Splashy Pier 55 Project for the Hudson River Gains Final Approval

The Pier55 project, as it's now known, was announced in November 2014 and granted regulatory approval in April 2016. Now it's expected to begin construction this summer.

1 minute read

April 29, 2016, 6:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


"The site of the future 2.7-acre Hudson River park funded by Barry Diller and Diane von Furstenberg has cleared its final regulatory hurdle," reports Joe Anuta via information shared by the Hudson River Park Trust earlier this week. "Construction of Pier55, as the park-on-a-pier will be known, is now expected to begin this summer…"

"The project is being built through a partnership between the trust and a nonprofit created by Diller and von Furstenburg, who have contributed $113 million to fund most of the park’s construction," adds Anuta.

The project has moved swiftly since its November 2014 reveal, and after sparking no amount of controversy about park funding in wealthy neighborhoods. Architecture critic Inga Saffron and architect Carol Berens are among those who questioned the project's meaning for social equity in park space.

Wednesday, April 27, 2016 in Crain's New York Business

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Close-up of "Apartment for rent" sign in red text on black background in front of blurred building

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program

Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

April 21, 2025 - Housing Wire

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 30, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Ken Jennings stands in front of Snohomish County Community Transit bus.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series

The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

April 20, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

Close-up of man in manually operated wheelchair waiting at urban crosswalk.

Making Mobility More Inclusive

A new study highlights the challenges people with disabilities continue to face in navigating urban spaces.

30 minutes ago - Greater Good Magazine

US and Texas flags flying in front of Texas state capitol dome in Austin, Texas.

Texas Bills Could Push More People Into Homelessness

A proposal to speed up the eviction process and a bill that would accelerate enforcement of an existing camping ban could make the state’s homelessness crisis worse, advocates say.

1 hour ago - The Texas Tribune

Person in yellow safety suit and white helmet kneels to examine water samples outdoors on a lake shore.

USGS Water Science Centers Targeted for Closure

If their work is suspended, states could lose a valuable resource for monitoring, understanding, and managing water resources.

2 hours ago - Inside Climate News