Pier 40: A Jewel for the Downtown Community, NYC and Children Everywhere

For those of you who are unaware, Pier 40 is a 15 acre site on the Hudson River located just west of Greenwich Village in Downtown NYC. While some of its space is used to provide low-cost parking, most of its square footage is devoted to playing fields that serve much of the Downtown community. Park space is disappearing as commercial and residential development takes hold, and Pier 40 is one of the most valuable remaining open spaces suitable for playing fields.

Problem is, a broken process to solicit proposals for developing Pier 40 have put the community and NYC in the position of possibly facing a seriously flawed project from the Related Companies. The Related proposal would turn the most desirable playing fields into a permanent installation for Cirque de Soleil, movie theaters, restaurants and other non park-like activities. Now I love New York for its food, movies and performances, but I can tell you that these three things are far more abundant than playing fields, and can be situated in many more places than the open space required for multiple baseball diamonds, soccer and football fields. The prospect of taking Pier 40 away from its highest and best use - active recreation space for the benefit of Hudson River Park, the Downtown community and all of NYC - is too sad for words.

Rather then get depressed and weepy, a group of concerned community, business and civic leaders banded together to form the Pier 40 Partnership. The group's formation was catalyzed by a community hearing on May 3rd to discuss the development proposals, which was attended by over 2,000 concerned citizens.  We have been meeting with City and State Government officials to make our case, and have already garnered significant contributions towards a private-public partnership to support the right development project for Pier 40. Fred Wilson, who is also involved with Pier 40 Partnership and set up the group's website, has a terrific post on Pier 40 as well. If you want to get involved, please drop me a note and I'll help figure out how to make it happen.

Comments

[Felicia]

Please contact me as I would llike to discuss how I can support the effort to preserve the community vision for the Hudson river Park and Pier 40.
Thank you,

[Rich]

Roger - well stated - hearfelt and logical. I'm truly glad you are involved with this cause - your insight, perspective reputation and energy are huge assets to the partnership.

[fred wilson]

nice post roger and thanks for the links.

anyone interested in helping out can send me an email (listed on my blog - avc.blogs.com) and we'll get you in the loop

fred