Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Come With Me On A NYC Waterfront Cruise Of The Hudson and East River, Fantastic Views On A Beautiful Sunny Day - Temporary Ferry Service May Be Coming To FDR Park

I attended the Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance's Leadership For Our City Of Water Conference today. The Conference took place on the Hornblower Infinity yacht as it cruised the Hudson and East River past the World Trade Center, Statue Of Liberty and the Brooklyn Bridge.

Come along with me for a brief view of today's NYC waterfront cruise.



Click on the full screen and the view is simply stunning.

A NYC Economic Development Corp (EDC) representative told me that East River Ferry service is still being studied for Roosevelt Island, is likely to happen but not this year. Could be in 2 years. A Coast Guard representative told me that the Coast Guard has expressed no objection to a ferry dock located on the East River West Channel (Manhattan Side) which some have said was the case.

Will have more on the conference including information on long awaited ferry service to Roosevelt Island soon.

During March 12 Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Real Estate Advisory Committee meeting (audio web cast of meeting is here), representatives of the FDR Four Freedoms Park asked for permission to install a temporary ferry dock and ferry service for this summer on the East Channel next to the Strecker Lab in Southpoint Park. The FDR Park would pay for the dock. The RIOC Directors expressed approval for the proposal and gave the FDR Park permission to try and obtain any necessary approvals for this temporary dock and ferry service.

As I noted near the end of the discussion, RIOC's Ferry Consultant Ocean and Coastal Consultants had previously concluded that a ferry dock near the FDR Park was the worst possible location for Roosevelt Island residents. The RIOC Directors chose not to address that question during the discussion.

Here's the discussion.



The proposed temporary FDR Park Ferry service is not part of the NYC East River service for Roosevelt Island discussed by EDC officials.