7. the Vision CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS
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CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS 7. The Vision CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS 80 East River Esplanade Vision Plan Site Specific Visions Through research, analysis, outreach, and as bold, playful gestures, potentially discussions with city and state agency whimsical in nature and designed to representatives, it became apparent that spark conversation about the community’s a phased, incremental approach to the desires for future design. Other short-term reconstruction of the Esplanade would be interventions simply involve removing the most feasible for this project. The technical, physical and visual “clutter” of derelict financial, and regulatory challenges suggest furnishing and dead vegetation, serving to that some long narrow segments will make circulation easier and prepare for remain as such, even if the more ambitious longer-term projects. In some locations, designs of a long-term master plan are the desired condition requires a longer implemented. However, there are clearly timeframe within which to plan, construct, opportunities to broaden the Esplanade in and secure funding. It is important to note certain locations. This would create larger that the concepts presented in this report nodes that will better serve the needs of the are a vision describing only some of the community and reconnect people to their many possible outcomes. They should waterfront. serve as an aspirational template, but not be overly prescriptive or inflexible. Based CIVITASIn this report, CIVITAS opportunities areCIVITAS delineated CIVITASon feedback at community CIVITAS meetings, CIVITAS there CIVITAS CIVITAS as short (0-5 years), medium (5-10 years), is a high level of confidence regarding and long-term (10+ years). In many cases, the location of proposed nodes. However, the short-term opportunities are temporary additional community input would be in nature, and can be implemented to solicited as specific long-term plans are energize the community and activate areas developed for each of the segments and as longer-term and more comprehensive nodes. construction is ongoing. Short-term, temporary opportunities are envisioned CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS E Existing S 1-5 Years M 5-10 Years L 10+ Years CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS | Mathews Nielsen 81 Andrew Haswell Green Park | 60th – 63rd Street CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS S Andrew Haswell Green Park is the improve this landscape. The adaptive reuse southernmost node in the project study of area within the former heliport building area, and should be considered a primary and reconstruction of the southern portion gateway to the Esplanade from both the of the site, along with connection to the ODR adjacent neighborhoods and the Ed Koch Esplanade, will create a more complete Queensboro Bridge. Upon completion of the gateway experience. Currently, construction CIVITASEast Midtown CIVITASWaterfront Esplanade, CIVITAS this of thisCIVITAS plan is projected CIVITAS to begin in 3 years. CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS site will also serve as a vital connector to E all points south on Manhattan’s East River Waterfront. In the short-term, there are opportunities to open up a large riverside area that is currently inaccessible to the public. An intervention might involve creating an urban beach with sand and lawn chairs or another temporary installation that would beautify and enliven the Esplanade until funds and plans are in place for medium and long-term redevelopment. In the long-term, the implementation of NYCDPR’s plan for Andrew Haswell Green Park will significantly 82 East River Esplanade Vision Plan CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS M Source: NYCDPR Short-term Long-term • Clean up and open the existing gravel • Connect to East Midtown Waterfront parking lot to the public (ODR) Esplanade • Temporary beach, seating, food carts • Fully redesign 60th Street entrance as a • Temporary landscape installations major park gateway CIVITAS(container CIVITAS plants and seating), CIVITAS art CIVITAS• Integrate flood CIVITAS protection and sea CIVITAS level CIVITAS CIVITAS • Summer movies projected on the walls rise considerations into design • Reuse old heliport building as a public Medium-term amenity • Implement NYCDPR plans for area with new park design • Improve 60th Street entrance, make ADA accessible 60-63 CIVITAS | Mathews Nielsen 83 Esplanade Segment | 63rd to 81st Street CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS E The segment between East 63rd and 81st stretch (approximately 40 feet deep and Streets is a relatively narrow section of greater). A number of buildings with air the Esplanade, often less than 15 feet in rights extend over the FDR, and additional width. At East 72nd Street, an emergency decking over the FDR is planned as breakdown lane for the FDR creates a part of the Rockefeller University’s new pinch point in the Esplanade, and the width laboratory facility construction project. CIVITASis barely wide CIVITASenough for two peopleCIVITAS to This CIVITASproject extends fromCIVITAS 64th to 68th CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS walk side-by-side. A Con Edison building Street and includes noise mitigation at 74th Street also narrows the pathway, measures, an intervention that, if limiting access to the river’s edge for extended, would greatly benefit additional roughly two city blocks. If the building portions of this linear landscape. A large is removed this would allow for pathway and narrow set of stairs at 81st Street expansion and the addition of planting limits pedestrian and bicycle accessibility. along the FDR. Noise levels are high along Plans exist to replace these stairs with this entire segment. Space is needed to an ADA accessible ramp designed as mitigate the negative impact of the FDR, part of a new pedestrian bridge at 81st but increasing the width of the Esplanade to the Esplanade. A plan generated by by driving piles and decking over the river the DDC for that bridge in 2012 is being in this location would be a costly measure, controversially resuscitated. as the East River is deep and the sides of the channel are steep along this entire 84 East River Esplanade Vision Plan CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS M Source: Rafael Viñoly Architects Short-term Long-term • Implement critical repairs • Relocate/remove Con Edison facility • Simplify design and eliminate elements from Esplanade that constrict clear path width • Integrate flood protection and consider sea level rise in design CIVITASMedium-term CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS• Provide vehicular CIVITAS (maintenance CIVITASand CIVITAS CIVITAS emergency) accessible route along • Implement noise barriers while entire length ensuring visibility and safety • Widen Esplanade to 40’ minimum width • Provide ADA accessible connection to • Deck over additional segments (71st to Carl Schurz Park at 81st Street 81st Streets) where appropriate based • Implement improvements planned with on elevation and condition of inland Rockefeller construction project neighborhoods. Additional study is 63-81 needed to determine the compatibility of this option with adjacent residential buildings CIVITAS | Mathews Nielsen 85 John Jay Park | 76th to 78th Street CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS L CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS E John Jay Park is a wonderful community approximately 54,880 sf (1.26 acres), and CIVITASpark along the CIVITAS west side of CIVITASthe FDR provide CIVITAS open space for CIVITAS community events CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS between East 76th and 78th Street. The and passive recreation. It would also serve park is primarily comprised of active to reconnect the park to the river and recreation facilities, including a swimming mitigate noise from the FDR. This solution pool and playground. There is a small requires an in-depth study to determine area for passive recreation with a grove how the elevated park can transition to of London Plane Trees and benches that the existing Esplanade below. overlook the river along the southeastern edge. The view is largely obscured by a chain link fence, and noise from the FDR Long-term deters use. John Jay Park is elevated above • Deck over the FDR and create the FDR and the Esplanade. Extending the additional parkland park to the East River, in much the same way that Carl Schurz Park seamlessly transitions from neighborhood park to Esplanade, presents a major opportunity at this location. A decked expansion over the FDR would increase parkland by 86 East River Esplanade Vision Plan Multi-Use Path Planted Berms Lounge CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITASArea CIVITAS CIVITAS Sculpture CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS Lawn L CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS CIVITAS 76-78 CIVITAS | Mathews Nielsen 87 Carl Schurz Park + Gracie Promenade | 81st