NEW YORK CITY-New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed legislation on Friday that will facilitate the building of United Nations facilities on public parkland on First Avenue and east 41^st Street. The move also furthers the city’s effort to close the existing gap in access to the city’s waterfront along the east side of Manhattan.

As GlobeSt.com previously reported, a nearby pier is also being renovated, between 38^th and 41^st streets on the East River. Waterside Pier’s renovation is being funded by a $13-million lease fulfillment payment from Con Edison, which had previously leased the spot. It hadn’t been used in years, according to a Con Ed spokesman.

In combination with a Memorandum of Understanding, to be signed by October 10, 2011, Friday’s legislation was necessary to allow for the state-owned land to be built upon.