Board kicks off planning efforts for the NYC Comprehensive Waterfront Plan to be released in 2020; NYC’s 520 Miles of diverse shoreline are home to maritime and industrial businesses, residential neighborhoods and parks
Mayor Bill de Blasio and City Council Speaker Corey Johnson announced that the Waterfront Management Advisory Board held its first meeting and formally launched the start of the planning process for the next Comprehensive Waterfront Plan, due to be published in 2020.
“New Yorkers are turning to the water in ways we haven’t seen in a century. With the ongoing success of NYC Ferry, new businesses and homes, it’s critical that we create a comprehensive plan that helps us build a more fair and resilient city,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio.
The board members will advise the administration on matters related to New York City waterfront and waterways, and provide guidance to the Department of City Planning (DCP) on the development of the Comprehensive Waterfront Plan. This plan, published every 10 years, provides a vision for the city’s waterfront for the next decade and beyond. DCP anticipates beginning broader public engagement on the plan in early 2019.
New York City has approximately 520 miles of waterfront, ranging from the wetlands of Jamaica Bay to the Port facilities on the North Shore of Staten Island and the urbanized waterfront edges of the Bronx, Queens and Lower Manhattan. The City’s waterfront renewal has been remarkable, including for the creation of housing, new businesses and jobs, parks and, with NYC Ferry, transportation.
New Yorkers are turning to the water in ways we haven’t seen in a century. With the ongoing success of NYC Ferry, new businesses and homes, it’s critical that we create a comprehensive plan that helps us a build a more fair and resilient city.
“Even though it’s been nearly six years since Sandy, the lessons of that deadly storm are front and center in our hearts and minds as we focus on crafting a plan that protects and reflects the distinctiveness of New York City’s amazing waterfront,” said DCP Director Marisa Lago. “We’re excited to tap into the expertise and enthusiasm of the members of the Waterfront Management Advisory Board as we tackle the wide variety of issues facing the city’s waterfront today and into the future.”
“The city’s 520 miles of waterfront is simultaneously one of the City’s greatest resources and challenges. I’m excited to tap the expertise of the Board members and engage the Board on how to increase equity of access, job opportunities, public safety and resiliency along the waterfront. By tackling these questions with the Waterfront Management Advisory Board and the larger public, we’ll craft a Comprehensive Waterfront Plan that keeps our shores strong for years to come,” said Michael L. Marrella, DCP Director of Waterfront and Open Space and Chair of the Waterfront Management Advisory Board.
“New York City’s vast waterfront is a unique asset that deserves careful stewardship. The next Comprehensive Waterfront Plan is an critical opportunity to integrate resilience with other important waterfront functions, such as recreation, transportation, housing, and jobs,” said Jainey Bavishi, Director of the Mayor’s Office of Recovery and Resiliency. “I look forward to engaging with the Waterfront Management Advisory Board to craft a plan that benefits neighborhoods, businesses, and all New Yorkers while strengthening the city’s 520 miles of waterfront.”
The members include:
• Eric Johansson, SUNY Maritime
• Mychal Johnson, South Bronx Unite
• Katina Johnstone, Staten Island Kayak
• Edward Kelly, Maritime Association of NY/NJ Harbor
• Aaron Koffman, The Hudson Company
• Roland Lewis, Waterfront Alliance
• Pete Malinowski, Billion Oyster Project
• Geeta Mehta, Columbia University Professor
• Michael Northrop, Rockefeller Brothers Fund
• Kate Orff, SCAPE Landscape Architects
• Kelly Vilar, Staten Island Urban Center
• Peggy Shepard, WE ACT for Environmental Justice
• Mandu Sen, Regional Plan Association
• Kellie Terry, Surdna Foundation
• Gerald "Jay" Valgora, Studio V Architects
• Henry Wan, NY Dragon Boat Festival
• Judith Weis, Rutgers University
