Could the Hamptons have a new rival for New Yorkers seeking a little fun in the sun? With $7 million allocated, plans to transform Lower Manhattan's desolate, trash-strewn waterfront into a 'premier staycation destination' are moving forward.
Brooklyn Bridge Beach, a key piece of Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer's “Blueway Plan” to create a continuous greenway along the East River Waterfront, is on its way to becoming a reality. “The area — 11,000 square feet at low tide — will feature sand, terraced seating, a kayak launch, a spot for fishing, tree-lined walkways and concession stands,” Erin Durkin reports, “all just minutes from Wall Street in the shadow of the Brooklyn Bridge.”
The proposed beach site not only provides much-needed public access to the waterfront, but also storm mitigation measures through the creation of offshore salt marshes. “We’re bringing New Yorkers closer to the water, and we’re also protecting our city against future storms,” said Stringer.
“While the city will transform the land, there is not much that can be done with the polluted East River, and so the beach will lack one crucial ingredient — the ability to jump in and swim,” says Durkin. Officials hope to address this in the project's coming phases, which will require additional funding.
Brooklyn Bridge Beach is expected to be complete in three years.
Read the full story: Brooklyn Bridge Beach plan brings sand and surf to lower Manhattan
Manhattan Plans to Expand its Waterfront Renaissance
Not to be outdone by its neighboring boroughs across the East River, Manhattan is hoping to embark on an upgrade to its eastern waterfront. Tyler Silvestro has the details.
Ballooning costs delay NYC green space restoration after six years of planning
“There’s a stark inequity in how the city prioritizes infrastructure projects across different Manhattan neighborhoods," said Maria Kessler, executive director for Friends of the East River Esplanade. “Why is this neighborhood the last and unserved?”
Amtrak reopens New York’s East River Tunnel
The reopening marks the halfway point of rehabilitation efforts at Penn Station in the wake of Superstorm Sandy.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour
If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.
Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River
Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.
Chicago voters approve permanent festival grounds, penalty for vacant property owners
Currently, major summer and fall festivals take over public parks for weeks at a time, drawing criticism from nearby residents
NYC votes to cut outdoor dining red tape, speed up permitting
New York City also voted to allow the Department of Transportation to begin work on urgent projects before notifying elected officials.
California appears to reject Prop. 45
The proposition would have expanded the projects that qualify for a streamlined environmental review, effectively paring down the California Environmental Quality Act.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
City of Cambridge
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority