24
November 3 - November 13, 2012
Pier 40’s disrepair causes disquiet at C.B.1 Continued from page 20
River Park. Historically, it supplied about 40 percent of the park’s revenue at about $7.5 million. But that amount dwindled to $5 million in the past year. “Pier 40 was supposed to support Hudson River Park, but now, the park is supporting Pier 40,” Wils told C.B. 1 members during the tour. At an Oct. 15 meeting of C.B.1’s Waterfront and Tribeca Committees, H.R.P.T.’s monetary tribulations were discussed along with tentative plans to partially close the pier in sections. The meeting opened with committee chair Bob Townley discussing crime prevention on the waterfront — prompted by the recent assault of a young woman in early October. He noted an increase in crime on the waterfront, especially petty larceny but also in “serious crime.” He advocated for a community dialogue on how to make the waterfront safer and expressed his desire to engage with residents about their experiences late at night on the waterfront. The next order of business was a presentation by Wils to the board on the financing woes and options currently facing Pier 40. One year ago, Wils worked with a task force consisting of members from Community Boards 1, 2 and 4, which Hudson River
Downtown Express photo by Kaitlyn Meade
This room, which had 30 years of water damage, had to be completely rebuilt.
Park traverses, along with local groups to determine the pier’s needs. The good news: Hudson River Park draws a lot of people, second only to Central Park in Manhattan. Approximately 400,000 people play sports in the park yearly, while 6,000 children use its educational programs and 3,300 people are employed within its boundaries. The bad news is that Pier 40 is an unsustainable part of the park. In fiscal year 2013, the pier ended with a $7 million deficit. Furthermore, the roof repairs alone will cost $24 million in addition to the approximately $6 million already spent. The steel piles need
NOW OPEN! Brand New s! ie Facilit
C O M PA N I E S
101 Norfolk Street | New York, NY 10002 (CORNER OF DELANCEY STREET AND NORFOLK STREET)
387 Grand Street | New York, NY 10002 (CORNER OF GRAND STREET AND NORFOLK STREET)
UÊ/ iÀ>«iÕÌ VÊ ÃÌi } UÊ ii` }Ê/ iÀ>«ÞÊ-"-®
Introducing a State-of-the-Art Sensory Integration and Multi-Sensory Gym
UÊ*," */Ê ÀÌ VÕ >Ì Ê Ê / iÀ>«Þ UÊ iiÊ- ÛiÀ > Ê6 ViÊ Ê /Ài>Ì i ÌÊ*À }À>
Continued on page 25
PUBLIC MEETING NOTICE
18,000 Sq. Ft Preschool and Therapy Center
UÊ ÌiÀ>VÌ ÛiÊ iÌÀ i
to be encapsulated in fiberglass or plastic. The fixes to the steel piles would amount to $90 million if they were all to be done within a year, but that estimate will rise if they are stretched over a decade. “We need $250 million to finish the public portions of the pier,” Wils reported. “If we continue at this rate, there will be an $82 million deficit in ten years.” The option that Wils laid before the board was a managed shutdown of the pier, which would entail closing one section at a time for repairs and moving parking to areas that are not under construction and keeping
the ball fields open. The pier currently has the capacity for 2,600 parking spaces, but usually only 1,700 of them are used. Such a shutdown could save the H.R.P.T. up to $5 million per year, allowing it to keep the pier open for another five-to-six years as it figures out how to pay for repairs and raise revenue to support the park. Wils said the Trust was “agnostic” when it came to forms of development and other uses of the pier that could raise revenue, but she warned that too much retail would cause traffic problems that the pier could not support. Revenue potentials include increased commercial use, residential development and head fees on commercial ships that dock at the pier and use its facilities. She also cited three different parking studies that determined that parking alone could not save the pier. “There’s not one answer — but we need all the answers to make Pier 40 work,” she said. “We need to have many different sources.” The community, however, is skeptical of the impact of commercial and residential development, as shown by two failed Requests for Proposals issued by the Trust. New York State Assembly Member Deborah Glick responded by asking the H.R.P.T. to present a “holistic vision of the entire park before we try to plug the gap
UÊ Þ v>ÃV > Ê,i i>Ãi UÊ `V LiÊ*À }À> Ê Ê >À ÞÊ-ÌÕÌÌiÀ }® UÊ* >ÞÊ/ iÀ>«Þ UÊ- V > Ê- ÃÊ/À> } UÊ"À> Ì ÀÊ/ iÀ>«Þ UÊ* UÊ
Speech Therapy Physical Therapy Occupational Therapy Special Education Counseling SEIT Evaluations We accept private insurance.
FOR INFORMATION AND TO SCHEDULE YOUR TOUR CALL STACILYN SILVERS-KAHOUD 212-566-8855 x1001, stacilyn@comprehensivecenter.com
Subject: 50 Varick St Application for on-premise liquor license for a Bar/Catering/ Restaurant Spring Studios New York, LLC d/b/a Spring at Varick DATE:
Wednesday, 11/14/2012
TIME:
6:00 PM
LOCATION: Community Board 1 49-51 Chambers St, Suite 709 (Please bring photo ID) - Contact: CB1 at 212-442-5050 or man01@cb.nyc.gov for all questions.