected].
Meet some Partners of the Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance: Cultural Resource Divers - Goal: to improve the protection and treatment of historic and archaeological resources during the public project planning process. Conservancy North - Community driven partnerships for Northern Manhattan's public space. Classic Harbor Line - New York City's classic style charter boat and tour boat fleet Connecticut Association of Wetland Scientists - Promoting the profession and understanding of wetland science in Connecticut. ______________________________________________________________________________________
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WATERFRONT NEWSLINKS
Observers Fear The Worst For Coney Island Dolphin "A dolphin found itself in distress in a creek nearly Coney Island on Thursday, but after being visible for several hours, it vanished under the water..." CBS 2 New York, November 14, 2013
Law Says Hudson River Park Is Allowed to Sell Air Rights "On Wednesday night, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo signed into law the bill that will let Hudson River Park, the popular but financially beleaguered greensward on the West Side of Manhattan, sell development rights in order to collect much-needed revenue..." The New York Times, November 14, 2013
Police Rescue Boater From East River After He Crashed Into Rocks "Police rescued a boater from the cold East River after he crashed his 43-foot-fishing boat into rocks on Friday night..." NY1, November 9, 2013
Floating Paths and Amphitheater Coming to East River Esplanade, City Says "A new waterfront park planned for the East Side will feature floating paths, canopies and amphitheater seating, and it will be equipped with buffers to protect against storms and noise from the FDR Drive, officials announced this week..." DNAinfo, November 7, 2013
New York Harbor School students introduce 1 billion oysters to city's waterways as STEM ideas get all wet "Students at the the New York Harbor School are bringing the city's waterways back to life, one oyster at a time..." New York Daily News, November 5, 2013
City offers plan to revive Richmond Terrace waterfront ""The North Shore has great bones," a representative of the Department of City Planning told a group of residents who attended a meeting Thursday to learn more about a state-funded initiative to revitalize the Richmond Terrace waterfront and adjoining upland residential areas, from New Brighton to Port Richmond..." Staten Island Advance, October 28, 2013 ______________________________________________________________________________________
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