Doe Fund To Break Ground On Affordable Housing Project At 4519 White Plains Road In Wakefield, The Bronx

 

Construction is set to break ground this week at 4519 White Plains Road, a new affordable and supportive housing development in the Wakefield section of The Bronx. As the latest project from The Doe Fund and Robert Sanborn Development, the building will provide 98 affordable homes, 20 apartments reserved for tenants 62 and older, and on-site supportive services for 49 formerly homeless individuals.

Construction is scheduled to begin Wednesday, May 25. The building will debut as The Plains.

“I’m proud to have overseen the growth of The Doe Fund’s transitional, affordable, and supportive housing portfolio to over 1 million square feet,” said John McDonald, executive vice president of housing at The Doe Fund. “When completed, the Plains will join this essential continuum of care, providing high quality homes to 98 of our fellow New Yorkers most in need, as well as their families.”

Designed by OCV Architects, the building will comprise 82,465 square feet. Upon completion, available homes will be available to low and moderate-income individuals and households who meet the income eligibility thresholds ranging from 30 to 80 percent of the area median income (AMI). Preference will be given to local residents who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.

Amenity spaces will include tenant storage, a flexible lounge and multipurpose space, on-site laundry facilities, a fitness center, and outdoor recreation space. The Doe Fund will deliver housing and clinical case management services to residents, including mental health and medical care.

To improve energy efficiency, the property will feature a green roof and solar array, high-efficiency electrical and HVAC systems, LED lighting throughout, ENERGY STAR-certified appliances in each residence, and triple-glazed windows with thermal breaks that reduce the amount of energy needed to maintain a preferable internal temperature.

Total development costs are estimated at $48.5 million.

“The Doe Fund has been a pillar of supportive housing in New York City for over 30 years, and we are honored to have been part of the recent The Plains transaction in the Bronx,” said Michael Milazzo, senior vice president, originations at Merchants Capital. “As one of the nation’s top affordable housing financiers, we at Merchants are always looking for new ways to serve the housing needs of populations across the U.S. By working with The Doe Fund, we are creating safe, new, and supportive housing for nearly 100 of New York’s most vulnerable residents.”

Funding for the project includes a mix of public programs and private sources. Along with a 2019 Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative (ESSHI) award and federal Low Income Housing Tax Credits, New York State Housing and Community Renewal-approved awards from the Supportive Housing Opportunity Program, the All Affordable New York City Program, and the NYS HOME program. The Doe Fund also obtained private-sector construction and permanent loans through Merchants Capital and Freddie Mac, and tax-credit equity was syndicated by Richman Housing.

In addition, the New York State Homeless Housing and Assistance Corporation awarded capital funding through the Homeless Housing Assistance Program. The Corporation for Supportive Housing also provided an acquisition loan that included funds for acquisition and pre-development.

Attorney General James and Acting Tax Commissioner Hiller Announce Arrest of Alleged Ponzi Schemer for Tax Evasion

 

Carl Carro, Previously Arrested for Operating a Multi-Million Dollar Ponzi Scheme, Now Charged with Tax Fraud for Evading More Than $75,000 in Taxes

 New York Attorney General Letitia James and New York State Department of Taxation and Finance Acting Commissioner Amanda Hiller announced the arrest and arraignment of Carl Carro (60) of Walton, NY, for failing to pay more than $75,000 in New York state taxes over the past six years. Carro — who was previously arrested for operating a multi-million dollar Ponzi scheme — is now charged with failing to file income taxes from 2017 through 2019 and for filing a false income tax return in 2020, following his arrest on the prior charges. Between 2012 and 2020, Carro allegedly defrauded dozens of investors out of millions of dollars through a scheme involving fake promises of prospect interviews and investment opportunities. Instead of investing funds, he allegedly diverted them for personal expenses, including paying credit card bills, pet expenses, and more. Carro was charged for his failure to report the millions of dollars that he fraudulently solicited from unsuspecting investors as income.

“When businesses and individuals defraud our tax system, it deprives communities of public funds for vital services and programs,” said Attorney General James. “Not only did Carl Carro allegedly cheat investors out of millions of dollars, he also deceived and stole from our state to conceal his crime. Fraud of any kind is never acceptable, and my office will continue to ensure those who steal from our communities will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”

“The tax crimes alleged in this case show a blatant disregard for our tax laws and for all New Yorkers who rely on the vital services and programs that these taxes fund,” said Acting Commissioner Hiller. “We’ll continue to work with Attorney General Letitia James, her office, and all levels of law enforcement to root out all forms of tax fraud.”

A joint investigation by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) and the Department of Taxation and Finance (DTF) revealed that Carro failed to report taxable income he earned during the course of the Ponzi scheme he allegedly operated. While the new charges reflect crimes committed from 2015 through 2020, a DTF audit found that Carro underreported his income by more than $2 million and failed to pay more than $100,000 in taxes owed to New York state since at least 2012.

In January 2021, Carro was charged for his role in a Ponzi scheme that defrauded more than 50 investors in New York and across the nation out of millions of dollars. As alleged in the prior complaint, Carro and his co-defendant James Doyle pretended to be managers of headhunting companies, Endeavor Management Solutions and Endeavor Consultancy. The two individuals allegedly lured victims with false promises of interviews for board positions and offered fake investment opportunities in their firm with guaranteed profit returns. However, instead of investing the funds, they used investors’ funds for personal expenses and to pay back previously defrauded investors. The two individuals allegedly spent nearly $600,000 on cash withdrawals, more than $200,000 to pay credit card bills, squandered nearly $120,000 on pet expenses, and exhausted more than $350,000 to pay previously defrauded investors.

Carro is charged with multiple counts of Criminal Tax Fraud in the Third Degree (class D felony), Criminal Tax Fraud in the Fourth Degree (class E felony), Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree (class E felony), and Repeated Failure to File Personal Income Tax Returns (class E felony). If convicted, Carro faces up to 10 to 20 years in state prison.

Carro, who was previously out on bail in the securities fraud case, was arraigned before the Honorable Andrew Z. Skrobanski in the village of Sidney, acting as town of Walton justice, and was remanded pending a bail hearing. If convicted of all charges, Carro faces up to 10 to 20 years in state prison.

The charges against the defendant are allegations and he is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The OAG wishes to thank DTF’s Criminal Investigations Division for their valuable assistance in this investigation.

Nigerian Man Extradited From United Kingdom For Participating In Business Email Compromise Scams

 

 Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Michael J. Driscoll, the Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced that CHIBUNDU JOSEPH ANUEBUNWA, a citizen of Nigeria, was extradited from the United Kingdom and arrived in the United States this afternoon.  ANUEBUNWA was extradited on charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud in connection with his alleged participation in a multimillion-dollar business email compromise campaign that targeted thousands of victims around the world, including in the United States.  ANUEBUNWA will be presented today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Katharine H. Parker.  The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Paul A. Crotty.  In connection with the same conspiracy as ANUEBUNWA, co-defendant DAVID CHUKWUNEKE ADINDU was previously sentenced to 41 months in prison, and co-defendant ONYEKACHI EMMANUEL OPARA was previously extradited from South Africa and sentenced to 60 months in prison.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said:  “As alleged in the indictment, Chibundu Joseph Anuebunwa tried to steal money from thousands of businesses around the world by impersonating corporate executives and sending phony emails to company employees.  This extradition should serve as a warning to those who think they can defraud victims in the United States from halfway around the world: the United States and its international partners will find you and hold you accountable no matter how long it takes.”

According to the allegations in the Indictment unsealed today in Manhattan federal court[1]:

Between 2014 and 2016, ANUEBUNWA, OPARA, and ADINDU participated in business email compromise scams (“BEC scams”) targeting thousands of victims around the world, including in the United States.  As part of the BEC scams, emails were sent to employees of various companies directing that funds be transferred to specified bank accounts.  The emails purported to be from supervisors at those companies or third-party vendors that did business with those companies.  The emails, however, were not legitimate.  Rather, they were either from email accounts with a domain name that was very similar to a legitimate domain name, or the metadata in the emails had been modified so that the emails appeared as if they were from legitimate email addresses.  After victims complied with the fraudulent wiring instructions, the transferred funds were quickly withdrawn or moved into different bank accounts.  In total, the BEC scams attempted to defraud millions of dollars from victims.

ANUEBUNWA and others carried out BEC scams by exchanging information regarding: (1) bank accounts used for receiving funds from victims; (2) email accounts used for communicating with victims; (3) scripts for requesting wire transfers from victims; and (4) lists of names and email addresses for contacting and impersonating potential victims.

ANUEBUNWA, 39, of Lagos, Nigeria, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and one count of wire fraud, which also carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. 

The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.

Mr. Williams praised the investigative work of the FBI and thanked the Yahoo E-Crime Investigations Team for their assistance.  The U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs of the Department’s Criminal Division provided significant assistance in securing the defendant’s extradition from the United Kingdom. Mr. Williams also thanked the United Kingdom’s Crown Prosecution Service for their assistance in today’s extradition.

The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment constitutes only allegations, and every fact described herein should be treated as an allegation.

Emergency Executive Order 98 May 21, 2022 INFANT FORMULA SHORTAGE

 

WHEREAS, in February 2022, concerns about contamination at the Sturgis, Michigan facility of Abbott Nutrition, the largest manufacturer of infant formula in the United States, led to a voluntary recall of several lines of powdered formula and the temporary closure of the Sturgis facility; and

WHEREAS, the closure of the Sturgis facility, along with supply chain problems caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and other issues affecting the national economy, have led to shortages in infant formula; and

WHEREAS, there is a shortage of specialty formulas, which presents a particular difficulty for families that rely on such formulas due to allergies or medical necessity; and

WHEREAS, on May 16, 2022, the Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) reached an agreement with Abbott Nutrition to safely recommence production in the Sturgis, Michigan facility by the end of the month, but it is anticipated that it will take up to eight weeks for the re-opening to result in more formula on store shelves; and

WHEREAS, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the majority of parents and caregivers in New York City rely on some amount of formula to feed their babies; and

WHEREAS, the FDA has called on companies to issue purchasing limits to limit predatory behavior, and the Department of Justice has encouraged state attorneys general to use their powers to monitor and address price gouging in the infant formula market; and

WHEREAS, on May 18, 2022, President Biden, citing an “acute disruption” in the supply of infant formula, invoked the Defense Production Act to ensure that manufacturers have the necessary ingredients to make safe and healthy infant formula, and has required suppliers to direct needed resources to infant formula manufacturers; and

WHEREAS, to accelerate the import of infant formula, President Biden has also directed the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Agriculture to use Department of Defense commercial aircraft to transport infant formula that meets U.S. health and safety standards to the United States; and

WHEREAS, the current difficulties parents and caregivers are experiencing in obtaining infant formula in New York City and nationwide have been widely reported; and

WHEREAS, the New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection has received complaints concerning allegations of sellers charging excessive prices for infant  formula, and, pursuant to section 5-42 of Title 6 of the Rules of the City of New York, it is an unconscionable trade practice to sell or offer for sale certain goods, including infant formula, at an excessive price during a declared state of emergency in New York City; and

WHEREAS, the inability of parents and caregivers to obtain infant formula poses an imminent threat to the health and safety of infants in New York City;

NOW, THEREFORE, pursuant to the powers vested in me by the laws of the State of New York and the City of New York, including but not limited to the New York Executive Law, the New York City

Charter and the Administrative Code of the City of New York, and the common law authority to protect the public in the event of an emergency, it is hereby ordered:

Section 1.  State of Emergency.  A state of emergency related to a shortage in the supply of infant formula is hereby declared to exist within the City of New York.

§ 2.  I hereby direct all agency heads, including the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, the Department of Social Services, and the Mayor’s Office of Food Policy to take all appropriate and necessary steps to preserve public health while the shortage of infant formula persists.

§ 3.  I hereby direct the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection to exercise its authority under section 5-42 of Title 6 of the Rules of the City of New York to prevent the charging of excessive prices for infant formula.

§ 4.  This Executive Order shall take effect immediately.  The State of Emergency shall remain in effect for a period not to exceed thirty (30) days or until rescinded, whichever occurs first. Additional declarations to extend the State of Emergency for additional periods not to exceed thirty (30) days shall be issued if needed.

Eric Adams

Mayor

MAYOR ADAMS DECLARES NYC STATE OF EMERGENCY AMID NATIONWIDE INFANT FORMULA SHORTAGE

 

EEO 98 Empowers The Department of Consumer And Worker Protection to Crack Down on Price Gouging for Formula

 

Multiagency Effort Will Focus on Ensuring Steady Supply of Formula for New York City Families, Especially Those in Greatest Need

New York City Mayor Eric Adams today signed Emergency Executive Order 98 (EEO 98), declaring a state of emergency related to the shortage of supply in infant formula. The order will empower the New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) to prevent price gouging for formula under section 5-42 of Title 6 of the Rules of the City of New York. The effort comes as the United States grapples with a nationwide shortage of infant formula, stemming from a voluntary recall and temporary closure of a facility by Abbott Nutrition, one of the largest formula providers in the country.

 

“The nationwide infant formula shortage has caused unimaginable pain and anxiety for families across New York — and we must act with urgency,” said Mayor Adams. “This emergency executive order will help us to crack down on any retailer looking to capitalize on this crisis by jacking up prices on this essential good. Our message to struggling mothers and families is simple: Our city will do everything in its power to assist you during this challenging period.”

 

“The nationwide infant formula shortage is hurting parents and families across our city at a time when we're all still reeling from the crisis of past two years,” said Deputy Mayor for Health & Human Services Anne Williams-Isom. “This executive order will ensure all of our agencies can use every tool in their toolkit to get infant formula to those who need it and make sure our youngest New Yorkers stay.”

 

“As the national baby formula shortage is playing out locally, we are using the tools available to us to protect consumers and working families,” said Deputy Mayor for Economic and Workforce Development Maria Torres-Springer. “The actions we are taking with this emergency declaration and executive order sends a clear message to any unscrupulous actors that may try to take advantage of this situation: not in New York City.”

 

Nationwide, over 40 percent of large retailers are out of stock of formula, including 43 percent of retailers in the tristate area, according to the most recent data estimates. Earlier this week, U.S. President Joseph Biden invoked the Defense Production Act to direct suppliers of formula ingredients to prioritize delivery to the manufacturers of formula. President Biden also announced the creation of Operation Fly Formula, which directs the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to import formula from abroad, provided it meets U.S. health and safety standards.

 

New Yorkers who are overcharged for formula can file a complaint with DCWP online at nyc.gov/dcwp or by calling 311 and saying “overcharge.”

 

“As New York’s consumer protection agency, we are committed to ensuring retailers do not take advantage of this nationwide formula shortage for their own financial gain,” said DCWP Commissioner Vilda Vera Mayuga. “Under this new executive order, DCWP will enforce against any instances of price gouging, and we encourage any New Yorker who sees significant price increases in infant formula to report it to 311.”

 

“At its core, the nationwide infant formula shortage is a public health issue, triggered by failings in our economic and regulatory systems,” said Health Commissioner Ashwin Vasan. “New York City parents and caregivers who rely on formula to feed their babies deserve stable access for their children’s healthy development and nutrition. We are committed to working in partnership with our sister agencies to ensure a steady supply of formula for all New Yorkers.”

 

“We know that shortages in critical goods often affect our city’s most vulnerable, especially those New Yorkers and their families who rely on city services,” said DSS Commissioner Gary Jenkins. “DSS will work collaboratively with partners on the city, state, and federal level to meet the need for infant formula and fill any supply gaps, especially for those with the greatest level of need.”

“The Mayor’s Office of Food Policy’s core mandate is to promote policies and initiatives that improve food security and increase access to healthy, nourishing foods, and nothing can be more urgent than providing necessary sustenance to our youngest and most vulnerable,” said MOFP Executive Director Kate MacKenzie. “While the shortage is playing out on a national scale, we know that the pain is being felt acutely at the local level — and we will do everything in its power to provide meaningful relief for New York City families who are struggling to find affordable, accessible formula.”

Statement from NYGOP Chairman Nick Langworthy on the Special Master's Final District Maps

 

“Today is a good day for democracy. Democrats’ scheme to rig the election is finally dead beyond revival. We took on this fight on behalf of the 20 million citizens of this state who deserve free and fair elections. It should not be forgotten by voters that Governor Hochul, DCCC Chair Congressman Maloney, and Senator Gianaris were the chief architects of this outrageous and illegal attempt to strip New Yorkers of their rights and cheat, all at an enormous cost to taxpayers. This is yet another reason why one-Party rule must be demolished in this year’s election, which we look forward to competing in on the merits.”

PUBLIC ADVOCATE CALLS FOR NYPD TO FOLLOW 'RIGHT TO RECORD ACT' PROTECTING NEW YORKERS' ABILITY TO FILM POLICE

 

New York City Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams today called on the New York Police Department to ensure their training, signage, and internal policies are fully in compliance with the Right to Record Act, legislation he passed in 2020 codifying New Yorkers’ right to safely record police officer activity. The transparency and accountability that this right helps to provide and protect are essential for law enforcement to play their role in co-producing public safety.

In a letter to the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner of the NYPD, Public Advocate Williams questions the leaders of the city’s police force about department policy and training related to recording officers on the job. He also called on the department to update its internal policies to be in compliance with the Right to Record law.

“The right to safely document police activity is foundational, and critical to public safety. We cannot give into the false notion that communities must choose between accountability and transparency in policing or safer streets,” said Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams. “With that in mind, since passage of the law, civil rights advocates, as well as my office, have become concerned that some New York Police Department policies may be in violation of and opposition to the Right to Record.” 

The right to safely document members of the NYPD is essential for transparency, accountability, and fairness for everyone in New York City. The Right to Record Act codified into local law a person's right to record New York City police officers or peace officers acting in their official capacity, from a safe distance and while not interfering with police activity. The legislation originally came after a number of prominent instances when civilians' right to record was deliberately infringed, and was enacted in the wake of the protests after George Floyd’s death on camera.

This new inquiry from the Public Advocate comes after reporting that then-61 year old Ms. Patricia Rodney was forcibly detained, and her arm broken, in December of 2020 after saying she would record office activity while at the 62nd precinct. There have also been additional public discussions in recent months about the right to record being questioned or impeded in street encounters. 

The full text of the letter from Public Advocate Williams can be downloaded here.

Dear Commissioner Sewell and Assistant Deputy Commissioner Chernyavsky,

I write to you today concerning the public’s right and ability to record interactions with New York City Police Officers. In 2020, the City enacted the Right to Record Act, which codifies legal protections for New Yorkers who film police officers. The right to safely document police activity is foundational, and critical to public safety. We cannot give into the false notion that communities must choose between accountability and transparency in policing or safer streets. With that in mind, since passage of the law, civil rights advocates, as well as my office, have become concerned that some New York Police Department policies may be in violation of and opposition to the Right to Record.

According to recent reporting, in December 2020, Patricia Rodney went to the 62nd Precinct to file a police report for a lost glucose monitor. After multiple visits, and conflicting information from officers at her local precinct, she refused to leave the precinct without a police report. Officers at the Dyker Heights precinct informed Ms. Rodney that she was being recorded via body cam, and she took her phone out to record the officers as well. Immediately, the officers insisted she was breaking policy by filming them, despite her Right to Record protections, and tackled her, breaking her arm. The sign inside the precinct stated, “Members of the public are prohibited from audio/video recording or photography inside the facility.” However, that sign, and the behavior of the NYPD, are seemingly in violation of the Right to Record Act.

After this incident, and as there have been other questions and concerns about impeding New Yorkers’ right to record police, the city and my office need clarity on how the NYPD will meet their obligation and comply with the Right to Record Act moving forward.

Therefore, I ask the following questions:

• What policies are in place for police officers to interact with individuals that record near or in police stations when they do not pose a physical threat? 
• How has the New York Police Department incorporated the Right to Record Act within these policies? Additionally, is the Right to Record Act incorporated into all written materials and signage inside and around police precincts?
• How is the New York Police Department training officers to be in compliance with the Right to Record Act?

I look forward to receiving your response within ten business days of receiving this letter. For further discussion, please contact First Deputy Public Advocate Nick E. Smith at nsmith@advocate.nyc.gov and correspondence@advocate.nyc.gov. Thank you very much for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

 

Jumaane D. Williams

Public Advocate for the City of New York

DCP Releases Report on Waterfront Access and Ways to Better Connect More New Yorkers to the Shoreline

 

An updated Waterfront Access Map provides the latest info on access points to the waterfront

Department of City Planning (DCP) Director Dan Garodnick today released Assessing New Yorkers’ Access to NYC’s Waterfront, a report that chronicles which waterfront communities offer good public access to the shore and those where access is more limited – and an update to DCP’s Waterfront Access Map. The map, which features profiles and helpful information on all of New York City’s waterfront public open spaces, and the report together emphasize the City’s commitment to making public access to the waterfront much more equitable.

“New York City’s waterfront is one of our best assets – a source of fun, relaxation, transportation, work, and much more. Every New Yorker should be able to reach and enjoy our shoreline and experience all it has to offer. This map and report lay out how people are accessing the waterfront, and how we can do even better. Both are important tools in our ongoing march towards a more equitable shoreline and city,” said DCP Director Dan Garodnick.

“As the stewards of much of New York City’s diverse waterfront—from natural areas to beaches to esplanades—we understand the importance of expanding and promoting equitable waterfront access for all New Yorkers,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue. “We applaud the Department of City Planning for developing this user-friendly map and publishing this thoughtful analysis supportive of efforts to connect residents to their open spaces along the waterfront.”

The report and map were released on 5/20 as part of DCP's annual celebration of NYC’s 520-mile-long shoreline, highlighting City efforts to better connect New Yorkers to our expansive waterfront.

Using detailed walkability and transit analyses, the report found nearly three million New Yorkers live within a half-mile of the waterfront and that approximately two million of them live within walking distance of a waterfront park or open space. The remainder, about 800,000 people, do not. The report also found that more than 80% of New York City 8.5 million residents are just a 30-minute bus or subway ride away from the waterfront.

The report was done to support efforts by DCP, other city agencies, and open space advocates to expand access to the waterfront – and especially to close accessibility gaps in historically underserved communities. Expanding public waterfront access means more space for New Yorkers to exercise, relax, and interact with nature, and, more generally, be healthy.

The report highlights recent waterfront open space that successfully expanded public access in underserved areas, such as the North Shore of Staten Island and the Bronx’s Harlem River waterfront, and highlights how DCP’s Comprehensive Waterfront Plan addresses long-term strategies for expanding waterfront public access across the city. Achieving equity in access to the waterfront requires addressing physical barriers, such as highways, that have cut off communities from their own shorelines for decades.

First released in 2018, DCP’s Waterfront Access Map offers New Yorkers easily accessible information about the many access points to the waterfront and across all five boroughs. The map highlights public parks and open space created along the waterfront since 2018, such as West Farms Park in The Bronx and Shirley Chisholm State Park in Brooklyn. The map also includes 300,000 square feet (or over seven acres) of recently certified Waterfront Public Access Areas – required publicly-accessible space along the waterfront that is built and maintained by private developers of medium to high-density buildings.

It provides details on where and what type of amenities are available – so how to locate boating and in-water recreation opportunities, volleyball courts or fishing spots – and which transit options, such as bike, ferry, or subway routes, are near the publicly accessible shoreline of your choice. It allows the public to easily filter the data by features, like outdoor art exhibit or a dog run. It also offers information about how these open spaces were created and how they are maintained. 

“New York’s waterways are the largest public resource in the nation’s greatest city,” said Robert Pirani, Director of the New York – New Jersey Harbor & Estuary Program at the Hudson River Foundation. “But not everyone can access the health-giving recreation, nature, and open vistas they offer. By documenting who can and who cannot easily get to the waterfront, the Department of City Planning’s maps and reports help us all as we seek to address this challenge.”

“From Orchard Beach to Breezy Point to the North Shore of Staten Island, the new and improved Waterfront Access interactive map helps New Yorkers find waterfront access points and amenities at hundreds of waterfront parks and open spaces along the city’s 520 miles of shoreline. While we celebrate the many new waterfront access points created in recent years, some communities do not have adequate access due to former industrial sites on the water, zoning, and a history of disinvestment in underserved communities. Moreover, opportunities to physically engage with the water through recreational boating and even swimming are very limited across New York City,” said Karen Imas, Vice President of Programs, Waterfront Alliance. “We commend City Planning for exploring pathways to open new waterfronts and connect communities to local waterfronts. There are still miles of coastline entirely unused and cut off from communities and we look forward to working with the City of New York to bring all the benefits of open space, green infrastructure, and recreational opportunities to those communities that need them the most.”

The Waterfront Access Map is one of DCP’s many web products that reflect its commitment to increased accessibility and transparency for the public through well-designed, open source, web-based tools.

Department of City Planning

The Department of City Planning (DCP) plans for the strategic growth and development of the City through ground-up planning with communities, the development of land use policies and zoning regulations applicable citywide, and its contribution to the preparation of the City’s 10-year Capital Strategy. DCP promotes housing production and affordability, fosters economic development and coordinated investments in infrastructure and services, and supports resilient, sustainable communities across the five boroughs for a more equitable New York City.

In addition, DCP supports the City Planning Commission in its annual review of approximately 450 land use applications for a variety of discretionary approvals. The Department also assists both government agencies and the public by advising on strategic and capital planning and providing policy analysis, technical assistance and data relating to housing, transportation, community facilities, demography, zoning, urban design, waterfront areas and public open space.