The Lower East River Access + New Development was the first program in a series of forums on The Future of the NYC Waterfront planned through a partnership by NYC Planning and the American Institute of Architects (AIA) to conduct outreach, intending to inform the NYC Comprehensive Waterfront Plan: Vision 2030 through the Waterfront Management Advisory Board. This diverse panel of “East River experts” included designers, developers, and community representatives who presented their experiences and conflicting views on access and development along the Lower East River. After the panel presents, attendees held small roundtable discussions, where they had the opportunity to voice their own experiences and views, developing a vision for the future of the Lower East River. These group discussions were facilitated by moderators from AIANY Planning and Urban Design, Committee on the Environment, Design for Risk and Reconstruction, and Transportation and Infrastructure committees. The Lower East River has been at the center of the New York City’s development and increased public waterfront access for decades. From the development of Brooklyn Bridge Park to the Seaport District, to creating a new type of industrial campus at the Brooklyn Navy Yard and rethinking the East River Park Greenway, the Lower East River has been the focus of experimentation in development and innovative designs.