Army Corp Clears Hudson River Park for Construction

The Army Corp of Engineers has signed off on a 2.7 acre park to be built over the Hudson River at West 13th Street. The project, Pier 55,  is being funded by billionaire Barry Diller. 

The proposed park would sit 6-feet above the Hudson River, to comply with the new FEMA flood guidelines. It would also be wheel chair accessible. The southwest corner would rise up 62-feet in the air, which Assemblywoman Deborah Glick, who represents that district,  said would destroy the view corridor. She opposes the park.

"You may have great views once you're out there, but the point of a view corridor is to keep it open for everybody," she said.

She's also concerned about private individuals having ownership of public park land.

But Madelyn Wils, president and CEO of the Hudson River Park Trust, which runs the park, said that frees up the trust to invest in other parts of the Hudson River Park. "The rest of the money that Hudson River Park does have to build can be used on other portions of Hudson River Park, which still are there that need to be built out."

Wils said the park will mitigate against disruptions to the natural environment by leaving pilings from Pier 54, north of the new Pier 55, for striped bass to use as a breeding ground.

There are still three lawsuits pending in city, state, and federal court seeking to halt the project.

Construction is expected to begin this summer.