The East River Blueway Plan in Manhattan’s East River Waterfront, New York by WXY architecture + urban design

Article source: WXY architecture + urban design 

The East River Blueway Plan is a community-based waterfront initiative that establishes a planning and urban design framework for Manhattan’s East River waterfront, from the Brooklyn Bridge to East 38th Street. The Blueway plan provides a vision for an accessible waterfront and aims to protect critical infrastructure, attenuate storm surges and help manage stormwater issues.

Image Courtesy © WXY architecture + urban design

• Architects: WXY architecture + urban design
• Project: The East River Blueway Plan
• Location: Manhattan’s East River Waterfront, New York
• Photography: WXY architecture + urban design
• Consultant: S + M Studio
• Engineer – Consulting: AKRK; Arcadis; Philip Habib + Associates; Weidlinger Associates
• Engineer – Environmental: eDesign Dynamics
• Landscape Architecture: Judith Heintz Landscape

Image Courtesy © WXY architecture + urban design

The plan focuses on supporting habitat restoration to enhance biodiversity and improve water quality. It also proposes green infrastructure, such as bioswales and other stormwater management devices to prevent river contamination. To increase opportunities for activity along the waterfront, the plan recommends creating a continuous and connected esplanade along the waterfront, and providing better access points to the esplanade. Pedestrian and bicycle routes along the waterfront would also help decrease emissions from vehicular traffic.

Image Courtesy © WXY architecture + urban design

Informed by more than a year of public consultations, eventually the plan identified six priority projects along the study area to achieve its goals. The projects include the Blueway Crossing and Flood Barrier, which would act as flood protection for the Con Ed power station; the Brooklyn Bridge Beach, which would re-establish public access to a natural beach beneath the bridge; the Corlears Hook Park Landscape Bridge, which would serve as gateway to the East River park; the Esplanade Freshwater Wetlands, which would catch and clean stormwater runoff; the Stuyvesant Cove Boat Launch, a floating dock for New Yorkers to explore the river by non-motorized craft; and the Skyport Garage Rooftop Activation, which would transform the roof of a garage into a garden with space for food vendors.

Image Courtesy © WXY architecture + urban design

Since the publication of the Blueway Plan, funds have been allocated to implement several of the proposed projects. In summer 2013, a budget of $8 million has been set aside to create the Brooklyn Bridge Beach and to deliver a boat dock along the waterfront.

Image Courtesy © WXY architecture + urban design

NARRATIVE
WXY architecture + planning led a multi-disciplinary consultant team to create the East River Blueway Plan. The plan addresses Manhattan’s East River waterfront between the Brooklyn Bridge and East 38th Street, and provides a vision of an accessible and dynamic waterfront that also aims to protect critical infrastructure, attenuate storm surges and help manage frequent stormwater issues.

Image Courtesy © WXY architecture + urban design

This plan also responds to the challenges of extreme weather events and gradual sea level rise. Even as New Yorkers begin to enjoy their waterfront, the city must now respond to the new paradigm of climate change.

Image Courtesy © WXY architecture + urban design

Tags: Manhattan's East River Waterfront, New York

Category: Urban Design

This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 21st, 2014 at 6:08 am. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.