As part of the Public Forum series on the NYC Comprehensive Waterfront Plan, NYC Planning and the Waterfront Alliance hosted a meeting on The Working Waterfront and Transportation of Goods. There were more than 85 attendees, including representatives from maritime companies in NYC and NJ, nonprofit and community groups, government agency officials, representatives of academic associations, researchers, and citizens with general interest in the waterfront. Attendees noted that waterfront industrial areas in NYC are limited and that which remains is under redevelopment pressure. Participants suggested stronger land use measures to protect IBZs, SMIAs, buffer zones and the overall notion of balancing development. Jobs and workforce development were mentioned many times in the forum and by almost every table group in the final round-up. This issue appears to be both a challenge and an opportunity. Greater focus by the DOE and higher education institutions is needed on vocational learning, apprenticeships and both traditional and cutting-edge maritime jobs. Further, education and maritime jobs training in underserved communities would be welcome.

View the presentation on Working Waterfront & Transportation of Goods [PDF].

Read the notes from the session [PDF].

Let us know what you think about the topic on the Share Your Thoughts page.

As part of the Public Forums series on the NYC Comprehensive Waterfront Plan, the NYC Planning and the Waterfront Alliance hosted a meeting on Ferries, Cruises and Transportation of Humans. There were close to 80 attendees from nonprofit and community groups in NY and NJ, representatives from various maritime industries, government representatives, and citizens with a general interest in the waterfront. Attendees discussed a range of topics, including recreation and public transportation, commerce and economic development, sustainability, and emergency preparedness. The conversation frequently focused on the management and governance of waterways. While there are significant challenges related to levels of management, infrastructure needs and climate change, attendees suggested there’s a great amount of potential for waterborne transportation through its wide variety of co-benefits and its unique and strategic value-add for the city. They noted that taking advantage of this potential depends on increased regional, inter-agency and stakeholder cooperation, better utilization and leverage of public assets, and planning for and investing in climate-resilient, integrated 21st century infrastructure.

View the presentation on Considerations for Ferries [PDF].

Read the notes from the session [PDF].

Let us know what you think about the topic on the Share Your Thoughts page.

As part of the Public Forum series on the Comprehensive Waterfront Plan, NYC Planning and the Waterfront Alliance jointly hosted a meeting on Water Quality and Natural Resources. There were more than 80 attendees, including representatives from local academic institutions , environmental groups , city agencies, engineers/architects and citizens with a general interest in the waterfront. Attendees discussed the need for green practices in design and construction, as well as resilient infrastructure. The conversation also focused on intersections between infrastructure needs and inequality. Suggestions also emerged to identify projects with multiple benefits (transportation and other capital works projects). Participants highlighted that as we find more ways to allow people to actually get down to the water and touch the water through soft edges and ecological restoration, people will increasingly care about water quality and natural resources. Finally, a great deal of attention was given to the concept of water quality monitoring and transparency.

View the presentations on Water Quality and Natural Resources [PDF] and The State of NYC’s Waterways [PDF].

Read the notes from the session [PDF].

Let us know what you think about the topic on the Share Your Thoughts page.

As part of NYC Planning’s listening session series, several stakeholder organizations focused on tributaries along the East River met to discuss their priorities related to ecology and industrial waterfronts in relation to the next Comprehensive Waterfront Plan (CWP). Following a brief presentation on the CWP, attendees introduced themselves and shared their top three priorities and concerns related to NYC’s waterfront. Common topics included programming & the experience of waterfront spaces, maintenance and regulatory processes, and water quality, ecology, and combined sewer overflows (CSOs). Cutting across specific topics was a desire to see longer-term (100-yr) planning horizons, meaningful public engagement, and more reflection on past decisions and how they have shaped the waterfront today. Participants pointed to underutilized industrial areas as places of opportunity for ecological improvement. They advocated for a “complete utilization” of NYC’s shorelines, especially in areas where shoreline may not be actively used for maritime industrial purposes.

Jamaica Bay Conservation + Development was the second 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 to inform the NYC Comprehensive Waterfront Plan through the Waterfront Management Advisory Board. This diverse panel of Jamaica Bay experts included designers, developers, community representatives, and policy experts, who presented their experiences and conflicting views on conservation and development in and around Jamaica Bay. After the short panel, attendees held roundtable discussions, where they had the opportunity to voice their own experiences and views, developing a vision for the future of Jamaica Bay, and contributing their visions to NYC’s Next Comprehensive Waterfront Plan for 2020-2030. Jamaica Bay, New York City’s only national park, is consistently at the center of debates around conservation and development. Being a national park in the largest city in the United States presents a natural tension: How can we conserve the shrinking 180,000-acre body of water while continuing to meet necessary affordable housing demands in surrounding communities? From the future mixed-use development at Jamaica Landing to visionary plans to address resiliency concerns, to engaging the community to help rebuild dunes and rethinking how policy affects the bay, Jamaica Bay has been the focus of experimentations in design, development, and policy.

As part of our listening session series, NYC Planning, Row New York and Harlem River Community Boathouse hosted a meeting at the Peter Jay Sharp Boathouse, where local organizations and individuals discussed their priorities related to human powered boating in relation to the next Comprehensive Waterfront Plan (CWP). Following a presentation on the CWP, attendees introduced themselves and shared their top priorities and concerns related to NYC’s waterfront. The most common topics raised included the equity of in-water access, water quality, programming and funding (including educational/school programs) needs, habitat restoration, and concerns about crumbling infrastructure. Following the full group discussion, attendees were split into smaller groups to take deeper dives into some of the most pressing issues. Participants also discussed ways to promote more equity and better engagement with underrepresented communities on the waterfront. This relates to education, programming, and funding for human-powered boat facilities. The groups also underscored a need for the City to continue improving water quality, specifically the need to reduce Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs).

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.

SUMBERGE Marine Science Festival celebrates NYC’s coastal waters with a day of interactive science at Hudson River Park’s Pier 84. NYC Planning joined this festival to share fun activities with the public and learn more about their visions for the future of NYC’s waterfront.

The New York City Metro Chapter of the Climate Reality Project and the Human Impacts Institute organized Our Future Festival, a day of events on Governors Island as part of Climate Week NYC 2019. NYC Planning joined other organizations to highlight local actions and opportunities for New Yorkers to take action on climate change, as well as discuss the future of the waterfront.

PARK(ing) Day is an international celebration of alternative street design, which started in 2005 in San Francisco. This year, NYC Planning took over several parking spots to celebrate NYC’s waterfront and connect pedestrians to the water in advance of the Comprehensive Waterfront Plan.

Red Hook Regatta is a community event organized by the arts nonprofit Pioneer Works, where people gather on Valentino Pier to watch homemade boats navigate through the waters of New York Harbor. NYC Planning joined this event to talk about the Comprehensive Waterfront Plan and explore visions for the future of our waterfront.

The Comprehensive Waterfront Plan adaptation of AIANY’s Around Manhattan Architecture Boat Tour, featured special guest speakers Jay Valgora, AIA (Waterfront Management Advisory Board member and founder of STUDIO V Architecture), Claudia Herasme (Chief Urban Designer at NYC Planning), and Michael L. Marrella, AICP (Director of Waterfront and Open Space Planning at NYC Planning), who collectively discussed waterfront planning efforts—past, current, and future—as we sailed around NYC's waterfront. AIANY Guide Arthur Platt, AIA, filled in relevant architecture and infrastructure narration throughout the tour.

This visioning event on Governor’s Island included everything from learning about water quality monitoring with the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to trying on scuba diving suits with the Billion Oyster project.

We started a ""Chain of Desires"" with Works on Water, an attempt to collect 520 ideas from all New Yorkers about their vision for the future of NYC’s waterfront.

City of Water Day is an event organized by the Waterfront Alliance to get people to, on, and in the water. NYC Planning joined other organizations and vendors at Pier 16 to engage with the public and explore their ideas for the future of the waterfront.

The first Randall’s Island Waterfront Festival celebrated the vibrant waterfront on the shores of Randall’s Island. NYC Planning joined to share information about the Comprehensive Waterfront Plan and help attendees to imagine the future of the waterfront with fun activities.

Rocking the Boat has a free program called Community Rowing, where Hunts Point residents of all ages can explore the Bronx River on student-built wooden row boats. NYC Planning joined on a Saturday to meet residents and talk about the Comprehensive Waterfront Plan.

New York City has officially kicked-off the planning stages for the next Comprehensive Waterfront Plan. Published every ten years, the Comprehensive Waterfront Plan outlines the strategic vision of the City’s waterfront for the decade ahead and has traditionally encompassed priorities such as expanding public access, supporting the working waterfront, and restoring the ecology of our shores. The plan is scheduled to be released in 2020, with public input beginning now. Hear from Director of Waterfront and Open Space Planning for the New York City Department of City Planning, Michael L. Marrella, and Waterfront Management Advisory Board and AIA NY member, Jay Valgora, as they discuss the last waterfront plans, goals of the new plan, steps ahead, and outline engagement strategies for the design community.

The Fish Parade is a mile-long procession through the streets of Hunts Point in the Bronx. It features a caravan of marchers and colorful floats highlighting environmental awareness and community advocacy. NYC Planning joined the street fair and connected with residents and visitors about their idea waterfront as they enjoyed the parade.

New York City officially kicked-off the planning stages for the next Comprehensive Waterfront Plan. Published every ten years, the Comprehensive Water Plan outlines the strategic vision of the City's waterfront for the decade ahead and has traditionally encompassed priorities such as expanding public access, supporting the working waterfront, and restoring the ecology of our shores. Director of Waterfront and Open Space Planning for the New York City Department of City Planning, Michael Marrella, discussed the goals of the new plan and the outreach process.