New York City Moving

Photo: Two Bridges Tower

After nearly a decade of severe delays, infrastructural setbacks, and personnel changes, the city finally has something to show for Pier 35. The fancy new eco-park is now ready for community use.

Ribbon-cutting ceremony is later this morning with designer SHoP Architects, officials from the Economic Development Corp., and local stakeholders.

It’s been a mad dash to the finish line for the last fifteen months. Screenwall installation began over the summer and recently completed; garden beds were planted; table and chair seating was affixed to the deck. At the entrance to the park, meanwhile, is a new set of outdoor furniture with chairs and bar seating at the promenade fence.

Construction of Pier 35 actually got back on track in May 2017, when crane and crew began assembling the steel. We noted at the time that it was the most activity on the public park in three years. Indeed, plans for the waterfront park were first announced in 2009 with a completion date of roughly sometime in 2013. The city previously attributed excessive delays to structural setbacks from Hurricane Sandy, problems with the screenwall, and bureaucratic bickering on where to install the underground water main.

The city should be embarrassed that this leg of the project took so long to complete.