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Diller, von Furstenberg and the P55 nonprofit. “We have to be sure that the Trust has a strong seat at the table during negotiations over events and so forth,� he stressed. “The Trust has authority over the park, and the contract should not take that away.� C.B. 2, in its resolution, said “the expectation� is that Diller and DvF’s big cash gift, plus Pier55’s development, will attract more support for completing the whole 4-mile-long Hudson River Park, 30 percent of which remains unfinished. But the community board pointed out that the Trust needs a long-term funding plan for Pier55 — especially since the pier’s nonprofit can legally vacate the lease after 10 years by paying a $5 million penalty to the Trust. The pier’s design, nevertheless, “represents an attractive and inventive solution for a combined public park and performance venue,� and “will provide a departure from the linearity of the park, adding interest and playfulness appropriate for the new use of the historic waterfront,� the resolution says. There was trepidation expressed at public meetings about noise and pedestrian safety due to the volume of people expected to attend events at the pier, most who will likely come by subway, from the station at 14th St. and Eighth Ave., the resolution says. However, Pier55’s design will purportedly abate noise, which reportedly will be less than the area’s former performance pier, Pier 54, produced, the resolution notes. Yet another concern, C.B. 2 noted, the lease agreement with Pier55 permits mooring a 4,000-square-foot barge off the new pier’s west side for half the year — which could impact the marine ecosystem. As for performances and public access, the resolution warily notes that the Pier 55 “programming vision� has been “well-received by the community but could be changed by Pier55 at any time in the future.� The master events list will be kept by Pier55, Inc. not the Trust, the resolution notes, though the former must give the Trust its schedule six months prior to each season. “The Trust’s fact sheet refers to Pier55, Inc.’s commitment to showcasing local talent, but the details of this pledge are not stipulated in its lease,� the C.B. 2 resolution adds. “The percentage of free vs. ‘low-cost’ tickets for events put on by Pier55, Inc. has not been decided; the definition of the term ‘low-cost’ has not been defined... . C.B. 2 has questions about how Pier55, Inc. can ensure a fair and transparent process for distribution of
these tickets to the general public on a first-come, first-served basis ... . The number of days the park will be completely and/or partially closed to the public, which is of great concern to the community, relies on Pier55, Inc.’s programming and is said to be impossible to determine at this early stage.� While generally lauding the project, C.B. 2 members listed a number of caveats required for their support. First, Pier 55, Inc. must agree that “reasonable limitation to public access� will not exceed 50 percent of the area of Pier55 more than one day per week between May 1 and Oct. 30, and that access will not be restricted more than 50 percent of daylight hours on those days. Second, the resolution states, public input must be increased in the pier’s design development, construction and operation, by including representation of C.B. 2 and local city councilmembers on the Pier55 board of directors, and by creating a community advisory board, including members of the local performing-arts community. It must also be guaranteed, the resolution continues, that there is “fair and democratic access� to all performances, and a limit on the amount of free and low-cost tickets given “as a reward for membership, sponsorship or contribution in or to Pier55, Friends of Hudson River Park or any other organization.� The Trust also must find berths for historic ships in the park, since Pier 54 had been slated for that purpose, unlike its replacement, Pier55, C.B. 2 said. This is “appropriate to the site’s history as one of the world’s most important seaports,� the resolution states. The Trust must obtain permits from the Army Corps of Engineers and state Department of Environmental Conservations before work can start on Pier55. Meanwhile, environmental groups, including Riverkeeper and the Sierra Club, are protesting that a full environmental impact statement (E.I.S.) has not been done for Pier55 — which won’t be built on a current pier site, but will have a totally new footprint in the river. Instead, the Trust has done a less-rigorous environmental assessment. “Riverkeeper has significant concerns about the Park Trust’s effort to accelerate approval of this new pier in the Hudson without careful consideration of its impacts, and opposes the project moving forward without the required review,� said Phillip Musegaas, Riverkeeper’s Hudson River program director. “The Park Trust must not allow financial pressure to influence its decision-making when it comes to building in the Hudson. The river is an invaluable public resource that demands the utmost protection.�
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PIER55, continued from p. 12
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Ringling.com February 5, 2015
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