Construction Surges at Hudson River Park

[IMGCAP(1)]NEW YORK CITY-Hudson River Park Trust chair Diana Taylor and president Connie Fishman today revealed that there is currently $170 million of construction activity now happening at Pier 25, 26, 62, 63, 64, and 86 here, and it will soon undergo a surge in construction–with the goal of completing 80% of the park by 2010. An additional $110 million in activity is expected to start in the coming months. The major sections of construction activities currently are in Tribeca and Chelsea.

[IMGCAP(2)]In addition, a new request for proposals for the development of Pier 57 is to be released within the next couple of months. The 300,000-sf pier at West 15th Street, a city bus garage until 2003, will be offered for redevelopment with uses that are allowed under the Hudson River Park Act.

Since construction of the park began in 1999, roughly $350 million in capital funds from the state and New York City and the federal government have been used to build 10 new piers and about 2.5 miles of upland park area, according to Taylor. It is the largest recreational amenity and open space to be built in Manhattan since the opening of Central Park more than 150 years ago, she told attendees at a media briefing Thursday morning. Hudson River Park Trust is a partnership between New York State and City charged with the design, construction, operation and maintenance of the five-mile Hudson River Park.