5 projects that would change NYC

Manhattanites could one day have a new spot to catch some rays if a plan for a beach underneath the Brooklyn Bridge proposed by City Comptroller Scott Stringer gains traction.

The East River Blueway Plan would transform and expand Manhattan’s East River waterfront from the Brooklyn Bridge to 38th Street into recreational space, according to the proposal. The grasslands that hug the FDR Drive would be fully accessible for pedestrians year round.

While the plan would increase neighborhood waterfront access, it also could serve as flood protection for the area, which was severly damaged by Superstorm Sandy.

Stringer who has fought for the initiative since its conception in 2010, when he was Manhattan borough president, said in a statement last week that it “vastly benefits residents of the East Side,” adding that it would “make communities stronger.”

A feasibility study was completed last May and created a blueprint for how the project would work.

The blueway is divided into six sections, including a crossing that would that extend over the FDR Drive near 14th Street, and a beach near the Brooklyn Bridge.

The biggest component of the plan is the Esplanade Freshwater Wetlands, located between Robert F. Wagner Sr. Place to Market Slip. The green space would beautify the area and catch and cleanse storm water runoff from the FDR Drive, alleviating the flooding of nearby streets.

Former Mayor Michael Bloomberg also touted the proposal last year in his report on post-Sandy resiliency plans.

Stringer said $7 million has already been allocated for the first stage of the project from his time as Manhattan borough presidentl, and was optimistic that it would move forward quickly.

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Photo Credit: Craig Ruttle

There are plenty of large-scale projects in the pipeline that on paper may seem far-fetched, but which could ultimately transform and improve the Big Apple.

From transforming the city’s largest landfill into Staten Island’s newest green space to a floating pool that cleans the rivers, these ideas are not too far off from reality and they’re making fast progress. The key, according to urban planning experts, is the word-of-mouth and support from New Yorkers who are eager to see something new in their communities.

“Getting the approvals and community support can be a win in itself,” said Jonathan Bowles, the executive director of the Center for an Urban Future. “Any project will benefit if it can build a constituency.”

amNewYork looked into some ongoing works and spoke with their organizers to see how they are coming along and what steps they are taking to finish their projects.