Earth Celebrations
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ESCR Update

#ESCR: East Side Coastal Resiliency – LES Waterfront Redevelopment Plan Information

A recent abrupt change in the #ESCR (East Side Coastal Resiliency) waterfront development plan was announced unexpectedly by city with a new design that moves away from the  design plan which stakeholders had been engaged on through Rebuild By Design over the past 4 years. The Rebuild by Design plan which included a soft edge rolling hillside sea wall berm incorporating flooding was dismissed for an entirely different approach, now proposing razing entire park with trees, plantings, ball fields – everything – and raising height of entire park by 8-10 feet and closing entire park for at least 3 1/2 years. The community is actively engaged advocating for their participation and vision for the future of the waterfront park. 
ESCR Demands 1 Pager FINAL (1)
 
The community stakeholders have come together as a coalition to affirm their vision for the waterfront through the newly formed East River Alliance.
 
Committees:

– Environment
– Construction Issues – Mitigation Plan
– Stewardship for Future Park and Plan
– Outreach

Join community members on Wednesday, February, 27th 2019
Gouverneur Gardens Community Room
605 Water St. (entrance on South St)

Recent related articles on ESCR (East Side Coastal Resiliency Waterfront Re-Development Plan):

City Admits it Failed to Inform Residents on Overhaul of of East Side Resiliency Plan

Communities Push Back on BQE and East River Park Plans

De Blasio Administration Pitches Significant Changes to East Side Resiliency Project

Flood of Concerns Over E. Side Resiliency Redo

LES & East Village Residents Feel ‘Duped’ by City’s Surprise Plan to Bury East River Park

Making Waves: New York City’s Coastal Resiliency Plan Receives a Redesign

Manhattan’s east side ‘resilient park plans get overhauled

My New Plan to Climate-Proof Lower Manhattan

New York City’s costal protection plan receives a redesign

Overhaul Of Storm Protection Plan Outrages Downtown Residents

To Fight Climate Change, NYC May Expand Lower Manhattan Into East River

The City’s Odd Storm Splurge: Mayor de Blasio Wants to Spend $700 Million More on a Resiliency Plan. Why?

To Save East River Park, the City Intends to Bury It 

Important Information on the Plans:

NYC Department of Design & Construction’s January 10, 2018, presentation to the Parks Committee of Community Board 3

Rebuild by Design East River Park Stewardship Study

http://www.rebuildbydesign.org/data/files/675.pdf

http://www.rebuildbydesign.org/data/files/1096.pdf 

What Can You Do?
Send Letters in Support of the Community Vision Plan and in Opposition of the City’s Plan To:

Councilmember Carolina Rivera: District2@council.nyc.gov
Councilmember Margaret Chin: mguerra@council.nyc.gov
Borough President Gale Brewer: gbrewer@manhattanbp.nyc.gov
Assemblywoman Yuh-line Niou: niouy@nyassembly.gov
Assemblyman Harvey Epstein: epsteinh@nyassembly.gov
Senator Brian Kavanagh: kavanagh@nysenate.gov
Senator Brad Hoylman: hoylman@nysenate.gov

RECENT UPDATE:

East River Park is scheduled to close in early 2020 for at least 3.5 years. The current East Side Coastal Resiliency (ESCR) flood protection plan calls for everything in it (including the brand-new 6th Street Track) to be bulldozed and the park elevated eight feet.  Stuyvesant Cove, Asser Levy, Murphy Brothers, Corlears Hook, and Capt’n Patrick J Brown Walk will also be rebuilt. There will be no access to a 3-mile stretch of waterfront from 23rd Street to Montgomery Street.  No ball games, barbecues, sprinklers and playgrounds,  runners, bikes, walkers — for nearly four years. East River Park is the largest park in Manhattan below 59th Street and a precious recreation space for a community where many residents cannot afford vacations. We demand that the City reconsider this plan. Our community deserves a resiliency plan that includes:
– Flood protection now and during construction
– Phased closing during construction and immediate reopening of completed sections
– Real alternatives for healthy recreation during construction
– Consideration of other options including flood protection along the FDR and covering the highway to    create additional parkland
We the undersigned urge you and the Department of Design and Construction to work with us to plan a better, more humane approach to East Side Coastal Resiliency!